Merging multi-source information in a television system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said display includes a representation of said signal source identifiers for each program listing in said display.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein said representation includes displaying program listings associated with a first one of said signal source identifiers in a first color, and program listings associated with a second one of said signal source identifiers in a second color, said first and second identifiers identifying a different signal providing source.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said providing step includes the step of transmitting the consolidated listing over at least one television signal source.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4, wherein said transmitting step includes the step of relaying the consolidated listing through a satellite.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4, wherein said television signal source is selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one television signal source is one of said signal providing sources.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1, wherein said generating step includes the step of displaying said display on one of a television display screen, a computer monitor and a printed medium.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1, wherein said information sources are selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, and a keyboard.

Claim 11

An information merging system, comprising: a receiver for receiving individual channel guide information listings from at least two information sources; a microprocessor coupled to said receiver, said microprocessor merging at least a portion of each of said individual channel guide information listings into a consolidated channel guide information listing; a signal provider, wherein said signal provider provides said consolidated listing to a television system, wherein said consolidated listing provided to said television system contains program listings for at least two signal providing sources, and a signal source identifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying one of said signal providing sources; and a display generator, coupled to said television system, for generating a display of at least a portion of said consolidated channel guide information listing.

Claim 12

An information merging system, comprising: a receiver for receiving individual channel guide information listings from at least two information sources; a microprocessor coupled to said receiver, said microprocessor merging at least a portion of each of said individual channel guide information listings into a consolidated channel guide information listing; a signal provider, wherein said signal provider provides said consolidated listing to a television system, wherein said consolidated listing provided to said television system contains program listings for at least two signal providing sources, and a signal source identifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying one of said signal providing sources; and a display generator, coupled to said television system, for generating a display of at least a portion of said consolidated channel guide information listing.

Claim 13

The information merging system of claim 10, wherein said display includes a representation of said signal source identifiers for each program listing in said display.

Claim 14

The information merging system of claim 11, wherein said representation includes displaying program listings associated with a first one of said signal source identifiers in a first color, and program listings associated with a second one of said signal source identifiers in a second color, said first and second identifiers identifying a different signal providing source.

Claim 15

The information merging system of claim 10, wherein said signal provider includes a transmitter coupled to said microprocessor for transmitting said consolidated listing over at least one television signal source.

Claim 16

The information merging system of claim 13, wherein said signal provider further includes a satellite, wherein said transmitted consolidated listing is relayed through said satellite.

Claim 17

The information merging system of claim 13, wherein said television signal source is selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system.

Claim 18

The information merging system of claim 13, wherein said at least one television signal source is one of said signal providing sources.

Claim 19

The information merging system of claim 10, wherein said display generator is selected from the group consisting of a television display screen, a computer monitor and a printing device.

Claim 20

The information merging system of claim 10, wherein said information sources are selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, and a keyboard.

Claim 23

The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the step of identifying a specific program comprises the steps of: displaying said channel guide information in the form of a grid; and pointing to said specific program with an indicator.

Claim 24

The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said multiple signal providing sources are selected from the group consisting of a cable television source, a satellite source, a DBS source, and an antenna source.

Claim 25

The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising the step of tuning a tuner within said television system to said specific program.

Claim 26

The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising the step of tuning a television to receive said specific program from said selected signal providing source.

Claim 27

The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising the step of tuning a receiver of said selected signal providing source to said specific program.

Claim 28

The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said multiple signal providing sources are selected from the group consisting of a plurality of cable television sources, a plurality of satellite sources, a plurality of DBS sources, and a plurality of antenna sources.

Claim 29

The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said information source is selected from the group consisting of a coax cable, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, a fiber optic cable, a keyboard, and an antenna.

Claim 30

The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said consolidated listing includes program titles for said program listings.

Claim 31

A switching system having multiple signal providing sources, the system comprising: a receiver for receiving a consolidated channel guide information listing from an information source, wherein said consolidated listing contains program listings for at least two of the signal providing sources, and a signal source identifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying one of the signal providing sources; a memory, coupled to said receiver, for storing said consolidated listing; a display, coupled to said memory, for presenting at least a portion of said consolidated listing; a indicator for indicating a specific program from said presented portion of said consolidated listing; a controller, coupled to said memory, for receiving an indicator signal associated with said indicated specific program from said indicator, wherein said controller controls said switching system; and an emitter, coupled to said controller, for transmitting a control signal, said control signal switching an input on a television system to one of said multiple signal providing sources, said one of said multiple signal providing sources being identified by said signal source identifier associated with said specific program, and wherein said control signal tunes said television system to receive said specific program; wherein said specific program is displayed on said television system.

Claim 32

A switching system having multiple signal providing sources, the system comprising: a receiver for receiving a consolidated channel guide information listing from an information source, wherein said consolidated listing contains program listings for at least two of the signal providing sources, and a signal source identifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying one of the signal providing sources; a memory, coupled to said receiver, for storing said consolidated listing; a display, coupled to said memory, for presenting at least a portion of said consolidated listing; a indicator for indicating a specific program from said presented portion of said consolidated listing; a controller, coupled to said memory, for receiving an indicator signal associated with said indicated specific program from said indicator, wherein said controller controls said switching system; and an emitter, coupled to said controller, for transmitting a control signal, said control signal switching an input on a television system to one of said multiple signal providing sources, said one of said multiple signal providing sources being identified by said signal source identifier associated with said specific program, and wherein said control signal tunes said television system to receive said specific program; wherein said specific program is displayed on said television system.

Claim 33

The switching system of claim 28, wherein said emitter transmits a second control signal to a VCR, and said second control signal causes said VCR to record said specific program.

Claim 34

The switching system of claim 28, wherein said multiple signal providing sources are selected from the group consisting of a cable television source, a satellite source, a DBS source, and an antenna source.

Claim 35

The switching system of claim 28, wherein said information source is selected from the group consisting of a coax cable, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, a fiber optic cable, a keyboard, and an antenna.

Claim 36

The switching system of claim 28, wherein said indicator is a remote control unit.