US6147715A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination of VCR index and EPG
Assignee: Index Systems LLC
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Filing: 1997-03-14
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Granted: 2000-11-14
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Expires: 2017-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A television system has a television viewing mode (50) and a guide mode (56, 58). The guide mode includes an electronic program guide (EPG), which provides the viewer program information for tuned programs, and a tape index guide (TIG), which provides information for programs recorded on a video cassette (16). In both guides, real time images of a program are displayed in a PIP window (50) on the television screen and guide information (56, 58) is displayed in the background. In both guides, the viewer may switch between a currently telecast program or a recorded program. The viewer may access either guide from the television mode and vice versa. In the guide mode, the viewer may independently switch the guide information and the type of program, i.e., tuned or recorded, in the PIP window.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry C. Yuen
- 👤 Roy J. Mankovitz
- 👤 Daniel S. Kwoh
- 👤 Elsie Y. Leung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/04; G11B23/041; G11B23/042; G11B23/30; G11B23/36; G11B27/00; G11B27/02; G11B27/031; G11B27/032; G11B27/10; G11B27/102; G11B27/107; G11B27/34; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316; H04N21/432; H04N21/4325; H04N21/472; H04N21/47214; H04N5/45; H04N5/50; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/775; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/40; G11B2220/41; G11B2220/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of selecting programs for viewing comprising the steps of: creating a directory of a plurality of programs recorded on a storage medium, the directory including the titles of said recorded programs and the locations of said recorded programs; creating a directory of a plurality of programs broadcast from a plurality of information providers, the directory including the titles of said broadcast programs and the channels of said broadcast programs; alternatively displaying said directory of recorded programs or said directory of broadcast programs; alternatively displaying a program from one of said broadcast programs or a program from one of said recorded programs simultaneously with the displayed directory; marking one of the program titles from said directory of recorded programs displayed in the displaying step; retrieving the program corresponding to the marked program title; and displaying the retrieved program simultaneously with the displayed directory by replacing the displayed program with the retrieved program.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of selecting programs for viewing comprising the steps of: creating a directory of a plurality of programs recorded on a storage medium, the directory including the titles of said recorded programs and the locations of said recorded programs; creating a directory of a plurality of programs broadcast from a plurality of information providers, the directory including the titles of said broadcast programs and the channels of said broadcast programs; alternatively displaying said directory of recorded programs or said directory of broadcast programs; alternatively displaying a program from one of said broadcast programs or a program from one of said recorded programs simultaneously with the displayed directory; marking one of the program titles from said directory of recorded programs displayed in the displaying step; retrieving the program corresponding to the marked program title; and displaying the retrieved program simultaneously with the displayed directory by replacing the displayed program with the retrieved program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the steps of tuning a television tuner to a channel receiving a desired program and substituting the desired program for the retrieved program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said retrieving step comprises retrieving the marked program from the storage medium at the location corresponding to the marked program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said retrieving step comprises tuning a television tuner to the channel at which said marked program is being broadcast.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of displaying the retrieved program on the screen simultaneously with the directory displays the retrieved program in a PIP window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, in which the creating step creates a directory of programs recorded on a video cassette tape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of displaying the retrieved program on the screen in a full screen format.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7, additionally comprising the steps of tuning a television tuner to a channel receiving a desired program and substituting the desired program for the retrieved program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for selecting programs to be played by a VCR or received by a television tuner comprising: a television monitor having a screen; a video signal mixer having a first input for accepting a signal to be displayed in a first field on the screen and a second input for accepting a signal to be displayed in a second field on the screen; a VCR for accepting a video cassette tape; a television tuner; a first switch alternatively coupling the VCR and the tuner to the first input of the video signal mixer; a first source of electronic program guide (EPG) data for telecast television programs; a second source of tape directory data for video cassette tapes accepted by the VCR; program selector configured to select a recorded program from the tape directory data; and a second switch alternatively coupling the first source and the second source to the second input of the video signal mixer to simultaneously display a program recorded on the video cassette tape or a telecast program from the telecast television programs in the first field and the EPG data or the tape directory data in the second field; wherein the second switch provides the selected program to replace a program being displayed in the first field when the program selector selects the recorded program from the tape directory data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
224 words
Apparatus for selecting programs to be played by a VCR or received by a television tuner comprising: a television monitor having a screen; a video signal mixer having a first input for accepting a signal to be displayed in a first field on the screen and a second input for accepting a signal to be displayed in a second field on the screen; a VCR for accepting a video cassette tape; a television tuner; a first switch alternatively coupling the VCR and the tuner to the first input of the video signal mixer; a first source of electronic program guide (EPG) data for telecast television programs; a second source of tape directory data for video cassette tapes accepted by the VCR; program selector configured to select a recorded program from the tape directory data; and a second switch alternatively coupling the first source and the second source to the second input of the video signal mixer to simultaneously display a program recorded on the video cassette tape or a telecast program from the telecast television programs in the first field and the EPG data or the tape directory data in the second field; wherein the second switch provides the selected program to replace a program being displayed in the first field when the program selector selects the recorded program from the tape directory data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 9, in which the video mixer is a PIP chip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9, in which the first source comprises telecast program title data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9, in which the first source comprises telecast program channel designation data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9, in which the first source comprises telecast program start time data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9, in which the first source comprises telecast program description data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9, in which the second source comprises recorded program title data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 15, additionally comprising means for marking one of a plurality of titles in the second field and displaying the program corresponding to the marked title in the first field.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9, in which the second source comprises recorded program length data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9, in which the second source comprises recorded program description data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-14 | 2004-05-15 | 2004-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-14 | 2008-05-15 | 2008-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-14 | 2012-05-15 | 2012-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |