US6175362B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
TV graphical user interface providing selection among various lists of TV channels
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-07-21
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Granted: 2001-01-16
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Expires: 2017-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A TV graphical user interface (GUI) in a satellite TV system enables users to create customized lists of TV channels. Everyday, favorite and theme lists may be generated to respectively combine TV channels being watched regularly, favorite TV channels and channels relating to particular subjects. An oval list name object is arranged on a screen to indicate the name of the currently selected list of TV channels. The users may click on the list name object to make their selection among various TV channel lists available in the TV system. In a channel changer mode, the TV GUI displays a graphical channel changer composed of channel boxes that show numbers and logos of TV channels in the currently selected list. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user clicks on the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. In a program guide mode, a list of TV programs may be provided based on the channel changer. Vertical program bars that display TV programs are aligned with the channel boxes indicating TV channels that carry the corresponding TV programs. To identify various TV channel lists available in the TV system, the oval list name object, as well as the channel boxes and program bars, are displayed in a color that represents a selected TV channel list.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin Harms
- 👤 Alfred Leung
- 👤 Dimitry Nasledov
- 👤 Michael Deacon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A television (TV) system comprising: a CPU, and a TV monitor controlled by said CPU for displaying a graphical channel changer having channel objects for representing TV channels of a first TV channel list selected among a plurality of TV channel lists preprogrammed by a user, wherein said CPU is configured to arrange a list name object on a screen of the TV monitor to switch said channel changer from said first TV channel list to a second TV channel list when the user activates a pointing device directed at said list name object, and said list name object is dynamic and shows a name of the TV channel list currently represented by said channel changer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A television (TV) system comprising: a CPU, and a TV monitor controlled by said CPU for displaying a graphical channel changer having channel objects for representing TV channels of a first TV channel list selected among a plurality of TV channel lists preprogrammed by a user, wherein said CPU is configured to arrange a list name object on a screen of the TV monitor to switch said channel changer from said first TV channel list to a second TV channel list when the user activates a pointing device directed at said list name object, and said list name object is dynamic and shows a name of the TV channel list currently represented by said channel changer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said list name object is identified by a first color when said channel changer represents said first TV channel list, and by a second color when said channel changer represents said second TV channel list.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein said channel objects are identified by said first color when said channel changer represents said first TV channel list, and by said second color when said channel changer represents said second TV channel list.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein said TV monitor further displays an electronic TV program guide that contains a first TV program schedule for a predetermined time period for TV channels of the first TV channel list.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 4 , wherein said electronic program guide switches from the first TV program schedule for the first TV channel list to a second TV program schedule for the second TV channel list when the user activates a pointing device directed at said list name object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein said electronic TV program guide comprises program bars for indicating TV programs carried by TV channels of a currently selected TV channel list.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein said program bars are identified by said first color when said program guide represents said first TV program schedule, and by said second color when said program guide represents said second TV program schedule.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein said program bars are aligned with said channel objects.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein said channel changer switches from the second TV channel list to a third TV channel list when the user activates the pointing device directed at said list name object representing the second TV channel list.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein said electronic program guide switches from the second TV program schedule for the second TV channel list to a third TV program schedule for the third TV channel list when the user activates the pointing device directed at said list name object representing the second TV channel list.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said list name object is identified by a third color when said channel changer represents said third TV channel list.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said channel objects are identified by said third color when said channel changer represents said third TV channel list.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein said vertical program bars are identified by said third color when said program guide represents said third TV program schedule.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a graphical user interface displayed on a TV monitor and having channel objects for indicating TV channels, and a list name object for identifying a first list of the TV channels currently selected by a user, a method of selecting customized lists of TV channels comprising the steps of: checking a position of a cursor moved by a pointing device, detecting when the cursor is positioned over the list name object, redrawing the channel objects to indicate a second list of TV channels when the pointing device is activated, displaying a name of the selected list of TV channels on said list name object in a dynamic fashion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a graphical user interface displayed on a TV monitor and having channel objects for indicating TV channels, and a list name object for identifying a first list of the TV channels currently selected by a user, a method of selecting customized lists of TV channels comprising the steps of: checking a position of a cursor moved by a pointing device, detecting when the cursor is positioned over the list name object, redrawing the channel objects to indicate a second list of TV channels when the pointing device is activated, displaying a name of the selected list of TV channels on said list name object in a dynamic fashion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of redrawing the channel objects to indicate a third list of TV channels when the pointing device is activated again.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the list name object is identified by a first color when the first list is selected, by a second color when the second list is selected, and by a third color when the third list is selected.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the channel objects are identified by the first color when the first list is selected, by the second color when the second list is selected, and by the third color when the third list is selected.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
A TV system comprising: a CPU and a monitor controlled by the CPU for displaying lists of TV channels, and a TV channel list name indicator for enabling a user to switch from a first list of TV channels to a second list of TV channels when a pointing device directed at said TV channel list name indicator is activated once, and for enabling the user to switch from the first list of TV channels to a third list of TV channels when the pointing device directed at said TV channel list name indicator is activated twice, whereby said list name indicator dynamically displays a name of the list of TV channels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
112 words
A TV system comprising: a CPU and a monitor controlled by the CPU for displaying lists of TV channels, and a TV channel list name indicator for enabling a user to switch from a first list of TV channels to a second list of TV channels when a pointing device directed at said TV channel list name indicator is activated once, and for enabling the user to switch from the first list of TV channels to a third list of TV channels when the pointing device directed at said TV channel list name indicator is activated twice, whereby said list name indicator dynamically displays a name of the list of TV channels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The TV system of claim 18 , wherein the displayed lists of TV channels are identified by a first color, when the first list is selected, by a second color when the second list is selected, and by a third color when the third list is selected.
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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) | 2004-01-16 | 2004-07-17 | 2005-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-16 | 2008-07-17 | 2009-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-16 | 2012-07-17 | 2013-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |