US6836274B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three dimensional light electronic programming guide
Assignee: JLB Ventures LLC
•
Filing: 2000-09-19
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Granted: 2004-12-28
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Expires: 2020-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus of displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). In one embodiment, an EPG is displayed in a three dimensional virtual mesh, in which independent objects representing television programs are situated. The simplified nature of the three dimensional EPG reduces the amount of processing necessary to display it. In addition, the virtual mesh may be displayed isometrically, so that hardware requirements are further reduced and it may be possible to use a software only three dimensional graphics pipeline. If a user has a set top box (STB) with a hardware accelerated graphics pipeline, the EPG may be displayed in a full three dimensional perspective view. A user can navigate the mesh to find television programs that they wish to view. A user can assign values to types of television programs that they prefer, and these programs will be displayed more prominently.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan Kikinis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04815; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/20; G06T11/26; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/42653; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/454; H04N21/475; H04N21/4755; H04N21/482; H04N21/4821; H04N21/4826; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04802; G06T2200/00; G06T2200/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising: generating a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view; generating a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said planes being approximately parallel, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, said objects providing interactive surfaces; and further wherein said plurality of planes are both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising: generating a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view; generating a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said planes being approximately parallel, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, said objects providing interactive surfaces; and further wherein said plurality of planes are both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said EPG is generated exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein selection of one of said objects will select a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said objects represent certain television program on a certain channel at a certain time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said polyhedron is a cube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said cube further comprises three axes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said axes correspond to time, channel, and user preference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said surfaces are stationary.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said planes correspond to levels of preference.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein one of said objects a pictogram.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
An Electronic Program Guide (EPG) comprising: a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron comprising a plurality of planes, said planes being approximately parallel wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view; said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, and said objects providing interactive surfaces; and further wherein said plurality of planes comprise both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
An Electronic Program Guide (EPG) comprising: a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron comprising a plurality of planes, said planes being approximately parallel wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view; said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, and said objects providing interactive surfaces; and further wherein said plurality of planes comprise both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The EPG of claim 12 , wherein said EPG is displayed exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The EPG of claim 12 , wherein the selection of one of said objects will select a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The EPG of claim 12 , wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The EPG of claim 12 , wherein said objects represent a certain television program on a certain channel at a certain time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The EPG of claim 12 , wherein said polyhedron is a cube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The EPG of claim 17 , wherein said cube further comprises three axes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The EPG of claim 18 , wherein said axes correspond to time, channel, and user preference.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The EPG of claim 12 , wherein said surfaces are stationary.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The EPG of claim 12 , wherein said planes correspond to levels of preference.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The EPG of claim 12 , wherein one of said objects is a pictogram.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for displaying an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) comprising: a memory; and a first unit to generate a three dimensional virtual polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view; said first unit to further display a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said planes being approximately parallel, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, and said objects providing interactive surface; and further wherein said plurality of planes comprise both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for displaying an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) comprising: a memory; and a first unit to generate a three dimensional virtual polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view; said first unit to further display a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said planes being approximately parallel, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, and said objects providing interactive surface; and further wherein said plurality of planes comprise both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said EPG is displayed exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the selection of one of said objects will select a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said objects represent a certain television program on a certain channel at a certain time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said polyhedron is a cube.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein said cube further comprises three axes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein said axes correspond to time, channel, and user preference.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said surfaces are stationary.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said planes correspond to levels of preference.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein one of said objects is a pictogram.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
116 words
A machine readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a processor, and which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a method for displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising: generating a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view; generating a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said planes being approximately parallel, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, said objects providing interactive surfaces; and further wherein said plurality of planes comprise both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
116 words
A machine readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a processor, and which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a method for displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising: generating a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view; generating a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said planes being approximately parallel, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, said objects providing interactive surfaces; and further wherein said plurality of planes comprise both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine readable medium of claim 34 , wherein said EPG is displayed exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the selection of one of said objects will select a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine readable medium of claim 34 , wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine readable medium of claim 34 , wherein said objects represent a certain television program on a certain channel at a certain time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The machine readable medium of claim 34 , wherein said polyhedron is a cube.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine readable medium of claim 39 , wherein said cube further comprises three axes.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The machine readable medium of claim 40 , wherein said axes correspond to time, channel, and user preference.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
13 words
The machine readable medium of claim 34 , wherein said surfaces are stationary.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine readable medium of claim 34 , wherein said planes correspond to levels of preference.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine readable medium of claim 34 , wherein one of said objects is a pictogram.
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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) | 2007-12-28 | 2008-06-28 | 2008-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-12-28 | 2012-06-28 | 2012-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-12-28 | 2016-06-28 | 2016-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |