US 5,686,954 A · Program information broadcasting method program information display method, and receiving device

Abstract

A plurality of classification items each including a plurality of detailed items for recognizing broadcasting programs per se and program elements included in each of the broadcasting programs are provided wherein the contents of each of the broadcasting programs are represented by the classification items and the detailed items that are respectively represented by the identification data are used to form scheduled program information. The scheduled program information is broadcast together with the corresponding table data for the identification data and the data for character display of the classification items and the detailed items corresponding to the identification data. Program schedules for various kinds of broadcasting programs can be broadcast with a reduced amount of data.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A program information broadcasting method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of classification items, each including a plurality of detailed items for recognizing broadcasting programs per se or program elements included in each of the broadcasting programs,
forming scheduled program information by representing the contents for each of said broadcasting programs with said classification items and detailed items, and representing said classification items and detailed items with first and second identification data, respectively;
and
broadcasting said scheduled program information and corresponding table data for the data for the character display of said classification items and said detailed items corresponding to said first and second identification data.

1 more element

A program information display method comprising the steps of:

extracting, from received broadcast wave signals, scheduled program information in which the contents of programs to be broadcast are represented by a plurality of classification items and detailed items for each of said classification items, and said classification items and said detailed items are represented by first and second identification data, respectively, and corresponding table data for character display of said classification items and said detailed items corresponding to said first and second identification data
replacing said extracted identification data of said scheduled program information with data for corresponding character display by using said extracted corresponding table data, thereby generating program schedule data;
and
displaying the program schedule for the contents of the program to be broadcast by character display on a display based on the program schedule data.

1 more element

A receiving device for displaying a program schedule comprising:

a program information extraction means for extracting, from received broadcast wave signals, scheduled program information in which the contents of programs to be broadcast are represented by a plurality of classification items and detailed items for each of said classification items, and said classification items and the detailed items are represented, respectively, by first and second identification data, and corresponding table data for the data for character display of said classification items and said detailed items corresponding to said first and second identification data,
a program schedule data generation means for replacing said identification data of said scheduled program information with the data for corresponding character display by using the corresponding table data thereby generating program schedule data;
and
a display control means for displaying the program schedule based on said program schedule data generated by said program schedule data generation means on a display screen.

1 more element

A method for searching for a desired program element to enable reserve recording, comprising the steps of:

receiving a program information data packet having program scheduling information for a plurality of programs each having program elements
receiving an identification data packet wherein said program elements are grouped together according to program type to form a plurality of program type lists each identified by a program type designation indicative of associated program elements, wherein said program information data packet and identification data packets are stored in memory;
displaying each said program type designation on a first screen menu;
selecting a program type designation from said first screen menu which is indicative of said desired program element wherein said program type designations include general categories and performer;
displaying a second menu of program elements associated with said selected program type designation, wherein said second menu of program elements includes said desired program element;
selecting said desired program element from said second menu of program elements;
searching said programs to identify programs which include said desired program element;
displaying a third menu of searched programs;
selecting at least one of said searched programs from said third menu of searched programs;
and
registering said selected searched programs for reserve recording.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Program information broadcasting method program information display method, and receiving device

Life of this patent

Program information broadcasting method program information display method, and receiving device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44