Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with pop-up hints

An electronic television program guide system comprising:

• means for receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;
• storage means for storing i) program schedule information for a plurality of television programs, and ii) a plurality of predetermined hints for operating said guide wherein each of said hints is associated with at least one of said user control commands;
• data processing means coupled to said receiving means and said storage means for generating i) a first video display control command in response to a first user control command to display a program guide information screen representative of a program guide operating point, and ii) a second video display control command to display one of said predetermined hints in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen, wherein said second video display command being generated in response to a second user control command that is not valid for said program guide operating point;
• and
• video display generator means coupled to said data processing means and said storage means for receiving said video display control commands from said data processing means, and generating a display signal comprising one of said predetermined hints in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen.

An electronic television program guide system comprising:

• means for receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;
• timing means for determining the elapsed time since the most recent received user control command;
• storage means for storing i) program schedule information for a plurality of television programs, and ii) a plurality of predetermined hints for operating said guide wherein each of said hints is associated with at least one of said user control commands;
• data processing means coupled to said receiving means and said storage means for generating i) a first video display control command in response to a first user control command to display a program guide information screen representative of a program guide operating point, ii) a second video display control command to display a first predetermined hint in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen in response to a second user control command, and iii) a third video display control command to display a second predetermined hint in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen, wherein said third video display control command is generated when said elapsed time equals a first predetermined amount of time, or in response to a third user control command that is not valid for said program guide operating point;
• and
• video display generator means coupled to said data processing means and said storage means for receiving said video display control commands from said data processing means and generating a display signal comprising at least one of said predetermined hints in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen.

An electronic television program guide system comprising:

• means for receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;
• timing means for determining the elapsed time since the most recent received user control command;
• storage means for storing i) program schedule information for a plurality of television programs, and ii) a plurality of predetermined hints for operating said guide wherein each of said hints is associated with at least one of said user control commands;
• data processing means coupled to said receiving means and said storage means for generating i) a video display control command in response to a first user control command to display a program guide information screen representative of a program guide operating point, and ii) a hint retrieval command to cause a hint to be retrieved from said storage means, wherein said hint retrieval command is generated when said elapsed time equals a first predetermined amount of time, or in response to a second user control command that is not valid for said program guide operating point;
• means coupled to said data processing means and said storage means for receiving said video display control command from said data processing means, and generating a display signal comprising said information screen;
• and
• means for presenting said retrieved hint in a form recognizable by said user while said information screen is being displayed.

A process for providing an electronic television program guide comprising:

• receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;
• determining the elapsed time since the most recent received user control command;
• storing i) program schedule information for a plurality of television programs, and ii) a plurality of predetermined hints for operating said guide wherein each of said hints is associated with at least one of said user control commands;
• and
• displaying i) a program guide information screen representative of a program guide operating point in response to a first user control command, and ii) a predetermined hint in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen, said hint being displayed when said elapsed time equals a first predetermined amount of time or in response to a second user control command that is not valid for said program guide operating point.

A process for providing an electronic television program guide comprising:

• receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;
• storing i) program schedule information for a plurality of television programs, and ii) a plurality of predetermined hints for operating said guide wherein each of said hints is associated with at least one of said user control commands;
• and
• displaying i) a program guide information screen representative of a program guide operating point in response to a first user control command, and ii) a predetermined hint in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen, wherein said predetermined hint is displayed in response to a second user control command that is not valid for said program guide operating point.

A process for providing an electronic television program guide comprising:

• receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;
• determining the elapsed time since the most recent received user control command;
• storing i) program schedule information for a plurality of television programs, and ii) a plurality of predetermined hints for operating said guide wherein each of said hints is associated with at least one of said user control commands;
• and
• displaying i) a program guide information screen representative of a program guide operating point in response to a first user control command, and ii) a predetermined hint in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen in response to a second user control command, and iii) a second predetermined hint in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen, wherein said second predetermined hint is displayed when said elapsed time equals a predetermined amount of time or in response to a third user control command that is not valid for said program guide operating point.

A process for providing an electronic television program guide comprising:

• receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;
• determining the elapsed time since the most recent received user control command;
• storing i) program schedule information for a plurality of television programs, and ii) a plurality of predetermined hints for operating said guide wherein each of said hints is associated with at least one of said user control commands;
• displaying a program guide information screen representative of a program guide operating point in response to a first user control command;
• retrieving a hint from said storage means;
• and
• presenting said retrieved hint in a form recognizable by said user when said elapsed time equals a predetermined amount of time.