Apparatus and method for creating or editing a channel map

#This invention relates to the reception of television signals and more particularly to channel mapping local television channel numbers to regional or network names.

#A table mapping network names to local channel numbers, called "a channel map", is used to set a television receiver or a VCR for future unattended operation or the display an on-screen television guide for tuning by title. A television or VCR user can create a channel map by manually keying in the relationship between network names and local channel numbers from a print guide responsive to on-screen prompts. Alternatively, a user can select the proper channel map for his or her geographic area from channel maps transmitted in the VBI of a television signal by keying in the user's zip code as disclosed in the above-referenced PCT application. In the latter case, it sometimes becomes necessary to edit one or more entries in the channel map to account for local anomalies.

#According to the invention, a channel map is created and/or edited with the aid of a PIP window in which a real time television program is displayed. The PIP window is displayed on a monitor screen at the same time as a channel map of pairs of network names and local channel numbers. The local channel numbers can be individually changed to create the channel map or edit the pairings of network name and local channel number. When the local channel numbers are changed, the tuner for the PIP window also changes so the television program displayed in the PIP window corresponds to the television program telecast on the local channel number displayed on the screen. This provides verification of the accuracy of the pairing of network names and local channel numbers in the channel map.

#The features of specific embodiments of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a television screen illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a television screen illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

#In FIG. 1 a monitor screen 10 is shown in the format of provisional Application No. 60/053,330 with several minor modifications. Screen 10 is divided into a number of different display areas. A real time telecast television program is displayed in a video area 12. This display preferably appears as a PIP window generated by a conventional PIP chip. As the microprocessor (not shown) changes the television tuner (not shown), it also changes the program displayed in video area 12 to reflect the local channel number to which the tuner is set. Panel ad areas 14 and 16, which do not play a direct roll in the practice of the invention, lie below video area 12. A banner area 18 lies at the top of screen 10 adjacent to area 12. A channel map area 20 occupies the bottom two-thirds of screen 10 to the right of areas 12, 14, and 16. Area 20 comprises a plurality of horizontally extending channel panels or lines that display respectively in separate columns: a network name, e.g. ABC; a local channel number, e.g. "13"; and the status of the channel availability, e.g. ON or OFF. The ON channels have a different background color from the OFF channels. Responsive to up/down arrow keys on the remote controller, one of the channels is highlighted by a cursor 22. Above area 20 lies a horizontally extending menu bar area 24 by which the user can select among a number of different functions. Between menu bar area 24 and banner area 18 lies a detail area 26.

#One of the functions of menu bar area 24 is highlighted by a cursor 28. The up/down and right/left arrow keys of a remote controller (not shown) are operated to move cursor 28 to select one of the functions of menu bar area 24. The outwardly pointing arrows indicate that more functions can be selected and displayed by moving the arrow keys to the right or left. If, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the EDITOR function is selected by cursor 28 and then an OK key on the remote controller is pressed, a channel map is displayed in area 20 and cursor 22 highlights one of the channel lines in area 20. The channel map could be downloaded from the VBI of a television signal responsive to the user inputting his or her zip code, as described in the above-referenced PCT application. Alternatively, the network name-local channel number pairs could be keyed in manually from a print guide by the user through the number key pad of the remote controller aided by on-screen prompts if desired. Alternatively, the channel map could be constructed channel by channel by comparing a program displayed in video area 12 with the title displayed in the highlighted channel line in the manner described in Application No. 08/579,643.

#By scrolling through area 20 with cursor 22 other channel lines containing network name-local channel number pairs can be displayed. Prompts for operating the EDITOR function are displayed in detail area 26. The prompts in banner area 18 and detail area 26 appear only after a channel line in area 20 is highlighted. The user can turn the channel highlighted by cursor 22 ON or OFF by pressing the number "3" on the keypad of the remote controller as indicated in banner 18. To change the local channel number displayed in the channel line highlighted by cursor 22, the number "2" on the keypad is pressed as indicated in banner area 18 and then the new local channel number is keyed in with the keypad. According to the invention, the tuner is also automatically set to the new local channel number and the program telecast on the new local channel number is displayed in video area 12. Thus, the user can confirm the correspondence between the new local channel number and the network channel name. The user can cancel all the changes made during the current session in the channel editor mode by pressing the number "1" on the keypad, as indicated by banner area 18. Alteratively, instead of number keys, the cancel, change, and on/off commands could be issued by colored keys on the remote controller that correspond to color coded circles in banner area 18.