US 6,426,779 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for providing favorite station and programming information in a multiple station broadcast system

AssigneeSony Electronics Inc.

InventorsFujio Noguchi, Kazuhiko Akaike, Setsuko Watanabe Blaszkowski, Noriko Kotabe, Takashi Otani, Tadashi Kajiwara

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An innovative but easy line guide is provided to provide the user of a multiple channel television broadcast system a wealth of programming information in a simple format that is easy to understand. The guide enables the user to easily select a particular program to watch. In e particular, the system provides an innovative mechanism to enable the user to scan program information of channels that the user has designated as his favorite channels. A button is provided that is designated as “favorite”. When the user is in a broadcast guide and selects the button, the system responds by displaying program information regarding the favorite stations at the top of the guide. Thus, the user sees at the top of the list the current programming with respect to his favorite stations, followed by program information for the remaining stations.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In a multiple channel broadcasting system in which programs are broadcasted for display on a screen, a method for generating an on-screen favorite station guide for a user to select favorite channels to view, comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one channel as the user's favorite channel;
tuning to a first channel to provide a broadcast of a first program on the screen;
generating a favorite station guide, said favorite station guide consisting of an array of favorite stations, each array element providing a selectable area identifying the channel number, station identification and title of currently broadcasted program of each favorite station;
superimposing the favorite station guide over the broadcast on the screen, such that only a portion of the video of the broadcast is covered by the displayed favorite station guide and the audio is broadcasted;
moving a system pointer displayed on the screen to point to a selectable location on the displayed station guide to point to a second program currently broadcasted on a favorite station on a second channel;
and
tuning to the second channel to provide a broadcast of the second program on the screen in response to the movement of the pointer.

4 more elements

A multiple channel broadcasting system in which programs are broadcasted for display on a screen comprising,

a favorite station guide, said favorite station guide consisting of an array of favorite stations, each array element providing a selectable area identifying the channel number, station identification and title of currently broadcasted program of each favorite station, said favorite station guide superimposed over a broadcast of a first program on a first channel on the screen, such that only a portion of the video of the broadcast is covered by the displayed favorite station guide and the audio is broadcasted;
a pointer control device manipulated by a user, said pointer control device moving a system pointer displayed on the screen to point to a selectable location on the displayed station guide to point to a second program currently broadcasted on a favorite station on a second channel:
and
said system responding to the movement of the pointer to the selectable location by tuning the second channel to provide a broadcast of a second program on the screen.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/369,676Filed 4 Jan 1995
Granted: 30 Jul 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

H04N 21/4312
Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering: involving specific graphical features,…
H03J 1/0016
Using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor: indicating arrangements
H03J 1/0025
Using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor: in a remote control unit
H03J 9/06
Remote-control of tuned circuits; Combined remote-control of tuning and other functions, e.g. brightness, amplification: using electromagnetic…