US 7,373,650 B1Granted

Apparatuses and methods to enable the simultaneous viewing of multiple television channels and electronic program guide content

AssigneeScientific-Atlanta, Inc.

InventorsArturo A. Rodriguez, Dean F. Jerding, Robert O. Banker

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Abstract

A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) including a plurality of tuners, each of which can select one of a plurality of transmission channels provided by a Digital Broadband Delivery System (DBDS). The multiple tuners enable the DHCT to tune to a plurality of downstream media and data transmissions, thereby allowing a subscriber to tune simultaneously to multiple channels and content transmitted in the downstream transmission via the DBDS, an advantage over conventional DHCTs. The present invention enables subscribers to receive and view multiple channels and associated content, including electronic program guide information, at will. Furthermore, using the multiple-tuner DHCT of the present invention, subscribers can view multiple television stations and program content simultaneously, without degradation to television signals or pictures.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A method implemented by a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) for enabling a user to scroll through a plurality of video programs received via a plurality of transmission channels, comprising the steps of:

tuning to a first plurality of transmission channels via a plurality of respective tuners;
receiving a first plurality of video programs including a first video program and a second video program via the first plurality of transmission channels, wherein each of the first plurality of video programs comprises a plurality of time-sequential pictures;
outputting the first plurality of video programs to a display device configured to simultaneously display the first plurality of video programs, wherein a first video program is displayed in a first video display area of the display device and a second video program is displayed in a second video display area of the display device;
receiving via a tuner a program guide data including program information related to the first video program and program information related to the second video program and program information related to a third video program;
outputting the program guide data to the display device simultaneously with the first plurality of video programs in a default display order, as configured by a headend that sent the program guide data, wherein the program guide data includes an order option for the user to override the default display order and manually arrange the plurality of video programs with the program guide data, wherein at least a portion of the program information related to the first video program is displayed at a location corresponding to the first video program and at least a portion of the program information related to the second video program is displayed at a location corresponding to the second video program;
receiving, from a user during the outputting of the program guide data simultaneously with the first plurality of video programs, a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs;
in response to receiving the user request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs, suspending, at the DHCT, at least one of the plurality of tuners from tuning to the respective transmission channels;
utilizing the suspended tuner for receiving at least a portion of the requested program information;
and
outputting a static image in the display area corresponding to the video program previously provided by the suspended tuner.

7 more elements

A method for enabling the simultaneous viewing of video programs and related electronic program guide information, comprising:

receiving a plurality of video programs substantially simultaneously by tuning to a plurality of transmission channels via a plurality of respective tuners, the plurality of video programs including a first video program and a second video program, wherein the first and second video programs each comprise a plurality of time-sequential pictures;
receiving via a tuner a program guide data including program information related to the first video program and program information related to the second video program;
receiving a first user input from a user;
responsive to receiving the first user input outputting to a display device a television signal comprising a simultaneous visual presentation of the plurality of video programs with program guide data, wherein the first and second video programs are located in respective first and second video display areas of the visual presentation and the program guide data includes at least a portion of program information related to the first video program and at least a portion of program information related to the second video program, wherein the location of the first and second video display areas and the program guide data is determined at a headend that sent the program guide data, wherein the program guide data includes an order option for the user to override the location of the first and second video display areas and manually arrange the first and second video display areas with the program guide data;
receiving, from a user during the outputting of the simultaneous visual presentation of the plurality of video programs with program guide data, a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs;
in response to receiving the user request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs, suspending at least one of the plurality of tuners from tuning to the respective transmission channels;
utilizing the suspended tuner for receiving at least a portion of the requested program information;
and
outputting a static image in the display area corresponding to the video program previously provided by the suspended tuner.

6 more elements

A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) configured to enable a user to scroll through a plurality of video programs received via a plurality of transmission channels, comprising:

a plurality of tuners configured to substantially simultaneously tune to a first plurality of transmission channels carrying a first plurality of video programs including a first video program and a second video program;
memory configured to store executable instructions;
and
at least one processor that is programmed by the executable instructions to enable the DHCT to:
output the first plurality of video programs to a display device configured to simultaneously display the first plurality of video programs in a default display order, as configured by a headend that sent the program guide data, wherein a first video program is displayed in a first video display area of the display device and a second video program is displayed in a second video display area of the display device;
receive via at least one tuner a program guide data including program information related to the first video program and program information related to the second video program, wherein the program guide data includes an order option for the user to override the default display order and manually arrange the plurality of video programs with the program guide data;
output the program guide data to the display device simultaneously with the first plurality of video programs, wherein at least a portion of the program information related to the first video program is displayed at a location corresponding to the first video program and at least a portion of the program information related to the second video program is displayed at a location corresponding to the second video program;
receive, from a user during the outputting the program guide data with the first plurality of video programs, a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs;
in response to receiving the user request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs, suspend at least one of the plurality of tuners from tuning to the respective transmission channels;
utilize the suspended tuner for receiving at least a portion of the requested program information;
and
output a static image in the location corresponding to the video program previously provided by the suspended tuner.

9 more elements

A method implemented by a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) having a plurality of tuners, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first video program via a first tuner;
receiving a second video program via a second tuner;
receiving via at least one tuner a program guide data including program information related to the first video program and program information related to the second video program;
receiving user input from a user;
outputting the first and second video programs to a display device for display in respective first and second display areas of a default display order as configured by a headend that sent the program guide data, responsive to receiving the user input, wherein the program guide data includes an order option for the user to override the default display order and manually arrange the plurality of video programs with the program guide data;
outputting at least a portion of program information related to the first and second video programs to the display device responsive to receiving the user input;
receiving, from a user during the outputting of the program guide data simultaneously with the first plurality of video programs, a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs;
in response to receiving a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs, suspending, at the DHCT, at least one of the first tuner and the second tuner from receiving a video program;
utilizing the suspended tuner for receiving at least a portion of the requested program information;
and
outputting a static image in the display area corresponding to the video program previously provided by the suspended tuner,
wherein the first and second video programs and the program guide data are displayed simultaneously by the display device.

9 more elements

A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) configured to enable the simultaneous viewing of video programs and related electronic program guide information, comprising:

a plurality of tuners configured to substantially simultaneously tune to a first plurality of transmission channels carrying a first plurality of video programs including a first video program and a second video program;
at least one tuner configured to receive a program guide data including program information related to the first video program and program information related to the second video program;
memory configured to store executable instructions and the program guide data;
and
at least one processor that is programmed by the executable instructions to enable the DHCT to:
output the program guide data and the plurality of video programs simultaneously in a default display order, as configured by a headend that sent the program guide data to a display device responsive to a first user input, wherein the first video program is displayed in a first video display area of the display device and the second video program is displayed in a second video display area of the display device, and wherein at least a portion of the program information related to the first video program is displayed at a location corresponding to the first video program and at least a portion of the program information related to the second video program is displayed at a location corresponding to the second video program, wherein the program guide data includes an order option for a user to override the default display order and manually arrange the plurality of video programs with the program guide data;
receive, from a user during the outputting of the program guide data simultaneously with the first plurality of video programs, a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs;
in response to receiving a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs, suspend at least one of the plurality of tuners from tuning to the respective transmission channels;
utilize the suspended tuner for receiving at least a portion of the requested program information;
and
output a static image in the video display area corresponding to the video program previously provided by the suspended tuner.

8 more elements

A DHCT configured to provide a user with program information corresponding to television programs, comprising:

at least one guide tuner configured to receive a program guide data including program information corresponding to a plurality of television programs scheduled on the first television channel;
a plurality of program tuners configured to receive a plurality of television programs, wherein at least one television programs corresponds to a television program to be broadcast in the future on a first television channel;
a first memory configured to store executable instructions;
and
at least one processor that is programmed by the executable instructions to enable the DHCT to output a television signal comprising a simultaneous visual presentation of the plurality television programs at a plurality of respective display areas and program guide data in a default display order as configured by a headend that sent the program guide data, wherein at least a portion of the program information corresponding to each respective television program in the plurality of sequential television programs is included in the visual presentation, wherein the program guide data includes an order option for the user to override the default display order and manually arrange the plurality of video programs with the program guide data;
wherein the DHCT is configured to receive, from a user during the outputting of the visual presentation and the program guide data, a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs,
wherein, in response to receiving the user request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs, the DHCT is configured to suspend at least one of the plurality of program tuners from receiving the plurality of television programs and utilize the suspended tuner for receiving at least a portion of the requested program information, and
wherein the DHCT is further configured to output a static image in the display area corresponding to the video program previously provided by the suspended tuner.

5 more elements

A method for enabling the simultaneous viewing of video programs and related electronic program guide information, comprising:

receiving a plurality of video programs substantially simultaneously by tuning to a plurality of transmission channels via a plurality of respective tuners, the plurality of video programs including a first video program and a second video program, wherein the first and second video programs each comprise a plurality of time-sequential pictures;
receiving via a tuner a program guide data including program information related to the first video program and program information related to the second video program;
configuring a memory to output the first plurality of video at a plurality of respective display areas;
configuring an output buffer in the memory with the first video program and the second video program;
configuring the output buffer with a plurality of program information sections including a first program information section for at least a portion of the program information related to the first video program and a second program information section for at least a portion of the program information related to the second video program;
configuring the location of the video section and program information section in the output buffer for each respective video program;
outputting data in the output buffer to a display device in a default display order as configured by a headend that sent the program guide data, wherein the program guide data includes an order option for a user to override the default display order and manually arrange the plurality of video programs with the program guide data;
receiving, from a user during the outputting of the program guide data simultaneously with the first plurality of video programs, a request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs;
in response to receiving the user request for program information related to at least one of the plurality of programs, suspending, at the DHCT, at least one of the plurality of tuners from receiving the plurality of video programs;
utilizing the suspended tuner for receiving at least a portion of the requested program information;
and
outputting a static image in the display area corresponding to the video program previously provided by the suspended tuner.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/558,556Filed 26 Apr 2000 · us provisional application
Priority: 1 Feb 2000
Granted: 13 May 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H04N 21/47
Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof: end-user…
H04N 21/4263
For processing the incoming bitstream: involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
H04N 21/42676
Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof: for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or…
H04N 21/4316
Involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations: for displaying…