# US 7,610,552 B2 · Three dimensional light electronic programming guide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,552 B2 - Document ID: US7610552B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/970,847 - Filed: 2008-01-08 - Published: 2008-07-03 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2000-05-08 - Assignees: JLB Ventures LLC - Inventors: Dan Kikinis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610552B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/47: End-user applications - G06F 3/04815: Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object - G06T 11/26: Drawing of charts or graphs - G09G 5/00: Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators (image data processing or generation, in general G06T) - H04N 7/16: Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems - H04N 21/42653: {for processing graphics} - H04N 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N 21/454: Content {or additional data} filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements - H04N 21/4755: {for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre (retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306)} - H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection - H04N 21/4821: {using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time} - H04N 21/4826: {using recommendation lists, e.g. of programmes or channels sorted out according to their score} - H04N 21/84: Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)} - G06F 2203/04802: 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user - G06T 2200/04: involving 3D image data - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A method and apparatus of displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). In one embodiment, an EPG is displayed in a three dimensional virtual mesh, in which independent objects representing television programs are situated. The simplified nature of the three dimensional EPG reduces the amount of processing necessary to display it. In addition, the virtual mesh may be displayed isometrically, so that hardware requirements are further reduced and it may be possible to use a software only three dimensional graphics pipeline. If a user has a set top box (STB) with a hardware accelerated graphics pipeline, the EPG may be displayed in a full three dimensional perspective view. A user can navigate the mesh to find television programs that they wish to view. A user can assign values to types of television programs that they prefer, and these programs will be displayed more prominently. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising: generating a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron including a plurality of planes, wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed such that more than one surface of the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed; and displaying first and second objects on a first plane of the plurality of planes and a third object on a second plane of the plurality of planes, wherein the first object represents a first television program, the second object represents a second television program and the third object represents a third television program, and wherein the first plane is semi-transparent and the second plane is visible through the semi-transparent first plane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said polyhedron is displayed in an isometric view. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said EPG is generated exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selection of one of said objects causes a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time to be selected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the first object is manipulable independently of the polyhedron. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first object represents the first television program on a certain channel at a certain time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said virtual mesh polyhedron is a cube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said cube further comprises three axes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said axes correspond to time, channel, and user preference. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said planes are parallel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said planes correspond to levels of preference. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said objects is a pictogram. ### Claim 14 One or more computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to: generate a thee dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron including a plurality of planes, wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed such that more than one surface of the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed; and display first and second objects on a first plane of the plurality of planes and a third object on a second plane of the plurality of planes, wherein the first object represents a first television program, the second object represents a second television program and the third object represents a third television program, and wherein the first plane is semi-transparent and the second plane is visible through the semi-transparent first plane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The one or more computer readable media of claim 14, wherein selection of one of said objects causes a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time to be selected. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The one or more computer readable media of claim 14, wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The one or more computer readable media of claim 14, wherein said objects represent a certain television program on a certain channel at a certain time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The one or more computer readable media of claim 14, wherein the first plane and the second plane correspond to different levels of viewing preference. ### Claim 19 An apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to: generate a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron including a plurality of planes, wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed such that more than one surface of the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed; and display first and second objects on a first plane of the plurality of planes and a third object on a second plane of the plurality of planes, wherein the first object represents a first television program, the second object represents a second television program and the third object represents a third television program, and wherein the first plane is semi-transparent and the second plane is visible through the the semi-transparent first plane. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first plane and the second plane correspond to different levels of viewing preference. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first plane is an internal plane of the polyhedron and the second plane is an external plane of the polyhedron.