Program information searching system for interactive program guide
OwnerDean F. Jerding, Arturo A. Rodriguez +1inventors
InventorsDean F. Jerding, Arturo A. Rodriguez, Robert O. Banker
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for searching for television program information using a programmable television services client device that includes memory for storing data, display configuration information contained in the memory, and a processor. The display configuration information includes a guide arrangement configured in a search format for displaying a prompt for user input designating a television program search parameter. The processor is responsive to user input and is configured to cause a search result related to the television program search parameter to be displayed on a viewing device.
Claims56
A programmable television services client device for enabling a user to search for television program information, said client device comprising:
- memory comprising:
- program information corresponding to a plurality of television programs;
- an initial interactive program guide (IPG) arrangement;
- and
- a user interface (UI) module;
- and
- a processor configured with the UI module to associate the program information with the initial IPG arrangement, the processor further configured with the UI module to:
- present the initial IPG arrangement on a display device, the initial IPG arrangement including a channel area, a first program display area adjacent the channel area, and a browse-by icon;
- receive a first user input corresponding to selection of the browse-by icon;
- present a first IPG arrangement on the display device responsive to the first user input, the first IPG arrangement comprising a browse-by area that displaces the channel area, the browse-by area having a search option;
- receive a second user input corresponding to selection of the search option;
- present a second IPG arrangement on the display device responsive to the second user input, the second IPG arrangement comprising a user input field that displaces the browse-by area;
- receive a third user input corresponding to a search term, the third user input entered through the user input field;
- search the program information based on the search term;
- and
- present a third IPG arrangement on the display device responsive to the search, the third IPG arrangement comprising a second program display area that displaces the user input field, the second program display area comprising a search result comprising the program information for a portion of the plurality of television programs where the search term is in a respective television program title.
A method for implementing a programmable television services client device to enable a user to search for television program information, said method for implementing a programmable television services client device comprising the steps of:
- presenting an initial IPG arrangement on a display device, the initial IPG arrangement including a channel area, a first program display area adjacent the channel area, and a browse-by icon;
- receiving a first user input corresponding to selection of the browse-by icon;
- presenting a first IPG arrangement on the display device responsive to the first user input, the first IPG arrangement comprising a browse-by area that displaces the channel area, the browse-by area having a search option;
- receiving a second user input corresponding to selection of the search option;
- presenting a second IPG arrangement on the display device responsive to the second user input, the second IPG arrangement comprising a user input field that displaces the browse-by area;
- receiving a third user input corresponding to a search term, the third user input entered through the user input field;
- searching the program information based on the search term;
- and
- presenting a third IPG arrangement on the display device responsive to the search, the third IPG arrangement comprising a second program display area that displaces the user input field, the second program display area comprising a search result comprising the program information for a portion of the plurality of television programs where the search term is in a respective television program title.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.