Apparatus and method for providing EPG, and terminal and method for displaying EPG

A method of providing an electronic program guide, comprising:

• extracting the electronic program guide, which specifies broadcasts according to time and channel, from a broadcast signal;
• detecting a plurality of favorite channels according to time, based on statistics of broadcasts being selected by a user according to time;
• and
• converting information regarding favorite broadcasts, which are broadcast via the user's favorite channels according to time, into a document in a data format permitted in the user's terminal, the information included in the extracted electronic program guide, the extracted electronic program guide displaying the plurality of favorite channels according to time, wherein each favorite channel of the plurality of favorite channels is displayed on a corresponding time in a favorite channel column included in the electronic program guide,
• wherein the document creating unit converts information regarding an alarm indicating a broadcast time of at least one broadcast which will be broadcasted via the favorite channels of the user, into a document in the data format.

A terminal comprising:

• a receiving unit receiving an electronic program guide and an electronic program guide application from an apparatus which provides the electronic program guide, wherein the electronic program guide comprises information regarding a plurality of favorite channels of a user according to time and the information determined by computing statistics based on channels being selected by the user according to time;
• a display unit displaying broadcasts, which are specified in the electronic program guide according to time and channel, a menu of service commands regarding the displayed broadcasts, using the electronic program guide application, and the electronic program guide including the plurality of favorite channels of the user according to time, wherein each favorite channel of the plurality of favorite channels is displayed on a corresponding time in a favorite channel column included in the electronic program guide;
• an input unit receiving information regarding selection of the displayed broadcasts and information regarding selection of the displayed service commands;
• and
• a transmitting unit transmitting the received information to the apparatus, the received information is attributed to one of a plurality of users who use the electronic program guide,
• wherein the display unit displays information regarding an alarm indicating a broadcast time of at least one broadcast which will be broadcasted via the favorite channels of the user.

A method of displaying an electronic program guide, comprising:

• receiving the electronic program guide and an electronic program guide application from an apparatus which provides the electronic program guide, wherein the electronic program guide comprises information regarding a plurality of favorite channels of a user according to time and the information determined by computing statistics based on channels being selected by the user according to time;
• displaying broadcasts, which are listed in the electronic program guide according to time and channel, a menu of service commands regarding the displayed broadcasts, using the electronic program guide application, and the electronic program guide including the plurality of favorite channels of the user according to time, wherein each favorite channel of the plurality of favorite channels is displayed on a corresponding time in a favorite channel column included in the electronic program guide, and information regarding an alarm indicating a broadcast time of at least one broadcast which will be broadcasted via the favorite channels of the user;
• receiving information regarding selection of the displayed broadcasts and information regarding selection of the displayed service commands;
• and
• transmitting the received information to the apparatus, the received information is attributed to one of a plurality of users who use the electronic program guide.