Program guide on a remote control

A portable remote control device for controlling a broadcast program receiver, comprising:

• (a) a receiver for receipt of wireless transmissions of incoming data from a host device via a communications network, the transmissions of incoming data to the portable device from the host device via the communications network being independent from the transmission of broadcast programs;
• (b) a display for visual presentation of images generated from the incoming data, said visual presentation of images (i) having content related to the content of the broadcast programs, (ii) being timed in relation to the time of the broadcast programs, and (iii) being implemented by a procedure without at any time interfering with the presentation of the broadcast programs on the appliance;
• (c) a transmitter for sending wireless outgoing data transmissions to the host device via the communications network;
• (d) a plurality of tactilely operated controls to permit the device to interact with the broadcast program receiver appliance and the communications network;
• and
• (e) at least one processor configured to obtain and record program data corresponding to a broadcast program accessed at the broadcast program receiver,
• wherein, the portable remote control device is configured to transmit the program data to the host device.

A portable remote control device for a broadcast program receiver, comprising:

• (a) a receiver for receipt of wireless transmissions of incoming data from a host device via a communications network, the transmissions of incoming data to the portable device from the host device via the communications network being independent from the transmission of broadcast programs;
• (b) a real time clock for generating signals indicative of current time;
• (c) a display for visual presentation of images generated from the incoming data, said visual presentation of images (i) having content based on the content of the broadcast programs and (ii) being depicted in response to the real time clock signals;
• (d) a transmitter for sending wireless outgoing data transmissions to the host device via the communications network;
• (e) a plurality of tactilely operated controls to permit the device to interact with the broadcast program receiver appliance and the communications network;
• and
• (f) a memory,
• wherein, the data transmissions to the host device include program data read from the memory, the program data corresponding to a broadcast program accessed at the broadcast program receiver appliance.

A remote control system for controlling a broadcast program receiver, comprising:

• a portable device having a first transmitter for transmitting control signals to the broadcast program receiver;
• a host device capable of communication with the portable device but not with the broadcast program receiver;
• a communications network for the transmission of data between the portable device and the host device, said communications network data transmissions being independent from the transmission of broadcast programs;
• the portable device also having (i) a receiver for receipt of wireless incoming data transmissions from the host device via the communications network, (ii) at least one processor configured to record program data corresponding to a broadcast program accessed at the broadcast program receiver, (iii) a second transmitter for sending wireless outgoing data transmissions to the host device via the communications network, said outgoing data transmissions including said program data, and (iv) a display for visual presentation of at least a portion of the incoming data received by the portable device from the host device via the communications network;
• and
• the host device transmitting said portion of incoming data to the portable device in response to the program data received from the portable device, such that the visual presentation on the display of the portable device has content related to the content of the broadcast program accessed at the broadcast program receiver.

A method for displaying content on a portable remote device used to control a broadcast program receiver, comprising:

• transmitting control signals from the remote control device to the broadcast program receiver to access a broadcast program;
• recording in the remote control device program data corresponding to a broadcast program accessed at the broadcast program receiver;
• transmitting a wireless outgoing signal including said program data from the remote device to a host device via a communications network receiving a wireless incoming signal including content data at the remote device;
• displaying the content data on the remote device;
• the transmission of incoming and outgoing signals over said communications network being independent from the transmission of the broadcast program;
• and
• said content data being determined at and transmitted from the host device in response to previously received program data from the remote device so that the content of the display on the remote device relates to the content of the broadcast program accessed at the broadcast program receiver.