# US 8,789,099 B2 · Visual cue for programs in an electronic program guide

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- Number: US 8,789,099 B2
- Document ID: US8789099B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/993,701
- Filed: 2011-01-25
- Published: 2013-10-10
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-01-25
- Assignees: Thomson Licensing
- Applicants: Evan Michael Foote
- Inventors: Evan Michael Foote
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8789099B2

## CPC

- H04N 21/4821: {using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time}
- H04N 21/4312: {involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations}
- H04N 21/47: End-user applications
- H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An electronic program guide includes a plurality of elements arrayed in a grid of rows and columns, with the rows corresponding to program sources and the columns corresponding to time intervals. Each element corresponds to a program played out from a particular program source during a corresponding time interval. The background of each element changes, such as by way of a color gradient or changing shape, to indicate one of a program beginning or ending. In this way, a viewer can ascertain the length of the program even if the element gets clipped upon updating the electronic program guide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, executed by a processor, for providing an electronic program guide, comprising the steps of:
forming a grid array of elements by the processor, with each element corresponding to a window in time and each element having a foreground legend identifying at least a portion of a program from a particular program source appearing during a time interval associated with said each element, and
providing elements by the processor with a background having a contrasting half-oval color shape having a span in correspondence with program length, such that the half-oval shape has a visible portion beginning in a corresponding element at a time corresponding to program commencement and ending in the corresponding element at a time corresponding to program conclusion.

### Claim 2

A processor for generating an electronic program guide for display on a display device, the electronic program guide generated by the processor comprising:
a grid array of elements, with each element corresponding to a window in time and each element having a foreground legend identifying at least a portion of a program from a particular program source appearing during a time interval associated with said each element, and
each element having a background having a contrasting half-oval color shape having a span in correspondence with program length, such that the half-oval shape has a visible portion beginning in a corresponding element at a time corresponding to program commencement and ending in the corresponding element at a time corresponding to program conclusion.