EP1024661A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pictographic electronic program guide
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
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Filing: 2000-01-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2020-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for displaying a pictographic program guide (PPG) to assist users in determining and selecting television viewing options and related services is described. The PPG is constructed at receiver stations based on data periodically received via a Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite communication system. Preferably, the data decoder of the receiver station is a personal computer or a device having similar processing power. The PPG includes still pictures, live video broadcasts, still graphics, moving graphics, web pages, links and "buttons" that are utilized by the viewer to perform a variety of operations, including determining program availability, selecting programming or services, and launching to related information, programming or services. The PPG layout and organization is defined by one or more templates, and the basic instructions for building the templates are broadcast to the receiver stations. The PPG, according to the present invention, is constructed from both real time broadcast data ("streaming" data) and periodically downloaded and stored data ("file" data). By broadcasting the template information, along with instructions or linking-data on how to fill in the template using the streaming and file data, the broadcaster can easily change the PPG presentation format by changing the broadcast template information.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory J. Gagnon
- 👤 Jon D. Toellner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/482; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A computer based graphical user interface for facilitating the
selection and display of transmitted audio, video, and data, comprising: an active video segment adapted to display a currently tuned
program; a category segment listing various categories of programs or services
available for viewing; a video/picture segment having a plurality of video/picture areas
associated with the category segment, wherein selection of a one
video/picture area invokes the interface to command a receiver to tune to
a particular program or service associated with the one video/picture area
and to display the particular program in the active video segment; and a graphic/link segment, wherein selection of a graphic/link invokes a
function associated with the graphic/link.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The interface of claim 1, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes a web graphic/link indicating that there is a web page related to at
least one video/picture area from the plurality of video/picture areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interface of claim 1, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes grid-guide links that invoke the interface to display a program grid-guide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interface of claim 1, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes video-clip links that invoke the display of video clips in the
video/picture segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interface of claim 1, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes software links that invoke the download of software to the
receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The interface of claim 1, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes software links that invoke the display of a data catalog that
provides a schedule of when particular computer programs/web pages will
be broadcast and available for download to the receiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interface of claim 1, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes links that invoke the purchase and display of a pay-per-view
program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interface of claim 1, further comprising a page segment,
whereby a user may select from one or more pages associated with a
particular category.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The interface of claim 1, further comprising a time line associated
with one or more of the video/picture areas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The interface of claim 1, wherein the categories within the
category segment listing include at least one from the group of categories
consisting of movies, sports, news, kids & family, shopping, music,
educational, entertainment, and favorites.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interface of claim 1, wherein the video/picture segment has
six 3:4 aspect ratio video picture areas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The interface of claim 1, further including one or more auxiliary
display areas.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for facilitating the selection and display of transmitted
audio, video, and data, comprising: displaying in a category segment a listing of the various categories of
programs available for viewing; displaying in an active video segment a video/service channel to
which a receiver is currently tuned; displaying a graphic/link segment containing a least one graphic/link
that invokes a feature or service associated with the graphic/link; displaying a video/picture segment having a plurality of video/picture
areas associated with the category segment; receiving an input from a user, the input being a selection of a one
video/picture area selected from the plurality of video/picture areas; commanding a receiver to tune to a particular program or service
associated with the one video/picture area; and displaying the particular broadcast program in the active video
segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The interface of claim 13, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes a web graphic/link indicating that there is a web page related to at
least a one from the plurality of video/picture areas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interface of claim 13, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes grid-guide links that invoke the interface to display a program grid-guide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interface of claim 13, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes video-clip links that invoke the display of video clips in the
video/picture segment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The interface of claim 13, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes software links that invoke the download of related software to the
receiver.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The interface of claim 13, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes software links that invoke the display of a data catalog that
provides a schedule of when particular computer programs/web pages will
be broadcast and available for download to the receiver.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interface of claim 13, wherein the graphic/link segment
includes links that invoke the purchase and display of a pay-per-view
program.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The display of claim 13, further including the step of displaying
a page segment, whereby a user may select from one or more pages
associated with a particular category.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display of claim 13, further including the step of displaying
a time line associated with one or more of the video/picture areas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The interface of claim 13, wherein the categories within the
category segment listing include at least one from the group of categories
consisting of movies, sports, news, kids & family, shopping, music,
educational, entertainment, and favorites.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interface of claim 13, wherein the video/picture segment has
six 3:4 aspect ratio video picture areas.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interface of claim 13, further including the step of displaying
one or more auxiliary display areas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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