United States Patent [19]
`Schein et al.
`
`US006151059A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,151,059
`*Nov. 21, 2000
`
`5,585,866 12/1996 Miller et al. ............................ 348/731
`[54] ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH
`5,589,892 12/1996 Knee et al. ..
`. 348/731
`INTERACTIVE AREAS
`5,604,544 2/1997 Bertram ......
`... 348/601
`§: ;!. º et th ------------------------------ º
`[75] Inventors: Steven Michael Schein, Menlo Park;
`?º" 5,754,176 5/1998 Crawford ....
`... 345/338
`-
`2
`-
`5,781,246 7/1998 Alten et al. ..
`. 348/569
`Mountain View, all of Calif.
`5,822,123 10/1998 Davis et al. ............................ 34.8/564
`5,940,073 8/1999 Klost
`tal. … 345/327
`[73] Assignee: StarSight Telecast, Inc., Fremont,
`Osler Iman el a
`Calif.
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2- - -->
`
`OTIIl CI al. ................................
`
`e
`
`e
`
`-
`
`e
`
`[*] Notice:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`PCT/US94/
`
`06941 6/1994 WIPO .............................. H04N 7/16
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`-
`-
`-
`... -
`-
`International Preliminary Examination Report dated Oct. 15,
`1998 from the corresponding PCT application (PCT/US97/
`13751).
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/906,073
`Primary Examiner—Thomas G. Black
`[22] Filed:
`Aug. 5, 1997
`Assistant Examiner—Uyen Le
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP
`Related U.S. Application Data
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`[60] Provisional application No. 60/022,436, Aug. 6, 1996.
`-
`-
`[51] Int. Cl." … H04N 7/14 - -
`
`
`[52] U.S. Cl
`348/13; 348/906; 348/563;
`A television schedule system and method for displaying
`e
`includes a program guide having a schedule information
`[58] Field of sºsº sº * area that depicts the programs that are being presented on
`2
`2
`2
`5 T 42. 345/327
`each channel at each time during the day. An input device
`• --> * > -->
`allows the viewer to move a pointer over different interactive
`areas of the guide and the function performed when the area
`References Cited
`is activated is displayed in a contextual help window.
`Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`the guide. Additionally, a video window is interactive and
`348/601
`5,157,768 10/1992 Hoeber et al
`... ... provides tuning functions.
`5,436,676
`7/1995 Pint et al. .....
`... 348/569
`5,532,754 7/1996 Young et al. .
`5,559,550 9/1996 Mankovitz .................................. 348/6
`24 Claims, 36 Drawing Sheets
`
`---> - *------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`2
`
`345A2;
`
`television schedule information on a television screen
`
`[56]
`
`2 ~~ 2
`
`O?D?? el al. ..........................
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
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`Tº 204
`200
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`229
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`Bºº here to tune directly to the
`selected program.
`
`
`
`Page 1 of 47
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`SONY EXHIBIT 1012
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 1 of 36
`Sheet 1 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 2 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 3 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 4 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`CHANNEL
`DATA TABLE
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`Page 5 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 5 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`CHANNEL DATA TABLE
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`Page 6 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 6 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`SHOW LIST
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`Page 7 of 47
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 7 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`SHOW TITLE ENTRY
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 8 of 36
`Sheet 8 of 36
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 9 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 10 of 36
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`Sheet 11 of 36
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 13 of 36
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`Nov. 21, 2000
`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 16 of 36
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 17 of 36
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`1
`ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH
`INTERACTIVE AREAS
`
`This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/022,436, filed Aug. 6,
`1996, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention generally relates to television
`schedule information, and more particularly to a system and
`method for displaying a television program guide on a
`television screen.
`As the number of television stations in a metropolitan area
`or on a cable network has increased, the number of programs
`of potential interest that are presented to a viewer has risen
`dramatically. With the use of dish antennas capable of
`receiving direct satellite signals, the multitude of programs
`available to the viewer has further increased.
`Additionally, television faces a digital future that will see
`the merger of television and PC technology. The television
`set of the future will include a micro-computer, a modem of
`interconnectivity with other computers over networks,
`intranets, and the internet, and be connectable to computer
`peripherals such as printers. Such capabilities as near “video
`on demand” (NVOD), “video on demand”, access to the
`world wide web”, “audio on demand”, etc. will be present
`the viewer with a plethora of information and bandwidth.
`As has become increasingly evident, information over
`load can actually reduce the usefulness of the information
`delivered. Accordingly, a great challenge exists to provide
`an interface that manages and provides an intelligent, user
`friendly interface to the information available.
`Consequently, television schedule systems that are pro
`vided directly on the viewer’s television screen have been
`developed to assist the viewer in sorting through these
`various programs and determining which programs to watch
`or record. One such television schedule system is disclosed
`in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,121 (Young et
`al.), the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated
`by reference. In one embodiment of Young, the television
`schedule includes a series of menu screens having an array
`of cells corresponding to different television programs. The
`viewer may scroll through the cells to view which television
`programs are being presented on various channels at various
`times. In addition, the viewer may select certain cells to
`obtain more information on the associated program or to pull
`up other submenus with additional options.
`The recent development of television schedule systems,
`such as the above described patent to Young, have created
`many new challenges. One such challenge is providing a
`system and method that is suitable for use on a PC, PC/TV,
`WebTV, or TV to manage intelligently the vast stores of
`information available and provide user access and control
`directly through an electronic program guide. Another chal
`lenge is to facilitate easy access to a wide range of func
`tionality through the combination of a limited number of
`user interactions.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a system and method for
`displaying schedule information on a visual interface, such
`as a television screen, a computer monitor or the like. The
`present invention also provides a system and method for
`allowing the viewer to navigate and interact with a program
`guide that is displayed, for example, on the viewer’s tele
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`vision screen. The program guide will usually include a
`schedule information area that depicts the programs that are
`being presented on each channel at each time during the day.
`With an input device, such as a remote control device,
`pointing device, mouse, keyboard, microphone or the like,
`the viewer can browse through the schedule information
`area and/or obtain more information about programs of
`particular interest.
`According to one aspect of the invention, actions are
`directly invoked by moving a pointer over areas of the visual
`interface and selecting or “clicking” on the area. A “con
`textual help window” in the display area prompts the user as
`to what can be or needs to be done as the user moves the
`pointer over the display area. This feature insures that the
`user always knows what’s going on.
`In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is
`provided for allowing the viewer to utilize display action
`controls, configured as glyphs, to recursively vary the con
`figuration of the display area. Each glyph is activated by a
`point and click action of the user input device and serves as
`a switch for changing between two modes.
`According to one aspect of the invention, an “information
`glyph” switches back and forth between a title-only grid/list
`of many items (either a grid or listing, with one item
`selected) and an “information expansion” of a single item
`(expanding to display scrollable program or item
`information). The information glyph provides zoom-out for
`an overview or zoom-in for in-depth information.
`According to another aspect, a “find others glyph” auto
`matically searches for and displays a listing of all other
`airings of a currently-selected program.
`According to a further aspect, a “flip glyph” flips between
`vertical and horizontal configurations of the display area.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a “record
`glyph” allows for directly controlling recording with a single
`click.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a World
`Wide Web (WWW) icon appears on the display when a link
`to a website associated with the currently-selected program
`exist. Clicking on the WWW icon connects the user’s
`system to the associated website.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a linked
`services icon appears on the display when linked services
`associated with the currently-selected program are available.
`Clicking on the linked services icon configures the user’s
`system to access linked services.
`According to another aspect of the invention, when the
`user moves the pointer over a video window showing a
`currently-tuned channel the window splits into two parts. A
`top part is a clickable area allowing the user to tune directly
`to a currently-selected program in the display area and a
`lower part allowing the user to return to the currently-tuned
`program that was being displayed before the window split.
`According to another aspect of the invention, scrollable
`area are highlighted when the pointer is moved into the area
`with arrows indicating the direction of scrolling. Areas
`within a display area can activate scrolling of only a portion
`of a display area.
`According to another aspect of the invention, each action
`is performed by a user is confirmed in a text window to
`reinforce the user’s confidence that the action has been
`performed.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a display
`mode title area displays a current display mode icon and text
`description when not selected and displays alternative
`selectable display mode icons when activated.
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`3
`According to another aspect of the invention, a browsing
`window may be activated when a program is being viewed
`which may display the record glyph and world and linked
`services icons.
`Other features and advantages of the invention will be
`apparent in view of the following detailed description and
`the appended drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a representation of an embodiment of the EPG
`display of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a TV system;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a hardware unit for gener
`ating an on-screen electronic programming guide (EPG);
`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the hierarchical database
`utilized to generate the EPG;
`FIGS. 5A-5D are schematic diagrams of data structures
`in the database;
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram depicting the transmission
`of an EPG in a digital satellite system;
`FIGS. 7–10 are representations of displays that implement
`the scrolling function;
`FIGS. 11–14 are representations of displays that imple
`ment the find information function;
`FIGS. 15–17 are representations of displays that imple
`ment the find others function;
`FIGS. 18–19 are representations of displays that imple
`ment the vertical/horizontal flip functions;
`FIGS. 20–25 are representations of displays that imple
`ment the record function;
`FIG. 26 is a representation of a display that implements
`the tuning function for the video window;
`FIGS. 27A-27H are representations of displays for imple
`menting a transitional animation function;
`FIGS. 28 and 29 are representations of displays showing
`the interactive program mode area and icons; and
`FIGS. 30–33 are representations of displays for interact
`ing with the news services feature.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Overview of the Interactive Screen
`The present invention provides a schedule system and
`method for displaying schedule information on a visual
`interface, such as a television screen, computer monitor or
`the like. The system and method is particularly useful for use
`with television schedule information. The television sched
`ule information is presented in a program guide having a
`schedule information area depicting the program that are
`being shown on each channel for a period of time, e.g., a day,
`week or longer.
`The television schedule system includes an input device,
`such as a remote control device, pointing device, mouse,
`keyboard, microphone or the like, to allow the user to
`browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain
`more information about programs of particular interest.
`The controller may comprise a trackball, cursor
`controller, pointing device, a microphone for allowing voice
`activation, a number of keys or buttons that function to move
`the viewer around the screen, or the like. In the preferred
`embodiment, the controller comprises a scrolling mecha
`nism for displacing a movable cursor through a matrix of
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`cells or windows on the screen. The cursor may comprise a
`physical icon on the screen, or it may be represented by
`highlighting or other visual indications of the cells or
`windows that are scrolled through by the viewer.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a program guide 102 for the television
`schedule system of the present invention. The program guide
`102, which is the primary mode in the television schedule
`system, includes a number of screen information areas or
`windows in a particular screen where the viewer operates an
`input device, such as a pointer device described above, to
`move around vertically and horizontally and to interact with
`that screen area’s function. Preferably, the currently active
`screen area will be indicated to the viewer, for example, by
`changing the background color from a light greyscale metal
`lic to a brighter, active color. Within each screen area are one
`or more items, typically arranged in a matrix or grid so that
`the viewer can scroll through the grid. The items can be
`selected or activated with the input device.
`As shown in FIG. 1, program guide 102 preferably
`includes a schedule information area 106 having a program
`matrix 108 of cells or items that depict the shows that are
`being presented on each channel at each time during the day.
`Program guide 102 conveniently lists the channels in a
`vertical column to the left of the program matrix 108 and the
`times in a horizontal row above matrix 108. The viewer
`selects an area by moving a pointer 110 over the area
`associated with a desired action. When the pointer 110 is
`moved over an area, the item may be automatically high
`lighted with a brighter color to indicate the viewer’s loca
`tion.
`In FIG. 1, program guide 102 includes a number of other
`information areas. For example, program guide 102 includes
`a display title area 200 that includes a display mode icon 202
`and a display mode description text field 204. An interactive
`data control window 206 displays the date for the listings in
`display matrix 108.
`Directly below the display area 108 are four small action
`controls 208–211 which give the viewer the ability to
`recursively vary the configuration of the display area 108.
`The operation and functions of these action controls is
`described in detail below. A world icon 214 may appear
`below the display area on the left side and a star (linked
`services available) icon 216 may appear directly below the
`display area on the right side. The operation and functions of
`the world star icons are described in detail below.
`A contextual help window 218 is located at the bottom of
`the program guide 102 and displays a text field that informs
`the user of actions that can or need to be done when the
`pointer is located in a particular area of the program guide.
`Many examples of the different text fields that appear in the
`contextual help window 218 are described below.
`A video window 220 may display a currently-tuned
`television show. Below the video window 220 is a channel
`window 222, a title window 224, and a current time display
`window 226. Each of these windows are interactive as
`described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the current time is
`represented by the location of the time line 199 with respect
`to the start times of the programs.
`Overview an EPG System
`In a preferred embodiment, the electronic program guide
`of invention may be implemented either on a personal
`computer, a PCTV, a television connected to a set-top box,
`or a television including a custom board. However, the
`invention is not limited to any particular hardware configu
`ration and will have increased utility as new combinations of
`
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`5
`computers and television systems are developed. In the
`following any of the above will sometimes be referred to as
`a “TV system”. Block diagrams of representative TV sys
`tems are depicted in FIG. 2. Details of implementation are
`not depicted because the invention is not limited to any
`particular TV system.
`As is well known, the picture to be displayed may be
`transmitted as an analog signal, for example according to the
`NTSC standard utilized in the United States, or as a digital
`signal modulated onto an analog carrier. The signals may be
`received over a cable, or via an antenna or satellite dish.
`Typically, television sets are designed to receive analog
`signals and computers display devices are designed to
`display pictures encoded in a digital format. However,
`decoder system converts the digital data to an analog signal
`for display on a television set and TV modems can format
`analog TV signals for display on a monitor.
`In FIG. 2, analog or digital TV signals, received via cable
`30, antenna 32, or satellite dish 34, are provided to a
`television system. If the signal is from a digital broadcast
`service, then a decoder 36 converts the signal to baseband
`video and audio or channel 3/4 RF. If the signal is an analog
`signal it is passed through as a video output. The television
`system 38, depending on its configuration, receives selected
`ones of the outputs and displays the received program.
`A PCTV includes a TV card 40, connected to either live
`video, baseband video, or channel 3/4 output, digitizes the
`video image and displays the video image in a resizable
`window on the computer monitor. The PCTV is also coupled
`to land telephone lines by a modem 42.
`If the received signal is an analog TV signal the TV card
`of the PCTV digitizes the analog signal and extracts
`included information from the vertical blanking intervals.
`On the other hand, if the signal is a digital signal separate
`audio, video, VBI (vertical blanking information such as
`closed caption, teletext, and program related information),
`program guide, and conditional access information are pro
`vided as separate bitstreams. The video and audio bitstreams
`for programs are converted to a format for display and the
`program guide information is processed to form program
`guide database. The processor, executing software stored in
`memory, generates interactive electronic program guide
`images and images of received programs. The guide can be
`used to interact with and control programs displayed in the
`window.
`A television system configured to display an electronic
`program guide such as a guide provided by StarSight
`telecast includes an on-screen display controller and other
`hardware described below. If a standard analog broadcast
`signal is received program guide data is extracted from the
`VBI by a VBI data slicer and processed to form a program
`database. If a DBS digital signal is received, either from a
`satellite or cable, VBI and program data are provided in
`separate bit streams. The program guide images are gener
`ated are either generated locally or remotely and provided to
`an on screen display controller. Interactivity is provided via
`a remote control.
`Alternatively, the program