United States Patent [191
`Rauch et al.
`
`[54] TELEVISION SCHEDULING SYSTEM FOR
`DISPLAYING A GRID REPRESENTING
`SCHEDULED LAYOUT AND SELECTING A
`PROGRAMMING PARAMETER FOR
`DISPLAY OR RECORDING
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Adam Christopher Rauch, Seattle;
`Gregory Riker, Woodinville; Nathan
`Paul Myhrvold. Bellevue; Edwin
`Thome, m. Seattle, all of Wash.
`
`[73] Assignee: Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
`Wash.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 713,588
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Aug. 13, 1996
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 241,743, May 12, 1994, aban(cid:173)
`doned.
`Int. Cl.6
`[51]
`..................................................... H04N 5/445
`[52] U.S. Cl ........................... 348/563; 348/565; 348/564;
`348110; 348/903; 348/569; 395/326
`[58] Field of Search ............................... 34816. 7. 10. 12,
`348113, 906. 553. 563, 564. 565. 566, 567,
`568.569,570,731. 732,460,473, 734;
`395/326. 327, 328; 455/3.1, 3.2. 4.1. 425.1,
`26.1; 3581335; 360/14.1. 69; 3591142, 146;
`H04N 5/54. 5/445
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENf DOCUMENTS
`
`5,130,800
`
`7/1992 Johnson et al .......................... 3481564
`
`FOREIGN PATENf DOCUMENTS
`
`0 444 496
`0 447 968
`0488 379
`61-049574
`2 208 142
`WO 91/05436
`
`9/1991 European Pat. Otf. ....... H04N 51445
`9/1991 European Pat. otl ........ H04N 7/087
`6/1992 European Pat. otl ........ H04N 51455
`3/1986
`Japan ............................... H04N 7/00
`3/1989 United Kingdom ............. H04N 5n6
`4/1991 WlPO .............................. H04N 5/44
`
`I II llllllll Ill Ill 1111111111111111111111111111111111
`
`US005731844A
`c111 Patent Number:
`[451 Date of Patent:
`
`5,731,844
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Brugliera, V .. "Digital On-Screen Display A New Technol(cid:173)
`ogy for the Consumer Interface", Cable TV Sessions
`18:571-586. 1993.
`Anonymous. "PC-Controlled Videotext Decoder PC
`-VT7000", Elektor Electronics 16:22-26. 1990.
`The FroxSystem Home Theater. "1993 Corporate Overview.
`Product Description Guide and Marketing Summary". Frox.
`Inc .. Milpitas, California. 1993. pp. i-16.
`Frox. 'The First Vision of the Inevitable". Frox Incorpo(cid:173)
`rated. Sunnyvale. California. 1991. pp. 1-12.
`"FroxSystem Owner's Manual". Frox, Inc .. Sunnyvale,
`California. 1993. pp. ii-4.7.
`Blissmer, Robert H .. 'Television Takes a New Shape (Smart
`Television) (Parts of a Special Supplement On Next-Gen(cid:173)
`eration Computing)", Electronic Engineering Times. May
`1992. n693:C47(1).
`"Frox Unveils New Home THX Audio Processing Package
`at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show". PR Newswire(cid:173)
`(PRN). Chicago. May 1992.
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`Primary Examiner-John K. Peng
`Assistant Examiner-Nathan J. Flynn
`Attome;>1 Agent, or Firm-Seed and Berry ILP
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A computer method and system for providing a user with
`efficient selection of a television program to view or record.
`The method provides concurrent display of a television
`schedule with a graphic description and a textual description
`of the television program currently selected by the user from
`the displayed television schedule. The displayed television
`schedule comprises a schedule layout displayed to the user
`on a screen display. The schedule layout includes a number
`of program names arranged in an adaptively learned order
`based on the frequency of the user's previous selections.
`Each time a program name is selected by the user, the
`graphic description and the textual description of the tele(cid:173)
`vision program represented by the selected program name
`are displayed concurrently with the adaptively ordered
`schedule layout. Thus. the user can select a television
`program perceptively and without delay.
`
`34 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`222-.........
`
`211
`,---A---,
`CHANNU NO.
`
`218
`
`21S
`
`6:0-0 PW
`
`.
`
`uo
`
`l[l[V!~ON
`
`258
`
`1
`
`Comcast, Exhibit-1002
`
`

`
`5,731,844
`Page 2
`
`ITTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"CES: Frox Interactive Home Theatre Rivals HDTV",
`Newsbytes News Network (NBNN), Las Vegas, Jan. 1992.
`
`"Frox Inc. and Lucasfilm's THX Audio Division Announce
`Home License Agreement", PR Newswire (PRN), Las
`Vegas, Jan. 1992.
`
`Rosenthal, Steve, "Smoothing the Way for Video Images",
`MacWEEK (MACW), Costa/ Associates Publishing LP ..
`Jul. 1991, p. 36.
`Langburg, Mike, "Malting Life Easier: On-Screen TV List(cid:173)
`ings", San Jose Mercury News (2):1D. May 4. 1992.
`Langburg. Mike, 'The Big Picture: Linking TV. Computer
`Creates Home Theater". San Jose Mercury News (2):1F.
`Dec. 1, 1991.
`
`2
`
`

`
`QO :t
`~ ...
`" ~
`...
`01
`
`QC
`~
`ll ....
`~
`
`~
`-.~ ....
`~ :;
`
`""""'" a
`~
`00 •
`0
`
`FIG. I
`
`Input Device
`
`120
`
`Recorder
`Video
`
`140
`
`170
`
`157
`
`155
`
`Central Processor
`
`Generator
`
`Graphics Display
`
`Processor
`Graphics
`Picture-In(cid:173)
`
`Device
`
`Input/Output
`
`160
`
`300 ~156
`
`Counter
`Program
`
`Program
`Record
`
`r is3
`
`I
`
`I
`
`..s:J.?4
`
`Counter
`Channel
`
`Program
`Selected
`
`r 151
`
`. .----........
`
`..L__!52
`
`Memory
`
`150
`
`Computer
`
`I Program I C~ent
`
`Trme
`
`Table
`
`Television
`
`130
`
`Tuner
`
`Cable Source i-------------1
`
`115
`
`110
`
`3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`5,731,844
`
`, ..
`
`217
`
`218
`
`r2'4
`
`222
`
`220
`~
`
`CHANNEL NO.
`
`6:00 PM
`
`6:30 PM
`
`7:00 PM
`
`7:30 PM
`
`216
`
`2
`
`4
`
`5
`
`7
`
`230
`
`224
`
`212
`
`260
`
`210
`
`200
`
`240
`
`250 { """""'"""""""""""'""'""";.,,;i..i,.--TO-Pl_CS-+-.....1..1..--RE_C_OR....,D~......_.~TE-LE_V_ISl_ON _ __.
`258
`256
`
`254
`
`FIG. 2
`
`4
`
`

`
`~
`~
`~
`VI
`
`'"' QC :t
`
`QC
`~
`~
`
`~
`g:
`
`~
`~
`~
`
`~
`
`~
`
`~ a.
`~ = ~
`•
`00
`0
`
`FIG. 3
`
`360
`
`350
`
`340
`
`330
`
`328
`
`326
`
`324
`
`322
`
`320
`
`yyyyyy\ y J~y
`
`310 l \
`
`... __ ............. _..
`_._ .. ______ ,.._ ...
`Bitmap Record
`
`... -··· -_ .... _ ..... -..... -.....
`
`..... _.. ...... _ .... -.......... _ ..
`Channel Channel
`
`-
`
`............. _
`Start
`
`-
`
`·-
`. ,
`Program
`
`'-----r
`
`\.
`
`300
`
`,,..-------' "-------,
`
`A
`
`~ Description
`
`Indicator
`Channel
`
`,---~----,
`
`Broadcast
`Time of
`
`A
`
`5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`5,731,844
`
`Obtain Program
`Information
`
`Store Program
`Information
`
`Display Menu
`
`400
`
`402
`
`403
`
`406
`
`410
`
`414
`
`416
`
`421
`
`422
`
`423
`
`Schedule
`Routine
`
`Topics
`Routine
`
`Display
`Icon
`
`Set Record
`Indicator
`
`Display on
`Full Screen
`
`Display Menu
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Display Bitmap or
`Blank Window
`
`y
`
`426
`N
`
`6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`5,731,844
`
`Schedule Routine
`
`Display Schedule
`Layout with Menu
`
`500
`
`504
`
`y
`
`Change
`Selection
`
`N
`
`N
`
`y
`
`Return
`
`FIG. 5
`
`7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`5,731,844
`
`Change Selection
`
`Change Highlight
`
`600
`
`Display Test String
`
`602
`
`612
`
`Display Program in
`>-_Y _ ___ Picture in Graphics
`Window
`
`N
`
`Display Bitmap or
`Blank Window
`
`614
`
`Return
`
`FIG.6
`
`8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`5,731,844
`
`Topics Routine
`
`Display Topics List
`with Menu
`
`700
`
`Increment Topic
`Count
`
`Reorder Topics
`List
`
`N
`
`y
`
`Display Program
`List
`
`704
`
`706
`
`708
`
`712
`
`Change Selection
`
`y
`
`Return
`
`FIG. 7
`
`9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`5,731,844
`
`Next Program
`
`801
`
`N
`
`N
`
`N
`
`Program
`
`Begin Recording
`
`Display Text
`Description
`
`Set VCR Per
`Channel Indicator
`
`Reset Recording
`Flag= False
`
`Reset Record
`Indicator= False
`
`800
`
`802
`y
`
`805
`
`806
`
`808
`
`814
`
`816
`
`803
`
`y
`
`804
`
`Set Recording
`Flag= True
`
`FIG. 8
`
`10
`
`

`
`5,731,844
`
`2
`After the viewer has read the text description, the viewer
`must remove the display window using the pointing device.
`The user then selects the first program for viewing if
`momentary viewing of the first program is desired. After
`momentary viewing, the user designates the schedule to be
`displayed again with the device. To continue, the user must
`then determine the location of a second program name in the
`television schedule, designate the second program name,
`read a second text description of the second program in a
`display window superimposed on the television schedule.
`remove the display window. select the second program for
`viewing. designate the schedule to be again displayed, and
`so on. This entire process must be repeated for each program
`that the user considers. Thus. a more efficient means of
`television program selection is desired.
`
`1
`TELEVISION SCHEDULING SYSTEM FOR
`DISPLAYING A GRID REPRESENTING
`SCHEDULED LAYOUT AND SELECTING A
`PROGRAMMING PARAMETER FOR
`DISPLAY OR RECORDING
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a file wrapper continuation of U.S. Pat.
`No. 08/241,743, filed May 12, 1994. now abandoned.
`
`10
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to the field of computer
`systems and, more particularly. to television program selec- 15
`tion using a computer system.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A television viewer often considers a number of different
`television programs before deciding on a program to view or
`record. Before making such a decision, the viewer typically
`engages in a cumbersome and time-consuming process in
`considering the different television programs with reference
`to a printed television schedule. The viewer first considers a
`program by referring to the printed schedule to obtain a time
`and channel over which the program will be broadcast. The
`program may be included anywhere within the schedule. and
`thus some effort may be required of the user and some time
`may be wasted in locating the program. Where provided. the
`viewer also reads a text description of the program in the
`printed schedule or in another publication. The text descrip(cid:173)
`tion may also require time and effort to locate. The viewer
`then considers the program based on the text description. If
`the program is currently being broadcast. the viewer may
`further consider the program by selecting the channel indi(cid:173)
`cated by the printed schedule to momentarily view the
`program.
`When the viewer wishes to consider a number of
`programs. the above decision process becomes particularly
`cumbersome and time-consuming. The viewer considers a
`first program as described above, determining the location of
`the first program in the printed television schedule. deter(cid:173)
`mining the location of and reading the text description of the
`first program and, if currently being broadcast, perhaps
`momentarily viewing the first program. The viewer then
`considers a second program by determining the location of
`the second program in the printed schedule, determining the
`location of and reading the text description of the second
`program and perhaps momentarily viewing the second pro(cid:173)
`gram. This process is continued for each television program
`the viewer considers.
`One prior art attempt at improving the selection process
`described above involves a method which actually displays
`the television schedule on the television screen. By localiz(cid:173)
`ing the television schedule and text description to the
`television, this method renders the user's selection process
`less awkward than the method described above.
`Unfortunately. however, this method is still quite cumber(cid:173)
`some and time-consuming. When deciding on a program to
`view or record. the viewer considers a first program by
`determining the location of a first program name in the
`displayed television schedule and then designating the pro(cid:173)
`gram name via a remote control pointing device. A text
`description is then displayed to the viewer in a display
`window superimposed upon the displayed television sched(cid:173)
`ule.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENI10N
`The present invention is a computer method and system
`for providing a user with efficient selection of a television
`20 program to view or record. The method provides a television
`schedule which is consistently displayed concurrently with
`a description of the program currently selected by the user
`from the displayed television schedule. The description of
`the program includes both a textual description and a
`25 graphic description. The graphic description including a
`bitmap or a video presentation of the selected program. The
`displayed television schedule comprises a schedule layout
`displayed to the user on a screen display. The schedule
`layout includes a number of program names arranged in an
`30 adaptively learned order based on the frequency of the user's
`previous selections. Each time a program name is selected
`by the user. the graphic description and the textual descrip(cid:173)
`tion of the television program represented by the selected
`program name are displayed concurrently with the schedule
`35 layout in a separate location on the screen display. As a result
`of the concurrent display of program names. the user can
`select a television program perceptively by viewing the
`adaptively ordered schedule layout at the same time as both
`the textual and graphic description. Also, as a result of the
`40 concurrent display. the user's selection is unencumbered by
`any delay when the description of each selected program is
`displayed. Because the television schedule is arranged in an
`adaptively learned order, the user's selection is likely to be
`even more efficient Thus. the user can rapidly select and
`45 view the descriptions of a number of television programs
`when making a decision.
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention. a computer
`obtains the program name and the description of each of a
`number of television programs from a cable source which
`so broadcasts the television program over cable. The computer
`also obtains from the cable source a time of broadcast of
`each television program and a channel indicator indicating
`the channel over which each television program is to be
`broadcast. The computer stores the program name, a channel
`55 indicator, including a channel name and a channel number.
`a time of broadcast. including a day. start time, and end time
`of the broadcast, and a description of each television
`program. in an entry in a program table provided for that
`television program. Upon a request by the user, the computer
`60 displays the program name, channel indicator and time of
`broadcast in the schedule layout in a fashion which visually
`associates the program name with the channel indicator and
`time of broadcast. Preferably, the schedule layout includes a
`grid containing one of the program names in each entry. The
`65 grid has a channel axis for referencing the channel indicators
`and a time axis for referencing the corresponding times of
`each of the scheduled television programs. The order of
`
`11
`
`

`
`5,731,844
`
`3
`entries along the channel axis is based on the frequency of
`user selections of each of the channels.
`The computer provides the description of each currently
`selected program to the television for concurrent display
`with the schedule layout. The description provided for each 5
`television program includes a text string stored by the
`computer which describes the television program. The com-
`puter provides the text string describing a television program
`to the television for display when the program name of the
`television program is designated in the grid by the user via 10
`an input device such as a remote control. The description
`provided for each television program also includes a picture-
`in-graphics display window. A picture-in-graphics display
`window is similar to a picture-in-picture display window
`except that the reduced-size picture is displayed in a display
`window superimposed on a computer graphics background. l5
`If the program is currently being broadcast. the computer
`provides to the television to display in the picture-in(cid:173)
`graphics display window the program currently being broad(cid:173)
`cast. Otherwise. the computer controls the television to
`display a blank window. or, in an alternative embodiment. a 20
`bitmap for the network or television program indicated by
`the bitmap indicator. The bitmap is provided by the cable
`source. When a program has been selected for viewing as
`described above. the selected program is displayed in full
`screen in place of the schedule layout. Thereafter, when the 25
`user changes channels. the program name, channel indicator
`and text string are displayed superimposed on the program
`displayed in a corner of the screen.
`The computer system of the preferred embodiment also
`includes a video recorder. The computer controls the video 30
`recorder to record a television program when it is broadcast
`if the television program has been previously selected by the
`user to be recorded. In the preferred embodiment, the
`computer can control the video recorder to record the
`television program even when the television is not "ON".
`The user selects a program to be recorded by selecting the 35
`program name of the program from the schedule layout.
`When the time of broadcast of the selected television
`program is reached, the computer briefly displays the text
`string describing the selected program and then controls the
`video recorder to record the selected program.
`In the preferred embodiment, the user can also select a
`television program to view or record with reference to a
`specific topic which defines the nature of the television
`program. The computer provides to the television for display
`a list of topics. Each topic corresponds to a set of the 45
`scheduled television programs fitting the category described
`by the topic. such as movies. sports, and so forth. The topic
`list is displayed in an adaptively learned order based on the
`number of television programs previously selected from
`each topic. For example, if movies have been selected most 50
`frequently, then a "movies" topic is displayed first in the
`topic list.
`The user then designates a topic from the topic list via the
`input device. When the topic is designated. the computer
`provides to the television for display a program list which 55
`lists the program names of the television programs defined
`by the selected topic. The user selects a television program
`to view or record by designating a program name in the
`displayed program list via the input device. The computer
`updates and stores the number of television programs
`selected for each topic. When the topic list is thereafter 60
`displayed. the topics are displayed in an order based on the
`updated number of television programs selected for each
`topic.
`BRIBF DESCRJPTION OF TIIE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the computer system of the
`preferred embodiment of the invention.
`
`4
`FlG. 2 is an illustration of the screen display displayed in
`accordance with the preferred embodiment.
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of the program table which stores
`program information in the preferred embodiment
`
`FlG. 4 is a flow diagram of the selection program per-
`formed by the preferred embodiment.
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the schedule routine per-
`formed by the selection program of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the change selection routine
`performed by the schedule routine of FlG. 5 and the topics
`routine of FIG. 7.
`
`FIG. 7 is a fiow diagram of the topics routine performed
`by the selection program of FIG. 4.
`FlG. 8 is a flow diagram of the record program of the
`preferred embodiment
`
`DEfAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`The preferred embodiment of the present invention pro(cid:173)
`vides a computer method and system for providing a user
`with efficient selection of television programs to view and
`record. The system layout and component interrelationship
`of the preferred embodiment will be described first. fol(cid:173)
`lowed by a detailed description of the processes that are
`performed on the system.
`
`System Overview
`A block diagram of the computer system of the preferred
`embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The computer system of
`FIG. 1 includes a computer 100 which is connected to a
`cable source 110. a tuner 115, an input device 120. a
`television 130 and a video recorder 140. In a preferred
`embodiment, the cable source 110 is a broad band coaxial
`cable over which a television cable provider sends television
`programs in a broadcast signal and television program
`information in a digital data stream. In alternate
`embodiments. the programs may be broadcast over other
`40 media such as a standard television broadcast, direct broad(cid:173)
`cast via satellite, and so forth. As will be explained. the user
`utilizes the computer 100 via the input device 120 to select
`a television program broadcast by the cable source 110. The
`input device 120 is a mouse, a remote control pointing
`device. or the like. The cable source 110 and the computer
`100 control the tuner. or alternatively the tuner and the video
`recorder 140. to control the display of the selected television
`program on the television 130. The computer also controls
`the video recorder 140 to control the recording of the
`selected television program.
`Specifically. the computer 100 contains a memory 150
`which stores a selection computer program 152. It should be
`noted that the memory 150 includes random access memory
`(RAM) in which data is stored by programs. As will be
`explained below, the selection program 152 allows the user
`to select the desired television programs. The computer 100
`also contains a graphics display generator 157 that generates
`computer graphics. and a picture-in-graphics processor 155
`that combines an output from both the tuner 115 and the
`graphics display generator 157 and sends the resulting signal
`to the television 130. The memory 150 is connected via an
`IJO unit 160 to a central processing unit (CPU) 170 which
`executes the selection program 152. The CPU 170 is also
`connected to the cable source 110. the tuner 115, the input
`65 device 120, the television 130 and the video recorder 140 via
`the J/O unit 160. When the CPU 170 executes the selection
`program 152, the CPU 170 obtains the television program
`
`12
`
`

`
`5,731,844
`
`5
`information from the cable source 110 in a digital data
`stream. The program information includes information
`about a number of television programs. The CPU 170 then
`stores the program information in the RAM portion of the
`memory 150.
`The program information includes a program name, time
`of broadcast, channel indicator, and description of each
`television program. In an alternative embodiment, the pro(cid:173)
`gram information includes actor names, director names.
`content ratings such as "R." "PG," etc., and star ratings 10
`indicating quality. One of ordinary skill in the art will
`recognize that the principles of the invention can be applied
`to maintain a variety of other kinds of program information,
`as well. The selection program 152 provides the program
`information to the television 130 via the picture-in-graphics
`processor 155 in a schedule layout which the television 130 15
`displays. The selection program 152 thereafter obtains from
`the user via the input device 120 a selection of a television
`program to display or record by using the schedule layout.
`The selection program 152 provides the description of the
`selected program concurrently with the schedule layout to 20
`the graphics display generator 157 to be displayed on the
`television 130. When the user requests to view the selected
`program, the selection program 152 controls the tuner 115 to
`tune the selected program. generates a graphics image of the
`schedule layout and graphics portions by controlling the 25
`graphics display generator 157, and instructs the picture-in(cid:173)
`graphics processor 155 to combine the video information
`and graphics image and to send the resulting signal to the
`television 130. In cases where the schedule layout and
`portions of the description are combined with a reduced size 30
`picture-in-graphics display of the selected program. the
`selection program 152 instructs the picture-in-graphics pro(cid:173)
`cessor 155 to overlay the digital image of the broadcast
`signal obtained from the cable source 110 with a computer
`graphics image of the schedule layout and graphic portions. 35
`The picture-in-graphics processor 155 sends the composite
`image to the television 130 to be displayed. When the user
`requests to record the selected program. the selection pro(cid:173)
`gram 152 designates the program to be recorded. A record
`program 154 stored in the memory 150 is executed by the 40
`CPU 170 concurrently with the selection program. The
`record program provides a command to the video recorder
`140 via the I/O device 160 to record the designated program
`at the time of broadcast of the selected program. In the
`preferred embodiment. the command is an infrared com- 45
`mand.
`A screen display is shown in FIG. 2 which is displayed by
`the television 130 under control of the selection program
`152 when the user requests a schedule. The screen display
`includes a schedule layout 200 which displays the program
`name, channel indicator, and time of broadcast of each of the
`television programs. The schedule layout 200 includes a grid
`210 in which a grid entry 212 is provided for each of a
`number of television programs broadcast by the cable source
`110. Each grid entry 212 contains the program name of one
`of the television programs. The grid entries 212 are arranged
`horizontally according to a time of broadcast and arranged
`vertically according to the channel over which the television
`programs are broadcast. In an alternate embodiment, the grid
`entries 212 may be arranged vertically according to the time
`of broadcast and horizontally according to the channel. A
`number of time entries 215 are provided along a horizontal
`time axis 214 which display the different times over which
`the television programs are broadcast. Similarly, a number
`of channel entries 217 are provided along a vertical channel
`axis 216 which display the different channels over which the
`television programs are broadcast.
`
`6
`In the embodiment of the invention having the screen
`display shown in FIG. 2, the selection program 152, via the
`graphics display generator 157. controls the television 130
`to display only a portion of the grid 210 at a given time.
`5 Thus, the grid 210 can contain a large number of times and
`channels over which the television programs are broadcast
`without the need to reduce each grid entry 212 to a size in
`which the program name becomes unreadable in order to
`display all television programs at the same time. It will be
`appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the
`schedule layout 200 can be designed such that the size of the
`displayed portion of the grid 210 can be varied.
`In an alternative embodiment. the channel entries 217 are
`arranged along the channel axis 216 according to a fre(cid:173)
`quency with which channel entries associated with the
`program names have been designated by the user. Each time
`the user designates one of the program names. the selection
`program 152 increments a channel counter 151 for the
`channel entry 217 associated with the designated program
`name. The channel counter 151 is preferably stored in the
`RAM portion of the memory 150. The selection program
`152, via the graphics display generator 157, controls the
`television 130 to arrange the channel entries 217 in an order
`of use from the channel entry with the highest value in its
`associated channel counter 151 to the channel entry with the
`lowest value in its associated channel counter 151. FIG. 2
`illustrates a state of the schedule layout 200 wherein the
`orderofuseforthe channel entries 217 is channels 2.4.5. and
`7.
`In yet another embodiment, the channel entries can be
`arranged along the channel axis 216 according to a fre(cid:173)
`quency with which program names have been designated by
`the user. Each time the user designates one of the program
`names, the selection program 152 increments a program
`counter 153 associated with the designated program name.
`The program counter 153 is preferably stored in the RAM
`portion of the memory 150. The selection program 152, via
`the graphics display generator 157, then controls the tele(cid:173)
`vision 130 to arrange the channel entries 217 in an order of
`use from the channel entry whose program name has been
`designated the most number of times. to the channel entry
`whose program name has been designated the least number
`of times. FIG. 2 illustrates a state of the schedule layout 200
`wherein the program name designated the most number of
`times is associated with channel 2, for the currently dis(cid:173)
`played channel entries. The program name designated the
`least number of times is associated with channel 7. for the
`currently displayed channel entries. There may be more
`frequently displayed program names above channel 2 and
`less frequently displayed program names below channel 7
`50 since the schedule 200 scrolls (the scroll feature is described
`in more detail below).
`While the discussion above has focused on arranging
`channel entries 217 based on the frequency with which
`associated program names have been designated, those of
`55 ordinary skill will understand that other attributes or selec(cid:173)
`tion patterns can be monitored and the channel entries
`rearranged based on the results of that monitoring.
`The schedule layout 200 also includes a day selector 220
`with which the user selects the day for which the television
`60 programs are to be displayed by the grid 210. The day
`selector 220 contains arrow buttons with which the user
`moves the selected day chronologically forward or
`backward. as shown. The schedule layout 200 also includes
`a day entry 222 which indicates the day previously selected
`65 by the user via the day selector 220 and for which the
`television programs are displayed by the grid 210. The grid
`210 varies in content based on the day currently selected.
`
`13
`
`

`
`5,731,844
`
`7
`The schedule layout 200 includes a time scroll bar 224
`which the user scrolls to select time entries 215 that are
`different than the time entries currently displayed on the time
`axis 214 of the grid 210. Program names corresponding to
`the newly selected time entries 215 and the previously
`selected channel entries 217 are displayed in the grid entries
`212. For example, the time scroll bar 224 is scrolled so that
`the time entries for the times 6:00 PM. 6:30 PM. 7:00 PM
`and 7:30 PM are selected, as shown in HG. 2. Similarly, the
`schedule layout 200 provides a channel scroll bar 226 which
`the user scrolls to select channel entries 217 that are different
`than the channel entries currently displayed on the grid 210.
`Program names corresponding to the newly selected channel
`entries 217 and the previously selected time entries 215 are
`displayed in the grid entries 212. For example. the channel
`scroll bar 226 is manipulated so that the channel entries 217
`for channels 2. 4, 5 and 7 are selected. as shown in HG. 2.
`Thus. by manipulating the time scroll bar 224 and the
`channel scroll bar 226. the user varies the content of the
`displayed portion of the grid 210 shown in the schedule
`layout 200. In an alternate embodiment. the contents of the
`grid may be manipulated by directional buttons provided on
`the input device 120.
`The present invention displays a description of the tele(cid:173)
`vision program selected from the schedule layout 200 con(cid:173)
`currently with the schedule layout. As shown in HG. 2. the
`screen display contains a text display window 230 and a
`picture-in-graphics display window 240. The text display
`window 230 is provided in a location on the screen display
`that is separate from the schedule layout 200. The text
`display window 230 displays. concurrently with the sched(cid:173)
`ule layout 200. a text string which describes the currently
`selected program from the grid 210.
`The picture-in-graphics display window 240 is also pro(cid:173)
`vided in a location separate from the schedule layout 200.
`The picture-in-graphics display window 240 contains a
`graphic representation of the television program currently
`selected from the grid 210. When the currently selected
`program is actually being broadcast, the selection program
`152 instructs the tuner 115 and the picture-in-graphics
`processor 155 to display a reduced-size video display of the
`selected program in the picture-in-graphics display window
`240. It is well known to those skilled in the art how to
`provide such a reduced-size display on the screen display of
`a television. When the currently selected program is not
`being broadcast, the selection program 152, via the picture(cid:173)
`in-graphics processor 155. controls the television 130 to
`display in the picture-in-graphics display window 240 a
`blank