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`538:8
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`mommmoomg
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`NF
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`Comcast, Exhibit—1027
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`1
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`Comcast, Exhibit-1027
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`

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`
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`no.2 43
`
`GUIDE + PIP E—GUIDE
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`WED.,AUG.
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`1 8:33 PM
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`23 HOME BOX OFFICE
`LEATHAL WEAPON III
`1993 R NU,AL.LG
`DESCRIPTION HERE
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`42
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`40
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`LISTINGS FOR WED., AUG.
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`1 8:30 PM
`9:00
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`9:30
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`MOVIE: THE POSTMAN ALWAYS >
`ROSANNE
`RINGS TWICE 1964»-u
`(REPEAT)
`FOCUS REPORT: DAY IN SPORTS
`WASHINGTON
`VIOLENCE
`REPORT
`
`< SHARKS
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`WINGS: THE B-29 BOMBER
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`ROOM FOR MESSAGES OR
`BUTTONS
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`FIG.3
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`11:45 AM
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`CHANNEL 7
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`SUN. AUG. 28
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`R I PT I O N
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`/\/\/\,Q
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`FIG.4
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`.
`SUN. AUG. 28
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`COMING UP
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`GOOD MORNING AMERICA
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` #
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`FIG.6 43
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`11:45 AM
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`CHANNEL 7
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`SUN. AUG. 28
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`42
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`INFORMATION FOR:
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`COOKING WITH
`JULIA CHILD
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`8/15
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`CH.4
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`RECIPE
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`03 312853
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`FIG.’7
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`43
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`1k45 AM
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`CHANNEL 7
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`LEXUS
`LOCAL DEALER
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`40
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`40
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`27245/LTR
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING TELEVISION
`_
`PROGRAMS AND RELATED TEXT
`
`
`Background of the Invention
`This invention relates to the field of
`
`television
`
`and, more particularly,
`
`to a nethod and apparatus for
`
`simultaneously displaying video programs and related text
`on a television screen.
`
`For a number of years television receivers have been
`
`equipped with picture—in—picture (PIP) capability;
`
`In PIP
`
`format,
`
`the moving,
`
`real
`
`time images of one television
`
`channel are displayed on the background of the screen and
`
`the moving, real time images of another television channel
`
`are displayed in a PIP window overlaid on a small area of
`
`the background. Because two channels are simultaneously
`
`displayed. by the television receiver,
`
`two tuners are
`
`The viewer enters the PIP mode by pressing a
`required.
`PIP key of his or her controller.
`Then,
`the viewer can
`
`change either the channel of the background or the channel
`
`of the PIP by resetting the appropriate tuner. To reverse
`
`the background and PIP images,
`
`the viewer simply presses
`
`a SWAP key.
`
`To collapse the PIP window,
`
`the viewer again
`
`presses the PIP key.
`
`Television program guides help television viewers
`
`select programs to watch.
`
`Such television program guides
`
`list the available television programs by day of the week,
`
`time of day, channel, and program title.
`
`For many years
`
`television.program guides have been.published in hard copy
`
`-1-
`
`6
`
`

`
`form.
`
`More
`
`recently as
`
`illustrated by Levine Patent
`
`4,908,713, television program guides have begun to take an
`
`electronic form.
`
`In other words,
`
`the schedule of program
`
`listings is stored in an electronic memory connected to
`
`the
`
`television receiver.
`
`The program listings are
`
`recalled from memory by the viewer on command for display
`on the television screen.
`
`Despite the prevalence of television program guides,
`
`many viewers still make
`
`their program selections by
`
`switching the television tuner from channel to channel and
`
`observing on the screen what program is being received on
`
`the respective channels. This process is sometimes called
`
`"grazing."
`
`Emanuel Patent 5,161,019 discloses an automated form
`
`of channel grazing.
`
`A preselected group of channels are
`tuner of
`the
`
`switching the
`sequentially scanned by
`television receiver from channel
`to channel.
`
`A still
`
`image of the program received.on each channel is stored in
`
`a memory. After all the channels have been scanned,
`
`the
`
`still images
`
`from all
`
`the channels are simultaneously
`
`displayed on the television screen.
`
`This process gives
`
`the viewer more information about the program choices in
`
`addition to that obtainable from a television program
`
`10
`
`15
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`20
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`25
`
`guide, namely,
`programs.
`
`the displayed still images of the actual
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`30
`
`35
`
`According to the invention, moving images of
`
`a
`
`television program, and are displayed in a PIP window on
`
`the screen of a television monitor and textual information
`
`related to the television program is displayed in the
`
`background on the screen. Preferably,
`
`the audio portion
`
`of the television program displayed in the PIP window is
`
`also reproduced by the sound system of
`
`the television
`
`monitor. The textual information is arranged on the screen
`
`so none of it is covered by the moving images.
`
`7
`
`

`
`In one
`
`embodiment,
`
`the textual program related
`
`information (PRI)
`
`is a television program schedule.
`
`One
`
`of
`
`the program listings of
`
`the schedule identifies by
`
`title and time and/or channel
`
`the television program in
`
`the PIP window, which comprises moving images.
`
`To facilitate channel grazing,
`
`a television viewer
`
`can use a PIP format for display of current television
`
`program listings from a program schedule data base in the
`
`background and moving,
`
`real
`
`time images of
`
`aa program
`
`selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window.
`
`Specifically, as the viewer selects a particular program
`
`from the displayed current television program listings by
`
`means of a cursor or a code number,
`
`program automatically appears in the PIP window.
`
`the corresponding
`In this
`
`way,
`
`the user can channel graze by sequentially selecting
`
`the individual program listings in the background. When
`
`the user finds a program that the user wishes to watch,
`
`the user can reverse the background and PIP window and
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`then collapse the window,
`the full screen.
`
`leaving the desired program on
`
`To permit the viewing of programs scheduled for the
`
`future broadcast without
`
`losing sight of
`
`the current
`
`program being watched, a television viewer can use a PIP
`
`format for display of television program listings for a
`
`specific channel from a program schedule data base in the
`
`background and moving,
`
`real
`
`time images of
`
`the current
`
`program on that channel in the PIP window.
`
`Specifically,
`
`as the viewer changes channels,
`
`the current program on
`
`that channel automatically appears in the PIP window. The
`
`viewer can control
`
`the background to display’ program
`
`listings for
`
`2a period. of days,
`
`i.e.,
`
`a. week,
`
`in the
`
`future.
`
`In this way,
`
`the user can continue to watch a
`
`television program while ascertaining the future programs
`on the channel
`to which the television tuner is set.
`
`When the viewer finds a program that the viewer wishes to
`
`leaving the program on
`the background disappears,
`watch,
`the channel to which the tuner is set on the full screen.
`
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`In another embodiment, a television viewer can use a
`
`PIP format for display of future television program from
`
`a program schedule data base in the background and moving,
`
`images of
`
`a "video clip of
`
`ea program listing in the
`
`background display selected for example by a cursor.
`
`In yet
`
`another
`
`embodiment,
`
`the textual program
`
`related information (PRI)
`
`is a message that is broadcast
`
`in the vertical blanking interval of the television signal
`
`l0
`
`contemporaneously with the television.program displayed in
`the PIP window.
`
`l5
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`

`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`The features of specific embodiments of the best mode
`
`contemplated of carrying out the invention are illustrated
`
`in the drawings,
`
`in which:
`
`FIG.
`
`1 is a schematic block diagram of a television
`
`receiver incorporating the principles of one embodiment of
`
`the invention;
`
`FIGS. 2, 3, and.4 are television screens formatted in
`
`accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
`
`10
`
`FIG.
`
`5
`
`is a schematic block diagram of part of a
`
`television receiver
`
`incorporating the principles of
`
`another embodiment of the invention;
`
`FIGS.
`
`6 and 7 are television screens formatted in
`
`15
`
`accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 5; and
`FIG.
`8 is a television screen formatted to simulate
`
`a picture—in—picture window.
`
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`

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`Detailed Descri tion of a S ecific Embodiment
`
`In the following description of the embodiments of
`common
`reference numerals are used.
`to
`
`the invention,
`
`represent the same components.
`
`If the features of all the
`
`embodiments are incorporated into a single system,
`
`these
`
`components can be shared and perform all the functions of
`the described embodiments.
`
`With reference to FIG.
`
`1 in a current program guide
`
`(CPG) mode,
`
`a source of television signals 10 such as a
`
`terrestrial antenna, a satellite antenna, or a cable is
`
`connected to a television tuner 12.
`
`The output of tuner
`
`12 is a video signal,
`
`i.e.,
`
`a base band or unmodulated
`
`signal, coupled to the video input of a video cassette
`
`recorder
`
`(VCR)
`
`60.
`
`(Alternativelyy television signal
`
`source 10 could be directly connected to the RF input of
`
`VCR 16, if its internal tuner is to be utilized.)
`
`Tuner
`
`12 is directly connected to one input of a switch 14 and
`
`is connected to the other input of switch 14 through VCR
`
`60.
`
`The output of switch 14 is connected to one input of
`
`a conventional.picture-in—picture (PIP) integrated.circuit
`
`chip 18.
`
`The output of PIP chip 18 is connected to the
`
`video input of a television receiver or monitor 20 having
`
`a screen (not shown).
`
`An updatable data base of
`
`the schedule of program
`
`listings of all the available channels for a prescribed
`
`period of time, e.g. one week, is electronically stored in
`
`a program schedule memory 22.
`
`These program listings
`
`typically include for each program the title,
`
`a brief
`
`program description,
`
`the day of the week,
`
`the time of the
`
`day, and the channel on which the program is transmitted
`The data
`
`and thus available for reception at source 10.
`
`base can be updated by a continuous data link in the
`
`vertical blanking interval (VBI) of one television channel
`broadcast to the television receiver in well know fashion.
`
`Alternatively,
`
`the data base can be updated by unplugging
`
`memory’ 22
`
`and.
`
`replacing it with. a memory‘ having the
`
`updated data
`
`base.
`
`Memory
`
`22
`
`is
`
`connected to a
`
`10
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`
`microprocessor
`
`24
`
`that
`
`is programmed to control
`
`the
`
`operation of
`
`the described equipment.
`
`An operating
`
`program for microprocessor 24 is stored in a read only
`
`memory (ROM) 26.
`
`A viewer input device 28, preferably in
`
`the form of
`
`a
`
`remote
`
`IR controller,
`
`is coupled to
`
`microprocessor 24 to provide commands from the viewer. A
`
`video processor 30 is coupled to microprocessor 24. When
`
`the viewer wishes to see television program listings,
`
`microprocessor
`
`24
`
`recalls
`
`a portion of
`
`the program
`
`schedule data base from memory 22 and couples it to video
`
`processor 30, where the program listings are formatted for
`
`display.
`
`Video processor 30 is connected to the other
`
`input of PIP chip 18.
`
`Preferably,
`
`input device 28
`
`controls microprocessor‘
`
`24 by cursor movement on the
`
`screen of
`
`television receiver
`
`20.
`
`To
`
`this
`
`end,
`
`microprocessor 24 and video processor 30 are coupled to a
`
`cursor position register 32.
`
`(Alternatively,
`
`the viewer
`
`can select items of information displayed on the screen by
`
`keying into viewer input device 24 code numbers assigned
`
`to these items.) Microprocessor 24 is also coupled to
`
`tuner 12 for channel change,
`
`to VCR 16 for play/record
`
`selection and start/stop,
`
`to switch 14 for selection of
`
`one of its inputs, and to PIP chip 18 for selection of the
`
`mode of PIP operation.
`
`In FIG.
`
`2,
`
`the
`
`screen format
`
`in the CPG mode
`
`comprises a background area 40 and an overlaid PIP window
`
`42
`
`in the upper
`
`right
`
`hand corner of
`
`the
`
`screen.
`
`Background area 40 includes a banner area 43 at the top of
`
`the screen,
`
`a program description area 44 in the upper
`
`left hand corner of the screen adjacent to PIP window 42,
`
`and a program schedule area 46 in the form of a time-
`
`channel grid below areas 42
`
`and 44.
`
`Banner area 43
`
`contains the day of the week,
`
`the time of day, and other
`
`identifying information. All three of these areas of the
`
`background are formatted in video processor 30.
`
`The
`
`memory space of video processor 30 corresponding to the
`
`area in which PIP window 42 appears on the screen is left
`
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`12
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`
`blank; i.e., although overlaid on background area 40, PIP
`
`window 42
`
`does not cover up any of the information of
`
`background area 40.
`
`The channel numbers or names are
`
`displayed in a column on the left side of area 46 and the
`
`time of day is displayed in a row at the top of area 46.
`
`By means of a cursor control key set on input device 28
`
`such as a pair of up/down arrows,
`
`the viewer can move a
`
`cursor 48 vertically to highlight the title of one of the
`
`currently playing television programs displayed on area
`
`46. When the cursor reaches the top or bottom of the grid
`
`in area 46, microprocessor 24 recalls further program
`
`listings from program schedule memory and video processor
`
`30
`
`formats these program listings so further channels
`
`either above "HBO" or below "Disc" in the program schedule
`
`layout can be displayed.
`
`The moving, real time images of
`
`the current television program highlighted by cursor 48
`
`are displayed in PIP window 42 and the program description
`
`of
`
`the highlighted. program is displayed in area 44.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`the audio portion of the television program
`Preferably,
`displayed in PIP window 42 is also reproduced by the sound
`
`system of monitor 20.
`
`The PIP display and the program
`
`description in area 44 enable the viewer to assess better
`
`whether or not to watch the highlighted program. As the
`
`viewer moves cursor 48 vertically from channel to channel,
`
`the current television program displayed in window 42 and
`
`the program description.displayed in area 44 automatically
`
`change accordingly to match the highlighted program in
`
`area 46.
`
`As
`
`the cursor moves
`
`from channel
`
`to channel,
`
`microprocessor 24 recalls the program description for the
`
`highlighted program from program schedule memory 22 and
`
`video processor 30 formats this program description so it
`
`can be displayed in area 44.
`
`It should be noted that the display of future program
`
`listings in area 46
`
`is not necessary to practice the
`
`invention. Therefore,
`
`the program schedule displayed in
`
`area 46 in the CPG mode presented in a different format,
`
`25
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`35
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`
`e.g.,
`
`separate vertical
`
`columns
`
`for channel,
`
`program
`
`title, start time, and ending time.
`
`In the program schedule memory,
`
`the program listings
`
`are coded by day of the week,
`
`time of day, and channel so
`
`that
`
`they can. be accessed by microprocessor
`
`24 when
`
`necessary to supply program’ schedule data
`
`to video
`
`processor 30 to compose the time—channel grid and the
`
`program descriptions. Microprocessor 24 has a real time
`
`clock (not shown)
`
`the time of which is compared with the
`
`time of day and day of
`
`the week codes
`
`to select
`
`the
`
`program listings for the CPG mode. The functional storage
`
`areas of cursor position register 32 are mapped to the
`
`storage areas of vector processor 30 where the program
`
`schedule is formatted for display on screen area 40 so
`
`cursor position register 32 points to the area of
`
`the
`
`screen,
`
`and
`
`thus
`
`the particular
`
`program,
`
`that
`
`is
`
`highlighted.
`
`by" cursor 48.
`
`By comparing the cursor
`
`position in register 32 with the channel corresponding to
`
`the highlighted area of video processor 30,
`
`the channel of
`
`the highlighted program is derived and
`
`coupled to
`
`microprocessor 24. Microprocessor 24 then sets tuner 12
`to this channel.
`
`In operation, starting from a full screen display of
`viewer
`first
`
`the
`
`real
`
`time
`
`television program,
`
`the
`
`depresses a CPG mode key on input device 28 to set up the
`
`format
`
`shown in FIG. 2. Microprocessor 24 recalls the
`
`appropriate program listings from memory 22 and transmits
`
`them to video processor 30 where the time—channel grid of
`
`area 46 and the program description of
`
`the highlighted
`
`progrant
`
`in area. 44 are composed.
`
`At
`
`the same
`
`time,
`
`microprocessor 24 operates switch 14 so the output of
`tuner 12 is directly connected to the one input of PIP
`
`chip 18 and switches PIP chip 18 into a PIP mode,
`
`such
`
`that
`
`the input
`
`from tuner 12 is displayed in the PIP
`
`window and the program schedule from video processor 30 is
`
`displayed in the background” Microprocessor 24 senses the
`channel to which the tuner is set at when the CPG mode is
`
`-9-
`
`14
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`14
`
`

`
`entered, and initially positions cursor 48 at the title of
`
`the program broadcast on this channel.
`
`As
`
`the viewer
`
`moves the up/down arrows of the cursor control key set,
`
`tuner 12 is reset accordingly and new program schedule
`
`information ii;
`
`fed through ndcroprocessor 24 to video
`
`processor 30 to recompose the time—channel guide so cursor
`
`48 remains visible and the program description remains
`current.
`The described CPG mode
`facilities channel
`
`grazing by the viewer. When the viewer finds the video
`
`program he or she wishes to watch,
`
`the viewer presses the
`
`CPG mode key again.
`
`As
`
`a.
`
`result, ndcroprocessor
`
`24
`
`switches PIP chip 18 out of the PIP mode, such that the
`
`video program inputted from tuner 12 is displayed full
`screen.
`
`If
`
`the
`
`viewer wishes
`
`to
`
`record
`
`the
`
`program
`
`highlighted in the
`
`CPG mode,
`
`the
`
`viewer
`
`commands
`
`microprocessor 24 to turn on VCR 16 for recording.
`
`If the viewer wishes to play a video tape cassette on
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`the viewer commands microprocessor 24 to turn on
`VCR 16,
`VCR for playback and to operate switch 14 for connection
`
`of the output of VCR 16 through PIP chip 18 to television
`receiver 20.
`
`The
`
`television receiver of FIG.
`
`1
`
`can also be
`
`operated in a channel specific guide (CSG) mode.
`
`In FIG.
`
`3,
`
`the screen format in the CSG mode comprises in addition
`
`to PIP window 42, banner area 43, and program description
`
`area 44,
`
`a program schedule area 50
`
`in the form of
`
`vertical columns of the current day's times and program
`titles for the channel to which the tuner is set;
`In this
`
`mode, banner area 43 includes the channel number and/or
`
`name
`
`and.
`
`real
`
`time
`
`images of
`
`the current
`
`television
`
`program on the channel are displayed in PIP window 42.
`
`In operation, starting from a full screen display of
`real
`time
`television program,
`the viewer
`first
`
`the
`
`depresses a CSG mode key on input device 28 to set up the
`
`format
`channel
`
`shown in FIG. 3. Microprocessor 24 senses the
`to which the tuner is set when the CPG mode is
`
`25
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`35
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`15
`
`15
`
`

`
`entered to select the program schedule listings for area
`
`50. Microprocessor 24 recalls the appropriate program
`
`listings from memory 22
`
`and transmits
`
`them to video
`
`processor 30 where the time and title columns of area 50
`
`and the program description of the highlighted program in
`
`area 44 are composed. At the same time, microprocessor
`
`24 operates
`
`switch.
`
`14
`
`so the output of
`
`tuner
`
`12
`
`is
`
`directly connected to the one input of PIP chip 18 and
`
`switches PIP chip 18 into a PIP mode, such that the input
`
`from tuner 12
`
`is displayed in the PIP window and the
`
`program schedule from video processor 30 is displayed in
`
`the background.
`
`If the program listings for the day
`
`extend to a number-of screens,
`
`the viewer presses a next
`
`screen key until
`
`the desired program listings
`
`are
`
`displayed;
`
`the screens recycle in time order.
`
`To see
`
`another day's program listings for the same channel,
`
`the
`
`viewer presses a next day key until the desired day is
`
`displayed and to return to the current day the viewer
`
`presses the next day key until
`e-9-,
`
`seven days.
`
`In.
`
`summary,
`
`the schedule recycles,
`
`the program schedule
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`listings for the channel
`
`to which tuner 12 is set are
`
`displayed in area 50, a description of future programming
`
`on this channel is displayed.in area 44, and the real time
`
`25
`
`television program for this channel is displayed in PIP
`window 42.
`
`When
`
`the viewer
`
`changes
`
`channels,
`
`the
`
`program
`
`listings for the new channel are displayed in area 50, a
`
`description of future programming on the new channel is
`
`displayed in area 44, and the real time television program
`
`for the new channel is displayed in PIP window 42.
`
`Thus,
`
`by moving from channel to channel in this mode,
`
`the viewer
`
`sees the real time television program on selected channel
`
`and the program schedule listings and a description of
`The described CSG
`
`future programming for that channel.
`
`mode permits
`
`the viewer
`
`to see the program schedule
`
`listings for a channel without losing sight of any of the
`
`image of the real time television program on the channel.
`
`30
`
`35
`
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`16
`
`16
`
`

`
`When the viewer finds the video program he or she wishes
`
`to watch,
`
`the viewer presses the CSG key again.
`
`As a
`
`result, microprocessor 24 switches PIP chip 18 out of the
`
`PIP mode, such that the video program inputted from tuner
`
`12 is displayed full screen.
`The television receiver of FIG.
`
`1 can also be used
`
`with the format of FIG.
`
`3 in an extension of the CSG mode
`
`to display previews of future programming as video clips.
`
`The video clips are stored on a video tape cassette that
`
`is loaded into VCR 16.
`
`The addresses of the video clips
`
`on the tape of the video cassette are stored in program
`
`schedule memory’ 22 as part of
`
`the data base.
`
`These
`
`addresses are linked to the respective future program
`
`listings in the data base so that a video clip can be
`
`accessed on the tape when a program listing is designated
`
`in the database. When the viewer presses the CSG mode
`
`key,
`
`in addition to the operation as described in
`
`connection with FIG. 3, microprocessor 24 highlights the
`
`current program title with cursor 48, as illustrated in
`FIG. 3.
`
`So long as cursor 48 highlights the title of the
`
`current program, the CSG mode operates as described above.
`
`When the viewer moves cursor 48 vertically by operating
`
`the cursor control key set on input device 28 to highlight
`
`the title of a future program displayed in area 50,
`
`the
`
`address of
`
`the video clip of
`
`the highlighted. program
`
`listing is retrieved by microprocessor 24 from program
`
`schedule memory 22 and transmitted to VCR 16.
`
`The video
`
`clip is retrieved from the tape in VCR 16 and coupled
`
`through switch 14 and PPI chip 18 to television receiver
`
`The video clips on the
`24 for display in PIP window 42.
`tape of the videocassette are indexed and accessed in the
`
`manner
`
`described
`
`in
`
`copending
`
`application Serial
`
`No. 08/176,852, filed on December 30, 1993 and entitled
`
`ENHANCING OPERATIONS OF VIDEOTAPE CASSETTE PLAYERS,
`
`the
`
`disclosure of which is incorporated fully herein by
`reference.
`
`.10
`
`15
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`20
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`30
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`

`
`An extension of the CPG mode illustrated in FIG.
`
`2
`
`also permits display of video clips of future programming.
`
`Specifically,
`
`in
`
`the
`
`time—channel
`
`grid
`
`format
`
`microprocessor 24 also controls cursor 48 responsive to
`
`the cursor key set of viewer input device 28, which in
`
`this embodiment includes a horizontal cursor control, such
`
`as a pair of right/left arrows. As described above,
`
`the
`
`address for the highlighted future program listing is
`
`retrieved by" microprocessor
`
`24
`
`from program schedule
`
`memory
`
`22
`
`and transmitted to VCR
`
`16
`
`to access
`
`the
`
`corresponding video clip, which is displayed in PIP window
`42.
`
`Another
`
`embodiment
`
`in which video clips can be
`
`displayed in PIP window 42 is illustrated in FIG. 4.
`
`In
`
`addition to banner area 43 and program description area
`
`44, background area 40 has program schedule area 52,
`
`in
`
`which program listings are displayed by theme such as
`
`movies, sports, current events, etc.
`
`Area 52 contains a
`
`column for program start
`
`time,
`
`a
`
`column for program
`
`channel, and a column for program title.
`
`To implement
`
`this embodiment,
`
`the program listings of the data base
`
`stored in program schedule memory 22 are also coded by
`
`theme so that they can be accessed by microprocessor 24 in
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
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`25
`
`response to the user selection of themes from.an on—screen
`menu in well known fashion;
`As described in connection
`
`with the extended CPG and CSG modes described above, when
`
`the title of a future program listing is highlighted by
`
`cursor 48,
`
`the corresponding moving image video clip is
`
`displayed in PIP window 42.
`
`If desired,
`
`a video disc
`
`player could be substituted for VCR 16 to provide the
`
`video clips to switch 14 in order to speed up the access
`
`time to the moving images displayed in PIP window 42.
`
`In another embodiment, program related information
`
`(PRI)
`
`is displayed in background area 40 while the real
`
`time television program to which the PRI
`
`relates is
`
`displayed in PIP window 42. The PRI is transmitted in the
`
`vertical blanking interval
`
`(VBI) of the television signal
`
`30
`
`35
`
`-13-
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`
`of the channel carrying the television program to which
`
`the PRI relates, contemporaneously with this television
`
`this
`to implement
`illustrated in FIG. 5,
`As
`program.
`embodiment a ‘VIB decoder‘ 54
`is connected. between the
`
`output of tuner 12 and microprocessor 24 and a PRI memory
`
`56 is connected to microprocessor 24. The PRI is stripped
`
`.from the VBI of the television signal by decoder 54 and
`
`stored in memory 56 by microprocessor 24.
`
`l0
`
`In operation, when the viewer presses a PRI key on
`
`viewer input device 28 the real time television program of
`
`the channel to which tuner 12 is set,
`
`is displayed in PIP
`
`window 42.
`
`In addition to banner area 43 and program
`
`description area 44, background area 40 has a PRI area 58
`In FIG.
`6
`
`in which different types of PRI are displayed.
`
`l5_
`
`the
`
`real
`
`time
`
`television
`
`program is
`
`a
`
`cooking
`
`demonstration by Julia Child and the PRI displayed in area
`
`58 is a recipe made in the course of the demonstration.
`
`Other information about the program is displayed in area
`
`44.
`
`In FIG.
`
`7
`
`the real
`
`time television program is a
`
`commercial for Lexis automobile and the PRI displayed in
`area 58 is a test drive offer for Lexis.
`The name and
`
`address of the local Lexis dealer in the geographic area
`
`of the viewer is displayed in area 44.
`
`As illustrated in FIG. 8, if the viewer does not have
`
`a television receiver with a PIP chip,
`
`the same screen
`
`format is still displayed in the CPG, CSG and PRI modes.
`
`Text composed in video processor 30 is displayed in PIP
`
`window 42
`
`instead. of moving’ real
`
`time or video clip
`
`images.
`
`For example,
`
`in any of the described modes the
`
`displayed information could be locally derived,
`such as
`time of ‘day’ or
`received in the ‘VBI
`such. as weather,
`traffic, or news headlines.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`-14-
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`
`WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
`
`1.
`
`An entertainment system comprising:
`
`a
`
`television receiver‘ having’
`
`a
`
`tuner
`
`and. a
`
`screen;
`
`means
`
`for displaying in a PIP window on the
`
`screen moving images of a television program;
`a
`source
`of
`information relating to
`television program in the PIP window; and
`
`the
`
`means
`
`for displaying the
`
`program related
`
`information on the screen in a background area that is not
`
`covered by the PIP window.
`
`2.
`
`An entertainment system comprising:
`
`a source of present television program schedule
`
`information including a-list of channels and the titles of
`
`the programs presently being broadcast on such channels;
`a
`television receiver‘ having" a
`tuner and a
`
`screen;
`
`means for coupling the source to the receiver to
`
`display at
`
`least
`
`the titles of
`
`the present program
`
`schedule on the screen;
`
`a user control device for selecting one of the
`
`displayed titles;
`
`means
`
`responsive to the control device for
`
`setting the tuner to the channel of the selected title;
`and
`
`means
`
`for coupling the tuner
`
`to the display
`
`device to display the video program in reduced size on
`
`part of the screen concurrently with the program schedule.
`
`3.
`
`The method. of using‘
`
`the systenn of claim 1,
`
`comprising
`
`the
`
`step of
`
`sequentially selecting the
`
`displayed titles with the control device to sequentially
`
`change
`
`the displayed video program,
`
`thereby channel
`
`surfing by using the displayed titles as a guide.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`-15-
`
`20
`
`20
`
`

`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING TELEVISION
`
`PROGRAMS AND RELATED TEXT
`
`Abstract of the Disclosure
`
`A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of
`
`program related information such as television program
`
`listings
`
`from a program schedule data base
`
`in the
`
`background and moving,
`
`real
`
`time or stored video clip
`
`images of a program selected from the displayed listings
`
`All
`in the PIP window.
`information lies outside
`
`the background
`the text of
`the PIP
`window.
`In one
`
`embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program
`
`from the display of current television program listings by
`
`means of a cursor or a code number,
`
`the corresponding
`
`program automatically appears in the PIP window.
`
`wp UPA-17 . LTR\A: \27245
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`-16-
`
`21
`
`21