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`[19]
`6,151,059
`[11] Patent Number:
`Ulllted States Patent
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`Schein et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`*Nov. 21, 2000
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`U5006151059A
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`[54] ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH
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`INTERACTIVE AREAS
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`[75]
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`Inventors: Steven Michael Schein, Menlo Park;
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`[73] Assignee: StarSight Telecast, Inc., Fremont,
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`Calif.
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`[*] Notice:
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`This patent issued on a continued pros-
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`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
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`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
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`patent
`term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`5400(2).
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`[21] Appl. No.2 08/906,073
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`[22]
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`Filed:
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`Aug. 5, 1997
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`Related US. Application Data
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`Provisional application No. 60/022,436, Aug. 6, 1996.
`[60]
`
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`Int. Cl.7
`[51]
`............... H04N 7/14
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`[52] U S Cl
`348/13. 348/906' 348/563'
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`[56]
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`5,585,866
`............................ 348/731
`12/1996 Miller et al.
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`.. 348/731
`5,589,892 12/1996 Knee etal.
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`.. 348/601
`2/1997 Bertram ......
`5,604,544
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`313:; gm} ettalil ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3934382;
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`5,754,176
`5/1998 Crawford
`.. 345/338
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`...... 348/569
`7/1998 Alten et al.
`5,781,246
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`10/1998 Davis et al. .............. 348/564
`5,822,123
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`8/1999 Kl
`................... 345/327
`l.
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`5,940,073
`t
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`OS erman e a
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`PCT/US94/
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`06941
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`6/1994 WIPO .............................. H04N 7/16
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
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`International Preliminary Examination Report dated Oct. 15,
`1998 from the corresponding PCT application (PCT/US97/
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`13751)
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`Primary Examiner—Thomas G. Black
`Assistant Examiner—Uyen Le
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`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
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`A telev1s1on schedule system and method for displaying
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`television schedule information on a television screen
`includes a program guide having a schedule information
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`area that depicts the programs that are being presented on
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`each channel at each time during the day. An input device
`allows the viewer to move a pointer over different interactive
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`areas of the guide and the function performed when the area
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`is activated is displayed in a contextual help window.
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`Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with
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`-
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`-
`the guide. Additionally, a video window is interactive and
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`prowdes “1ng funcnons‘
`
`
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`El
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`.
`
`References Clted
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`0e er e a .
`..........................
`,
`,
`348/601
`t
`5 157 768 10/1992 H b
`1
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`
`............................... 348/734
`7/1995 Pint et al.
`5,436,676
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`........................... 348/569
`7/1996 Young et al.
`5,532,754
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`24 Claims, 36 Drawing Sheets
`9/1996 Mankovitz .................................. 348/6
`5,559,550
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`w—** 206
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`229
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`Elaine Gets Fired
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`Coffee Madness!
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`P.1
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`SONY - Ex.—1009
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
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`P. 1
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`SONY - Ex.-1009
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 1 0f 36
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`Nov. 21,2000
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21,2000
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`Sheet 5 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`

`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 6 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 7 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 8 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`FIG. 6
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`P.9
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 9 0f 36
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 12 of 36
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 13 0f 36
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`P. 14
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 14 0f 36
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 15 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 16 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 19 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 20 0f 36
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`P. 21
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`P. 22
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`US. Patent
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`m21,2v.0N
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`63f022teehS
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`6,151,059
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`P. 23
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 23 0f 36
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`P. 24
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`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 24 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`P. 25
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 25 0f 36
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`P. 26
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 26 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`mnemE
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` 335228:00
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` 03$EfimsiE
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`368Bmasts:co:5.50m2:-go—
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`33232:m>oE8Lo:32Em;x25
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`WW6?.
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`:mocfwm@5389982505
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`P. 27
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`US. Patent
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`12v.0N
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`0
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`63f072whS
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`6,151,059
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`MNnot
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`2,53:33.8022:Eat£302..252658.._
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`3is:mosESmm33.9.582:Eat
`
`E96053893m5m>oEmg23m:x25@
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`P. 28
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`2L2v.0N
`
`2whS
`
`pm252mm8.
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`%9::cmzozx
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`6,151,059
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`n_amm3m2_>t238;6mm9:
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`6335
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`382mmzEmtso2:2we:23m:x96
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`P. 29
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 29 of 36
`
`6,151,059
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`O
`
`FIG 278
`
`Fla 2763
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`
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`—________=mm—___________Mm—___________wwa
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`___________o.___________o
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`\\E:#5..o
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`\\m
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`HQ 270
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`P. 30
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`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 30 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`x
`
`FIG: 27E.
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`
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`l-—----__——-——--d
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`F/G? 27F.
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`F76. 2762
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`P. 31
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 31 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`
`
` _Bananas.Ptoo
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`«refit
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`.QN“3K
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`..wc_sw69505..E325:3So30>
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 32 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`.mN65K
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`.mtoamu:o£ofom>>£3021meimm
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`@2828:8
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`2.523;.253Sam2:
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`23225:83m.Eo_.mE.,m528w;xozo
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`P. 33
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`US. Patent
`
`N
`
`1
`
`0m
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`63f033whS
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`6,151,059
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`26323209523_
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`222:52.onm
`w..5532,zoo<m
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`GM.not
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`622mm
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`252::mm:0
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`w3mz25:35£206.6523235
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`P. 34
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 34 0f 36
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`6,151,059
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`Sm:fixk
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`
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`a2m.>ou22$88222..L282.v.26
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`.mmtofi85:
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`
`P. 35
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 35 of 36
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`6,151,059
`
`222383m302 23>coat:E3.0;
`
`2698go2:..2369:53308
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`
`
`295.650322
`
`95.33mm.50
`
`
`
`3:2529362::8*£820..828..m
`
`.Nm.6?
`82$23:3236:we...sox36 3:
`
`5.63:39:new.2xo=o-o_n:ou
`
`
`
`
`
`823.2:.3588:.85:81;we>2.ucoomm
`
`
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`3:86052:32268633::
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`
`
`whence.cooaohsw5:523E:256N
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`
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`.633:3326::96:336mm
`
`:66n252300«a.02:22.22:.no
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`
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`.2m3mzaciomEoEJ
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`@§E@@@vaa©E©é©®fi=m
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
`
`Sheet 36 of 36
`
`6,151,059
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`93%.@inm@figgfim
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`.mm_Eocoomc9915,59me5:?mum:B85.2
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`
`
`
`9:95:3.zEEzwo_Eo:oom28>>.0..ng£5
`
`902,$559:9:mumEEov2uofiomaxwwmzwfl
`
`
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`
`09:0”.08%.9:Ewow:_m_EEwn:m58:3me
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`
`9::0952.8.cEmmEEm:mEon.zEEzm9:
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`
`58:008399802w:96an$893..__0D
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`
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`.3062983505-20E59::9:266vcm
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`
`_:tm3.a“moEcm>mw90:259:*02033D
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`
`
`:25;games..o.m_.n_.OEmoe0582mm:
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`“SEE—aw22.02000am“$05On$203“:noP
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`
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`59502923.523
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`
`
`@253mam:no.9282Fo95m:mflawfiS3:82msmc£5coxo__o-m_n:oo
`
`mm.OI
`
`

`

`6,151,059
`
`
`
`
`1
`ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH
`
`
`
`INTERACTIVE AREAS
`
`
`
`
`
`This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
`
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`
`US. Provisional Application No. 60/022,436, filed Aug. 6,
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`
`
`
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`
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`1996, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
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`2
`vision screen. The program guide will usually include a
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`schedule information area that depicts the programs that are
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`being presented on each channel at each time during the day.
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`With an input device, such as a remote control device,
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`pointing device, mouse, keyboard, microphone or the like,
`
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`the viewer can browse through the schedule information
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`area and/or obtain more information about programs of
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`particular interest.
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`
`According to one aspect of the invention, actions are
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`directly invoked by moving a pointer over areas of the visual
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`interface and selecting or “clicking” on the area. A “con-
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`textual help window” in the display area prompts the user as
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`to what can be or needs to be done as the user moves the
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`pointer over the display area. This feature insures that the
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`user always knows what’s going on.
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`In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is
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`provided for allowing the viewer to utilize display action
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`controls, configured as glyphs, to recursively vary the con-
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`figuration of the display area. Each glyph is activated by a
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`point and click action of the user input device and serves as
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`a switch for changing between two modes.
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`According to one aspect of the invention, an “information
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`glyph” switches back and forth between a title-only grid/list
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`of many items (either a grid or listing, with one item
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`selected) and an “information expansion” of a single item
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`item
`(expanding to display scrollable program or
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`information). The information glyph provides zoom-out for
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`an overview or zoom-in for in-depth information.
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`According to another aspect, a “find others glyph” auto-
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`matically searches for and displays a listing of all other
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`airings of a currently-selected program.
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`According to a further aspect, a “flip glyph” flips between
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`vertical and horizontal configurations of the display area.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, a “record
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`glyph” allows for directly controlling recording with a single
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`click.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, a World
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`Wide Web (WWW) icon appears on the display when a link
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`to a website associated with the currently-selected program
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`exist. Clicking on the WWW icon connects the user’s
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`system to the associated website.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, a linked
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`services icon appears on the display when linked services
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`associated with the currently-selected program are available.
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`Clicking on the linked services icon configures the user’s
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`system to access linked services.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, when the
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`user moves the pointer over a video window showing a
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`currently-tuned channel the window splits into two parts. A
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`top part is a clickable area allowing the user to tune directly
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`to a currently-selected program in the display area and a
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`lower part allowing the user to return to the currently-tuned
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`program that was being displayed before the window split.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, scrollable
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`area are highlighted when the pointer is moved into the area
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`with arrows indicating the direction of scrolling. Areas
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`within a display area can activate scrolling of only a portion
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`of a display area.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, each action
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`is performed by a user is confirmed in a text window to
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`reinforce the user’s confidence that the action has been
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`performed.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, a display
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`mode title area displays a current display mode icon and text
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`description when not selected and displays alternative
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`selectable display mode icons when activated.
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`10
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`invention generally relates to television
`The present
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`schedule information, and more particularly to a system and
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`method for displaying a television program guide on a
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`television screen.
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`As the number of television stations in a metropolitan area
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`or on a cable network has increased, the number of programs
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`of potential interest that are presented to a viewer has risen
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`dramatically. With the use of dish antennas capable of
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`receiving direct satellite signals, the multitude of programs
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`available to the viewer has further increased.
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`Additionally, television faces a digital future that will see
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`the merger of television and PC technology. The television
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`set of the future will include a micro-computer, a modem of
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`interconnectivity with other computers over networks,
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`intranets, and the internet, and be connectable to computer
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`peripherals such as printers. Such capabilities as near “video
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`on demand” (NVOD), “video on demand”, access to the
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`world wide web”, “audio on demand”, etc. will be present
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`the viewer with a plethora of information and bandwidth.
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`As has become increasingly evident, information over-
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`load can actually reduce the usefulness of the information
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`delivered. Accordingly, a great challenge exists to provide
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`an interface that manages and provides an intelligent, user-
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`friendly interface to the information available.
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`Consequently, television schedule systems that are pro-
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`vided directly on the viewer’s television screen have been
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`developed to assist
`the viewer in sorting through these
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`various programs and determining which programs to watch
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`or record. One such television schedule system is disclosed
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`in commonly assigned US. Pat. No. 5,353,121 (Young et
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`al.), the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated
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`by reference. In one embodiment of Young, the television
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`schedule includes a series of menu screens having an array
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`of cells corresponding to different television programs. The
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`viewer may scroll through the cells to view which television
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`programs are being presented on various channels at various
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`times. In addition, the viewer may select certain cells to
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`obtain more information on the associated program or to pull
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`up other submenus with additional options.
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`The recent development of television schedule systems,
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`such as the above described patent to Young, have created
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`many new challenges. One such challenge is providing a
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`system and method that is suitable for use on a PC, PC/TV,
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`WebTV, or TV to manage intelligently the vast stores of
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`information available and provide user access and control
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`directly through an electronic program guide. Another chal-
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`lenge is to facilitate easy access to a wide range of func-
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`tionality through the combination of a limited number of
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`user interactions.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention provides a system and method for
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`displaying schedule information on a visual interface, such
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`as a television screen, a computer monitor or the like. The
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`present invention also provides a system and method for
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`allowing the viewer to navigate and interact with a program
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`guide that is displayed, for example, on the viewer’s tele-
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`P. 38
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`P. 38
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`

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`6,151,059
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`3
`According to another aspect of the invention, a browsing
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`window may be activated when a program is being viewed
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`which may display the record glyph and world and linked-
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`services icons.
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`Other features and advantages of the invention will be
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`apparent in view of the following detailed description and
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`the appended drawings.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`FIG. 1 is a representation of an embodiment of the EPG
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`display of the present invention;
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`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a TV system;
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`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a hardware unit for gener-
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`ating an on-screen electronic programming guide (EPG);
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`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the hierarchical database
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`utilized to generate the EPG;
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`FIGS. 5A—5D are schematic diagrams of data structures
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`in the database;
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`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram depicting the transmission
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`of an EPG in a digital satellite system;
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`FIGS. 7—10 are representations of displays that implement
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`the scrolling function;
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`FIGS. 11—14 are representations of displays that imple-
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`ment the find information function;
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`FIGS. 15—17 are representations of displays that imple-
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`ment the find others function;
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`FIGS. 18—19 are representations of displays that imple-
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`ment the vertical/horizontal flip functions;
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`FIGS. 20—25 are representations of displays that imple-
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`ment the record function;
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`FIG. 26 is a representation of a display that implements
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`the tuning function for the video window;
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`FIGS. 27A—27H are representations of displays for imple-
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`menting a transitional animation function;
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`FIGS. 28 and 29 are representations of displays showing
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`the interactive program mode area and icons; and
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`FIGS. 30—33 are representations of displays for interact-
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`ing with the news services feature.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC
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`EMBODIMENTS
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`Overview of the Interactive Screen
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`The present invention provides a schedule system and
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`method for displaying schedule information on a visual
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`interface, such as a television screen, computer monitor or
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`the like. The system and method is particularly useful for use
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`with television schedule information. The television sched-
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`ule information is presented in a program guide having a
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`schedule information area depicting the program that are
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`being shown on each channel for a period of time, e.g., a day,
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`week or longer.
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`The television schedule system includes an input device,
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`such as a remote control device, pointing device, mouse,
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`keyboard, microphone or the like,
`to allow the user to
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`browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain
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`more information about programs of particular interest.
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`The controller may comprise a trackball, cursor
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`controller, pointing device, a microphone for allowing voice
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`activation, a number of keys or buttons that function to move
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`the viewer around the screen, or the like. In the preferred
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`embodiment, the controller comprises a scrolling mecha-
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`nism for displacing a movable cursor through a matrix of
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`4
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`cells or windows on the screen. The cursor may comprise a
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`physical icon on the screen, or it may be represented by
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`highlighting or other visual
`indications of the cells or
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`windows that are scrolled through by the viewer.
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`FIG. 1 illustrates a program guide 102 for the television
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`schedule system of the present invention. The program guide
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`102, which is the primary mode in the television schedule
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`system, includes a number of screen information areas or
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`windows in a particular screen where the viewer operates an
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`input device, such as a pointer device described above, to
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`move around vertically and horizontally and to interact with
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`that screen area’s function. Preferably, the currently active
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`screen area will be indicated to the viewer, for example, by
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`changing the background color from a light greyscale metal-
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`lic to a brighte