United States Patent (19)
`Young
`
`III
`
`USOO572.7060A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,727,060
`Mar. 10, 1998
`
`54 TELEVISION SCHEDULE SYSTEM
`
`75 Inventor: Patrick Young, San Mateo, Calif.
`73) Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.. Fremont, Calif.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 79,502
`22 Filed:
`Jun. 16, 1993
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`5,123,046 6 1992 Levine ...................................... 380/10
`5,151,789 9/1992 Young ..........
`... 348/334
`5,353,121 10/1994 Young et al. .................. 34.8/563
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Sommerhauser. "Video Program System: Flexible Program
`mieren Mit WPS." Funkshau. No. 25. Dec. 1985, pp. 47-51.
`Abstract of Japanese Patent JP 6061935 of Mar. 4, 1994.
`Primary Examiner-Bernarr E. Gregory
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Townsend and Townsend and
`Crew LLP
`63 Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 33,773, Mar. 19, 1993, Pat.
`No. 5,353,121, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser, No.
`ABSTRACT
`57
`579,555, Sep. 10, 1990, abandoned, and Ser. No. 916,043,
`Jul. 17, 1992, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No.
`Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule
`778.404, Oct 17, 1991, Pat No. 5,151,789, which is a
`system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells
`continuatign-in-part of Ser. No. 428,620, Oct. 30, 1989,
`(26), which vary in length, corresponding to different tele
`abandoned.
`vision program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half
`(51] Int. Cl. .......................... H04N 7/167; H04H 1/02;
`hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28)
`H04B 10/04; H04B 10/06
`of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of
`52 U.S. C. ................... 380/10; 455/1512; 340/825.72;
`program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two
`341/176; 348/731:359/146; 360/79; 380/52;
`or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because
`386/83
`of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conven
`58) Field of Search ................................... 3807, 10,49,
`tional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply
`380/52; 455/5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 131, 151, 151.1,
`step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt
`151.2, 151.3, 1514; 340/825.72: 341/176;
`changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell
`3.591146; 358/335; 34.8/5.5, 6, 10, 11, 731,
`(26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same
`734; 360/79; 386/83
`row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that
`behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular
`References Cited
`cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells.
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`abrupt screen changes will be avoided. With the cursor (32).
`the entire cell (26) is 3-D highlighted, using a conventional
`348/73
`3/1983 Templin et al. ...
`4,375,651
`offset shadow (34). The offset shadow (34) is a blackbar that
`... 348,734
`7/1983 Amano et al. .....
`4,394,691
`underlines the entire cell and wraps around the right edge of
`. 348/706
`4,488,179 12/1984 Kriger et al. .
`the cell. To tag the underlying position-which defines
`... 348/11
`4,527,194 7/1985 Sirazi .............
`where the cursor (32) is and thus, where it will move
`... 348/27
`4,706,121 11/1987 Young ........
`next-portions (36) of the black bar outside the current
`455/180.1
`4.737,993
`4/1988 DeVilbiss ...
`4,802,114
`1/1989 Sogame ......
`s : underlying position are segmented, while the current posi
`4,807.052 2/1989 Amano ...........
`. 348/34
`tion is painted solid.
`4.841,368 6/1989 Rumbolt et al.
`4.908,713 3/1990 Levine ...........
`... 358/335
`348/460
`4,977,455 12/1990 Young .....................................
`
`56
`
`13 Claims, 28 Drawing Sheets
`
`200
`
`205
`
`CABLE
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`PROGRAABLE
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`206
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`U.S. Patent No. 10,334,311
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 28
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`5,727,060
`
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`Mar. 10, 1998
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 10, 1998
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`Sheet 19 of 28
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 10, 1998
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`Sheet 21 of 28
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 10, 1998
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`Mar. 10, 1998
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`Sheet 23 of 28
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 10, 1998
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`Sheet 24 of 28
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`5,727,060
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 25 of 28
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 10, 1998
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`Sheet 26 of 28
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`5,727,060
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`WHO'S THE BOSS
`TUE APR 3
`
`30
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`
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`A/G 264.
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`4:OOP
`4:3OP
`5:OOP
`CHANNEL 2
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`WHO'S THE BOSS
`CHEERS
`MAMA'S FAMILY
`TUE APR 3
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`320
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`A/G 26A
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 10, 1998
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`Sheet 27 of 28
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`5,727,060
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`MODE LIST
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`FAVORTE
`3.
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`MOWIE
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`SPORT
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`PPV
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`THEME
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`CHANNELS AVAILABLE
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`A/G 27
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 10, 1998
`
`Sheet 28 of 28
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`5,727,060
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`5,727,060
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`35
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`1
`TELEVISION SCHEDULE SYSTEM
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.
`08/033,773 filed Mar. 19, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5.535,
`721, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety,
`and which is a continuation-in-part both of U.S. Ser. No.
`7/579,555, filed Sep. 10, 1990, now abandoned, which is
`herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, and of U.S.
`Ser. No. 07/916.043, filed Jul 17, 1992, now abandoned,
`which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety and
`which is a continuation of U.S. Ser, No. 07/778.404, U.S.
`Pat. No. 5,151,789, filed Oct. 17, 1991, which is herein
`incorporated by reference in its entirety and which is a
`continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/428.620, filed Oct.
`30, 1989, now abandoned, which is herein incorporated by
`reference in its entirety.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`One aspect of the present invention relates generally to a
`system and process that allows a television viewer to access
`on screen television program listings and use the program
`listings in an easy and convenient way to control operation
`of a video cassette recorder (VCR) or other recording
`device. In particular, it relates to a system and process that
`displays on a television screen, overlaying a primary tele
`vision display or program, a small background schedule
`guide that can be easily accessed by a user during lulls in the
`primary television display or program.
`Another aspect of the present invention relates to such a
`system and process that creates a directory of recorded
`programs by title for easy retrieval and program playback.
`More particularly, it relates to such a system and process in
`which the VCR or other recording device is controlled by a
`simple selection of program title and a record command,
`even for recording at a future date and time. Most especially,
`it relates to such a system and process incorporating an
`intuitive user interface.
`Yet another aspect of the present invention relates gener
`ally to a cable television (CATV) decoder interface. More
`particularly, it relates to such an interface for connecting the
`cable television decoder to a television accessory, such as a
`video cassette recorder (VCR). Most especially, it relates to
`such an interface which maintains full functionality of the
`television accessory while connected to the decoder.
`The difficulty of setting a VCR for automatic recording at
`a future date is notorious. Even users who are technically
`sophisticated will often make mistakes in the VCR program
`ming procedure that cause them to record the wrong pro
`gram or not to record anything at all. This difficulty has even
`resulted in a substantial body of humor dedicated to the
`subject of programming VCRs.
`The difficulty of VCR programming has been alleviated
`somewhat by the development of VCRs that use a television
`set as a display for user prompts and feedback to the user
`during the programming process. U.S. Pat. No. 4,908.713,
`issued Mar. 13, 1990 to Michael R. Levine, discloses such
`a VCR using the television set as a display for VCR
`programming with an interactive user interface for directing
`the user on a step-by-step basis. Such a user interface
`removes a great deal of the mystery from VCR
`programming, but users still have difficulty with such a
`command-based interface and encounter problems carrying
`out the programming without making mistakes that cause
`them to miss recording programs they would like to watch
`at a different time than when they are broadcast.
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`2
`Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4706,121, issued Nov.
`10, 1987 to PatrickYoung, discloses a system and process in
`which user selections from television schedule information
`are used for automatic control of a VCR. That patent also
`contains a description of a proposed user interface for such
`a system and process. However, the provision of a highly
`intuitive user interface that makes such a system and process
`easy and convenient to operate is a difficult task. Further
`development of this system and process has produced con
`siderable change in the user interface as originally proposed.
`In addition to simplifying VCR programming. users who
`do a substantial amount of program taping also need an
`improved system and process for keeping track of their
`recorded programs. Commonly assigned application Ser.
`No. 07/219,971, filed Jul. 15, 1988, in the name of Patrick
`Young, discloses a system and process that provides index
`ing capability for taped material. A user interface for a
`television schedule system and process should also handle
`this capability on an intuitive basis.
`Thus, while the art pertaining to the control of VCRs and
`to television schedule systems is a well-developed one, a
`need still remains for a television schedule system and
`process incorporating an improved user interface. In
`particular, unlike most computer menus, a grid TV guide is
`an array of irregular cells, where the cell size can vary from
`a fraction of an hour to many hours-extending well beyond
`the current screen. If this array is navigated by a cursor that
`goes from cell to cell, a single cursor command can produce
`violent screen changes. For example. a cursor right com
`mand may cause an abrupt jump to a cell situated several
`hours from the current page. Not only is this unsettling, but
`may take considerable effort to recover. Clearly, a gentler
`cursor motion is needed for the irregular cells found in a grid
`TV guide.
`Printed grid television schedule guides often include
`additional information besides the program title and broad
`cast names. Such grids are also typically provided in com
`bination with a more detailed printed schedule that contains
`a synopsis of each program, whether the program is a repeat,
`ratings for movies, and other information. When using a
`television set as a display for a schedule system, the size and
`resolution of the television display limit the amount of text
`that can be displayed with the grid. Improved techniques are
`required for conveying the most amount of information to
`the user in an easily understood manner within the limita
`tions of the television display. When a large number of
`channels are available for viewing, there is also a need to
`order the display of information most conveniently for the
`S.
`Programming a VCR for unattended recording becomes
`even more problematic when it is desired to record cable
`programs. Cable television decoders typically operate by
`requiring a television set and a VCR connected to the
`decoder to be set to a predetermined channel, such as
`channel 2, 3 or 4, and all channel selection is accomplished
`by the decoder. This presents problems for unattended
`recording, in that not all of the advanced features available
`on state-of-the-art VCRs can be used while the VCR is under
`control of the decoder.
`Two Zenith Electronics Corporation technical papers dis
`close systems which attempt to deal with this problem.
`Merrell, "Tac-Timer," 1986 NCTA Technical Papers. pp.
`203-206, discloses a smart remote controller to solve the
`unattended programming problem when a cable decoder
`precedes a VCR. The smart controller is programmed to turn
`on the cable decoder at specific times, but the VCR must be
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`programmed independently to match the programming of
`the Smart controller. However, this remote controller does
`not coordinate channel selection for such devices as televi
`sion schedule systems, such as disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No.
`4,706.121, issued Nov. 10, 1987, nor does it support unique
`features of more advanced VCRs. For example, this con
`troller does not support on-screen VCR programming, even
`if that feature is otherwise available on a VCR. The con
`troller does not include any capability for conveying infor
`mation about a channel selected on the cable decoder unit to
`a television schedule system or a VCR in any useful way.
`Long, “The VCR Interface." 1986 NCTA Technical
`Papers. pp. 197-202, discloses two solutions for the unat
`tended programming problem when a cable decoder pre
`cedes a VCR. The first of these is a VCR baseband decoder,
`also called BASE-TAC, and currently marketed by Zenith as
`MultiPort or MP. MPs allow the core functions
`(descrambling and addressing) of a cable decoder to be
`added to TVs and VCRs. The decoder accepts the baseband
`output of the TV or VCR tuner, eliminating the need for a
`separate decoder tuner and attendant need to coordinate two
`tuners. This method is effective for supporting television
`schedule systems and allows full functionality of advanced
`VCR features. However, the MP alternative requires new TV
`or VCR equipment and is not compatible with the existing
`25
`installed base of cable decoders. This method has not been
`well-received at this time. The second is the VCR Interface,
`which uses RF switching and a centralized approach for all
`TVs and VCRs in the home. It descrambles incoming CATV
`30
`channels and, after modulation, combines them back onto
`the CATV cable at unused upper channels. The result is that
`any TV set on the cable can receive premium channels
`without a separate decoder. This method eliminates the need
`for redundant decoders at every TV set or VCR. As
`35
`described, the system was conceived for only one premium
`channel. To support a television schedule system, all pre
`mium channels must be descrambled together and be avail
`able simultaneously. If not, it would be necessary to provide
`away of tuning the centralized descrambler from any TV set
`or VCR attached to the cable. Such a scheme would be
`awkward when more than one TV or VCR competes for
`control of the single descrambler. The VCR interface may be
`implemented using retrofitted decoders, but the overall cost
`may be prohibitive for the average home.
`45
`A somewhat similar system for use with the German
`television networks is described in Sommerhauser, "Video
`Programm System: Flexibel programmieren mit VPS."
`Funkschau. No. 25. December 1985, pp. 47-51.
`Other prior art relating to CATV, its decoders, and pro
`grammable remote devices includes west German Published
`Application 2.338,380. published Feb. 13, 1975; U.K. Patent
`1.554411, published Oct. 17, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,375.651,
`issued Mar. 1, 1983 to Templin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4394,
`691, issued Jul. 19, 1983 to Amano et al; U.S. Pat. No,
`4,802.114, issued Jan. 31, 1989 to Sogame. While the prior
`art relating to cable decoder interfaces and similar devices is
`a well-developed one, a need remains for further develop
`ment of such devices. None of the existing interfaces both
`provides a complete solution to the problem of unattended
`recording and is compatible with already installed equip
`ment.
`
`4
`invention is directed to a system and method to allow
`automatic, unattended recording of cable television pro
`grams supplied on a cable system as herein disclosed. A
`video recording system to allow automatic, unattended
`recording of at least two cable television programs supplied
`sequentially at different times on different channels of a
`cable system includes a television receiver, a remote con
`trollable cable decoder and a remote controllable video
`recorder with unattended programming capability connected
`between the television receiver and the cable decoder. A
`remote controller for the video recorder includes a means for
`user input of program selections from a television schedule.
`The remote controller is coupled to the video recorder. A
`channel selection coordinator includes a memory means for
`storing channel tuning conversion information and program
`selections input by the user with the means for user input of
`program selections. A means converts channels of the at
`least two program selections to channel tuning commands
`recognizable by the cable decoder using the channel tuning
`conversion information and the program selections. A means
`automatically transmits the channel tuning commands to the
`cable decoder at desired activation times of the at least two
`program selections (typically the broadcast times, with a
`guard time at the beginning and end of each program). A
`means automatically supplies recording commands to the
`video recorder at the desired activation times of the at least
`two program selections.
`The method of this aspect of the invention automatically
`records cable television programs supplied sequentially at
`different times on a cable system unattended, even with
`channel changes between the programs. A remote control
`lable video recorder having unattended programming capa
`bility is connected between a television receiver and a
`remote controllable cable decoder. Channel tuning conver
`sion information is stored in a memory. Program selections
`for at least two programs on different channels is input from
`a television schedule with a remote controller for the video
`recorder. The program selections are stored in the memory.
`Channels of the program selections are converted to channel
`tuning commands recognizable by the cable decoder using
`the channel tuning conversion information and the program
`selections. The channel tuning commands are automatically
`transmitted to the cable decoder at broadcast times of the
`program selections. Recording commands are automatically
`transmitted to the video recorder at the broadcast times of
`the program selections.
`Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`novel television schedule system and process user interface
`herein disclosed. A television schedule system including a
`user interface in accordance with this aspect of the invention
`has a display and a means connected to the display for
`displaying the television schedule on the display as an array
`of irregular cells which vary dimensionally in length, cor
`responding to different television program time lengths. A
`means is connected to the display for providing a cursor with
`the television schedule on the display. The cursor has a
`variable length corresponding to the length of a selected one
`of the irregular cells in which the cursor is located. A means
`is connected to the means for providing the cursor for
`moving the cursor in the array in a series of equal length
`steps. At least some of the irregular cells have a length which
`is greater than the length of the steps.
`In the process of operating a television schedule system
`with the user interface of this aspect of the invention, the
`television schedule is displayed as an array of irregular cells
`which vary dimensionally in length, corresponding to dif
`ferent television program time lengths. A cursor is provided
`
`50
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The above problems and difficulties present in the prior art
`are overcome through the use of the novel system and
`method of the present invention. One aspect of the present
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`5
`with the television schedule on the display, the cursor has a
`variable length corresponding to the length of a selected one
`of the irregular cells in which the cursor is located. The
`cursor is moved in the array in a series of equal length steps.
`with at least some of the irregular cells having a length
`which is greater than the length of the steps.
`In another aspect of the invention, a control system for a
`video recording machine has a controller for starting and
`stopping the video recording machine, for recording video
`information on recording media, and for playing recorded
`video information on recording media. A display generator
`provides display image generation signals. Ameans supplies
`information to the display generator for generation of dis
`play images relating to operation of the video recording
`machine. The means for supplying information includes
`means for generating a recording media position indicator
`graduated as segments corresponding to programs recorded
`on the recording media.
`In a process for controlling a video recording machine
`according to this aspect of the invention, a recording media
`position indicator is graduated as segments corresponding to
`programs recorded on the recording media. The recording
`media position indicator is displayed as position of a
`selected one of the recording media in the video recording
`machine is changed.
`In a further aspect of the invention, a television schedule
`system includes a display and means connected to the
`display for displaying the television schedule on the display.
`The means for displaying a schedule is configured to allow
`selection by a user of a first number of desired channels for
`display of schedule information which is less than a second
`number of available channels. A programmable tuner is
`connected to the means for displaying a schedule. The
`programmable tuner is configured to follow the first number
`of desired channels when the television schedule is shown
`on the display in response to a channel up or channel down
`command. The programmable tuner is configured to follow
`the second number of available channels in the absence of
`the television schedule on the display in response to a
`channel up or channel down command.
`In a process for operating a television schedule system
`according to this further aspect of the invention, a first
`number of desired channels is selected for display of sched
`ule information, which is less than a second number of
`available channels. The schedule information is displayed
`on a display. The first number of desired channels is fol
`lowed when the schedule information is shown on the
`display in response to a channel up or channel down
`command. The second number of available channels is
`followed in the absence of the television schedule on the
`display in response to a channel up or channel down
`command.
`According to yet another aspect of the present invention,
`user control of a television is simplified by a system and
`process that displays on a television screen, overlaying a
`primary television display or program, a small background
`schedule guide that can be easily accessed by a user during
`lulls in the primary television display or program.
`The attainment of the foregoing and related objects,
`advantages and features of the invention should be more
`readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the
`following more detailed description of the invention, taken
`together with the drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIGS. 1-3 are diagrammatic representations of a televi
`sion schedule grid incorporating the user interface for the
`system and process of this invention.
`
`6
`FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a screen
`display used in the system and process of the invention.
`FIGS. 5-7 are additional diagrammatic representations of
`the television schedule grid incorporating the user interface
`for the system and process of the invention.
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart for understanding the operation of
`the FIG. 7 diagram.
`FIGS. 9-10 are additional diagrammatic representations
`of screen displays of the user interface for the system and
`process of the invention.
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart for understanding the operation of
`the FIGS. 9-10 diagrams.
`FIGS. 12-13 are diagrammatic representations of taping
`and tape index screen displays of the user interface for the
`system and process of the invention.
`FIGS. 14-17 are diagrammatic representations of pro
`gram selection by category screen displays of the user
`interface for the system and process of the invention.
`FIG. 18 is a flow chart for understanding operation of the
`FIGS. 14-18 diagrams.
`FIG. 19 is a flow chart for understanding operation of the
`FIG. 20 diagram.
`FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic representation of a channel
`customization screen display of the user interface for the
`system and process of the invention.
`FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic plan view of a control panel for
`the system of the invention.
`FIGS. 22a and 22b are block diagrams of television
`schedule systems in accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 23 is a