초록 ▼

An electronic program schedule system having virtual channels which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data proce

An electronic program schedule system having virtual channels which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and virtual channel programming. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and generates and displays a plurality of virtual channels, each virtual channel being accessible as a channel and associated with a service delivered on a subset of the channels.

대표청구항 ▼

An electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, said guide comprising: user control means for issuing control commands, including channel-control

An electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, said guide comprising: user control means for issuing control commands, including channel-control commands comprising a channel up command for selecting a higher numbered channel in a channel tuning sequence; a data processor for receiving said control commands and for generating video control commands; a video display generator adapted to receive video control commands from said data processor for generating and displaying a plurality of said virtual channels, each of said virtual channels associated with a service received on a subset of service channels, each of said virtual channels identifying the subset of service channels on which its associated service is received; wherein a first subset of service channels is located between first and second virtual channels in said channel tuning sequence, and said data processor causes said receiver to select said second virtual channel in response to said channel up command received by said data processor while said first virtual channel is displayed by said receiver.