초록 ▼

An electronic program schedule system 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

An electronic program schedule system 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 television program schedule information. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information from the memory and displays a pop-up hint in overlaying relationship with the program schedule information in at least one mode of operation of the television programming guide. The data processor controls the video display generator with video control commands, issued in response to the user control commands, or in response to a predetermined period of user inactivity to display pop-up hints for the user's current position in the guide in overlaying relationship with the program schedule information.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An electronic television program guide system comprising:means for receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;timing means for determining the elapsed time since the most recent received user control command;storage means for storing i) program sche

[ We claim:] [1.] An electronic television program guide system comprising:means for receiving user control commands for controlling the operation of said guide;timing means for determining the elapsed time since the most recent received user control command;storage means for storing i) program schedule information for a plurality of television programs, and ii) a plurality of predetermined hints for operating said guide wherein each of said hints is associated with at least one of said user control commands;data processing means coupled to said receiving means and said storage means for generating i) a first video display control command in response to a first user control command to display a program guide information screen representative of a program guide operating point, and ii) a second video display control command to display a predetermined hint in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen, said second video display command being generated when said elapsed time equals a first predetermined amount of time or in response to a second user control command that is not valid for said program guide operating point; andvideo display generator means coupled to said data processing means and said storage means for receiving said video display control commands from said data processing means, and generating a display signal comprising said predetermined hint in partial overlaying relationship with said information screen.