초록 ▼

An innovative but easy to use on-line guide is provided to provide the user of a multiple channel television broadcast system a wealth of programming information in a simple format that is easy to understand. The guide enables the user to easily select a particular program to watch. In particular, w

An innovative but easy to use on-line guide is provided to provide the user of a multiple channel television broadcast system a wealth of programming information in a simple format that is easy to understand. The guide enables the user to easily select a particular program to watch. In particular, when the guide is presented to the user, the guide covers only a portion of the actual television screen or display. The remaining portion of the television screen continues to broadcast the audio and video of the currently selected program. As a user scans through the guide and moves the pointer from one station to another, the system responds by automatically tuning to the channel pointed to by the pointer and provides the audio and displays the video in the portion of the screen not covered by the guide. Thus, the user can easily get an idea of the broadcast on a particular station without exiting the guide and without expressly selecting a particular channel. Furthermore, a written description of the program currently broadcasted on a station that the cursor currently points to is also shown. Thus, the user is provided the audio and video of a particular program as well as a written description of the program and the ability to easily preview another station broadcasting another program simply by moving the pointer. Once the user determines that a particular station is to be viewed, the user simply indicates selection by depressing the corresponding key on the receiver or remote control device which then functions to remove the guide. If the viewer exits the guide without selection of a station, the system automatically tunes back to the station that the system was tuned to at the time the guide was entered.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a multiple channel broadcasting system in which programs are broadcasted for display on a screen, a method for generating an on-screen guide for a user to select channels to view, comprising the steps of:tuning to a first channel to provide a broadcast of a first progr

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a multiple channel broadcasting system in which programs are broadcasted for display on a screen, a method for generating an on-screen guide for a user to select channels to view, comprising the steps of:tuning to a first channel to provide a broadcast of a first program on the screen;generating an electronic program guide identifying a plurality of channels in the broadcasting system and corresponding programs;superimposing the electronic program guide over the first program broadcast on the screen, such that only a portion of the video of the broadcast is covered by the electronic program guide and the audio is broadcasted, said superimposed electronic programming guide displaying a plurality of channels and corresponding programs;displaying a system pointer which points to a first location on the displayed electronic program guide;said user moving the displayed pointer on the displayed electronic program guide using a control device to point to a second location in the displayed electronic program guide associated with a second channel;said system responding to the user moving the pointer to the second location by automatically tuning to a second channel to provide a broadcast of a second program on the screen; andsaid electronic programming guide comprising a program description of a program corresponding to a location of the pointer, wherein the program description comprises a program title, a program start and end time, and a current date and time.