JP2010200368A - System and method for default channel lineup and display accompanying customization of electronic program guide grid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method appropriate for customizing default display according to user preference. <P>SOLUTION: A default channel lineup is transmitted to a television apparatus in two different packets of an enabling priority packet and an extended display priority packet. The enabling priority packet includes a list of default channels to be enabled on the guide. The extended display priority packet includes a list of channel groups indicative of an order of display of the channels available to the television apparatus. The default channels also get detailed program descriptions. A channel editor screen allows a viewer to modify the default display of the guide by enabling or disabling channels, changing the order of the channel display, or modifying the channels that receive the detailed program descriptions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

(Refer to related applications)
This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 60 / 113,967, filed Dec. 28, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

(Technical field)
The present invention relates generally to television systems, and more particularly to television systems that include a default channel schedule for a default display of an electronic program guide, the electronic program guide being Customized according to preference.

(Background technology)
Today's television systems can receive hundreds of channels. Information about all these channels cannot be displayed by the television system at one time in an electronic program guide (EPG) grid. Thus, for the initial display of the EPG, a decision needs to be made regarding the default channel that appears on the grid. If such a program description cannot be displayed for all of the default channels due to memory constraints in the television system, a decision must also be made regarding the default channel to obtain the program description. Once these selections are made, the default order in which the channels are displayed must also be determined.

One way to handle these decisions is to send to the television system a channel schedule for all channels that are available to the viewer, and the channels higher in the list to the default It is by selecting as a channel. The channel schedule is transmitted in a display priority packet (“DPP”) and stored in the memory of the television system. The EPG then displays, by default, the channels that appear higher in the list (eg, the first 50 channels). All displayed channels also get a program description. For example, the following channel schedule may be transmitted in DPP:
1) Major network 1
2) Major network 2
3) Minor network 1
4) Minor network 2
5) Major movie channel 1
6) Major movie channel 2
7) Major movie channel 3
8) Major movie channel 4
9) Minor movie channel 1
10) Minor movie channel 2

If four channels are to be displayed by default, the four channels are major network 1, major network 2, minor network 1, and minor network 2 according to the example shown. Let's go. For the default display with different channels, the channel schedule in DPP is changed and retransmitted to the television system. For example, if two major networks are to be displayed by default with two major movie channels, the above-mentioned channel schedule will be changed as follows:
1) Major network 1
2) Major network 1
3) Major movie channel 1
4) Major movie channel 2
5) Minor network 1
6) Minor network 2
7) Major movie channel 3
8) Major movie channel 4
9) Minor movie channel 1
10) Minor movie channel 2

  A viewer who wants to include additional channels to be displayed on the EPG retrieves a channel schedule from memory and selects the desired channel from the schedule.

  One drawback of the above method is that the order of channel listing on the channel schedule also dictates which channels are to be displayed by default. Thus, the channel that is to be displayed by default must sometimes appear at the top of the channel schedule, apart from the rest of the channel to which it belongs. Therefore, channels in the channel schedule cannot be organized by category / theme. As a result, channels on the EPG grid cannot also be grouped by category / theme if channels other than the default channel are to be enabled by the viewer.

  For example, in the above example, if only two major network channels and two major movie channels are to be displayed on the guide, the guide is organized based on the theme of the channel. Appearing, the viewer may easily find a particular network channel or movie channel by looking at the network channel category or movie channel category respectively. However, if the viewer wants Minor Network 1 to also appear on the guide, the channel schedule orders the display order of the channels, so it is the major movie channel rather than with the rest of the network channel. Will be displayed below. As more channels appear in the guide, it becomes more important to maintain channels that are displayed in an organized format on the EPG grid so that the viewer can quickly find the desired channel.

  Another disadvantage of the above method is that the channel displayed by default also gets a detailed program description. However, the viewer may have access to detailed program descriptions for only the specific channel that the viewer wants to see the most, and rarely has access to detailed program descriptions for the remaining channels that the viewer is not interested in. Absent. As such, storing detailed program descriptions of these channels is an inefficient use of the television system's memory space.

Thus, the default channel to be displayed may be maintained with non-default channels in that category, and there is a need for an EPG in which channels are organized based on a theme. There is also a need for an EPG where the default displayed channel does not automatically obtain a detailed program description. Instead, the viewer will be able to select the channel for which a detailed description is to be obtained.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a system and method for displaying an EPG grid according to a default channel schedule. The display of the EPG grid may be customized according to user preferences.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the default channel schedule is transmitted in two different packets; an enabling priority packet and an extended display priority packet. The television device receives a list of default individual channels to be displayed on the electronic program guide grid in an enabling priority packet. The television device also receives, in an extended display priority packet, a list of channel groups indicating the order of display on the electronic program guide grid for all individual channels available to the television device. A list of default individual channels and a list of channel groups are stored in the memory of the television apparatus. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the channels in the channel schedule may be maintained together based on a category 1 theme.

  With respect to the default display of the EPG grid, the television device retrieves a list of default dedicated channels and their associated program schedule information from the memory. The television device then displays a list of default individual channels and a portion of the program schedule information associated with the individual channels on the electronic program guide grid according to the display order indicated by the list of channel groups. To display.

  In one particular feature of the present invention, the default dedicated channel also obtains a detailed program description of programs broadcast on the default dedicated channel.

In another particular feature of the invention, the viewer may change the default display of the EPG grid by enabling non-default individual channels from the channel editor screen. Non-default individual channels and their program schedule information are displayed according to the order indicated by the list of channel groups. The viewer may further change the individual channels for obtaining detailed program descriptions or the order in which the individual channels are displayed.
(Item 1) A method for creating an electronic program guide grid display for a television set comprising:
Sending a list of default individual channels to be displayed on the electronic program guide grid;
Transmitting a list of channel groups indicating the order of display on the electronic program guide grid of all individual channels available to the television set, each individual channel being a specific Said step belonging to a channel group; and
Program schedule information associated with the default individual channel for display on the electronic program guide, along with the display of the default individual channel, according to the display order indicated by the list of channel groups. Step to send and
The method comprising:
(Item 2) The method according to item 1, wherein the program schedule information includes a detailed program description of a program broadcast on the default dedicated channel.
(Item 3) A method for creating an electronic program guide grid display of a television set having a memory comprising:
Receiving a list of default individual channels to be displayed on the electronic program guide grid;
Receiving a list of channel groups indicating the order of display on the electronic program guide grid of all individual channels available to the television set, each individual channel being assigned to a particular channel group; Said step belonging to;
Storing the default list of individual channels and the list of channel groups in the memory;
Receiving program schedule information associated with the default dedicated channel;
Storing the program schedule information in the memory;
Retrieving the list of default individual channels and their associated program schedule information from the memory; and
A list of the default individual channels and a portion of the program schedule information associated with the individual channels are displayed on the electronic program guide grid according to a display order indicated by the list of channel groups. Step to display and
The method comprising:
(Item 4) The method according to item 3, wherein the program schedule information includes a detailed program description of a program broadcast on the default dedicated channel.
(Item 5) Enable non-default individual channels; and
Displaying the non-default individual channels and a portion of the program schedule information associated with the non-default individual channels according to a display order indicated by the list of channel groups;
4. The method according to item 3, further comprising:
(Item 6) A step of changing a display order of a specific individual channel and a part of the program schedule information associated with the specific individual channel on the electronic program guide grid according to a viewer's preference. 4. The method according to item 3, further comprising:
(Item 7) The indication is:
Displaying on the electronic program guide grid a channel group associated with a particular individual channel according to the order of the display indicated by the list of channel groups; and
Expanding the list of individual channels belonging to the displayed channel group in response to a viewer command;
The method according to item 3, characterized by comprising:
(Item 8) Displays menu buttons associated with a particular channel group; and
Jumping to a part of the electronic program grid displaying a plurality of individual channels belonging to the specific channel group when there is a viewer command
The method according to Item 3, further comprising:
(Item 9) Displays menu buttons associated with a particular channel group; and
When there is a viewer command, a plurality of individual channels belonging to the specific channel group and a part of the program schedule information associated with the plurality of individual channels are transmitted to the electronic program guide grid. Steps to display in a separate window
The method according to Item 3, further comprising:
(Item 10) A system for creating an electronic program guide grid display for a television set comprising:
Means for sending a list of default individual channels to be displayed on the electronic program guide grid;
Means for transmitting a list of channel groups indicating the order of display on the electronic program guide grid of all individual channels available to the television set; and
Means for transmitting program schedule information associated with the default individual channel for display on the electronic program guide along with the display of the default individual channel according to the display order indicated by the list of channel groups When
The system comprising:
(Item 11) The system according to item 10, wherein the program schedule information includes a detailed program description of a program broadcast on the default dedicated channel.
(Item 12) A system for creating an electronic program guide grid display for a television set comprising:
Means for receiving a list of default individual channels to be displayed on the electronic program guide grid;
Means for receiving a list of channel groups indicating the order of display on the electronic program guide grid of all individual channels available to the television set, wherein each individual channel is a specific channel Said means belonging to a group;
Means for storing the list of default individual channels and the list of channel groups;
Means for receiving program schedule information associated with the default dedicated channel;
Means for storing the program schedule information;
Means for retrieving the list of default individual channels and their associated program schedule information from the memory; and
A list of the default individual channels and a portion of the program schedule information associated with the individual channels are displayed on the electronic program guide grid according to a display order indicated by the list of channel groups. Means for
The system comprising:
(Item 13) The system according to item 3, wherein the program schedule information includes a detailed program description of a program broadcast on the default dedicated channel.
(Item 14) means for enabling non-default individual channels; and
Means for displaying the non-default individual channel and a portion of the program schedule information associated with the non-default individual channel according to a display order indicated by the list of channel groups;
The system according to item 3, further comprising:
(Item 15) Change the display order of a specific individual channel on the electronic program guide grid and a part of the program schedule information associated with the specific individual channel according to the viewer's preference. The system according to item 3, further comprising means for:
(Item 16) The means for the display are:
Means for displaying a channel group associated with a particular individual channel on the electronic program guide grid according to a display order indicated by the list of channel groups; and
Means for expanding a list of individual channels belonging to the displayed channel group in response to a viewer command;
The system according to item 3, characterized by comprising:
(Item 17) means for displaying a menu button associated with a particular channel group; and
Means for jumping to a part of the electronic program grid displaying a plurality of individual channels belonging to the specific channel group when there is a viewer command;
The system according to item 3, further comprising:
(Item 18) means for displaying menu buttons associated with a particular channel group; and
When there is a viewer command, a plurality of individual channels belonging to the specific channel group and a part of the program schedule information associated with the plurality of individual channels are transmitted to the electronic program guide grid. Means for displaying in a separate window;
The system according to item 3, further comprising:
(Item 19) A system for creating an electronic program guide grid display for a television set comprising:
A first data packet including a list of default individual channels to be displayed on the electronic program guide grid, all of the individual channels available to the television set, each of which is a specific A program schedule for receiving a second data packet including a list of channel groups indicating the order of display on the electronic program guide grid of the channels belonging to a channel group and associated with the default individual channel A receiver for receiving information;
A memory connected to the receiver for storing the list of default individual channels, the list of channel groups, and the program schedule information;
A microprocessor coupled to the memory for retrieving the list of default individual channels and their associated program schedule information from the memory; and
Displaying the list of default individual channels and a portion of the program schedule information associated with the individual channels on the electronic program guide grid according to the display order indicated by the list of channel groups. And a display screen connected to the microprocessor for
The system comprising:
(Item 20) The system according to item 19, wherein the program schedule information includes a detailed program description of a program broadcast on the default dedicated channel.
(Item 21) The non-default individual channel and a part of the program schedule information associated with the non-default individual channel according to the display order indicated by the list of channel groups on the display screen. 20. The system of item 19, further comprising a channel editor screen for enabling a non-default individual channel for display.
(Item 22) The display order of a specific individual channel on the electronic program guide grid and a part of the program schedule information associated with the specific individual channel are changed according to the viewer's preference. Item 20. The system according to Item 19, further comprising a channel editor screen.
(Item 23) The display screen displays a channel group associated with a specific individual channel on the electronic program guide grid in accordance with the display order indicated by the list of channel groups, and for further viewing. 20. The system according to item 19, characterized in that in response to an operator command, an expanded list of individual channels belonging to the displayed channel group is displayed.
(Item 24) The display screen displays a menu button associated with a specific channel group, and further displays a plurality of individual channels belonging to the specific channel group in response to a viewer command. Item 20. The system according to item 19, wherein a part of the electronic program grid is displayed.
(Item 25) The display screen displays a menu button associated with a particular channel group, and if there is a viewer command, the particular channel is displayed in a separate window of the electronic program guide grid. 20. The system according to item 19, wherein a plurality of individual channels belonging to a group and a part of the program schedule information associated with the plurality of individual channels are displayed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an interactive television scheduling system that includes a television system and a cable box, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the cable box described in FIG. FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram of the television system described in FIG. FIG. 4 is a layout diagram of an enabling priority packet. FIG. 5 is a layout diagram of the extended display priority packet. FIG. 6 is a layout diagram of an extended display priority packet according to an alternative embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram of an EPG screen that displays channels according to the information in the enabling priority packet described in FIG. 4 and the extended display priority packet described in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram of the EPG screen described in FIG. 7 according to an alternative embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram of a channel editor screen for changing the EPG screen display.

  Generally speaking, the system and method of the present invention is an interactive television schedule system having a television device with an interactive electronic program guide (EPG) that provides a customizable channel display and detailed program description for an EPG. It is about.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an interactive television schedule system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The interactive television schedule system includes a television system 45 that receives input from the cable box 20 and the IRD box 25. The television system 10 includes a television 50 and a VCR 15.

  The TV 50, which will be described in detail later, includes an interactive EPG 45 for displaying TV schedule information and information on additional services (collectively referred to as “EPG data”). The viewer interacts with the television 50 and the EPG 45 in a conventional manner, preferably through the input device 40 in the form of an IR remote control 40. Other viewer input devices 40 such as a keyboard, keypad, joystick, mouse, trackball, touchpad, etc. may be used.

  Various transmission schemes can be used to provide EPG data to the various receivers 20, 25, 30, 35 of the television system 10. For example, EPG data can be provided via cable box 20 and / or IRD box 25, respectively, via cable and / or direct broadcast satellite (DBS). As an additional source of EPG data, an antenna 35 coupled to the television 50 can be used. In addition, data can be transmitted through an input path 30 such as a conventional satellite system, coaxial cable, telephone line, fiber optic cable.

  FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the cable box 20 of FIG. 1 for supplying EPG data to the television system 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the cable box 20 includes a processor 60 and a memory 65. The memory 65 of the cable box 20 stores software 70 for receiving, organizing, and displaying EPG data and the EPG data itself. However, the EPG data is described below in connection with FIG. 3, but is preferably stored in the memory of the television system 10.

  The memory 65 can also store data relating to the viewer's profile and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, some portion of the data stored in memory 65 is obtained from the Internet via cable modem 75. The other part of the data is generated by the processor from the data received from the cable head end.

  FIG. 3 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the television system 10 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a television signal source 100 such as an antenna 35, a cable box 20, or an IRD box 25 is connected to a television tuner 105. The output of the tuner 105 is a modulated intermediate frequency signal 110 containing video and audio television information. The tuner 105 is an intermediate frequency amplifier (IFAMP) 110, which is connected to a video detector (PICTURE DET) 115 and an audio detector (SOUND DET) 120, which both detect baseband video and audio signals, respectively. Generate. The audio signal is connected to the loudspeaker 130 by an audio amplifier (SOUND AMP) 125. The video signal is coupled to one of the inputs of switch 135 with a video amplifier (not shown). The audio detector 120 and the video detector 115 are connected to the audio and video inputs of the VCR 15, respectively. Alternatively, the television signal source 100 may be connected directly to the RF input of the VCR 15 if the VCR 15 internal tuner and demodulation circuit is available.

  The output of the VCR 15 is connected to the other input of the switch 135. The output of switch 135 is connected to one of the inputs of a conventional picture-in-picture (PIP) integrated circuit chip 140. The output of the PIP chip 140 is connected to the video input 142 of the television 50 having a screen (not shown).

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the television system 10 shown in FIG. 3 includes an EPG memory 145 for storing a database of updatable television program schedule information. This database can be updated by a continuous data link during the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of the television channel broadcast to the television system 10 in a well known manner.

  The EPG memory 145 is connected to a microprocessor 150 that is programmed to control the operation of the television 50. An operation program for the microprocessor 150 is stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 155. The viewer input device 40 is coupled to the microprocessor 150 for inputting commands from the viewer and interacting with the EPG.

  Video processor 160 is coupled to microprocessor 150. If the viewer wishes to view television program schedule information, the microprocessor 150 recalls the relevant piece of data from the EPG memory 145 and plugs it into the video processor 160 where the program list is formatted for display. The information stored in the video processor 160 is preferably a bitmap displayed on the screen of the television 50.

  Microprocessor 150 is further coupled to tuner 105 for channel switching, coupled to VCR 15 for reproduction / recording selection and start / stop, and coupled to switch 135 to select one of its inputs. , Connected to the PIP chip 140 for selecting the mode of the PIP operation.

  Returning to the EPG memory 145, the television program schedule information is stored in the program schedule database of the EPG memory and includes the program schedule for all channels available during a specified period of time, eg, one day or one week. . These program lists typically include, for each program, the title, program description, day of the week, start time of the day, program length, and the channel on which the program is transmitted and can therefore be received by the source 100. . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the period for which the program list is stored varies depending on the priority and preference of the viewer. For example, this information may be stored for one or two days or for more than a week.

  The EPG memory 145 further stores the channel lineup of all channels available to the viewer according to the order in which the channels appear on the EPG grid. The ordering of channels within the channel lineup does not depend on the default channel that will be displayed on the EPG grid. Thus, the channels that are to be displayed by default need not both appear at the top of the channel lineup, and all channels in the channel lineup may remain organized according to the theme.

  In this respect, unlike the prior art, where the channel lineup information was transmitted in a single DPP packet, the channel lineup information according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises two separate packets, namely an available priority packet ( EPP) and extended display priority packet (XDPP). The EPP contains a list of default individual channels that will be available (ie, displayed on the EPG grid) and will have a detailed program description. XDPP includes a channel lineup of all channel groups, listed in order that individual channels belonging to each channel group will be displayed on the EPG grid as they become available. Thus, the available channels appear together in the guide to give a structured appearance to the EPG grid according to the group.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic layout diagram of a representative EPP 200. According to the example shown in FIG. 4, among the default individual channels that will be displayed on the EPG grid, there are three network channels, WCVB5, WABC, WBGH, all of which are ABC network sequences. . Other default channels include three movie channels, HBO1, HBO2, SHOWTIME, MTV channel, one sports channel, and ESPN. All of these default channels contain detailed program descriptions available through the EPG. Detailed program descriptions appear in separate information boxes when you select one of these channels, as described in detail below.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic layout diagram of a representative XDPP with the channel lineup of all channel groups to which each channel belongs, transmitted with the EPP shown in FIG. According to the example shown in FIG. 5, all individual channels belonging to an ABC network such as WCVB5, WABC, WBGH of FIG. 4 are used either by default or by interaction with the viewer's guide. If possible, it will be displayed at the top of the guide. Individual channels belonging to the ABC network are followed by individual channels belonging to the FOX network, the CBS network, and the NBC network. The network channel is followed by other MTV channels, SHOWTIME channels, HBO channels, AMC channels, and ESPN channels.

  In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the channel groups listed in XDPP are generic channel categories that are not associated with a particular television or cable network. For example, individual channels belonging to a major television network are grouped into the “major network” category regardless of whether the network is ABC, NBC or other major television networks. In addition, all movie channels are grouped into the “Movies” category regardless of whether the movie is provided by HBO, SHOWTIME or another movie channel.

  FIG. 7 shows an EPG screen 170 generated by the video processor 160 (FIG. 3) under the control of the microprocessor 150. The viewer invokes an EPG guide mode for displaying the EPG screen 170 by pressing a “Guide” key on the viewer input device 40. The viewer returns to full screen television mode with the same key or by calling a linked television program.

  The EPG screen 170 is divided into several different display areas. The PIP window 172, the first panel AD window 174, and the second panel AD window 176 are arranged along the left side of the screen 50. The rest of the EPG screen 170 is usually occupied by an action key bar 178, a navigation bar 180, a grid guide 182 and an information box 184. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the window positions and other user interface features, including the action key bar 178, the navigation bar 180, and the grid guide 182, are fixed. In another example of the present invention, the location and size of windows and other user interface features can be customized by the viewer.

  The PIP window 172 displays a broadcast program in real time or displays a recorded video clip produced by the PIP chip 140. The translucent overlay of the PIP window 172 can display the title, channel (local number and / or station name) and the state of the PIP window 172 (whether locked or not).

  The first and second panel AD windows 174 and 176 display advertisements for future TV broadcast programs, advertisements for products or services. Future TV broadcast program advertisements are linked to the time and channel of the program, and if the viewer highlights the advertisement and presses the view action button 178a or record action button 178b, the program is automatically viewed or recorded. Will be able to.

  Highlighting a product or service advertisement allows the viewer to read one or more pages from the information box 184 for the product or service. Alternatively, the advertisement can be viewed or recorded if the advertisement is linked to the time and channel of the information advertisement and the viewer highlights the advertisement and presses the view action button 178a or the record action button 178b. It becomes like this.

  The viewer accesses the television program schedule information by actuating the grid button 180a in the list of menu buttons displayed on the navigation bar 180. When the grid button 180a is activated, the grid guide 182 displays a list of television programs by designating each channel in a series of program tiles. The default list of channels displayed on the grid guide 182 is determined by the individual channels listed in the EPP. The order of the channels on the grid guide 182 is determined in the order specified in the XDPP.

  If a program tile is selected, additional information regarding the selected program is displayed in the information box 184. This additional information includes a detailed description of the selected program, such as who appeared in the program and what the program is about.

  In addition to the program tiles, the grid guide 182 includes an advertisement tile 190 with a virtual channel advertisement. The virtual channel AD can also advertise current or future television programs, for example. Such virtual channel advertisements for television programs are linked to the time and channel of the program so that the viewer can automatically watch or record the program.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the EPG screen 170 further includes a number of menu buttons (not shown) that relate to different channel groups. When a particular menu button is selected, the screen cursor jumps to the portion of the grid guide that has the program tile associated with the selected channel group. Alternatively, when the menu button is selected, the program tile is displayed in another information box 184. In another embodiment, a page down button in EPG screen 170 or on viewer input device 40 is used to jump from channel group to channel group in grid guide 182. If there are too many channels displayed and it is difficult to locate individual channels in the grid, either of these methods will be desired.

  For example, the menu button may include titles such as movies, sports, and news. If the movie menu button is selected, all program tiles of channels belonging to movie channel groups such as HBO, SHOWTIME, etc. are displayed in the information box 184, or the screen cursor jumps to the beginning of these program tiles.

  FIG. 8 shows another display example of the EPG screen of FIG. According to the embodiment of FIG. 8, all channels belonging to a particular channel group are compressed into a single program tile 206, which tile is expanded if selected. Program tile 206 is identified by the name of channel group 206a and includes instructions 206a for selecting a tile for viewing program tiles associated with individual channels. For example, in the grid guide 182 in FIG. 7, three channels belonging to the ABC network, WCVB5, WABC, and WBGH, are compressed into a single ABC list shown in FIG. If the program tile 206 is selected, the program tiles of the individual channels belonging to the identified channel group are expanded in the grid guide 182 itself or in the information box 184.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the default channels displayed on the grid guide 182 as well as the ordering of the displayed channels can be modified by the viewer using the channel editing screen according to their preferences. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary channel editing screen 210. Screen 210 has two fields: a three-column field 212 that lists up to 36 non-summarized channels and a one-column field 208 that lists the viewer's favorite channels. Additional channel pages can be used to accommodate more than 36 channels (swap between pages using the page key of the viewer input device 40).

  Each cell 214 in the three column field 212 includes a channel number and a channel descriptor (eg, WCVB5, MTV). The channels in the three column field are initially displayed in the order specified by XDPP. Further, each cell 124 is color-coded to display an ON state, an OFF state, and an MY state. The ON state indicates that the channel is currently available and is therefore displayed on the grid guide 182. The cell displaying the ON state is displayed with a light green background. Initially, all individual channels listed in the EPP are shown in the ON state.

  The OFF state indicates that the channel is currently disabled and is therefore not displayed on the grid guide 182. The cell displaying the OFF state is displayed with a gray background. The MY state indicates that the channel is available and currently displaying the viewer's favorite channel. A cell displaying the MY state is displayed with a blue background.

  The viewer can enable the disabled channel by selecting the cell and activating the ON button 216. The viewer can also disable an available channel by actuating the OFF button 218 or designate the channel as a preferred channel by actuating the MY button 220. The user can also specify the available channels to obtain detailed program descriptions by selecting the channel and pressing the information button 222. A cell having a channel with a detailed program description is identified by an information icon 224 in the corresponding cell. Initially, the channels listed in the EPP can automatically get detailed program descriptions. Channels listed as viewer's favorite channels can also automatically get detailed program descriptions. The viewer can also modify the order of the channels displayed on the grid guide 182. In that case, the viewer may select a cell related to the channel whose display order is to be changed, and drag the cell to a desired position in the three-column field 212. In another embodiment, the user can be restricted from moving groups of channels instead of moving individual channels. For example, a user watching a lot of sports can move the sports channel to the top of the grid. Alternatively, the television system automatically tracks the channel or channel type that the viewer sees best, and automatically raises that channel or channel type to the top of the grid. However, the viewer can also disable this feature to prevent the channel from being reorganized constantly due to the channel rising to the top of the grid. These channels can also be designated as preferred channels in the one column field 208 of the channel editing screen 210.

  Although the present invention has been described with specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many additional modifications and variations are possible. For example, the EPG data can be stored on one or more locations, eg, different servers accessible via a global communications network such as the Internet. In another embodiment, the EPG data is stored in a centrally located database, such as in a database that is part of the EPG provider's computer system. Accordingly, it should be understood that the present invention can be practiced otherwise than as defined above without further inventive activity.

Claims (1)

A system as described herein.

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