TV graphical user interface that provides customized lists of programming
US5978043A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 27, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/4755
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A TV graphical user interface (GUI) is provided in a satellite TV system to enable users to create customized channel lists. Everyday, favorite and theme lists may be generated to respectively combine TV channels being watched regularly, favorite TV channels and channels relating to particular subjects. In a regular channel changer mode, the TV GUI displays graphical channel changer composed of channel boxes that show numbers and logos of available TV channels. To create a customized channel list, the TV GUI is switched into a change list content mode, wherein a channel grid is displayed in addition to the channel changer. Using a "drag and drop" procedure, graphical boxes corresponding to selected channel boxes may be moved from the channel changer to cells of the channel grid, to create a customized list of TV channels or to add new channels to an existing list. TV channels may be removed from the list by moving boxes that represent unwanted channels from the grid and placing them outside the grid area. TV channels may be put into the customized list in order of their priority established by the user. The position, graphical configuration and operations of the channel changer tha…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.