Patent · US Active

Graphical tuning bar

US7765568B1 · kind B1 · utility

21Cited by
73References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 8, 2002
Grant dateJul 27, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/47
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for displaying a user interface in the form of a program guide that assists users in determining and selecting television viewing options and related services is described. The guide is a viewable display constructed at receiver stations based on data periodically received via a Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite communication or other system. The guide display presentation can include still pictures, live video broadcasts, still graphics, moving graphics, webpages, graphics and “buttons” that are utilized by the viewer to perform a variety of operations, including determining program availability, selecting programming or services, and launching to related information, programming or services. A tuning bar is automatically scaled to seamlessly represent all programs that a given user subscribes to. The user moves a graphic slider along the tuning bar to quickly and intuitively select a current program.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.