Patent ID: 6418556
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: A63F,H04N

Abstract:
An electronic programming guide for use with a television receiver having a plurality of television channels for displaying television programs and program schedule information for said television programs comprising:memory means for storing television program schedule information for a set of television programs scheduled to appear on said plurality of television channels; user control means for choosing user control commands, including television tuning, guide channel-control and guide time-control commands, and transmitting signals in response thereto; data processing means for receiving said signals in response to said user control commands; and a video display generator adapted to receive video control commands from said data processing means and program schedule information from said memory means for displaying interactively-selected successive portions of said program schedule information in overlaying relationship with another display signal currently appearing on a selected channel in at least one mode of operation of said programming guide; said data processing means controlling said video display generator with said video control commands in response to said user control commands to display each said portion of program schedule information for any chosen one of said television programs for a predetermined display period in partial overlaying relationship with another display signal currently being received on said television receiver; each said portion being displayed in response to corresponding consecutive ones of said guide control commands for successively navigating through listing information for sequential time periods or programs for which program schedule information is stored in said memory means, said data processing means being responsive to said television tuning commands for allowing a user to select any one of said television programs for which listing information is displayed in said partially overlayed portion of said schedule information.