Patent ID: 6020880
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
Apparatus to provide a subscriber with Electronic Program Guide (EPG) information on a television receiver having an on-screen display device which is used to display control functions of the television receiver, the apparatus being for use with an Electronic Program Guide Server (EPGS), the apparatus comprising:a bi-directional communication link interconnecting the television receiver and the EPGS,a database included in the EPGS containing at least one of:a) TV schedule information for substantially all terrestrial broadcast TV stations in a predetermined area,b) TV schedule information for substantially all cable companies in the predetermined area,c) TV schedule information for substantially all satellite TV delivery services in the predetermined area,d) TV schedule information for substantially all telco TV delivery services in the predetermined area, ande) TV schedule information for substantially all other kinds of available TV service to the home in the predetermined area,selection means for selecting data from the database of the EPGS for presentation to the subscriber,requesting means in the television receiver for requesting data over the bi-directional communication link,receiving means in the television receiver for receiving the requested data over the bi-directional communication link, the requested data being separate from a video input signal received by the television receiver, andprocessing means for processing the data from said receiving means into data formatted for display using the on-screen display device of the television receiver, and for providing the formatted data to the on-screen display device.