Abstract:
A system allowing a user or users to reprogram the channel sequence received from the provider in their own desired order showing only the channels they want in order to have a more efficient use or viewing experience

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAN  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0005]     This invention relates to how television channels are displayed to the viewer  
         [0006]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0007]     It is presently difficult and cumbersome when viewing or recording existing television programs given the large multitude of channels that are provided. Current TV, VCR, Satellite Receiving Systems and other electronic devices allow the user to receive a large variety of channels. They only allow the user (or users) to view the channels by inputting specific channel numbers or using the up and down buttons to move incrementally in the order as received by the provider. These system can block out channels such that a channel is skipped when flipping through the system or a user (or users) can set up a favorite lists accessible on another screen to bring a limited ease of use when dealing with the multitude of channels when watching or recording Television. These functions are still very limiting.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0008]     This invention relates to improving the functionality of television channels such that the user has more control and choices. This method will allow the user to overlay the channel sequence as received by the provider with a new set and order of what will be called display channels. The system would treat the channels in two distinct ways. A Television or other related device picks up specific wavelengths and signals to provide each individual channel in its normal course of operating. The system would receive the channels from the provider in the present manner, which will be called “receiving.” The system will show the channels in an alternate way, which will be called “displaying.” The user will be enabled to organize the channels in any order that the user may choose. Thus when the user flips through the channels they will show up in the order of displaying instead of “receiving”. This new method either built as an independent box or into a system (such as television, VCR, Satellite System or other electronic device) would change the order how each receiving signal is displayed. This would allow the user to visually program the order in which each channel is shown so that the user can put the channels in the users desired order.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     A system allowing a user or users to reprogram the channel sequence received from the provider in order to have a more efficient use or viewing experience 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     As an Example if the current channels provided to the user were as follows the user could reorder the display sequence:  
                                                                               Signal Comes in as       Desire to Reprogram as       “Receiving”   Station Name   “Displaying”                                Before Programming            2   Local CBS   11       3   Local NBC   12       4   Local ABC   13       5   Local FOX   14       6   Local UPN   15       7   Local PBS   16       8   TBS   2       9   TNT   3       10   USA   4       11   SCIFI   blocked       12   Lifetime   blocked       13   ESPN   5       14   Home Shopping   blocked       15   C-Span   6       16   CNN   8       17   Fox News   7       18   Soap   blocked       19   Food   9       20   Home &amp; Garden   10            After Programming            8   TBS   2       9   TNT   3       10   USA   4       13   ESPN   5       15   C-Span   6       17   Fox News   7       16   CNN   8       19   Food   9       20   Home &amp; Garden   10       2   Local CBS   11       3   Local NBC   12       4   Local ABC   13       5   Local FOX   14       6   Local UPN   15       7   Local PBS   16       11   SCIFI   Blocked 17       12   Lifetime   Blocked 18       14   Home Shopping   Blocked 19       18   Soap   Blocked 20                  
 
         [0011]     The user can put the channels in the users desired order. When pushing the up button for channels the device would know to bounce from receiving channels 8 to 9 to 10 and then to 13 to 15 to 17 to 16 when the television would show the user it was going from 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 and to 8. Multiple users would be allowed to set up their own user identification and desired sequence and viewing options. When a user turns on the Television the user puts in his or her identification and the system uses their personal set up information. Any blocked channels would fall to the end of the line within the sequence order.  
         [0012]     This would make channel surfing for every user easier and more effective. Whereas the user is able to discard unwanted channels from normal channel surfing. The user would also be able to put the wanted channels in their own desired order such that if a user wanted all the news channels together than they can keep the news channels together or the user can put all the movie channels together. If the user only normally like watching a limited number of stations then they can keep all the unwanted stations from being in the way. The user would always be able to switch back to the standard channel order but this provides more options for each viewer and more functionality for each viewer. It is also important that multiple users can set up their own display order so that each person can have their own setup for ease of use.