Abstract:
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for operating an electronic program guide system. The method comprises displaying a first view wherein graphical indicators each of which corresponds to a broadcast channel are displayed on a display; detecting input selecting one of the graphical indicators; and displaying a second view in response to the detected input, wherein programming information relating to a channel corresponding to the selected graphical indicator is displayed on the display.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is related to, and hereby claims the benefit of, provisional application No. 60/309,507, which was filed Aug. 1, 2001 and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to electronic program guides. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic program guides (EPGs) are used to display programming information to viewers. In some cases, it is not unusual for an EPG for a television system to have 10,000 distinct events (i.e. a unique combination of show and time). In such cases it is important for an EPG to have a user interface that is easy to navigate or familiar to a viewer so that the viewer is not overwhelmed by the volume of programming information being presented. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method for operating an electronic program guide system. The method comprises displaying a first view wherein graphical indicators, each of which corresponds to a broadcast channel, are displayed on a display; detecting input selecting one of the graphical indicators; and displaying a second view in response to the detected input, wherein programming information relating to a channel corresponding to the selected graphical indicator is displayed on the display. 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for operating an electronic program guide system, the method comprising receiving programming data comprising a broadcast schedule for broadcasting programs on a channel; displaying the programming data in a hierarchical form wherein only the channel is displayed, the schedule itself being normally hidden from view. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a user interface displaying a file directory structure; 
         FIG. 2  shows the user interface of  FIG. 1  wherein one of the folders in the file directory structure is open; 
         FIG. 3  shows a user interface for an EPG system in accordance with one case; 
         FIG. 4  shows the user interface of  FIG. 3  wherein a viewer has made a different selection of channels to view; 
         FIG. 5  shows the user interface of  FIG. 3  wherein the viewer has entered another selection of channels for view; 
         FIG. 6  shows the user interface of  FIG. 3  wherein the actual programs corresponding to two channels are displayed; 
         FIG. 7  shows user interface of  FIG. 6  wherein a program event has been selected for viewing; 
         FIG. 8  shows the user interface of  FIG. 7  wherein the viewer has selected a different selection of channels to view; and 
         FIG. 9  shows a high level block diagram of components of an EPG system in accordance with another case. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the invention. 
     Reference in this specification to “one case” or “a case” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the case is included in at least one case of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one case” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same case, nor are separate or alternative aspects mutually exclusive of other cases. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some cases and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some cases but not othercases. 
     In one case, the present invention discloses a method of an EPG system which includes a user interface wherein programming information is displayed in hierarchical fashion. People are accustomed to viewing hierarchical data structures. For example,  FIG. 1  of the drawings shows a Windows Explorer™ for Windows 98™ with a user interface  100 . The user interface  100  includes a window  101  displaying a file directory for drive C shown as a hierarchical folder structure with all the folders closed. 
       FIG. 2  shows the user interface  100  with a specific directory, namely  101   b , named Run, opened. In  FIG. 2 , the hierarchical structure of the folder is apparent, with the contents of folder  101   b  shown in the window on the right hand side. 
     The presentation of programming information in hierarchical form facilitates readability navigation, ease of use, etc. since people are familiar with viewing information presented in hierarchical form. 
       FIG. 3  shows a window  200  as an example of a user interface of an EPG in accordance with another case. In the toolbar is, for example, a selection option  201  that allows a user to choose from several views, such as “all,” “movies,” and “news.” The viewing preferences available in selection option  201  might be refined, or might otherwise be hierarchical to some degree, so that, for example, within movies, the viewer could group selections into categories such as action movies, family movies, children&#39;s movies, and other such categories. 
     Other elements in  FIG. 3  include a root  202 ; a selection indicator  201   b , which essentially reflects the selection made in the selection bar  201 ; and a structure  210 , with root elements, in this example, a selection of six channels  211   a - n.    
       FIG. 4  shows the same user interface of  FIG. 3 , wherein the selection bar  201  has moved from “all” to “movies,” and accordingly, only channels  212   a - n  appear, which offer movies. Icons  201   b  and  202  have also adapted to reflect the current selection of selection bar  201 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the same user interface of  FIG. 3 , wherein selection bar  201  has selected news. In response, only channels  213   a - n , containing news items, appear. 
       FIG. 6  shows a user-interface similar to that of  FIG. 3 ; however, two of the channels, namely CNN ( 211   a ) and HBO ( 211   d ) have been opened and now present their subordinate content as  220   a - n , which are the actual program events. 
       FIG. 7  shows selecting one program event as presented in  FIG. 6 . To activate the selection, button  231  is used in conjunction with selection bar  201 . If this event is in the future, activation of the selection may be interpreted as a command to record it in the future. If this event is in the present, activation of the selection may be interpreted as switching to the selected channel for immediate viewing. Hence, simply selecting a program would not necessarily result in tuning into or recording the selected program. 
     As in the computer realm, multiple items may be selected and with a single click be marked for recording, reminders, or viewing. In addition, a viewer could search for programs by content and/or title, analogous to searches of computer folders, files, or text in files. However, the main difference again between a computer file listing program and a hierarchical EPG is that the files must exist in the computer system to be shown in the hierarchical listing; whereas in the TV EPG most elements actually do not exist (that is, they are not currently being shown) at the time the programs are listed in the viewer. 
       FIG. 8  shows an analogous situation to  FIG. 7 . When in  FIG. 7  the user made a selection  230 , it remains selected. Now by selecting the “news” in selection bar  201  all the non-news channels have been eliminated; however, selection  230  has been left visible. The selection of viewable programs has now been reduced to  223   a - n  and all other elements are still the same. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9  of the drawings, reference numeral  900  generally indicates an EPG system which implements the techniques described above and displays programming information on hierarchical form. It is to be appreciated that the system  900  is highly simplified, with many components omitted, so as not to obscure the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that such omitted components necessarily form part of system  900 . 
     System  900  includes a memory  904  which is coupled to a processor  902 . The memory stores instructions which when executed by processor  902  cause the processor  902  to perform the techniques described above. Functionally, the system  900  includes an input circuit  906  to detect input relating to various elements within a user interface and a display circuit  908 , whereby various elements or objects are displayed on the user interface in hierarchical form. The design and integration of the various components of system  900  are well known and thus are not further described. 
     For the purposes of this specification, a computer-readable medium includes any mechanism that provides (i.e. stores and/or transmits) information in a form readable by a machine (e.g. computer) for example, a computer-readable medium includes read-only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g. carrier waves, infra red signals, digital signals, etc.); etc. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary cases, it will be evident that the various modification and changes can be made to these aspects without departing from the broader spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than in a restrictive sense.