On screen programme list display for multiple channel broadcasting systems

摘要

An easy to use on-line guide provides the user of a multiple channel television broadcast system with a wealth of programming information in a simple format that is easy to understand. The guide enables the user to easily select a particular program to watch. In particular, when the guide is presented to the user, the guide covers only a portion of the actual television screen or display. The remaining portion of the television screen continues to broadcast the audio and video of the currently selected program. As a user scans through the guide and moves the pointer from one station to another, the system responds by automatically tuning to the channel pointed to by the pointer and provides the audio and displays the video in the portion of the screen not covered by the guide. Furthermore, a written description of the program currently broadcasted on a station that the cursor currently points to is also shown. In addition, the system provides an innovative mechanism to enable the user to scan program information of channels that the user has designated as his favorite channels. In another embodiment, a program list that is oriented according to the program, instead of the channel, is presented.