| 摘要 |
An interactive system is provided in which information is displayed in response to the entry of the digits of a channel number. The interactive system may be implemented on a television, a computer, or a radio system. The displayed information may be program listings information such as the channel designator or the program currently airing on the channel. The displayed information may also be a list of channels. The list of channels may be associated with the entered digits, may be component channels, or channels of the same type and may be sorted by various techniques such as numerically, by favorite channels, by type, etc. The interactive system may allow a user to specify a source identifier to channels from different sources and display the channels with the source identifier when they are entered. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method for facilitating selection of a desired channel in a system that has a video display device, comprising:
enabling, using control circuitry, a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; and in response to receiving the first digit, generating for display a first list of program listings on the video display device, wherein each displayed program listing in the first list of program listings displayed on the video display device comprises a channel name, channel number, and a program title for the respective program listing and wherein the first list comprises: a first displayed program listing in the first list is associated with a first main channel corresponding to the first digit; a second displayed program listing in the first list is associated with a second main channel beginning with the first digit; a third displayed program listing in the first list is associated with a third main channel, wherein the third main channel is related to the first main channel; the first displayed program listing is displayed adjacent to the second displayed program listing in the first list; and the first main channel and the second main channel are non-consecutive channels in a channel lineup; enabling, using the control circuitry, the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and in response to receiving the second digit, generating for display a second list of program listings on the video display device in place of the first list of program listings, wherein the second list is formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, and wherein each displayed program listing in the second list of program listings comprises a channel name, channel number, and a program title for the respective program listing and wherein thesecond list comprises a fourth displayed program listing associated with a fourth main channel corresponding to the combination of the first digit followed by the second digit and a fifth displayed program listing associated with a fifth main channel corresponding to the combination of the first digit followed by the second digit. |
