JP2003518342A - System and method for deleting extra listings in an electronic program guide - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Summary A system and method for providing a consolidated electronic program guide with redundant listings removed. The television system receives EPG data of a television program broadcast by a plurality of program signal transmission sources. Such signal sources may include OTA broadcast, cable, satellite and the like. Either the television system or a merge system separate from the television system receives EPG data including program schedule information of television programs broadcast from various signal sources. Further, the system receives channel mapping information for each signal source. This channel mapping information associates television channels with television stations served by the signal source. The system creates a single channel map based on the channel mapping information with all of the duplicated television station lists deleted. Each television channel is associated with a unique channel identifier. Thus, duplicate television station lists are identified by identifying duplicate channel identifiers. Duplicate television station lists can be removed based on priorities associated with various signal sources or based on the signal quality of the various sources.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to television systems, and more particularly to television systems having electronic program guides without extra program listings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As video entertainment becomes more sophisticated, consumers will be offered a wider range of options. In addition to traditional broadcast television programming, television viewers are now available to access cable television programming, digital satellite broadcasting programming, cable stereo broadcasting, and conventional satellite broadcasting. Moreover, each transmission medium provides an increasing number and variety of programming to the consumer.

The large number of programs available to consumers also brings some dilemma to them, while benefiting them by wider choices. Specifically, as the number of programs available to consumers increases, the procedure of selecting a program for viewing becomes more and more troublesome. For example, consumers will have access to over 100 cable television channels. The procedure of selecting programs to watch becomes even more cumbersome if a particular consumer has access to not only cable sources but also other television program sources (such as digital satellite broadcasting). Therefore, new and improved methods of providing program guide information, such as for display on the television screen of a consumer television, have been developed. Such electronic program guides (EPGs) provide not only television listings, but also features such as theme search, VCR programming, detailed program information and other features.

The EPG is further capable of receiving guide data for many different television signal sources such as over-the-air (OTA) broadcast, cable and satellite. Next, the guide data associated with different signal sources can be combined into a single EPG. If the plurality of signal transmission sources is one, the plurality of transmission sources can carry one and the same television station. For example, both cable and satellite sources may be responsible for local NBC stations. Displaying duplicate program guide information associated with a plurality of transmission sources makes it more difficult to find a list of favorite programs, and may unnecessarily clutter the guide. Therefore, it is preferable to have an EPG system that allows the removal of extra information from the EPG display.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes a system and method for providing a television system with an EPG grouped together with redundant program listings removed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, removing extra program listings from an EPG includes
EP containing program schedule information for television programs broadcast from various signal sources
This includes receiving G data. Such signal sources may include OTA broadcasts, cables, satellites and the like. The system also receives channel mapping information for each signal source. This channel mapping information associates a television channel with the television station carried by the signal source. The system deletes all overlapping TV station listings and creates a single channel map based on the channel mapping information. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the channel mapping information includes a list of television channels and associated channel identifiers. Accordingly, duplicate television station listings are identified by identifying duplicate channel identifiers.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the duplicate television station list is deleted based on the priority order associated with the signal sources responsible for the duplicate television stations. For example, priority may be given based on the number of channel listings associated with a particular signal source. According to another aspect of the invention, the duplicate television station listings are deleted based on the image quality of the various sources. For example, this image quality can be related to the quality of the signal produced by the source or the perceived noise.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Generally speaking, the present systems and methods provide a television equipped with an interactive electronic program guide (EPG) that allows the removal of extra information from the EPG display. Interactive television schedule system with system. FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive television schedule system (according to one embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic block diagram of a television system) 10. FIG. This system consists of a television 50 and a VCR 1 that receives input from the cable box 20 and the IRD box 25.
Including 5.

A user of the television system 10 can reserve and receive television programs broadcast from various television signal sources. EPG with program schedule information
Data is also transmitted to television system 10 by one or more of these signal sources. For example, EPG data may be provided via a cable via cable box 20 and / or via a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) via IRD box 25. EGP data may also be received via antenna 35, which is connected to television 50 via wireless broadcast. In addition, this data can be transmitted via other inputs 30 such as conventional satellite systems, coaxial cables, telephone lines, and fiber optic cables.

The television 50 is configured with a bi-directional EPG 45 for displaying television schedule information that has been assembled into a television program broadcast from various signal sources and is subscribed to by the user. According to conventional methods, the user interacts with the television 50 and the EPG 45 via the viewer input device 40, which is preferably in the form of an IR remote control 40. Keyboards, keypads, joysticks, mice, trackballs, touchpads and other similar viewer input devices 40 may also be utilized.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the cable box 20 of FIG. 1 providing EPG data to the television system 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the cable box 20 includes a processor 60 and a memory 65. The memory 65 of the cable box 20 contains software 7 for receiving, organizing and displaying EPG data.
Remember 0. The memory 65 also stores the EPG data itself. However, the EPG data is preferably stored in the memory of the television 50 body, as described below in connection with FIG. The memory 65 may further store data regarding the viewer's profile and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, a portion of the data stored in memory 65 is obtained via the Internet via cable modem 75. The other part of the data is generated by the processor from the data received from the cable headend.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the television 50 of FIG. With reference to FIG. 3, a television signal source 100, such as an antenna 35 carrying a television signal, a cable box 20, an IRD box 25, or other input 30, includes a television tuner 105.
Connected to. The output of the tuner 105 is a modulated intermediate frequency signal 110 containing image (video) and audio television information. The tuner 105 includes an image detector (PICTURE DET) 11 via an intermediate frequency amplifier (IF AMP) 110.
5 and an audio detector (SOUND DET) 120, which generate baseband video and audio signals, respectively. The audio signal is
SOUND AMP) 125 and is coupled to loudspeaker 130. The video signal is coupled to one input of switch 135 via a video amplifier (not shown). Audio detector 120 and image detector 115 are connected to the audio and video inputs of VCR 15, respectively. Alternatively, the television signal source 100 can be directly connected to the RF input of the VCR 15 if a built-in tuner and demodulation circuit is utilized.

The output of VCR 15 is connected to the other input of switch 135. Switch 1
The output of 35 is connected to one input of a conventional picture-in-picture (PIP) integrated circuit chip 140. The output of the PIP chip 140 is the TV screen (
Connected to video input 142 of television 50 for display on (not shown).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the television 50 shown in FIG. 3 includes EPG data including bundled television program schedule information and information about news, sports, and local news and business. Of EPG memory 145 for storing an updatable database of This database can be updated in any of a number of conventional ways, including by a continuous data link in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of television channels broadcast to television system 10.

The EPG memory 145 is connected to a microprocessor 150 programmed to control the operation of various system equipment, including the television 50. The operation program of the microprocessor 150 is stored in the read-only memory (ROM) 155. Viewer input device 40 is coupled to microprocessor 150 for supplying commands from viewers and for interacting with the EPG.

Video processor 160 is coupled to microprocessor 150. When the viewer wants to watch the TV program schedule information, the microprocessor 150 may use the EP
It retrieves a portion of the associated data from G memory 145 and couples it to video processor 160, where the program listings are formatted for display. The information stored in video processor 160 is preferably a bitmap of what is displayed on the screen of television 50. Video processor 160 is further connected to the other input of PIP chip 140. Preferably, the viewer input device 40 preferably controls the microprocessor 150 by moving a cursor on the screen of the television 50. For this purpose, microprocessor 150 and video processor 160 are coupled to cursor position register 165. Alternatively, the viewer can select an item from the information displayed on the screen by selecting a specific key of the viewer input device 40.

A VBI decoder 111 located at the output of the tuner 105 extracts the data detected by the VBI and the microprocessor 150 for processing the data.
Join to. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the VBI line transmits channel mapping information for associating channel numbers with television stations available to the viewer. Microprocessor 150 includes a channel mapping function that examines channel mapping information and downloads channel maps available to viewers.

Referring to EPG memory 145, television program schedule information is stored in the program schedule database of EPG memory. The program schedule database preferably includes EPG data for television programs broadcast by the signal source. The EPG data corresponding to these signal sources is then used to create an integrated EPG guide for display on the television screen.

The bundled EPG guides include program schedules of television programs broadcast by various sources over an indicated time period, such as a day or a week. These program listings generally include, for each program, the title, the program content, the day of the week, the start time of the day, the length of the program, and the channels on which the program can be transmitted and thus received by signal source 100. . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the period during which the program listing is stored differs for each guide, depending on the viewer's priority and preference. For example, the information may be stored for one or two days, or for a week or more.

The information about news stored in the news database of the EPG memory 145 includes, but is not limited to, types of news, news headlines, articles about news headlines, graphical images about those articles, and further information about each article. Includes links to related television programming, Internet websites and local guide information.

The information about sports stored in the sports database of the EPG memory 145 includes, but is not limited to, types of sports, sports events of each type of sports, team information, scores, statistics, score tables, and sports events. Includes links to related television programs, video clips, internet websites, news articles and local guide information.

The information about local events, businesses, goods and services (hometown information) stored in the hometown database of EPG memory 145 includes, but is not limited to, types of such hometown information (eg, Movies, theaters, restaurants), hometown information content, hometown information related companies,
Includes addresses, phone numbers, graphical images, as well as links to TV shows, Internet websites and news stories.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, links to television programs stored in news, sports and hometown databases include channels, date, time and length information of the linked television programs, or programs. Contains pointers to those program entries in the schedule database. Links to Internet websites include URL information for a particular web page. Links to news articles and local guide information include pointers to those entries in the new hometown database.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the television system 10 of FIG. 1 operating under the control of the coordinator 200. Although the coordinator 200 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is shown as a single device, in another embodiment, the coordinator is a cable box 20, a VCR 15, a television 50, an IRD box 2.
0, or in another device in communication with the television.

The coordinator 200 includes a processor (CPU) 202 and a memory (RAM) 2
Including 04. According to this embodiment, the channel mapping function is preferably stored in the CPU 202 instead of the microprocessor 150 of the television 50.
Further, memory 204 preferably stores EPG data in place of television EPG memory 145. The coordinator 200 is connected to and controls the infrared (IR) emitter 206. The IR receiver 208 connected to the coordinator 200 receives the input from the viewer input device 40. In another embodiment, IR emitter 206 may be replaced with a bus interface, RF transmitter or the like.

IR emitter 206 controls one or more of IRD box 25, television 50, VCR 15, cable box 20 and other inputs 30. Therefore, the IR emitter 206 includes the TV 50, the VCR 15, and the cable box 20.
And / or it preferably acts as a remote control device by emulating remote control signals of other devices.

The viewer input device 40 also receives the coordinator 20 via the IR receiver 208.
It includes an IR transmitter 210 that controls zero. Although the coordinator 200 preferably performs all of the necessary control functions of the system, the viewer input device 40 can function with the coordinator 200 to control the equipment of various systems.

When creating a bundled EPG guide, one or more television signal sources provide EPG data including television schedule information to television system 10. One or more of these sources also provide channel mapping information for associating television stations with each channel assignment. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the channel mapping information is transmitted through one or more designated television stations known as the actual host. The channel mapping information sent by each real host preferably includes the channel map for most or all of the television services that the real host is responsible for.

Each channel map is accompanied by a channel map identifier (ID) that uniquely identifies the channel map available for each television service subscribed to by the user of the television system 10. Each channel map ID preferably corresponds to a ZIP code or group of ZIP codes, since viewers in the same local area typically receive the same OTA broadcast or subscribe to the same cable provider. Therefore, the unique channel map ID is
It can be provided for a channel map corresponding to a particular cable company using a P-code. Different channel map IDs can be used with the same ZIP code O
It can be provided for the channel map corresponding to the TA channel.

When determining the channel maps available for a user's television system, the user is required to enter his or her ZIP code during the initial setup process. In addition, the user is required to enter information about all of the television services (signal sources) he or she subscribes to. For example, the user may choose that he or she has a cable box 20 and / or IRD box 2
You may be asked if you have 5, or you may be asked for information about all other television signal sources you are using. The user then calls the channel mapping function stored in the coordinator 200 (or television 50) through the viewer input device 40.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the channel mapping function causes the coordinator 200 to scan the channels to locate channel map selection packets that are preferably transmitted in the VBI portion of the television signal. The channel map selection packet contains the channel map ID and the ZIP of each signal source.
It is preferable to associate it with a code. A particular signal source and ZIP code combination can have one or more channel map IDs associated with it.
For example, two different cable companies with different channel maps may have specific ZI
If the P-code is used, each channel map will be associated with a different channel map ID.

When the channel map selection packet is arranged, the coordinator 200 identifies the ZIP code input by the user and the channel map ID corresponding to the signal source. If only one channel map ID is identified as that ZIP code / signaling source combination, the coordinator downloads the channel map corresponding to the identified channel map ID. If more than one channel map ID is identified as the combination, the user preferably selects the channel map he or she wants to download. Alternatively, this selection is made automatically based on the information gathered during the channel scan.

FIG. 5 illustrates a channel map selection packet 230 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a schematic block diagram of a channel map packet. FIG. Both the channel map selection packet 230 and the channel map packet 232 include a start code 234 and a stop code 236 that identify the start and stop of the packet, respectively. Further, each packet includes a packet type code 23 that identifies whether the packet is a channel map selection packet 230 or a channel map packet 232.
Including 8.

The channel map selection packet 230 further includes a channel map ID 242.
, Including one or more ZIP codes 244 and channel map selection information 240 that maps to a signal source 245. Once the appropriate channel map ID has been identified based on the user's ZIP code and the subscribed signal source, the coordinator 200 then proceeds from the remaining blocks of data to the channel map packet 23.
Look for Start Code 234, Stop Code 236, and Data Packet Code 238 of 2. For each identified channel map packet 232, coordinator 2
00 further examines the channel map ID code 246 to determine to the user's ZIP code and signal source whether it corresponds to the channel map ID. If so, the coordinator 200 downloads the channel map 248 with its channel lineup information into its memory 204. If the user has subscribed to multiple signal sources, the coordinator 200 preferably downloads a channel map for each signal source, respectively.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the calling character of the television station (eg NBC, H) for a particular television channel number to create a channel lineup.
(BC, etc.) mapping is done using the channel map 248 along with one or more source maps. Each channel map 248 has a transmission source ID of 25.
A list 250 of television channel numbers is identified by a channel identifier 252 consisting of 2a and a reference number 252b called a guide channel number. Sender ID 2
52a identifies the transmission source map by calling character information of the station. Guide channel number 252b identifies the reference number for one of the station call characters in the source map. The coordinator preferably downloads each of the source maps indicated in the downloaded channel map.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a plurality of source map packets 260 according to one embodiment of the invention. Each source map packet 260 includes a start code 262 and a stop code 264 that identify the start and stop of the packet, respectively. Each packet also includes a packet type code 266 that identifies the packet as a source map packet, similar to source ID 270. In addition, each source map packet 260
Also includes a source map 268 of station call characters and / or network station IDs 272. Each station call character 272 of the source map 268 is referred to by the guide channel number 270.

Different source maps preferably exist for different regions of the country. With an 8-bit guide channel number identifying the calling character for each station, up to 256 stations can be identified in a single source map. If an area has 256 or more stations, multiple source maps may be used in the area. In addition, the source map may only include stations carried by a particular signal source (eg, cable stations only), or may include stations carried by multiple signal sources (eg, both OTA and cable stations). You can

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the channel map selection information 240 includes two channel map IDs for the cable signal transmission sources of the ZIP codes 90000-90050 and 90210 and the OTA of the ZIP code of the same range. It contains one channel map ID for the signal source. If the user has specified a ZIP code within this range and has also specified that the user has a cable box, the user is given the option to choose between two channel maps. For example, if a user subscribes to a cable company with a channel map corresponding to channel map ID "2710", he or she may choose to download this channel map.

However, for OTA broadcasting, there is only one channel map in the user's ZIP code. Therefore, the coordinator downloads the specified channel map without further querying the user. The coordinator also downloads the source map with the source ID 252a of "001" to associate the television channel number 250 with the station call character 272.
Both the downloaded channel map and the source map allow television channels 250 to be associated with their station call characters 272. Regarding the TV channel number “2”, the transmission source map having the transmission source ID “001” indicates that the calling character of the corresponding television station is “ABC”.

Once the coordinator 200 has identified and downloaded the channel map 248 and source map 268 available to the user, the coordinator 200 creates a combined channel map with all redundant channel listings removed. The extra list is the channel ID 252 of one downloaded channel map and the channel ID 252 of the other downloaded channel map.
It is preferably identified by comparing with. If the same channel ID 252
If appears in another channel map, the list is superfluous and can be removed from one of the channel maps.

Referring again to the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, the coordinator 200 combines the cable channel map (channel map ID “2710”) and the OTA channel map (channel map ID “2712”) into one. Create the specified channel map. When creating a single channel map, the coordinator checks the channel ID of the OTA channel map with the channel ID of the cable channel map, and the four channel IDs of the OTA channel map are the first four channels of the cable channel map. Identify equal to ID. For example, both the OTA channel map and the cable channel map may be responsible for the "CBS" network station identified by the channel ID "001 004". The OTA channel map bears that station on television channel number "9", while the cable channel map bears the same station on television channel number "14".

According to one embodiment of the invention, the coordinator 200 creates an aggregated channel map 280 with the extra listings removed, as shown in FIG. The combined channel map 280 includes a television channel number 250, a transmission source ID 252a, and a guide channel number 252b selected from each channel map. The grouped channel map 280 also includes the channel map I of the channel map used for each channel listing.
D may be included. In this way, the signal source of each listing can be identified.

Further, the coordinator 200 is arranged in numerical order, alphabetical order, content, source,
Or, the information in the aggregated channel map 280 can be sorted according to all of the various sorting routines, including all other predefined routines. However, the order of the aggregated channel map listings is based on the extended display priority packet as described in US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 473,574 (attorney docket number 36769). Is preferred and the contents of that patent are incorporated herein by reference. Then, the grouped channel map 280 supplies the channel lineup information and program schedule information displayed on the grouped EPG.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the combined channel map 280.
Is created using a merge system 220 that is separate from the television system 10 (eg, at the headend) as shown in FIG. Once the program schedule information has been grouped and sorted according to a predetermined order, the grouped program schedule information is provided to the television system 10 on, for example, a satellite channel or another transmission medium. Program schedule information is received in a format ready for immediate display.

The merge system 220 can receive EPG data from various sources. For example, this data may be transferred to the merge system 22 using the data line 201.
Can be supplied to zero. The data line 201 may generally be a line used to receive television signals, such as a cable or another type of data line such as a telephone twisted pair or fiber optic line. The merge system 220 can also receive EPG data from the broadcast system 222. Broadcast system 222 can be a standard RF broadcast station or a satellite broadcast system. The merge system 220 can also be provided with program schedule information by manually entering the desired data using any of a variety of user inputs 223. For example, a user can enter desired information into the system using a keyboard. Information can also be input from a recording medium such as a magnetic medium (eg, floppy disk or magnetic tape) or an optical fiber medium (eg, optical fiber compact disc).

The merge system 220 assembles all of the supplied program schedule information into a single program guide. Once summarized, the program schedule information is transmitted by signal transmitter 224 and received by television signal receiver 225. The transmitter 224 can be a standard television broadcast station, a relay satellite based DBS system, a television cable system, or any other known signal broadcasting system. The signal may be transmitted over the vertical blanking period of one or more television channels or may be transmitted on a dedicated channel.

The signal receiver 225, such as the TV tuner 105, generally receives the schedule information bundled on a dedicated TV channel and displays it on the TV screen 206. The program information can also be provided as a full or partial screen display to the channel selected by the user.

When creating an aggregated channel map, either via the coordinator 200 or a separate merge system 202, various factors can be used to determine which of the extra listings to remove. Can be taken into consideration. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the different signal sources are prioritized and the list of higher priority source channel maps overwrites the overlapping list of lower priority source channel maps. To be done. For example, priority can be given based on the number of channel listings in the channel map. Channel maps with higher numbers in the channel list are given higher priority to reduce switching from one source to the other when the user switches channels. Alternatively, the priority can be determined by the user. Also, the priority can be given for each channel. For example, digital channels are preferred over analog channels.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the duplicate list is deleted based on the image quality of the signals of various sources. For example, a source with stable image quality will have a higher priority than another source with the same television station but unstable image quality.
Image quality stability is preferably measured based on mistimed horizontal sync pulses. Specifically, the sync input signal is analyzed for the number of signal edges detected in a time interval such as 80 microseconds. This time interval may be fixed or programmable. If the number of signal edges detected in that time interval is 1
Or if 2, preferably no error is indicated. However, if the number of edges detected is 0 or 3, an error is indicated. The presence of a predetermined maximum number of errors indicates a poor synchronization quality, i.e. unstable image quality.

Even if the signals from two different sources have equal synchronization quality, one source is better than the other based on other factors such as perceived screen noise created by each source. It is preferable to select it. For example, a slightly snow-white image quality is an example of perceived noise that is not detected by synchronous quality measurements. Therefore,
In a third embodiment of the invention, the tuner's automatic synchronization control circuit relays relative signal strength information used to determine whether the signal from one source is stronger than the signal from the other source. . The source with the strongest signal is then selected as the source for the duplicate television station.

In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the combined channel map 2
80 contains channel listings from all sources, including duplicate listings. However, the bundled EPG viewed by the user may simply include one listing that shows the TV calling characters of the duplicate listings. When the user selects a TV station from the EPGs that have been combined into one, any of the transmission sources that carry the selected TV broadcasting station can be selected. Preferably,
Also, wherever possible, the tuner selects the currently matched source. This allows
Switching from one to the other can be minimized.

In a fifth embodiment of the invention, the EPG lists all duplicate channel listings. The user can then manually remove the duplicate list from the Channel Lineup Editor and save the list from the desired signal source.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the integrated EPG screen 170 generated by the video processor 160 under the control of the microprocessor 150. The viewer presses the “guide” key on the viewer input device 40 to display the EPG screen 17
Invokes the EPG guide mode for displaying 0. The viewer returns to full-screen television mode by pressing the same key or calling the linked television program.

The EPG screen 170 is divided into several different display areas. PIP window 172, first panel advertisement window 174 and second panel advertisement window 1
76 is arranged along the left side of the screen 50. The remainder of the EPG screen 170 is generally the actuation key bar 178, navigation bar 180, grid guide 1
82 and information box 184. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
The location of the window and other user interface features, including the activation key bar 178, navigation bar 180 and grid guide 182, is fixed. In another embodiment of the invention, the location and dimensions of windows and other user interface features can be customized by the viewer.

The PIP window 172 is a real-time broadcast program or PIP chip 14
Displays pre-recorded video clips produced by 0. The transparent panel of the PIP window 172 can display the title, channel (local number and / or station name) and status of the PIP window 172 (locked or unlocked).

The first and second panel advertisement windows 174 and 176 display advertisements of television programs or products and services that will be broadcast in the future. For future broadcast program advertisements, the program can be automatically viewed or recorded by the viewer by highlighting the advertisement and pressing the watch operation button 178a or the record operation button 178b, respectively. Linked to the time and channel.

By highlighting the advertisement for the product or service, the viewer can read one or more pages for the product or service from the information box 184. Alternatively, this ad will be highlighted and the watch activation button 1
It is linked to the time and channel of the product commercial so that the viewer can view and record the product commercial by pressing 78a or the record activation button 178b, respectively.

The viewer can access the TV program schedule information by operating the grid button 180a from the list of menu buttons displayed on the navigation bar 180. When the grid button 180a is operated, the grid guide 182 displays a list of television programs by channel designation 182a of each of a series of program tiles. According to one embodiment of the invention, channel designation 182a designates its corresponding signal source (eg, cable, OAT, etc.) or region represented by the channel (eg, local network station).

In addition to the program tiles, the grid guide 22 includes advertising tiles 190 for virtual channel advertising. For example, virtual channel advertising may pitch current or upcoming television programming. Such virtual channel advertisements for television programs are linked to the time and channel of the program so that viewers can automatically watch and record the program. The viewer can access the news article by operating the news button 180b of the navigation bar 180. In addition, similar button, past, present,
It can be provided to access information about upcoming sporting events and a local information guide for a particular area.

Although the present invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, it is obvious that many additional modifications and changes can be made in the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. It is therefore believed that the presently disclosed embodiments of the present invention are illustrative only and not limiting, and that the scope of the present invention is determined by the appended claims and their equivalents. I want to be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an interactive television schedule system including a television and a cable box according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2]   2 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the cable box of FIG. 1. FIG.

[Figure 3]   2 is a more detailed schematic block diagram of the television of FIG. 1. FIG.

4 is a schematic block diagram of the television system of FIG. 1 operating under the control of a coordinator.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a channel map selection packet and a channel map packet.

[Figure 6]   It is a schematic block diagram of a plurality of transmission source map packets.

[Figure 7]   It is a schematic layout diagram of a channel map put together.

[Figure 8]   FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a merge system separated from the television system of FIG. 1.

9 is a diagram showing a single EPG screen displayed on the television system of FIG. 1. FIG.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Code (Reference) H04N 7/035 (81) Designated Country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM ), AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, EE, E , FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ , UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Raylith James A. USA Massachusetts 01803 Burlington No. 30 Ballon Park Lane 3 (72) Inventor Sutton Jonason USA Massachusetts 01742 Concord Temple Road 77 (72) Inventor Fisher Guy 02144 Summerville Highland Avenue 373 (72) from Massachusetts, USA Lenner Claus, New Hampshire, USA 03049 Hollis Rideout Road 101 (72) Inventor Whitehead Wensdi, Massachusetts 01730 Bedford Roberts Drive 26 Dee F Term (Reference) 5C025 BA25 BA30 CA09 CB10 DA01 DA04 DA10 5C063 AA02 AB01 AB03 AB07 AB09 CA29 CA40 DA20 DB10 5K061 AA09 BB07 DD00 FF01 GG16 [Continued from summary] Can be deleted based on the assigned priority or based on the signal quality of various sources.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A method for deleting an extra program list in an electronic program guide that displays a list of television programs broadcast from a plurality of signal transmission sources, the television program being broadcast from each of the signal transmission sources. Receiving electronic program guide data including program schedule information, and associating a television channel with a television station carried by the signal source.
Receiving the channel mapping information of each of the signal transmission sources, creating a combined channel map based on the channel mapping information, and a television station in which the combined channel maps overlap. Identifying the list, deleting the overlapping television station list from the one-channel map, and a single electronic program guide based on the one-channel map. A step of creating and a method comprising: 2. The channel mapping information includes a list of television channels and associated channel identifiers, and identifying duplicate television station listings includes identifying duplicate channel identifier listings. The method of claim 1. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the bundled electronic program guide. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the bundled electronic program guide to a television system. 5. The step of deleting the duplicated television station list includes the step of identifying a priority order associated with the signal transmission source that bears the duplicated television station, and the identified priority order is the same as the above. The method of claim 1, further comprising: deleting the duplicate list of television stations if the priority is lower than the priority associated with another signal source carrying the list of television stations. 6. The step of deleting the duplicated television station list includes the step of identifying a quality associated with the signal source that bears the duplicated television station, and the television station list having the same identified quality. The method of claim 1, comprising: deleting the duplicate list of television stations if the signal quality is inferior to that associated with another signal source. 7. A system for deleting an extra program list of an electronic program guide displaying a list of television programs broadcast from a plurality of signal sources, wherein the system broadcasts from each of the signal sources. Means for receiving electronic program guide data containing program schedule information for television programs, and associating television channels with television stations carried by said signal source,
Means for receiving the channel mapping information of each of the signal transmission sources, means for creating a channel map that is grouped together based on the channel mapping information, and the channel map that is grouped together Means for identifying the overlapping television station list, means for deleting the overlapping television station list from the one channel map, and one based on the one channel map Means for creating an electronic program guide as summarized in, and a system comprising :. 8. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for displaying the bundled electronic program guide. 9. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for transmitting the bundled electronic program guide to a television system. 10. A system for deleting an extra program listing in an electronic program guide displaying a listing of television programs broadcast from a plurality of signal sources, the television station being served by said signal sources. Correspond to
A receiver configured to receive channel mapping information associated with at least one of the signal sources; a channel connected to the receiver and grouped together based on the channel mapping information Creating a map; identifying overlapping TV station lists in the one channel map; deleting the overlapping TV station list from the one channel map; A system comprising: creating a bundled electronic program guide based on the book-mapped channel map; and a processor capable of executing program instructions including :. 11. The channel mapping information includes a list of television channels and associated channel identifiers, and identifying duplicate television station listings includes identifying duplicate channel identifier listings.
The system according to claim 10. 12. The system of claim 10, further including a display screen for displaying the bundled electronic program guide. 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiver is located at the head end and further comprises means for transmitting the bundled electronic program guide to a television system. . 14. The program instruction for deleting the list of duplicate television stations, the program instruction for identifying a priority associated with the signal source that bears the duplicate television station, and the identified program instruction. If the priority is lower than the priority associated with another signal source carrying the same TV station list, a program instruction for deleting the overlapping TV station list is included. Item 11. The system according to Item 10. 15. The program instruction for deleting the duplicated television station list, the program instruction for identifying the quality associated with the signal source that bears the duplicated television station, and the identified quality. A program instruction for deleting the overlapping television station list when the signal quality is inferior to the signal quality associated with another signal source that bears the same television station list. 10. The system according to 10.