MXPA00001784A - A method and apparatus for generating and displaying a broadcast system program guide - Google Patents

Abstract

A program guide (702) is generated comprising a number of still video pictures (704-720) that represent current programming on a number of channels. The program guide is generated by the system tuning sequentially to each one of a number of channels. A visually usable video frame is captured from one of the number of channels, and is then decimated. Tuning, capturing, and decimating are then repeated for each of a selected number of channels. Following generation, the program guide is displayed. A system pointer (728) is displayed on the screen along with the program guide, and the system pointer is manipulated in response to input by the user. A channel is selected for viewing by manipulating the system pointer to an area associated with the still video picture of the corresponding channel.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND DISPLAYING A BROADCAST SYSTEM PROGRAM GUIDE.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the presentation of channel information, programs, and broadcasts, for a multi-channel television broadcasting system. Specifically, the present invention relates to the presentation of a video image program guide. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The technology of television broadcasts has improved significantly since its inception. Nowadays, the television signal is broadcast by air, through cables, and via satellite. The number of stations accessible today has increased to hundreds of stations. To select a program, many viewers simply "scroll through the channels" until they find a channel that has a desirable program. The movement in the channels refers to the process of using the "+" or "-" channel key to sequentially view each of the channels. Even though some viewers enjoy switching channels between hundreds of stations, most viewers prefer a more direct method of selecting a program. Some guides of selection of television channels of the prior art offer a guide of selection of television channel that presents a list of the channels typically in numerical order and the titles of the programs emitted or to emit in the channels. The viewer or user of the system can then select the channel by entering a channel number or selecting a program. The system responds by removing the displayed guide and tuning in to the selected station and presenting the broadcast signals of the station. In the current generation of broadcast system technology, the viewer is offered many options in terms of programs available for dissemination. These options include, but are not limited to, shifting between channels between program descriptions while watching a particular program on a channel. This option is typically accessed through a graphical user interface presented in one of the formats. In one format, the graphical user interface is a transparent electronic program guide superimposed on a broadcast program. In a second format, the graphing user interface is an electronic program guide displayed together with a broadcast program where the broadcast program is displayed in a reduced manner so that no part of the electronic program guide covers the program. Both graphical user interfaces allow the user to view a program while having program information for numerous other programs available for dissemination,.

As the number of options for the viewer increases, so does the need for a user-friendly system interface that serves all users by allowing the channel programming information to be presented in various formats. Most viewers have a limited number of favorite stations they see regularly. Accordingly, the viewer will typically have a greater interest in programming in these preferred stations as well, while the prior art program guides allow the user to watch a program while viewing program information for all other programs of a broadcast system. It would be helpful to have a program guide that offers the option of viewing a representative sample of each of the various programs available in a corresponding number of preferred channels. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A method and apparatus for generating a guide on the screen through which a user can select channels to view a multi-channel broadcast system is provided. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a program guide is generated which comprises a number of fixed video images representing the current programming on several channels. The program guide is generated with sequential system synchronization to each of numerous channels. A visually employable video frame is captured from one of several channels. The visually employable video frame is then decimated, the decimation process offers a video frame that has smaller pixel dimensions than the captured frame. Each of the steps of synchronizing, capturing, and decimating are repeated for each of the various selected channels. After generation, the program guide is displayed on a screen or display device. A corresponding information of channel and program can be visualized along with each one of numbers of images of fixed video. A system pointer is displayed on the screen along with the program guide and the system pointer is manipulated in response to the input by the user. A channel is selected to be seen by manipulating the system pointer to an area associated with the fixed video image of the corresponding channel. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following detailed description wherein: Figure 1 is a simple illustration of one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram in which it represents the elements used in the receiver of television signals. Figure 3 is a representation of a remote control used to synchronize television stations in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Figure 4 is a simplified block diagram of the circuit used in a remote control device. Figure 5 illustrates the type of data used to present the electronic program guide in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates the pointers to the data used to generate the electronic program guide in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Figure 7 illustrates the display of a video image program guide in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Figure 8 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating the provision of a video image program guide comprising fixed video images in one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the method and apparatus of the present invention, the described diffusion system is a direct diffusion satellite system; The broadcasting system can also be a digital television system. However, it is readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other broadcast systems having the ability to receive and display several stations may employ the method and apparatus of the present invention. In addition, in the following description for purposes of explanation, numerous details are presented such as menu, flowcharts, and configuration in the system, in order to offer a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the present invention. In other cases, well-known electrical structures and circuits are illustrated in the form of block diagrams in order not to unnecessarily confiscate the present invention. It is readily apparent to one skilled in the art that additional functions can be added to the process and functions modified or removed and in contrast still within the spirit and scope of the invention. The system offers an innovative and user-friendly access to a large amount of information about the programming available through the dissemination system. In the present invention, numerous functions can be selected through the remote control device. It is apparent that these functions can be selected through another device such as levers, or other means such as a menu on the screen. Figure 1 is a justified diagram illustrating a Direct Satellite System (DSS) (Direct Satellite System). The system has an antenna 3, an integrated receiver / decoder 2 (IRD), a remote control 5, and a monitor 4. Data packets are transmitted through a responder on the satellite. Each responder transmits data in the form of timeshare to a predetermined frequency. A tuner 21 of a recoder is tuned to the frequency of the responder corresponding to a channel indicated by a viewer in such a way that the digital data packets are received by the decoder. The antenna 3 receives a coded data antenna sent from a satellite. The received encoded signal is decoded by the IRD. Antenna 3 has a converter 3 (a) that blocks low noise (LNB). The LNB 3 (a) converts a sequence of a signal sent from the satellite to another frequency. The converted signal is supplied to the IRD 3. The monitor 4 receives an IRD 3 signal. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the IRD 3. A radio frequency (RS) signal sent from the LNB 3 (a) of the antenna 3 is supplied to a tuner 21 of a front end 20. The output of the tuner 21 is supplied to a demodulation circuit 22 by manipulation of quadrature phase change (QPSK) for demodulation. The output of the demodulation circuit 22 QPSK is supplied to an error correction circuit 23 to correct errors. The data is received and encoded and compressed. The transport IC 24 receives the data stream, consisting of a data packet, from the error correction circuit 23 and sending portions of the data stream to the appropriate circuit for processing. The digital data stream sent from a satellite includes headers for classification of the different parts of the data in the digital data stream. The transport IC stores the headers in register and uses headers to direct the data. The data stream sent from the satellite includes video data in the format specified by the Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) standard, MPEG audio data as well as electronic program guide data ( EPG). Data that is identified by its header as video data is transferred to the MPEG 25 decoder. Data identified by its header as audio data is transferred to the MPEG 26 audio decoder. Similarly, data that has a header that identifies the data as EPG data is transferred to a certain area in the data buffer 51 designated to store the EPG. A conditional access module 33 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The conditional access module determines if the user has the authorization to receive certain data, for example, - audio / video for a pay-TV station, using the authorization information stored in its memory. Thus, if the conditional access module determines that the user has authorized access, a key is provided for decoding the incoming data to the transport IC 24, which decodes the data using the provided key. In one modality, a smart card is used. This card is inserted into the card reader interface 32 for connection to the transport IC 24. It is readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the conditional access module is not limited to smart cards and can be configured in other types of circuit . The MPEG video decoder 25 decodes the received video signal from the transport IC. A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 25 (a), connected to the MPEG video decoder 25, is used to store in memory and store the video data during processing by the MPEG video decoder. The decoded digital video signal is supplied to an encoder of the National Television System Committee (NTSC) 27 and converted into a luminance signal (Y) and a chroma signal (C) which are respectively sent through an amplifier of a buffer memory amplifier 28 (Y) or 28 (C) in the form of a video signal S. A composite video signal is also produced through a buffer memory amplifier 28 (V). The MPEG decoder 26 decodes the digital audio signal. A DRAM 26 (a) connected to the MPEG 26 audio decoder is used to buffer data and information during processing by the MPEG 26 audio decoder. The decoded digital audio signal is converted into an analog audio signal. for a D / A converter. The left audio signal is produced through the buffer memory amplifier 31 (L) and the right audio signal is produced through the buffer memory amplifier 31 (R). An RF modulator 41 mixes an output or composite signal from the NTSC 27 encoder with an analog audio signal output from the D / A converter 30. The RF modulator 41 converts the mixed signal into an RF signal and produces the RF signal from there. The central processing unit 29 is the central control mechanism and executes a code stored in the ROM 37 to carry out certain functions of the system. For example, the CPU processes certain data to control the generation of the program list in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In addition, the central processing unit receives and processes the user input, received from the front panel buttons or switches 40 and the protection circuit 39 in order to offer the user functionality and access the system described herein. In addition, the CPU has access to user settings / preferences to process information and to configure the system. The user settings stored in the non-volatile memory, such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) 38. In addition, the central processing unit maintains a list of pointers, stored in a fixed random access memory ( SRAM) 36, to the information of channels and program information stored in the RAM 51. Thus, when a user wishes to display a form of the EPG on the screen, the central processing unit 29, through access to pointers stored in the RAM 36, communicates with the transport ICE 34 to recover the data from the data buffer (SRAM) 51 identified by the pointers. The central processing unit then formulates the format and other digital data forming the guide or list on the screen that sends the representative data of the guide / list to the transport ICE 34 which sends the data to the DRAM 25 (a) of the decoder of MPEG 25 video for subsequent connection to the screen. Figure 3 shows an example of a remote controller used by a user to transmit command and make program selections in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Figure 4 is a simplified block diagram of the remote controller. The remote controller 400 has an ultra-red light source device 405, a set of connection buttons 410, a central processing unit 415, a ROM 420, and a RAM 425. The central processing unit 415 receives a signal sent from of an operation button 410 through an input port 430. The signal is processed in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 420. The ROM 425 is used as a workspace in order to produce a transmission code. The transmission code is sent to the infrared source device 405 through an output port and converted into an infrared signal. The infrared signal is transmitted to the IRD. Operation buttons 410 include a direction key to designate a pointer direction such as north, south, east and west, an "EPG" key, a "PREFERRED" key, a "SELECT" key, a "MENU" key ", a" PÁIDA "key, a numeric keypad with 10 keys, and an" ENTRY "key. The set of operation buttons 410 allows the user to select programs through the electronic programming line. Figure 5 is an illustration of a block diagram of the data stored in a portion of the RAM data buffer 51. As noted above, the RAM 51 stores EPG data including guidance data, upload data and data from Program. General information is included in the guidance data, for example, the current date and time. The list of responders identifies the number of responders that transmit a segment. The channel list identifies the number of channels of the first channel of a portion of data. The channel data includes data regarding channels, such as number of channels, name of channels, (ie, the call sign of a broadcast station), logo ID (ie, identification of the channel logo). , Data ID, which is an identification of an MPEG video data channel number, number of programs, which identifies the number of programs to be transmitted on a channel during a predetermined time, a first program offset that identifies the displacement of the Header up to the first channel data in a segment. The program data includes the program title, the time of the beginning of the program, the life of the program, the category of the program such as movies, news, sports, etc., the program subcategory such as dramatic films, horror films, for children, or beiseball, bas etball, football in the case of the sports category, the classification of the film and the description of the program that offers a detailed description of the program. Figure 6 illustrates how pointers to the EPG data are classified for viewing in a guide on the user's television screen. As indicated above, the EPG data includes guide data, channel data, and program data that are stored in the IRD Data Intermediate Memory (RAM) (as shown in Figure 2). When a viewer selects a channel, the System Processing Unit determines the packet that contains the channel information and extracts the responder number from the channel information. The front end of the system begins tuning to the frequency of the designated responder in order to receive the transmission data from this responder. If a viewer does not select any channel, the last channel is preferably designated. As indicated above, the central processing unit generates a table of pointers 56 towards the EPG stored in the memory. Table 736 is used to change the order of channels or programs in accordance with the information to be presented in the user guide. Table 736 includes an entry for the address pointer to the corresponding channel data and an input to the corresponding program data. A table for generating display information is stored in ROM 37. Some data in the table is read from ROM 37 and stored in DRAM 25 (a). Preferably, the data is stored in compressed form. Accordingly, when a character is displayed on a screen, the compressed character set is decoded in order to generate a character to be displayed. The encoder refers to a dictionary that includes a set of words and portions of frequently used words and numbers that correspond to each word or portion of a word. The encoder codes each word with each number by using the dictionary. The decoder refers to the same dictionary as the encoder to carry out the decoding function. Once decoded, each channel of the decoded word includes a character code corresponding to a code according to American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) (American Standard Code for Information Exchange).

And the non-volatile memory (for example EEPROM 38) has two tables. The first table contains bit maps of characters in the different sources available for each character. The second table identifies the address in the first table in which the character bitmap is extracted. The address is determined in accordance with the character code. The bitmap store of the character is transmitted to a DRAM memory 25 (a) and subsequently accessed to display the character on the screen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the channel data is received from a predetermined responder and the channel number and channel name are stored in a DRAM 25 (a). Additional channel information such as for example channel logo is stored in the ROM 36. The ROM 36 preferably includes a table of logo IDs and the address of Logo Data stored in ROM 36. Accordingly, once a user ID has been determined logo the address of the logo data is determined, retrieved and stored in a DRAM 25 (a). The channel data provides the initial address of the program data for a particular program. The actual location on the screen on which the program information is displayed depends on the format of the guide. For example, in a time-based system, the location where the program title is displayed is determined by the start time and duration stored in the program data. By using the information downloaded from the satellite transmission, the viewer is offered programming information and channel selection. In the system and method of one embodiment of the present invention, this invention is offered to the viewer in several innovative ways in order to allow the viewer to easily determine and select stations or programs that he wishes to see. The multi-channel broadcasting system of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a video movie program guide by which a user can select channels to view them. A video image program guide offers the option of viewing a representative sample of the video frame of each of several available programs in a corresponding number of channels. Figure 7 illustrates the display of a video image program guide in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. This video image program guide 702 of one embodiment of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, 9 still video images 704-720. Each fixed video image 704-720 presents a visually employable video frame from one of nine available channels in the broadcast system. Some program information 722 can be displayed along with each of the still video images 704-720. This program information 722 may include, but is not limited to, a channel number 724, a channel identifier, a program name 726, and a program description. A system pointer 728 is also displayed in the video image program guide. The system pointer 728 is a frame having dimensions larger than the dimensions of the fixed video images 704-720. The system pointer 728 has a color that offers a contrast with the background color of the video image program guide 702. In one embodiment, the system pointer 728 is orange. The system pointer 728 is manipulated in response to input by the user using a remote control device. In order to select a particular channel to view it from the video image program guide 702, the user manipulates the system pointer box to surround a particular fixed video image using the remote control cursor. The user then selects the particular fixed video image when the remote control, by having the broadcast system remove the 702 video image program guide from the screen, tune to the broadcast system with the selected channel, and visualize the program broadcast on this channel. Figure 8 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating the provision of a video image program guide comprising fixed video images in one embodiment of the present invention. The first time a user selects the video image program guide, the broadcast system displays a menu on the screen through which the user can configure the display of the video image program guide. This menu on the screen, the user can consider the program guide video images by selecting up to nine channels for inclusion in the program guide video images. After the configuration of the video image program guide, a subsequent selection of the video image program guide will result in the display of the selected channels for inclusion by the user. The broadcast system also allows the user to reconfigure the video image program guide later to include different channels, alternatively, if the user chooses not to configure the video image program guide, the broadcast system can apply a default routine that will select up to nine channels for inclusion in the video image program guide. The default routine may include, for example, the first nine channels from an electronic program guide, or it may include the first new channels of a preferred station guide, or it may include the first nine channels of a category guide particular or from a most viewed category guide, or it may include the first nine most viewed stations. The remainder of the flowchart comment in Figure 8 considers that 9 channels were selected for viewing in the video image program guide using one of the aforementioned processes. After the selection of a number of channels for inclusion in the video image program guide, the multi-channel broadcast system generates the video image program guide. The generation of the video image program guide begins at block 806, where the broadcast system tunes to the first of the nine channels that make up the video image program guide. A visually unique employable video frame is captured from a first channel in block 808. The visually employable video frame is the Intra frame or the I frame, in a bitstream of Motion Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG -2) (Group 2 of Film Film Experts). The visually-captured employable video frame is then decimated in block 810. The decimation process is a down-conversion filtering process that results in a reduction in the decrease or retribution of the I frame of the image to a convenient size for viewing . The decimation process of the visually employable video frame results in a video frame having pixel dimensions that are a fraction of the dimensions of the visually employable video frame originally captured. The decimation process employs filtering technique and processing of converted digital signals to eliminate numerous pixels from the visually captured employable video frame. For example, a decimation technique may abandon, but not be limited to, this abandonment, every third pixel of the video frame employable visually, thus offering a video frame that has pixel dimensions that are half the pixel dimensions of the frame visually employable video The number of pixels removed from the visually-employable video frame captured is determined by the number of video frames that must be displayed in the video image program guide. In a modality, the decimated video frame has pixel height and width dimensions that are one quarter of the pixel dimensions of the video frame employable visually but are not limited to this. The decimated video frame is stored in a memory, in lock 812, for later viewing. The operation continues in block 814 where the broadcast system determines whether a video frame has been captured from all the channels selected by the user for viewing video program program guide. If a video frame has not been captured from all the selected channels, then the operation continues in block 816, in which the broadcast system is sequentially tuned to the next selected channel for viewing in the picture program guide of video. The data of capturing a visually employable video frame 808, decimating the video frame 810, and storing the video frame 812 are therefore repeated for each channel until a converted system video frame is obtained for all channels selected by the user for viewing in the video image program guide.

When a video frame has been captured from each of the selected channels, the operation continues in block 818, where it displays the video image program guide on a screen. As the program guide comprising each of the fixed video images from each of the selected channels is displayed, the broadcasting system again sequentially tunes to the first selected channel for viewing in the picture program guide of video. In block 820, the first video frame of the first still video image is recovered. This recovery involves the repetition of the steps of capturing a visually employable video frame, decimating the visually employable frame, and storing the decimated frame for viewing. The recovered video frame is then displayed as a new fixed video image for the corresponding channel. The continuous operation of block 822, wherein the broadcast system determines whether the video frame has been recovered for all selected channels. If the video frame has not been recovered for all recovered channels, the broadcast system is sequentially tuned to the next channel in block 824, and retrieves the next fixed video image channel. The process of recovering the still video images continues while the video image program guide is selected for viewing. The user can cancel the program guide selection in block 826. If the user does not cancel the selection of the program guide, the operation continues in block 818, where the program guide is still displayed and in the continuous broadcast system the recovery of the fixed video images. The operation ends when the user cancels the selection of the video image program guide. A system pointer is displayed along with the video image program guide. The system pointer is manipulated in response to input by the user through a remote control device. The system pointer comprises a frame that surrounds one of the several fixed video images of the program guide, the frame being larger than the still video images displayed. The picture is transparent and of a color that offers a contrast with the background color of the program guide. Using a cursor of the remote control device, the user can place the system pointer in an area associated with a particular fixed video image and select the corresponding channel for viewing when the user selects a channel for viewing, the selection is canceled program guide and broadcast system is tuned to this channel and displays the program broadcast on this channel. The invention has been described in combination with the preferred embodiment. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes can be made in relation to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention presented in the claims. Therefore, the specification and drawings should be considered as illustrative but not restrictive.

Claims (21)

1. CLAIMS In a multi-channel broadcasting system where programs are broadcast for viewing on the screen, a method to generate a screen guide for a user to select channels for viewing, comprising the steps of: generating a guide for programs comprising a plurality of fixed video images representing the current programming in a plurality of channels; display the program guide on a screen; display a manipulated system pointer in response to an entry by the user; and selecting a channel for viewing by using the manipulated system pointer to an area associated with the video image of the channel.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a program guide further comprises the steps of: sequentially tuning each of the various channels; capture a visually employable video frame from one of the pluralities of channels; and decimate the visually employable video frame.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the steps of tuning, capturing, and tithing are repeated for each of the various channels.
4. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the visually employable video frame is the Intra frame (frame I) in a stream of Motion Picture bits. Experts Group-2 (MEPG-2) (Group 2 of Experts in Motion Picture Films).
5. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of decimating the visually employable video frame comprises filtering and decimation 10 of the Intra frame. (table I).
6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of decimating the visually employable video frame offers a video frame that is a quarter of the pixel dimensions of the visually employable video frame.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of manipulating the system pointer between areas of the program guide associated with each of the several still images.
8. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of: recovering the visually decimable employable video frame, the recovery occurs sequentially for the plurality of channels; and store the recovered video frame in a memory.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a plurality of channels for inclusion in the program guide from a plurality of channels broadcast by the multi-channel broadcasting system.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the program guide comprises 9 fixed video images representing 9 channels, the nine channels are selected by using a menu on the screen.
11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying corresponding channel and program information with each of the several fixed video images.
12. 12. A computer system comprising a processor configured to be connected to a display device, said processor: configured to generate a program guide comprising a plurality of fixed video images representing the current programming on a plurality of channels; and is configured to display the program guide on a screen; is configured to display a manipulated system pointer in response to an entry by the user; and is configured to select a channel for display using the manipulated system pointer to an area associated with the fixed video image of the channel.
13. The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to generate a program guide by its additional configuration to: sequentially tune each of the several channels; capture a visually employable video frame from one of several channels, the visually employable video frame is in the box Intra (frame I) in a stream of Motion bits Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) (Group 2 of Experts in Cinematographic films); filter and decimate the visually employable video frame; and store the visually decimable employable video frame for viewing.
14. The computer system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to capture, filter, decimate and store after sequential tuning with each of the various channels.
15. The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to manipulate the system pointer between areas of the program line associated with each of the several fixed video images.
16. The computer system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to generate a program guide by its additional configuration to: recover the visually employable decimated video frame, the recovery occurs sequentially for the plurality of channels; and store the recovered video frame in a memory.
17. The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to control the selection of a plurality of channels for inclusion in the program guide.
18. A system for generating a guide on the screen so that a user can select channels to watch in a multi-channel broadcasting system wherein the programs are broadcast for viewing on a screen comprising: a program guide comprising a plurality of fixed video images that represent the current programming on several channels; a screen to view the program guide; a system pointer manipulated in response to input by the user; and a channel selected to be viewed using the manipulated system pointer to an area associated with the fixed video image of the channel.
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the program guide is generated by: sequential synchronization with each of the various channels; Capture a visually employable video frame from each of the various channels, the visually employable video frame is the Intra frame (frame I) in a bitstream of Motion Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2); decimate the visually employable video frame; recover the visually employable decimated video frame; and store the visually employable decimated video frame.
20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the system pointer is manipulated between areas of the program guide associated with each of the fixed video images.
21. 21. The computer system according to claim 18, wherein multiple channels are selected for enrollment in the program guide from a plurality of channels broadcast by the multi-channel broadcast system. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions that, when executed in a processing system, cause the system to perform the steps to generate a guide on the screen so that a user can select channels to view in a broadcast system of multiple channels, comprising: generating a program guide comprising a plurality of fixed video images representing the current programming in a plurality of channels; the display of the program guide; the display of a system pointer manipulated in response to an entry by the user; the selection of a channel to view using the manipulated system pointer to an area associated with the fixed video image of the channel. The computer readable medium according to claim 22, further causing the system to perform the step of manipulating the system pointer between areas of the program guide associated with each of the plurality of fixed video images. The computer readable medium according to claim 23, wherein the step of generating a program guide further causes the system to perform the steps of: sequentially tuning each of the plurality of channels; Capture a visually employable video frame from each of the various channels, the visually employable video frame is the Intra frame (frame I) in a bitstream of Motion Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) (Group-2 of Motion Picture Film Experts); and decimate the visually employable video frame. The computer readable medium according to claim 24 further causing the system to perform the steps of: recovering the decimated employable video frame, recovery occurs sequentially for the plurality of channels; and store the recovered video frame in a memory. The computer readable medium according to claim 22, further causing the system to control the step of selecting a plurality of channels for inclusion in the program guide.