MXPA01000837A - Electronic program guide using markup language - Google Patents

Abstract

An interactive television program guide is provided. Program guide display elements are arranged and styled using markup language documents. These markup language documents may also indicate and select program guide functions. The program guide interprets the markup language documents and generates the display screens and program guide functionality without user intervention. The program guide may also be updated by supplying new markup language documents that modify display screens and program guide functionality. The markup language documents may be supplied by a main facility or a television distribution facility.

Description

ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE USING MARKING LANGUAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to video systems, and more particularly to interactive television programming guidance systems that allow the flexible modification of the dispositions presented by the user screen of the programming guide, as well as the functionality of the programming guide. Cable, satellite and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Traditionally, viewers have consulted printed television programming calendars to determine the programs that are being broadcast at a particular time. More recently, electronic interactive television programming guides have been developed that allow information about television programs to be displayed on a television viewer. Interactive programming guides allow the user to navigate through advertisements of television programs using a remote control. In a typical visual presentation of a programming guide, television program announcements are organized and P1208 exhibited in subsets according to multiple selection criteria, and are classified in different ways. For example, one criterion is to organize program announcements in a grid. 5 With the current interactive programming guides, user screens are set (for example, screens containing program announcements) and the programming guide functionality. In general, it is not possible to change the user screens or the functionality of the programming guide without downloading a new application from the programming guide. Consequently, it would be convenient if a dialing language could be used that provides the characteristics of lowering the visual presentation of the 15 user screens, as well as the functionality of the programming guide, at any time, as incorporated features, without modifying the code of the application. The use of documents in Hypertext Marking Language to provide visual and textual presentations 20 and graphics on a television screen is described, for example, in European patent application 0 837 599 A2, published on April 22, 1998. This approach it is known to the user of a Web browser and requires the intervention of the user for the visual presentation of the screens.

P1208 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television programming guide that organizes the visual presentation elements. of the programming guide using a language of dialing It is also an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television programming guide that indicates and selects the functionality of the programming guide using a dialing language. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television programming guide that can be updated by downloading documents in dialing language, without user intervention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the invention are achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an interactive programming guide system where the arrangement presented by the presentation screens of the programming guide, as well as the assigned functionality of the programming guide, are updated using documents in dialing language. The data in the programming guide are provided by a data source in an installation of P1208 AJJB6 »to --M < 8-fc- & g r ^^^ - a ^^^ ife ^^^^^^ i ^^^ aa ^^ aa SgSto .. ¿¿& uplink satellite. This information it is transmitted to a television distribution facility such as a cable terminal via a satellite link. The television distribution facility distributes the information (and television programming signals) to the user's television equipment in which an interactive television programming guide is implemented. An appropriate distribution scheme involves transmitting television channels and distributing program announcement information in the vertical blanking interval of one of the channels, or in a sideband. As an alternative, program announcement information may be provided in a sideband of a television channel, using a digital in-band channel, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by means of any other suitable data transmission technique. The user's television equipment for receiving and processing television program advertisements and program announcement information may include a box that is placed on the television. The box that is placed on the television can also receive television programming distributed by the television distribution facility. The programming guide implemented in the box that is placed on the television process the information of the television program announcements and P1208 generates visual presentation screens (for example, a grid of the interactive television programming guide) to be displayed, for example, on an ordinary television monitor. The elements of the visual presentation of the programming guide can have a set of associated attributes. The attributes of the visual presentation elements may include information about the style and layout of the visual presentation elements (eg, font size, font type, color, screen coordinates, etc.), actions associated with the visual presentation element, or any other suitable attribute. The actions of visual presentation of an element can be indicated and selected using the documents in the markup language. The dialing language used can be any suitable dialing language or system for properly marking or labeling a document (eg, text file) so that the document indicates the layout and style of the user's display screen, and the functionality of the programming guide. For example, the document in markup language may contain code in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), in Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language (DHTML), or in Extensible Markup Language (XML). The programming guide P1208 program to interpret the documents in the markup language and generate the visual presentation screens and provide the functionality of the programming guide according to the documents. The use of a dialing language provides an interactive television programming guide in which the visual presentation screens can be modified by downloading documents in the markup language without the intervention of the user and without modifying the code of the application. The functionality of the application can be modified by joining documents to the different modules, in the same way. The use of a markup language also allows a control entity to control some of the presentation and functionality of the guide, and to create intensified features and promotions based on the design of a screen layout with markup language editors. standard manufacturing and / or with viewers. Other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram P1208 i? ^ ^^. YJ, .YJ ^ t? yy, -Y?? Yí, .. ^:? -. -, .....- ..! »» Of a system in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative user television set, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 3 is a generalized block diagram of portions of the illustrative television set of Figure 2. Figure 4 is an illustrative program advertisement grid, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 5 is a list of illustrative program listings, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figures 6a and 6b are illustrative display screens, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figures 7a-7b illustrate how different documents can be used in markup language to organize and style the display elements, and indicate and select the functionality of the programming guide. Figures 8-10 are flow diagrams of the steps involved in the use of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An illustrative system 10 is shown in Figure 1 according to the present invention. The main installation 12 supplies data from the data source of the programming guide, 14, to the television distribution installation 16, through the communication link 18. Preferably, there are numerous television distribution facilities 16, although the Figure shows only one such facility to avoid complicating the drawing too much. The link 18 may be a satellite link, a link by telephone network, a link by cable or fiber optics, a microwave link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable means of communication. If in addition to data signals it is desired to transmit video signals over the link 18, a relatively high bandwidth link such as a satellite link, rather than a relatively low bandwidth link such as a telephone line, may generally be preferable. . The television distribution facility 16 may be any suitable distribution facility, such as a cable system terminal, a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facility. The programming guide data transmitted by the main installation 12 to the television distribution facility 16 includes data from the television program announcements (eg schedules, channels, titles and descriptions of the programs) and other information of the television programs. announcements of programs for additional services other than television program advertisements (eg, weather information, links to the associated Internet network, computer programs, etc.). They may also contain documents in markup language such as documents in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), in Dynamic Dialing Language Hypertext (DHTML), or in Extensible Dialing Language (XML), to update the dispositions of the visual presentation screens and the functionality of a programming guide, without user intervention. Documents in markup language may include the code of any suitable markup language or of any system to properly mark or label a document (eg, text file) so that the document arranges layout and style of the presentation screen of the user, and indicate the functionality of the programming guide. For example, the document in markup language may contain HTML, DHTML or XML code. The programming guide is programmed to interpret the documents in the markup language and generate the visual presentation screens P1208 »J ~ ÍJ -A * ¿t * m. 8 - • - '"" ™ l' '' ^ '™ and «'" «° aMMItf« ™ '' ™ < aB > lfijl- '.gy and provide the functionality of the programming guide in accordance with the The television distribution installation 16 distributes the advertisements of television programs, additional data and documents in dialing language, to multiple users, through the communication channels 20. Each user has a television set to display the information of advertisements for television programs, using an interactive television programming guide. The communication channels 20 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow the television distribution facility 16 to distribute television programming to the user's television equipment 22. If desired , the television programming can be supplied through separate communication channels (not shown) .The data of the programming guide can be distributed to the computer. television user 22 using any suitable scheme. For example, the data of the programming guide can be supplied in a continuous flow or can be transmitted in an appropriate time interval (for example, once per hour). If they are transmitted continuously, it may not be necessary to store the data locally on the user's television equipment 22. Instead, the user's television equipment 22 can extract data "on the fly".

P1208 as necessary. If desired, the television distribution facility 16 may periodically interrogate the user's television equipment 22 to obtain certain information (e.g., information about the paid program account or information pertaining to programs that have been purchased and viewed using broadcasting techniques). authorization generated locally). For clarity, the present invention will be illustrated in relation to a system arrangement in which the data of the programming guide is distributed from a main installation to an interactive television programming guide implemented in the user's television equipment, through of a television distribution facility. Other suitable systems include systems in which the data is distributed to a programming guide on the user's television equipment, using other suitable distribution schemes, such as schemes involving the transmission of data over the Internet, or the like. If desired, the interactive television programming guide application can be implemented using a client-server architecture in which the primary processing power for the application is provided by a server located, for example, in the distribution facility of television or installation P1208 principal, and the user's television equipment acts as the customer's processor. An illustrative layout of the user's television equipment 22 is shown in Figure 2. The user's television equipment 22 of Figure 2 receives video and data from the television distribution facility 16 (Figure 1) at the entrance 26. While you watch television normally, the user tunes the box that is placed on the television, 28, in a desired television channel. The signal from that television channel is then provided to the video output 30. The signal produced is typically a radio frequency (RF) signal in a predefined channel (eg, channel 3 or 4), or a demodulated video signal, but it can also be a digital signal supplied to the television 36 in an appropriate digital (bus) collector (for example, a collector using the IEEE 1394 standard (not shown)). The video signal at the output 30 is received by the optional secondary storage device 32. The optional secondary storage device 32 can be any type of digital program storage device (e.g., a VCR, a video disc player). digital (DVD) with the ability to burn DVDs, etc.). Recording programs and other features can be P1208 controlled by the box that is placed on the television, 28, using the control channel 34. If the secondary storage device 32 is a video recorder, for example, a typical control path involves the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to the receiver infrared of the VCR that normally accepts commands from a remote control such as the remote control 40. The remote control 40 can be used to control the box that is placed on the television, 28, the secondary storage device and the TV 36. The interactive television programming guide can work in the box that is placed on the TV, 28, on the TV 36 (if the TV 36 has adequate processing and memory circuit), or in an appropriate analog or digital receiver connected to the TV 36. The interactive television programming guide can also work cooperatively on the TV 36 and the box that is placed on the TV. elevisor, 28. Interactive television application systems in which a cooperative interactive television programming guide application operates on multiple devices are described, for example, in Ellis, U.S. Patent Application. Serial No. 09 / 186,598 (Case No. UV-68), filed on November 5, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

P1208 The user can record programs and program data in digital form, in the optional digital storage device 31. The digital storage device 31 can be an optical storage device that receives writing (such as a DVD player capable of handling DVD discs). recordable), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. Interactive television programming guidance systems having digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et al, U.S. patent application. Serial No. 09 / 157,256, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The digital storage device 31 can be contained in the box that is placed on the television, 28, or it can be an external device connected to the box that is placed on the television, 28, through an appropriate output terminal and interface . If necessary, the processing circuit in the box that is placed on the television, 28, formats the received video, audio and data signals, a digital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the MPEG-2 standard of the Group of Experts in Cinematography (MPEG). The data Resulting P1208 are routed to the digital storage device 31 through an appropriate collector (for example, a collector using the IEEE 1394 standard), and are stored in the digital storage device 31. The television 36 receives video signals from the secondary storage device 32 through the communication path 38. The signals of video on communication path 38 can be generated by the secondary storage device 32 when it plays a pre-recorded storage medium (eg, a video cassette or a recordable digital video disc), by the digital storage device 31 when reproduces a pre-recorded digital medium, can be passed from the box that is placed on the television, 28, can be supplied directly to the television 36 from the box that is placed on the television, 28, if the secondary storage device 32 is not included on the user's television equipment 22, or they can be received directly by the television 36. While watching television normally e, the video signals supplied to the television 36 correspond to the desired channel in which the user has tuned the box that is placed on the television, 28. The video signals supplied to the television 36 can also be supplied by the box 28, when said box 28 P1208 is used to reproduce information stored in the digital storage device 31. A more generalized embodiment of the user's television equipment 22 is shown in Figure 3 (Figure 2). As shown in Figure 3, the control circuit 42 of the user's television equipment 22 receives the data from the programming guide, the programming and the dialing language documents from the television distribution facility 16 (Figure 1). ). Video signals are typically supplied on multiple television channels. The data of the programming guide and the documents in dialing language can be supplied in a sideband of a television channel, in the vertical suppression interval of a television channel, using a digital channel in band, using a digital signal out of band, or by means of any other suitable data transmission technique. The control circuit 42 can be configured to interpret the documents in the dialing language and to generate display screens of the programming guide, to be displayed on the monitor 45. The visual presentation screens of the programming guide can be generated with elements of visual presentation in positions and with styles that are indicated by the documents in markup language. In addition, the actions P1208 assigned to the display elements by the documents in dialing language can be selected by the control circuit 42 to provide the functionality of the programming guide. The functions of the control circuit 42 can be provided using the box arrangement that is placed on the television of Figure 2. Alternatively, these functions can be integrated into an advanced television receiver, a television with a personal computer (PC / TV). ), or any other suitable provision. If desired, a combination of such provisions may be used. For example, in programming guides based on client-server architecture, the control circuit 42 may be contained in a suitable equipment in the television distribution installation 16. The user controls the operation of the user's television equipment 22 with the interface 46. The user interface 46 may be a pointing device, a wireless remote control, a keyboard, a touch pad, a speech recognition system, or any other device suitable for data entry by the user. To watch television, the user instructs the control circuit 42 to display a desired television channel on the monitor 45. To access the features of the programming guide, the P1208 user instructs the programming guide implemented in the user's television equipment 22 to generate a main menu or a desired display screen of the programming guide, for display on the monitor 45. When a user indicates a desire to see information about television programming (for example, using a "guide" key on the remote control 40), the programming guide generates an appropriate display screen of the programming guide, such as a program announcement screen, to display on the monitor 45. A program advertisement screen may contain one or more lists of programs organized according to multiple organizational criteria (for example, by type of program, theme, or any other predefined or user-defined criteria). selectable) and classified in different ways (for example, alphabetically). The program advertisement screen can be superimposed on top of a program that is being viewed by the user, or superimposed on top of a portion of the program, in a "search" mode. One criterion is to organize the announcements of programs in a grid of announcements of programs. Figure 4 illustrates the visual display of program announcements in the program announcement grid 150. The list of P1208 program announcements 150 may be divided into a number of columns 162 corresponding to program broadcast times and which may be equally separated (for example, with thirty minute intervals). Program announcements can be displayed in the grid in subsets, according to multiple selectable organization criteria, and classified in different ways. The program ad row 152 contains, for example, advertisements for selectable programs for "THE DESERTS OF AFRICA" and "WILDLIFE" on channel 46 (Public Television). The program announcement row 154 contains, for example, advertisements for selectable programs for GHOST and TITANIC on channel 47 (HBO). The program announcement row 156 contains, for example, selectable program announcements for the BLUES BROTHERS programs on the shared channel 48 (VH-1). The program advertisement row 158 contains advertisements for selectable programs for paid programs, PPV 1 and PPV 2 on channel 49 (ADU). The program announcement row 160 contains a program advertisement selectable for "COOKING" on channel 49 (WPTU). Typically, the programs in each channel are different. The program announcement grid 150 may have a mobile cell highlighting region 151, which highlights the cell of the grid that is in use. The user can place the highlighting region 151 by entering appropriate commands with the user interface device, 52. For example, if the user interface device 52 has a keyboard, the user can place the highlighting region 151 using the direction keys "up", "down", "left" and "right". The advertisements of remote programs can also be moved to the left, right, up and down by placing the highlight region 151 by using the direction keys of the remote control 70. Alternatively, a touch screen, trackball ( trackball), voice commands, or other suitable device, to move the highlighting region 151 or to select program announcements without the use of the highlighting region 151. In yet another form, the user may say a television program announcement in a voice order recognition system. Any other suitable method can be used. After a user selects a program advertisement, the interactive programming guide can provide the user with the opportunity to access a number of features of the programming guide. For example, the user can access additional information (typically text or graphics, but possibly video and other information) about the announcement, set a reminder, schedule an associated program to record, P1208 establish parental control devices, establish and navigate through favorite channels, or any other suitable feature of the programming guide. Program listings can also be displayed to the user in a list. Figure 5 illustrates a program display display screen having a list of program listings presented in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Scrolling lists of program listings may display advertisements for programs in subsets, according to user-selected organization criteria. Any suitable organization criteria or classification scheme can be used. The scrolling list of program listings, 100, of Figure 8, for example, organizes the program announcements according to the type of program and then classifies the advertisements alphabetically in each subset. The display screen of advertisements of television programs of Figure 5 also has a region of cell highlighting 171, in order to move within the list and select advertisements. The display screens of the programming guide may display a number of display elements such as the program announcement grid 150, the program announcement list 170, or any other suitable visual presentation element. The visual presentation elements can be ordered or they can be given a style, using the documents in the markup language. The functions of the programming guide can be indicated and selected using the documents in dialing language. Preferably, the markup language used is a standardized and widely accepted markup language, such as HTML, DHTML or XML. The programming guide is also programmed to generate visual presentation screens and select the functionality of the programming guide in accordance with the documents in dialing language. The style and layout of the visual presentation screen and the functionality of the programming guide can be initially established for the programming guide and subsequently modified by the marking language documents provided by the main installation 12 (Figure 1) to the interactive television programming guide. In practice, when the programming guide is going to be updated with a new document in dialing language, an operator in a main installation, a television distribution facility, or another interested installation, generates a document in convenient dialing language, using P1208 n. . t 'jsSüto., Y. any word processor or document editor in appropriate markup language. The document in the markup language is supplied to the interactive programming guide, and stored and interpreted by it without the intervention of the user. This allows an operator to centrally update the visual presentation feature and functionality of the programming guide without user intervention. The visual presentation elements are defined using a method with non-dialing language and are reprogrammed in the programming guide. The visual presentation elements can be programmed, for example, in the interactive programming guide using any suitable programming language (eg Visual BASIC, C ++, etc.). Documents in markup language can organize the attributes of visual presentation elements (for example, style, layout and action attributes) into finite sets of visual presentation element attributes that can be a subset of the attributes effectively programmed in the layout. programming guide. The sets of visual presentation elements can be assigned to visual presentation elements using indicators, or labels. Labels can indicate where to place the visual presentation elements P1208 defined, in the visual presentation screen of the programming guide. The labels can also indicate the styles to be applied to the visual presentation elements. Preferably, the visual presentation elements are programmed to appear on the display screen of the programming guide in the position and with the style defined in the document in the markup language. The defined display elements can include any suitable element of the display screen of the programming guide, such as the following elements: advertisements, program announcement grid, video windows, text windows, or any other screen of adequate visual presentation or normal element of dialing language. The functions of the programming guide are defined using a method with non-dialing language, and are reprogrammed in the programming guide. For example, functions can be programmed in the programming guide using any suitable programming language (for example, Visual BASIC, C ++, etc.). The functionality of the programming guide can be evidenced by the user through actions of the visual presentation elements, or it can be transparent. Any suitable action of an element of P1208 visual presentation can be assigned and selected using documents in dialing language. For example, one action may be to replace a partial screen program announcement grid (eg, grid 150) with a full-screen program advertisement grid, in response to an appropriate order from the user. Another action can make the grid move, page, change your visual presentation (for example, display ads by topic instead of by channel, display ads in a list instead of a grid), start the search for a program or list of actions, or execute any other appropriate action, in response to an appropriate order from the user. The selection by the user of a program advertisement in the grid may, for example, cause the programming guide to display a program announcement information screen, initiate a recording, set a reminder, or perform other appropriate actions. When the documents in dialing language are supplied to the interactive television programming guide, the programming guide interprets the documents and generates or modifies the appropriate visual presentation screens of the programming guide as well as the functionality of the programming guide, according to to the documents, without the intervention of the user. The presentation characteristics of the screens of P1208 visual presentation can be changed without the need to update the code of the application, and can be completed in real time and without ever including the user in the update process. Figure 6a illustrates how a display screen, the screen 50, may appear after the programming guide has been programmed with a document in the markup language, has interpreted the same, and has generated the display screen and has selected the functionality of the programming guide. The screen 50 may contain a series of display elements. For example, the screen 50 may contain the video window 52 and the text window 54 to display promotional videos and information relating to the program being promoted (for example, price of the subscription), respectively. The screen 50 may also have the graphics window 57 for displaying a program announcement grid (Figure 4), such as the program announcement grid 150, or a list of program announcements, such as a list of program announcements. 170 (Figure 5), or another graph. The screen 50 may also contain other display elements, such as screen options, or "buttons", which allow the user to access some feature of the programming guide. By P1208 example, the user can "click" the "subscribe" button 56 by entering appropriate commands in the user interface 46 (Figure 3). By pressing the "subscribe" button 56, the programming guide can allow the user to subscribe to the program that is being promoted. The screen 50 may also include an image of the logo of the local service provider, such as the logo area 58. The layout of the screen 50 may become inconvenient over time. For example, it can be decided that it would be more attractive for the user to have a larger video area and a smaller text area. It may also be convenient to add additional features to the visual presentation screen, such as supplying a "next" and "previous" button to allow users to scroll through the promotional videos at their same pace. It may also be convenient to update the logo of the service provider. Figure 6b illustrates how the display characteristics of the screen 50 can be changed after a new document in dialing language has been supplied to the programming guide from the main facility 12 or the television distribution facility 16 ( Figure 1), and after the programming guide has interpreted the document and generated P1208 again the screen 50. After the screen 50 is regenerated by the programming guide, the video window 52, the text window 54 and the graph window 57 may have been resized and placed in a new position 5 accordingly. Also, if the graph window 57 contains a program announcement grid, for example, the number of rows or columns of the grid can be changed, the grid start time can be adjusted, or any other suitable change can be made to the grid. Logo area 58 may have been resized and placed in a new position. A new format or style may also have been given to logo area 58, for example, by changing the colors of the logo, or adding any other type of logo. special effect. The "next" button 60 and the "previous" button 62 may also have been added. Figure 7a illustrates how documents in dialing language can be used initially to organize and style the elements of visual presentation, and to indicate and select the functionality of the programming guide, using a document in the markup language that is initially supplied to the programming guide. Any dialing language or appropriate method can be used. In the practice, documents in dialing language can P1208 be continuous, from top to bottom, and the attributes of the visual presentation elements can come immediately below a visual presentation element label. The document in markup language 300 has been illustrated, however, with left and right portions 302 and 304, in order to more clearly illustrate the principles of the present invention. The portion 302 of the document in markup language 300 illustrates how the identifier of the display element, 300, can be labeled with the tags 306. The portion 304 of the document in markup language 300 illustrates how the attributes of the display elements they can be organized in sets, using documents in the markup language, and assigned using the labels. As shown in Figure 7a, attributes 310 and 312 of the display elements can be organized in sets 313, 315 and 317. A set of attributes can be assigned to each display element. The markup language document 300 may label the display element identifiers, 330, using the labels 306. The labels 306 are generically indicated as TI, T2 and T3, to indicate which display element is being labeled (element of display).

P1208 «J ^ ja ^ 8J > ^ - ^ i ^^ ArMfe visual presentation 1, visual presentation element 2 and visual presentation element 3, respectively). The labels 306 have associated attributes 310 (for example, Al, A2, A4, A5, A7 and A8) from the sets, which may indicate, for example, where the display elements will be placed on the display screen. visual, its dimensions, and what styles it will have (for example, color, special font effects, etc.). To generate a visual display screen such as screen 308, the interactive programming guide can analyze the document in markup language, extract the style and layout information, and consequently generate a visual display screen. Figure 7a also illustrates how the functionality of the programming guide can be indicated and selected using the document in dialing language 300. The programming guide may have been preprogrammed with a large number of actions. The portion 304 of the document in markup language 300 can be used to select, from those actions, the actions that are suitable for a particular display element. The attributes 312 can be included in the finite sets of attributes 313, 315 and 317, to indicate the selected actions. Although a visual presentation element can have multiple P1208 associated actions (for example, a menu), only one attribute 312 has been shown for each set, to avoid complicating the drawing too much. The actions can be assigned to the display elements 314 as indicated in Figure 7a, using the labels 306. Figure 7b illustrates how the presentation characteristics of the display screen 308 can be changed or modified using a different document. in markup language, such as the document in markup language 340. As shown, the markup document 340 may use tags 306 to assign sets of attributes to the display elements. When the interactive programming guide interprets and analyzes the document in markup language 340, it contains the new or changed attributes 310 'of the sets, and uses the tags 306 to generate, for example, the display screen 308' with the elements of visual presentation 314 '. As illustrated when the display 308 'is compared to the display 308 of Figure 7a, the display elements 314 can be resized, placed in a new position and can be given a new style (not it shows) . In this way, a first document in the markup language (300) P1208 can be used by the interactive programming guide to generate a first visual display screen 308, and a second document in dialing language (340) can be used to modify the visual display screen (308 ') (for example, placing in a new position, resize and give new style to the visual presentation elements 314), thus generating a second visual presentation screen with presentation characteristics different from the first one. Figure 7b also illustrates how different actions of the display elements can be assigned and selected using documents in dialing language. Different actions can be included in the sets, as illustrated when comparing sets 313, 315 and 317 of Figure 7a, with the sets 313 ', 315' and 317 'of Figure 7c. The new actions can be indicated and the previously indicated actions removed, as illustrated by the set 317 'and 315' (for example, A12 and A6). In addition, the actions can be selected for different display elements, as shown in set 313 '(for example, A7 was moved from set 317 of Figure 7a to set 313' of Figure 7b). The steps involved in the operation of the programming guide of the present invention are P1208 set forth in Figures 8-10. Figure 8 illustrates the steps involved in the generation of visual presentation screens. In step 400, documents in dialing language that order and style the visual presentation elements are supplied to the programming guide as part of the initial programming of the programming guide. The documents are preferably in a standardized and widely accepted markup language, such as HTML, DHTML, XML, or in any other suitable markup language. In step 410, the programming guide interprets the documents in dialing language. The particular types of documents in the markup language can be interpreted in sub-steps 412, 414 and 415, respectively. The visual presentation screens are generated according to the documents in markup language, in step 420. This may include the substeps 422, 424 and 426, in which the visual presentation elements are ordered, sized and given a style. , respectively. In step 440, the programming guide displays the visual presentation screens according to the documents in dialing language. Figure 9 illustrates the steps involved in modifying the visual presentation screens of the programming guide. In step 450, the programming guide is supplied with documents in the language of P1208 *,? A? T &y-j8g & ¡ia ^ M ^ jK ** j? BiÁái dialing that can redirect, place in a new position or give a new style to the visual presentation elements. The documents are preferably in a standardized and widely accepted markup language, such as HTML, DHTML, XML, or any other suitable markup language. In step 460, the programming guide interprets the documents in dialing language. The particular types of documents in markup language can be interpreted in sub-steps 462, 464 and 466, respectively. The display screens are modified in step 470. This may include the substeps 472, 474 and 476, in which the display elements are resized, placed in a new position and given a new style, respectively. In step 480, the programming guide displays the visual presentation screens according to the documents in dialing language. Figure 10 illustrates the steps involved in assigning and selecting the functionality of the programming guide. The functionality of the indicated and selected programming guide may be obvious to the user or may be hidden. In step 500, the programming guide is supplied with documents in the markup language that assign the functionality of the programming guide to the visual presentation elements. The P1208 1 ^ a ^ .aia ^? < * fc ^^ documents can be supplied as part of the initial programming of the programming guide, or they can be supplied by a main installation or a television distribution facility when the programming guide is updated. The documents are preferably in a standardized and widely accepted markup language, such as HTML, DHTML or XML. In step 510, the programming guide interprets the documents in dialing language. As shown, the documents in HTML, DHTML or XML markup language can be interpreted in substeps 512, 514 and 516, respectively. The functionality of the programming guide is selected for the display elements in step 520, in accordance with the documents in dialing language. In step 540, the programming guide executes the selected functions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by means other than those described, which are presented for illustrative purposes and not restrictive, thus, the present invention is limited only by the following claims.

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Claims (36)

1. CLAIMS 1. A system to allow an operator to update the characteristics of an interactive television programming guide, where the visual presentation screens of the interactive television programming guide and television programming are displayed on the user's television equipment and, wherein, the television program announcement information is displayed on the user's television equipment in a visual presentation screen of the programming guide having at least one display element that is preprogrammed in the user guide. interactive television programming, the system comprises: a means to allow the operator to provide the interactive television programming guide with a first document in the markup language, without the intervention of the user, wherein the first document in the markup language indicates a feature of the interactive television programming guide; a means to interpret the first document in the markup language, using the interactive programming guide; a means to generate, using the interactive television programming guide, a first visual presentation screen of the programming guide, where
2. P1208 the first display screen of the programming guide contains the preprogrammed display element and has the characteristic, as indicated by the first document in interpreted marking language; means for allowing the operator to provide the interactive television programming guide with a second document in the language of dialing, without intervention by the user, when the operator wishes to update the feature of the interactive television programming guide; a means to interpret the second document in markup language, using the interactive programming guide; and a means for generating and displaying a second display screen of the programming guide to replace the first display screen of the programming guide, using the interactive television programming guide, wherein the second display screen of the Programming guide contains the preprogrammed display element and has the characteristic, as indicated by the second document in interpreted markup language. 2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein: the feature of the programming guide
3. P1208 interactive television is how the preprogrammed visual presentation element will be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the user's television equipment; the first document in dialing language indicates how the preprogrammed display element will be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the user's television equipment; the means for generating and displaying the first display screen of the programming guide comprises a means for operating and displaying the first display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element displayed, as indicated by first document in interpreted marking language; the second document in markup language indicates how the preprogrammed display element will be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the user's television equipment; and the reasons for generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide comprises a means for generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide,
4. P1208 containing the preprogrammed display element, as indicated by the second document in interpreted marking language, wherein the visual presentation characteristics of the second display screen of the programming guide are different from the visual presentation characteristics of the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide. The system defined in claim 2, wherein: the first document in dialing language indicates a first position of the preprogrammed display element; the means for generating and displaying the first display screen of the programming guide comprises a means for generating and displaying the first display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element in the first position, using the interactive television programming guide; the second document in dialing language indicates a second position of the preprogrammed display element; and the means to generate and display the second screen of presentation of the programming guide
5. P1208 comprises a means for "generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element, in the second position, using the interactive television programming guide. claim 2, wherein: the first document in the markup language indicates a first dimension or size for the preprogrammed display element, the means for generating and displaying the first display screen of the programming guide comprises a means for generating and display the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide, which contains the pre-programmed visual presentation element with the first dimension or size, using the interactive television programming guide, the second document in the marking language indicates a second dimension or size for the pre-program visual presentation element and the means for generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide comprises a means for generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the visual presentation element.
6. P1208 : .r? L? sie > ? a1 * ßk? ¡iu ^. - ** * '* - ** - "" "- pre-programmed with the second dimension or size, using the interactive television programming guide 5. The system defined in claim 2, wherein: the first document in Dialing language indicates a first style for the preprogrammed display element, the means for generating and displaying the first display screen of the programming guide comprises a means for generating and displaying the first display screen of the programming guide , which contains the preprogrammed visual presentation element, with the first style, using the interactive television programming guide, the second document in the markup language indicates a second style for the pre-programmed visual presentation element, and the means for generating and displaying the The second visual presentation screen of the programming guide comprises a means for generating and displaying the second screen of visual presentation of the programming guide, which contains the pre-programmed visual presentation element, with the second style, using the interactive television programming guide. 6. The system defined in claim 2,
7. P1208 wherein: the means for interpreting the first document in markup language further comprises a means to interpret documents in the Hypertext Markup Language; and the means for interpreting the second document in markup language also comprises a means for interpreting documents in the Hypertext Markup Language. The system defined in claim 2, wherein: the means for interpreting the first document in markup language further comprises a means for interpreting documents in Dynamic Language of Hypertext Marking; and the means for interpreting the second document in markup language further comprises a means for interpreting documents in Dynamic Language of Hypertext Marking. The system defined in claim 2, wherein: the means for interpreting the first documents in markup language further comprises a means for interpreting documents in Extensible Markup Language; Y
8. P1208 the means to interpret the first documents in the markup language also comprises a means to interpret documents in Extensible Marking Language. The system defined in claim 1, wherein: the feature of the programming guide is at least one action that is preprogrammed in the interactive television programming guide and that is associated with the visual presentation element; the first document in markup language allocates a first preprogrammed action to the visual presentation element; The means for generating a first display screen of the programming guide comprises a means for generating and displaying the first display screen of the programming guide, containing the visual presentation element and selecting the first action programmed for the element. of visual presentation, as assigned by the first document in interpreted marking language; the second document in markup language assigns a second preprogrammed action to the display element that is different from the first preprogrammed action; and the means to generate and display a screen of
9. P1208 »_» A.a.S «a» QttiiÍHfcfci. . ----, - - ^. ^ a ^ jiA.-visual presentation of the programming guide comprises a means to generate and display a visual presentation screen of the programming guide, which contains the visual presentation element and select the second action programmed for the visual presentation element, as assigned by the second document in interpreted marking language.
10. 10. The system defined in claim 9, wherein: the means for interpreting the first document in markup language further comprises a means for interpreting documents in the Hypertext Markup Language; and the means for interpreting the second document in markup language also comprises a means for interpreting documents in the Hypertext Markup Language. The system defined in claim 9, wherein: the means for interpreting the first document in markup language further comprises a means for interpreting documents in Dynamic Dialing Language. Hypertext; and the means to interpret the second document in P1208 ilÉeAt? tti »f ^ ¡tí I? t? t markup language also comprises a means to interpret documents in Dynamic Language of Hypertext Marking. The system defined in claim 9, wherein: the means for interpreting the first document in markup language further comprises a means for interpreting documents in Extensible Markup Language; and the means for interpreting the second document in markup language further comprises a means for interpreting documents in Extensible Marking Language. 13. A method to allow an operator to update the characteristics of a programming guide 15 interactive television, where the visual presentation screens of the interactive television programming guide and the television programming are displayed on the user's television equipment and, where, the television program announcement information is 20 displayed on the user's television equipment, in a visual presentation screen of the programming guide having at least one display element that is preprogrammed in the interactive television programming guide, the method comprises: allowing the operator supply to the guide P1208 interactive television programming a first document in the markup language, without the intervention of the user, where the first document in the markup language indicates a characteristic of a visual presentation screen; interpret the first document in the markup language, using the interactive television programming guide; generate, using the interactive television programming guide, a first visual presentation screen of the programming guide, where the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide contains the preprogrammed visual presentation element and has the characteristic, as indicated the first document in interpreted marking language, using the interactive television programming guide; allow the operator to provide the interactive television programming guide with a second document in the markup language, without intervention by the user, when the operator wishes to update the characteristics of the first visual presentation screen of the interactive programming guide; interpret the second document in the markup language, using the interactive programming guide; And generate and display a second screen of P1208 - visual presentation of the programming guide, to replace the first display screen of the programming guide, using the interactive television programming guide, where, the second display screen of the programming guide contains the programming element. Preprogrammed visual presentation and has the characteristic, as indicated by the second document in interpreted marking language. 14. The method defined in claim 13, 10 where: the first document in dialing language indicates how the preprogrammed display element will be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the television equipment of the 15 user; The feature of the interactive television programming guide is how the preprogrammed visual presentation element will be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the computer. 20 user's television; the step of generating and displaying a first visual presentation screen of the programming guide comprises generating and displaying a first visual presentation screen of the programming guide, which 25 contains the preprogrammed display element, P1208 as indicated by the first document in interpreted marking language, using the interactive television programming guide; the second document in markup language indicates how the preprogrammed display element will be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the user's television equipment; the step of generating and displaying a second display screen of the programming guide, to replace the first display screen of the programming guide, comprises generating and displaying a second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element displayed, as indicated by the second document in interpreted marking language, wherein the visual presentation features of the second display screen of the programming guide are different from the display characteristics of the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide. The method defined in claim 14, wherein: the first document in markup language indicates a first position of the presentation element Pre-programmed visual P1208; the step of generating and displaying the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide comprises generating and displaying the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide, which contains the visual presentation element preprogrammed in the first position, using the guide of interactive television programming; the second document in dialing language indicates a second position of the preprogrammed display element; and the step of generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide comprises generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element, in the second position, using the interactive television programming guide. The method defined in claim 14, wherein: the first document in dialing language indicates a first dimension or size for the preprogrammed display element; the step of generating and displaying the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide comprises P1208 generating and displaying the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide, which contains the pre-programmed visual presentation element with the first dimension or size, using the interactive television programming guide 5; the second document in markup language indicates a second dimension or size for the preprogrammed display element; and the step of generating and displaying the second display screen 10 of the programming guide comprises generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element with the second dimension or size, using the interactive television programming guide 15. The method defined in claim 14, wherein: the first document in dialing language indicates a first style for the preprogrammed visual display element 20; the step of generating and displaying the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide comprises generating and displaying the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide, which contains the element 25 pre-programmed visual presentation, with the first style, P1208 s ^ * ^ ^^^ ^^^ a. ^^? 9 ^ using the interactive television programming guide; the second document in markup language indicates a second style for, the preprogrammed display element; and the step of generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide comprises generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element, with the second style, using the interactive television programming guide. The method defined in claim 14, wherein: the step of interpreting the first document in markup language comprises interpreting documents in the Hypertext Markup Language; and the step of interpreting the second document in the markup language comprises interpreting documents in the Hypertext Markup Language. The method defined in claim 14, wherein: the step of interpreting the first document in markup language comprises interpreting documents in Dynamic Language of Hypertext Marking; and the step of interpreting the second document in P1208 X marking language includes interpreting documents in Dynamic Language of Hypertext Marking. The method defined in claim 14, wherein: the step of interpreting the first documents in markup language comprises interpreting documents in Extensible Markup Language; and the step of interpreting the first documents in the markup language involves interpreting documents in Extensible Marking Language. The method defined in claim 13, wherein: the feature of the programming guide is at least one action that is preprogrammed in the interactive television programming guide and that is associated with the visual presentation element; the first document in markup language assigns a first preprogrammed action to the visual presentation element; the method further comprises selecting the first preprogrammed action for the visual presentation element, as assigned by the first document in interpreted marking language, using the interactive television programming guide; the second document in dialing language P1208 assigns a second preprogrammed action to the display element that is different from the first preprogrammed action; and the method further comprises selecting the second preprogrammed action for the visual presentation element, as assigned by the second document in interpreted marking language. The method defined in claim 21, wherein: the step of interpreting the first document in the markup language further comprises interpreting documents in the Hypertext Markup Language; and the step of interpreting the second document in markup language also comprises interpreting documents in Hypertext Markup Language. The method defined in claim 21, wherein: the step of interpreting the first document in markup language further comprises the step of interpreting documents in Dynamic Language of Hypertext Marking; and the step of interpreting the second document in the markup language also comprises interpreting documents in the Dynamic Language of Hypertext Marking. 24. The method defined in claim 21, P1208 - ,,. 3 &a «* Sj * _ where: the step of interpreting the first document in the markup language also comprises interpreting documents in Extensible Marking Language; and the step of interpreting the first document in the markup language also comprises interpreting documents in Extensible Marking Language. 25. A system for allowing an operator to update the features of an interactive television programming guide, wherein the interactive television program guide's visual presentation screens and television programming are displayed on the user's television equipment and, wherein, the television program announcement information is displayed on the user's television equipment in a visual presentation screen of the programming guide having at least one display element that is preprogrammed in the guide of interactive television programming, the system comprises: a means to allow the operator to provide the interactive television programming guide with a first document in the markup language, without the intervention of the user, wherein the first document in the markup language indicates a feature of the interactive television programming guide; P1208 .faith. -attfc ,. - - > a ~. -_., «& *«. *. . j ^ amfei ge -fea-ftte 'a control circuit configured to interpret the first document in the markup language, using the interactive programming guide, and to generate a first screen "of visual presentation of the programming guide, which contains the Preprogrammed visual presentation element that has the characteristic as indicated by the first document in interpreted marking language, using the interactive television programming guide, a means to allow the operator to provide the interactive television programming guide with a second document in the language of dialing, without intervention by the user, when the operator wishes to update the feature of the first visual presentation screen of the interactive programming guide, and a control circuit configured to interpret the second document in the markup language and to generate a second visual presentation screen of the guide of programming, to replace the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide, using the interactive programming guide, the second display screen of the programming guide contains the preprogrammed display element and has the characteristic as indicated the second document in interpreted marking language. P1208 26. The system defined in claim 25, wherein: the feature of the programming guide is how the preprogrammed display element is to be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the user's television equipment; the first document in dialing language indicates how the preprogrammed display element will be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the user's television equipment; the control circuit is further configured to generate the first display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element displayed, as indicated by the first document in interpreted marking language; the second document in markup language indicates how the preprogrammed display element will be displayed by the interactive television programming guide on the user's television equipment; and the control circuit is further configured to generate the second display screen of the programming guide, to replace the first display screen of the programming guide, P1208 wherein the second display screen of the programming guide contains the preprogrammed display element displayed, as indicated by the second document in interpreted language, where the visual presentation characteristics of the second display screen of the Programming guide are different from the visual presentation features of the first visual presentation screen of the programming guide. The system defined in claim 26, wherein: the first document in markup language indicates a first position of the preprogrammed display element; the control circuit is further configured to generate the first display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element in the first position, using the interactive television programming guide; the second document in dialing language indicates a second position of the preprogrammed display element; and the control circuit is further configured to generate the second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the P1208 visual presentation preprogrammed in the second position, using the interactive television programming guide. The system defined in claim 26, wherein: the first document in markup language indicates a first dimension or size for the preprogrammed display element; the control circuit is further configured to generate the first display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element with the first dimension or size, using the interactive television programming guide; the second document in markup language indicates a second dimension or size for the preprogrammed display element; and the control circuit is further configured to generate the second display screen of the programming guide, comprises a means for generating and displaying the second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the preprogrammed display element with the second dimension or size, using the interactive television programming guide. 29. The system defined in claim 26, P1208 wherein: the first document in dialing language indicates a first style for the preprogrammed display element; the control circuit is further configured to generate the first display screen of the programming guide, which contains the visual presentation element preprogrammed with the first style, using the interactive television programming guide; the second document in markup language indicates a second style for the preprogrammed display element; and the control circuit is further configured to generate the second display screen of the programming guide, which contains the visual presentation element preprogrammed with the second style, using the interactive television programming guide. 30. The system defined in claim 26, wherein the control circuit is further configured to interpret documents in Hypertext Markup Language. The system defined in claim 26, wherein the control circuit is further configured to interpret documents in Dynamic Language of Hypertext Marking. P1208 The system defined in claim 26, wherein the control circuit is further configured to interpret documents. in Extensible Marking Language. 33. The system defined in claim 25, wherein: the feature of the programming guide is at least one action that is preprogrammed in the interactive television programming guide and that is associated with the display element; the first document in the markup language allocates a first preprogrammed action associated with the visual presentation element; the control circuit is further configured to: (1) generate the visual display screen of the programming guide containing the display element and (2) select the first preprogrammed action for the display element, as assigned by the first document in interpreted markup language; the second document in markup language assigns to the display element a second preprogrammed action which is different from the first preprogrammed action; and the control circuit is further configured P1208 , ¿M ^^ i¡tii í¡toi ÍttHMta i to: (1) generate the visual presentation screen of the programming guide containing the visual presentation element and (2) select the second pre-programmed action for the visual presentation element, according to is assigned by the second document in interpreted markup language. 34. The system defined in claim 33, wherein the control circuit is further configured to interpret documents in Hypertext Markup Language. 35. The system defined in claim 33, wherein the control circuit is further configured to interpret documents in Dynamic Hypertext Marking Language. 36. The system defined in claim 33, wherein the control circuit is further configured to interpret documents in Extensible Marking Language. P1208