WO2014135188A1

WO2014135188A1 - Method and apparatus for generating a viewing and recording schedule from an electronic program guide

Info

Publication number: WO2014135188A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/054268
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lothar HERGARTEN
Original assignee: Epg-Assistant Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-03-04
Filing date: 2013-03-04
Publication date: 2014-09-12

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (100) of operating an EPG apparatus (200) for generating a viewing/recording file for a television system (300). The method (100) comprises receiving (110) Electronic Program Guide data, in the following referred to as EPG data, that comprises a plurality of data pieces, each of the plurality of data pieces being associated to a content item; displaying (120) an EPG (400) in an EPG window section (312) of a display (310) of the EPG apparatus (200) based on the received EPG data, the displayed EPG comprising content item icons (410-1,…) representing respective associated content items; in response to receiving selection signals from a user of the EPG apparatus (200) that are directed to some of the content item icons (410-1,…) of the EPG (400) for selecting content items associated thereto, identifying (130) data pieces that are associated to the selected content items; and displaying (140) a selection plan (450) in a selection plan window section (314) of the display (310) based on the identified data pieces, the displayed selection plan (450) containing the content item icons (410-1) associated to the selected content items. The method further comprises concatenating (150) the identified data pieces in dependence of a number of preference signals received from the user, wherein each of the number of preference signals is directed to one of the content item icons (410-1,…) of the selection plan (450) and is indicative of a time at which the user wishes to view/record the content item associated to the one content item icon, thereby generating (160) a viewing/recording file.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A VIEWING AND RECORDING SCHEDULE FROM AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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The present invention is directed to a method of operating an EPG apparatus, an EPG apparatus for generating a viewing/recording file for a television system and a corresponding computer program. In particular, the present invention is directed to processing Electronic Program Guide data, in the following referred to as EPG data.5

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, EPG data is broadcasted by one or more broadcasting stations and received by a television system. Such transmission of EPG data can occur either wirelessly and/or via0 cable. A conventional television system is usually capable of displaying the received EPG data in a grid-like format on a display of the television system. In the following, such a grid-like representation of EPG data is simply being referred to as EPG.

Such EPG can assist a user of the television system in identifying which programs are5 being broadcasted at which time. Further, such EPG is used to coordinate the process of programming recording systems. The EPG contains programs of multiple channels and varies time slots. Accordingly, the user of the television system can scroll along both a horizontal and vertical direction in order to identify television programs being broadcasted at different times and on different channels.

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Thus, the EPG allows the user to quickly gain an overview of what program is being broadcast and what specific channel during which specific time. For example, the user can select, usually via a remote control, a keyboard or other transmission means, an icon of the EPG, i.e. a box or a region corresponding to a program mentioned in the EPG, in5 order to schedule that program for recording and/or for viewing.

Such general processing of EPG data is, e.g., known from US 2002/0035727 A1 . There, it has been recognized that, due to the large number of available channels, the number of programs presented in an EPG is very large, too. This would make it difficult for a user to0 keep an overview of which programs are available at which time. Since the number of „

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programs that can be displayed simultaneously in an EPG is limited, the user would have to scroll back and forth, making it tricky to achieve an overview of what programs the user wants to view/record. It is thus suggested in US 2002/0035727 A1 that a priority degree calculating device automatically calculates priority degrees of programs in dependence of a user's behaviour. A display device is capable of arranging and displaying the EPG on the basis of the calculated priority degrees. Thus, the user would be confronted with an EPG that presents programs likely to be selected by the user.

However, it still remains difficult for a user to select programs which the user wishes to view/record within a predetermined time interval, such as a typical TV evening. For instance, the user wishes to watch TV for four hours, e.g., from 8 p.m. to midnight, and further wishes to view a plurality of different programs during this time period. In order to select such programs for viewing, the user must go through the entire EPG and make corresponding program selections. However, during such process, a user quickly looses overview of which programs he has selected and whether or not there is a conflict in broadcasting time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a technical problem of the present invention to provide means that allow a user to easily cause generation of a viewing/recording file based on a displayed EPG.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, this problem is solved by the method of independent claim 1 .

Accordingly, a user of the EGP apparatus can now easily and comfortably select content items he wishes to consume. At first, the EPG is displayed in the regular manner, allowing the user to select a priority of content items he wishes to consume. The selected content items are transferred into a selection plan, which is displayed after the selection process or, respectively, simultaneously with displaying the EPG. Within the selection plan, the user of the EGP apparatus can now indicate to the EGP apparatus, which of the selected content items shall be rendered/recorded at which time. This is in particular of advantage if the selection plan presents content item icons of selected content items that exhibit a colliding broadcasting time. A conflict in broadcasting time may occur with two or more content items that exhibit a fixed broadcasting time and/or with two or more content items that exhibit a user-defined rendering time and/or with two content items, wherein a first of the two content items exhibits a fixed broadcasting time and a second of the two content items exhibits a user-defined rendering time. The inventor has recognized that even if prior art EPG devices allow for selecting certain content items in a displayed EPG, it still remains very complicated for a user to keep an overview of selected content items that the user has selected for viewing in a certain time interval, in particular due to the large amount of available content items presented in the EPG. The number of content items presented in an EPG often amounts to more than several hundreds. The user may browse through the EPG and select several content items for later viewing/recording. After selecting, e.g., three or four content items, the user regularly looses track of whether or not there are conflicts in broadcasting times. If the user is then confronted with a list indicating the content items he/she has selected for viewing, he/she is not offered any possibilities to resolve such conflicts in broadcasting time within such viewing list. According to the prior art, the user may not edit the viewing list. Further, even if the user is able to detect a conflict in broadcasting time within such prior art viewing list, he/she may solve such conflict by deleting one of two colliding content items. It is hardly possible to solve such conflict in other ways, in particular not in a manner convenient for the user. For example, it is inconvenient for the user to instruct the television system to simultaneously record a first content item and render a second content item.

The present invention avoids these drawbacks by generating the viewing/recording file in dependence of the preference signals that have been directly submitted by the user that has previously been confronted with the selection plan.

Summarizing, the present invention allows for very easy, comfortable and efficient planning of a sequence of content items the user wishes to consume within a certain time interval. A user of the television system, which automatically executes the viewing/recording file, does not have to manually switch between channels and/or sources; rather, he/she may consume the content items being rendered on the display of the television system in a sequence according to the selection plan the uses has generated.

The selecting of content items can, for instance, occur via a conventional point-and-click- mechanism or a conventional drag-and-drop-mechanism. The method of the present invention preferably provides for a corresponding point-and-click-mechanism and/or a corresponding drag-and-drop-functionality. This will be explained in more detail below. _

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Concatenating of the identified data pieces preferably occurs in accordance with a graphical arrangement of content item icons shown in the selection plan window.

It now follows a list of definitions of wordings used within the description of the present invention:

The wording "EPG" refers to a program guide in a grid-like format, having, e.g., a first axis indicating a broadcasting time and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis indicating a source, such as a channel. Elements of the grid formed therewith contain icons that represent content items. An EPG in the sense of the present invention is any digital guide that allows for selection of content items.

"EPG data" refers to data that is, e.g., broadcasted by one or more broadcasting stations and received by the EPG apparatus such that the EPG apparatus is capable of displaying the EPG. EPG data cannot only be transmitted by one or more broadcasting stations, but the EPG apparatus may also be capable of retrieving EPG data from the Internet and/or from a storage device of the television system and/or from any other source that provides content items available to the television system. Thus, it shall be understood that the displayed EPG may not only present content items like TV programs, but also radio programs, video/audio content stored on a storage device, e.g., a storage device of the television system, video/audio content stored on a server of the Internet, live-stream content and so forth, thus any content items, that can be rendered by the television system. Each content item has an associated "EPG data piece", in the following simply referred to as data piece, which contains information about the associated content item. Thus, a data piece can in particular comprise information indicating a (fixed) broadcasting time of the content item, a source address of the content item (e.g., a broadcasting station and a channel, a server address, a storage address of a content item stored on the storage device), an executive summary of the content item, e.g. in text, audio and/or video format, and/or meta data, such as indication of genre and/or actors, and so forth. A respective data piece may also contain information necessary for displaying a content item icon of the content item associated to the respective data piece. As indicated, a "content item" can be any content item that can be rendered/recorded on the television system, such as a television program, a radio program, a piece of music, video/audio content stored on a storage device of a television system, video/audio content stored on a server of the Internet, live-stream content and so forth. Video/audio _.

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content means, that the content item can either be a purely audio content item, a purely video content item or a mixed audio-video content item. Thus, a content item may exhibit a fixed broadcasting time. Such content item is, e.g., a TV-program or a radio program or a live stream content. A content item may also exhibit no fixed broadcasting time. Such content item is, e.g., a content item stored on a storage device of the television system or stored on a server of a network coupled to the television system, such as a server of the Internet. Such content item may, however, exhibit a user-defined rendering time, i.e., a time at which the television system shall render the content item and which the user has manually assigned to the content item. In the following, it may also be referred to manually set rendering time, which is identical to the user-defined rendering time. Both wordings mean the same. Such user-defined rendering time may also be included in the data piece of the associated content item.

A "content item icon" is, for example, derived out of a respective data piece and can be present in the form of a title of the content item and/or a preview picture of the content item, such as a so-called thumbnail. The EPG contains a plurality of content item icons arranged such as a user can determine, at which time the respective associated content item is being broadcasted and from which source the respective associated content item originates. Optionally, the content item icon may contain further information regarding the content of the associated content item. For instance, the content item icon may contain a series of thumbnails that summarize content, and/or the content item icon may contain text that is rendered and informs about the content, such as about broadcast time, background information, such as about actors, genre etc. A "TV program" as an example for a content item is to be understood as being a show, TV-movie or any other TV contribution, such as "The Simpsons", that is broadcasted on a specific channel.

Content items are available on one or more "channels", such as TV channels like CNN, FOX and so forth. However, the wording "channel" may also refer to a source, such as YouTube, a storage device, a radio channel, and so forth.

The "selection signals" can be transferred, e.g., by a remote control coupled to the EPG apparatus, e.g., if the EPG apparatus is part of the television system. However, the EPG apparatus can also be present in/as a tablet device having a touch sensitive display. Thus, the selection signals can also be submitted by touching a display of an EPG apparatus. The same applies to the preference signals which will be elaborated later on. _Λ

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The "television system" in the sense of the present invention is any system having means capable of rendering/recording content items. Thus, the television system can, e.g., be a classical TV-set, a set top box coupled to a monitor, a computer, a notebook, a beamer, a tablet device, a so called phablet device, a personal digital assistant, a mobile terminal, and so forth. However, the television system may also be a device having no display, if, e.g., the user has only selected purely audio based content items. The television system may thus also be audio equipment, such as a stereo system or a hi-fi unit, capable of rendering the "viewing/recording file". Thus, the "viewing/recording file" can also be a "listening/recording file", in case of the selected content items being only audio content items. However, for sake of simplicity, it is in the following only referred to the "viewing/recording file".

The "EPG apparatus" is an apparatus that is capable of displaying both the EPG and the selection plan and capable of receiving and processing user input signals, in particular the selection signals and the preference signals, and capable of generating the viewing/recording file. It may be part of the television system, but it may also be implemented on a remote system. For instance, the EPG apparatus is implemented on a desktop or a mobile computer device, such a tablet device or a notebook, a mobile phone, a handheld device, a personal digital assistant or in any other of such devices. A user may thus edit his/her selection plan when being away from the television system. In such case, the EPG apparatus is preferably able to transmit the generated viewing/recording file to a control unit of the television system, in particularly via a wireless connection, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or via any other mobile communication network.

The "selection plan" typically includes a selection plan time axis and a selection plan content item axis. The content item icons of the selected content items are typically arranged in a two-dimensional manner, such that the user can see at which time a respective selected content item is supposed to be broadcasted. As will be elaborated in more detail below, the selection plan content item axis defines a plurality of columns, wherein each content item icon is arranged in a respective column. The content item icon of a column can extend along the entire column or, respectively, only use part of the area provided by the column. It is preferred that the content item icon is displayed such that the user may derive at which time the associated content item is set for rendering or, respectively, scheduled for broadcasting. Preferably, the selection plan is an interactive selection plan that allows the user to easily select and deselect as well as to administrate recording and/or rendering of content items. The generated "viewing/recording file" is a file that allows a control unit of the television system to control the television system in such a way that the selected content items are rendered/recorded in accordance with their concatenation.

"Recording" means to record or, respectively, store content items in a digital or analog manner. For instance, a content item is recorded on a hard disk of the television system and/or burned to a Blu-ray disc, to a DVD or saved elsewise on a suitable storage medium.

"Rendering" of a content item means that the content item is displayed on a display and/or output by loudspeakers of the television system.

"Viewing" a content item or, respectively, "consuming" a content item means that the user watches e.g. a video and/or listens to audio content. In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of receiving, from the user, a time interval signal, the time interval signal being indicative of a time interval during which the user wishes to consume/record content items; and displaying the EPG such that it comprises only content item icons associated to content items that are available within the indicated time interval.

For instance, the time interval signal indicates to the EPG apparatus that only content items during an upcoming Saturday evening are of relevance. Thus, instead of displaying an entire EPG with information on content items that are available during, e.g., an entire upcoming week, the EPG apparatus is operated such that only content item icons are presented that are associated to content items, e.g., TV and radio programs that are broadcasted during the upcoming Saturday evening.

This allows for faster and more convenient selection of content items. In particular, planning of a TV session is even further facilitated for the user. Thus, time in which the user browses through the EPG can be reduced, thereby also reducing power consumption of the EPG apparatus. _Λ

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The time interval signal can be transmitted by the user by, e.g., a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, via a touch screen or via speech command, if the EPG apparatus exhibits means for processing speech commands. The time interval signal contains, e.g., a start time, such as March 1 , 2013, 3 p.m. and an end time, such as March 1 , 2013, 7 p.m., and the EPG and the selection plan are displayed correspondingly, such that substantially only the indicated time interval and the content item icons associated to content items during that time interval are displayed.

In a similar manner, the method comprises, in another preferred embodiment that can be combined with the embodiments mentioned above, receiving, from the user, a type signal, the type signal being indicative of a type of content items which the user wishes to consume/record; and displaying the EPG such that it comprises only content item icons associated to content items that are of the type indicated in said type signal. For instance, the type signal indicates a genre of content items, such as "action movie" or "classical music", and the EPG is displayed such that only corresponding content items, i.e., those associated to action movies or classical music pieces, are presented in the EPG. This further facilitates making content item selections for the user.

In another preferred embodiment that can be combined with the embodiments mentioned above, the selection plan is displayed such that at least some of the content item icons shown in the selection plan are arranged in dependence of their broadcasting times and/or in dependence of their associated user-defined rendering times.

Thus, if the selected content items exhibit a (fixed) broadcasting time (which is not the case with every content items, as indicated above; e.g., audio/video content items stored on a server of the Internet or on a storage device coupled to the television system do not exhibit fixed broadcasting times) the user can easily gain an overview when his/her selected content items are scheduled for broadcasting. In an example, the selection plan is displayed in a grid structure and includes a selection plan time axis and a selection plan content item axis perpendicular thereto. A content item icon associated to a selected content item exhibiting the earliest broadcasting time/user-defined rendering time is then preferentially displayed in an upper left corner of the selection plan and a content item icon associated to a selected content item exhibiting the latest broadcasting time/user-defined rendering time is then preferentially displayed in a lower right corner of the selection plan (or vice versa). Thus, the content item icons in the selection plan are preferably displayed along a fictitious ascending or descending line of a coordinate plane. In a particularly preferred embodiment that can also be combined with the embodiments mentioned above, the method further includes graphically highlighting a conflict in broadcasting time in the selection plan. As indicated, such conflict may not only concern two or more content items having fixed broadcasting time, but also a conflict, in which a content item having a user-defined rendering time is involved.

As indicated above, the content item icons are preferentially arranged in the selection plan such that a respective spatially extent of a content item icon is indicative of a fixed broadcasting time or a manually set rendering time, i.e. the user-defined rendering time. The content item icons are further preferentially arranged in an ascending or descending manner. An overlap in broadcasting time of two adjacent content item icons is preferentially highlighted, e.g., by shading a time region or by changing a color compared to the color of the remaining components of the selection plan or by letting an arrow pop up or by displaying a number in a predetermined section of the selection plan window section, the number indicating the number of conflicts in broadcasting time, or elsewise. Thus, the user can easily detect that there is a conflict in broadcasting time.

As shall now be explained in more detail, the present invention provides means that allow the user to solve such conflicts by submitting the preference signals.

In a further preferred embodiment that can be combined with the embodiments mentioned above, at least one of the number of preference signals includes a preference value and wherein the method further comprises assigning the preference value to a data piece of a content item associated to one of the content item icons of the selection plan; displaying the content item icons in the selection plan in accordance with the preference value and concatenating the identified data pieces in dependence of the preference value. The preference value may also be derived by the EPG apparatus. For example, the order of selection of content items is indicative for the preference values. The content item that has at first been selected is assigned with a highest preference value, the secondly selected content item the second highest preference value and so forth. Or, the user may select a content item with a plurality of clicks, wherein the amount of click is indicative for the preference value. For example, if the user has clicked three times on a content item icon, this means that the associated content item is assigned with a high preference value. A content item icon that has only been clicked on once is assigned with a lower preference value. ₁

In an example, the EPG is presented to the user of the EPG apparatus. The user can then indicate, via the time interval signal, during which time interval he/she wishes to consume/record content items. The presentation of the EPG is adapted correspondingly, i.e., as described above. The selection plan is, in an embodiment, presented simultaneously. The user can scroll, i.e., browse through the adapted EPG presentation and select, via the selection signals, content items of interest. Content item icons of selected content items are displayed in the selection plan in accordance with their broadcasting times/user-defined rendering times, thereby giving the user a good overview of the content items selected for consuming/recording during the time interval. The selection plan enables the user to detect, whether there is a conflict in broadcasting time of two or more content items. By submitting the preference value to the EPG apparatus, e.g., via a remote control or a touch screen, the user indicates, which of the colliding content items he/she prefers. With the preference signals the user may in particular indicate to the EPG apparatus, in which order content items are to be rendered, e.g., if the user has selected content items that exhibit a conflict in broadcasting time, The EPG apparatus is operated such that preference value is assigned to the content item that the user prefers. Subsequently, the representation of the selection plan is adapted. The user may once again check if he/she is fine with the selected content items and the scheduled sequence indicated in the selection plan. Eventually, the user may delete one or more content items associated to content item icons displayed in the selection plan, e.g., if he/she holds the opinion the selected content item is not of interest after all. After that, the user may confirm the arrangement of the content item icons in the selection plan, i.e. the scheduled sequence, e.g., by providing a confirmation signal to the EPG apparatus. After reception of such confirmation signal, the concatenation of the identified data pieces occurs such that content item that the user prefers is given preference. For example, when a control unit of the television system processes the generated viewing/recording file for the selected time interval, and when the television is only capable of rendering or recording a single content item at a time, rendering/recording of one of the two colliding content items is automatically aborted, such that the other of the two content items, i.e., the preferred content item, is automatically rendered/recorded. However, the viewing/recording file generated in accordance with the present invention is in particular suited for a television system that is capable of rendering and/or recording a plurality of content items simultaneously. In such case, one or more of two or more conflicting content items may be recorded while the other is being rendered. For example, the EPG apparatus may provide a message on the display and ask the user for input with regards as to whether or not a conflicting content item shall be recorded, e.g. stored on a hard disk or burned to a disc. This is explained in more detail below. The preference value can range, e.g., from 1 to 10, wherein the value of 1 indicates highest priority and the value of 10 lowest priority (or vice versa). The preference value cannot only be assigned to a single content item; rather, the method includes, in an embodiment, receiving a plurality of preference signals, each of the preference signals being directed to a respective content item and containing a respective preference value; assigning each of the preference values to the respective content items and concatenating the identified data pieces in dependence of the assigned preference values. In another preferred embodiment that can be combined with the embodiments described above, the selection plan and/or the EPG are/is displayed such that they/it allow/allows for a drag-and-drop functionality.

In this embodiment, the user can easily select content items and cause assigning of priority values via a drag-and-drop mechanism.

In an embodiment, the EPG and the selection plan are displayed simultaneously. This embodiment is suited for an EPG apparatus that comprises a comparatively large display. However, if the display is rather small, the EPG and the selection plan shall preferably not be displayed simultaneously. In the latter case, it is also preferred, that the EPG is displayed such that it allows for a point-and-click mechanism and/or for a touch mechanism, if the display is a touch sensitive display. Then, the user may select content items in the EPG by simply clicking on or pushing on associated content icon items. For instance, at least one of the selection signals includes a drag-and-drop command and the method further comprises moving a content item icon selected with said selection signal from the EPG window to the selection plan window via a drag-and-drop mechanism. Thus, the user can easily and comfortably move a content item icon for the EPG representation into the selection plan representation, thereby making his/her content item selection.

The content item icon is either placed at a position designated by the user with the drag- and-drop command included in the selection signal, or, alternatively, the content item icon is automatically arranged in the selection plan according to the scheduled fixed broadcasting time, if it has been clicked on or pushed on the content item icon for selecting the associated content item. In the first case, the user manually sets/defines a "rendering time" (i.e. a time at which the user wishes to consume the content item) of the content item by flexibly positioning it within the selection plan. This user-defined rendering _„

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time may conflict with a fixed broadcasting time of the content item, for example, if the content item is a regular TV-program. In such case, the method preferentially includes checking whether the television system is capable of fulfilling rendering/recording the content item that exhibits the fixed broadcasting time at the user-defined rendering time; either by checking if there is an alternative broadcast for the content item or if the content item can first be recorded by the television system and then rendered at the rendering time set by the user. If that should not be possible, the method preferably includes providing a message to the user that the content item cannot be rendered/recorded at the rendering time he/she as set.

In another preferred embodiment that can be combined with the embodiments described above, at least one of the number of preference signals includes a drag-and-drop command, and wherein the method comprises arranging a displayed content item icon within the selection plan according to the drag-and-drop command and concatenating the identified data pieces based on the rearranged selection plan.

Thus, a user of the EPG apparatus can easily and comfortably cause arranging or, respectively, rearranging of the content item icons within the selection plan via drag-and- drop. This is particular of advantage, if a content item icon of the selection plan is associated to a content item that does not exhibit fixed broadcasting time, such as audio/video content stored on a server of the internet (such as a YouTube-video) or audio/video content already stored on a storage device operatively coupled to the EPG apparatus and/or to the television system. However, such preference signal can not only be directed to content items with no fixed broadcasting time, but also to content items having fixed broadcasting time, as indicated above and as shall now be elucidated in more detail.

In a preferred embodiment that can be combined with the embodiments described above, the method further comprises checking recording capabilities of the television system. For instance, such checking includes automatic determining of available storage room on a storage device coupled to the television system and/or determining, how many content items can simultaneously be recorded. In some cases, only one input signal, e.g., one single content item can be recorded. However, the television system may exhibit a plurality of inputs, such as a plurality of tuners that can simultaneously be coupled to a storage device. Thus, it is possible that the television system is capable of recording two or more content items simultaneously. ₁

In an example, the method includes receiving the preference signal that comprises a drag-and-drop command directed to content item icon of the selection plan that is associated to a TV program. As explained above, the selection plan is represented such that it includes content item icons arranged in dependence of their broadcasting times/user-defined rendering times. Prior to implementing the drag-and-drop command, it is automatically checked, whether the TV program can be recorded prior to the user- defined rendering time chosen by the user with the drag-and-drop command. If so, the displayed content item icons within the selection plan are rearranged according to the drag-and-drop command and the identified data pieces are concatenated based on the rearranged selection plan for generating the viewing/recording file. Such viewing/recording file now also includes a command that causes the television system to ensure recording of said TV program. However, if it is determined within said checking step that recording of the TV program belonging to the content item icon that has been moved via drag-and-drop is not possible in full length, the method further comprises providing a message to the user, the message indicating to the user that his/her preference signal cannot entirely be implemented. The message may also indicate to the user that recording would be possible, if another content item would be deleted from the selection plan. The user may then decide, by providing corresponding signals to the EPG apparatus, whether he/she nevertheless whishes to schedule the TV program as indicated with the drag-and-drop command and take into account that he/she will only be able to consume parts of the content item or will have to delete the other content item of the selection plan. Or, the user may cause assigning of a priority value to the TV program such that recording in full length is possible or the user may cause rearranging the content item icon of the TV program such that there is neither a recording conflict nor a conflict in broadcasting time with other content items.

In another preferred embodiment that can also be combined with the embodiments described above, the method includes receiving, from the user, a deselection signal, the deselection signal identifying a content item associated to one of the content item icons displayed in the selection plan; and deleting the data piece associated to said identified content item from the viewing/recording file. Such deselection signal can also include a drag-and-drop command that causes movement of a content item icon out of the selection plan window section into the EPG window section or into another section of the display.

In yet another preferred embodiment that can also be combined with the embodiments described above, the method includes receiving, from the user, a display mode signal, the display mode signal indicating a display mode; and displaying the EPG and/or the selection plan in accordance with said display mode.

In yet another embodiment, the EPG apparatus comprises a memory unit and the method includes storing a number of preferred displayed settings as a number of presets, such that a number of users using the same EPG apparatus may easily and quickly cause displaying of the EPG and the selection plan and, optionally, further display elements (described further below) according to their respective preferred display settings. The preferred display settings are transmitted via the display mode signal.

For instance, the display mode indicates a size of the content item icons to be displayed, the format (text, audio, thumbnail, sequence of thumbnails and/or video) of the content item icons to be displayed, or the format how text included in the content item icons shall be rendered, e.g., in full length or only partially. However, the mode signal can also indicate to the EPG apparatus, how the user whishes to generally setup the EPG and/or the selection plan, for example, whether he/she whishes a vertical or a horizontal time axis, background color, highlighting of content item icons associated to selected content items etc.. In a further preferred embodiment that can also be combined with the embodiments described above, at least one of the identified data pieces indicates a fixed broadcasting time of the content item associated to the at least one data piece, and wherein concatenating of the identified data pieces further occurs in dependence of said fixed broadcasting time. As usual, the data pieces of the received EPG data may contain information on a start time and an end time or, respectively, on a duration of a content item. As indicated above, the content item icons of the selection plan are arranged in dependence of the time, e.g., in a Cartesian coordinate system, in which a first axis (said selection plan time axis) indicates time and a second axis (said selection plan content item axis) perpendicular to the first axis indicates content item number, such that the content item icons are substantially arranged on descending or, respectively, ascending line in the Cartesian coordinate system. Correspondingly, it is preferred that the concatenating occurs in dependence of said fixed broadcasting time. If, e.g., the fixed broadcasting time is changed by a broadcasting station due to, e.g., a foregoing TV program that took more time than scheduled, the viewing/recording file is updated accordingly.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the method of operating the EPG apparatus, which can be combined with the embodiments described above, generating of the , _.

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viewing/recording file further comprises including a number of channel switching commands in the viewing/recording file, wherein each of the number of channel switching commands is configured for causing the television system to automatically switch to a channel indicated in the channel switching command. Thus, the television system can be controlled based on the viewing/recording file, such that the content items associated to the viewing/recording file are automatically rendered/recorded by the television system. It shall be emphasized that the wording channel may not only refer to a TV or radio channel, but also to different sources. Thus, when the television system is being controlled based on the viewing/recording file by a control unit, a channel switching command included in the viewing/recording file can cause that, e.g., a server of the Internet that stores, e.g., a YouTube video, is coupled to an input of the television system such that the YouTube video is rendered on a display of the television system. In another example, a switching command included in the viewing/recording file, causes coupling of a storage device of the television system to an input of the television system, such that stored content items can be rendered on the display of the television system in accordance with the viewing/recording file.

In particular, at least one of the number of channel switching commands can be configured for causing the television system to automatically abort rendering/recording of a content item of a first channel and to automatically start rendering/recording a subsequent content item of the second channel according to the viewing/recording file by switching from the first channel to the second channel. Thus, in case of two content items that exhibit a conflict in broadcasting times, it is ensured that either the earlier or the later content item is rendered/recorded in dependence of the preference signal a user has submitted.

In an example, the concatenated data pieces of the generated viewing/recording file refer to an earlier and a later content item whose associated broadcasting times and/or user- defined rendering times at least partially overlap, and wherein one of the number of channel switching commands is included in the viewing/recording file in dependence of the preference signals received with respect to the earlier and the later content item, such that the viewing/recording file is configured to cause the television system to switch to a channel rendering the later content item for rendered/recording either after rendering of the earlier content item has been finished or during rendering of the earlier content item. The associated broadcasting time/rendering time may either be a fixed broadcasting time (set by a broadcasting station) or a user-defined rendering time set by the user, e.g., via said drag-and-drop command included in the preference signal and/or the selection signal. Thus, if the user has indicated that he prefers consuming/recording the earlier _ _Λ

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content item, the generated viewing/recording file ensures that the earlier content item is rendered/recorded in full length at the cost of the later content item, i.e., at the cost of the subsequent content item. However, if the user has indicated with the preference signal that he/she prefers the later content item, the generated viewing/recording file ensures that rendering/recording of the early content item is aborted (if recording of the early content item is not possible due to technical limitations or if the user has indicated that recording of the early content item is not wanted), such that the later content item can be rendered in full length. In another preferred embodiment that can also be combined with embodiments described above, the method of operating, the EPG apparatus further comprises checking, in the EPG data, if there is an alternative broadcast for the earlier content item and/or the later content item, and optionally, if the checking is positive, rendering a message for informing the user about the alternative broadcast. The message can be an audio/text/video message.

For example, the user is informed that there exists a repeat broadcast for the earlier and/or later content item and is informed about that alternative broadcast. The user may then decide whether he wants to take into account the colliding of two content items within his set time interval or whether he prefers to exclude one of the colliding content items and consume/record it at another point of time. The checking step may also include, whether the alternative broadcast is available on a storage device of the television system and/or on a server of the internet. For example, certain TV shows are both broadcasted via regular TV but are also available on a YouTube server and/or on a server of the broadcasting station. Thus, the method automatically assists the user of the television system to resolve conflicts. The user may either solve the conflict by causing assigning of a priority value to the content item(s), by consuming/recording the colliding content item at a later or earlier point in time, if possible, and/or by simply deleting the content item from the selection plan with said deselection signal.

In a further preferred embodiment that can also be combined with the embodiments described above, displaying the EPG and/or displaying the selection plan further comprises, in response to receiving, from the user, a preview command with respect to one of the displayed content item icons, rendering of an audio/video clip for providing, to the user, a summary and/or background information of the content item that is associated to said displayed content item icon. This additional feature further assists the user in making his content item selections. If the user is not capable of receiving sufficient information in view of the content item alone, he is provided, in response to his/her ₁ preview command, with a short summary of the content item, that is, e.g. automatically read to him or with a short trailer or with any other form of summary of the content item. Thus, the method preferably includes carrying out a text-to-speech-conversion program. In yet another preferred embodiment that can also be combined with the embodiments described above, the method further comprises registering the selection signals and/or the preference signals from the user over time; deriving, from the registered selection signals and/or preference signals, user information; assigning, based on the user information, priority values to the data pieces of the received EPG data; and displaying the EPG and/or the selection plan in dependence of the assigned priority values. Thus, user habits are automatically learned and displaying of the EPG and/or the selection plan occurs in dependence of the assigned priority values.

An automatic assigning of second priority values based on an operation history that has indeed taken place is, e.g., known from US 2002/0035727, which is herewith incorporated by reference. Thus, in an embodiment, second priority values are automatically assigned to the data pieces of the received EPG data based on the operation history of the television system and displaying the EPG and/or the selection plan occurs in dependence of the assigned second priority values.

In yet another embodiment of the method, the preference signal includes a time shift command, and the method further comprises: In response to receiving the time shift command from the user, concatenating the identified data pieces such that the television system renders each of the selected content items associated to the identified data pieces subsequently according to the generated viewing/recording list.. Even if there are conflicts in broadcasting time within the selected content items, these conflicts are automatically solved by recording conflicting content items. In the outcome, the user may consume each of the selected content items in full length and in an order he/she has chosen.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the further step of displaying a calendar in the display, preferably in the selection plan window section and/or in the EPG window section. Preferably, the calendar is displayed in accordance with the selection plan time axis and/or in accordance with the EPG time axis, such that the user can easily determiner, whether or not a content item presented in the EPG or selected content item represented in the selection plan collides with an appointment scheduled in the calendar. The calendar is preferably displayed such that is allows for shifting appointments. In other words: The EPG apparatus is preferably operatively ₁ coupled to storage means that store the calendar (i.e., a corresponding calendar file). E.g., the EPG apparatus is implemented within a personal computer, such as tablet device, a phone etc., that already stores the calendar. The calendar may also be stored in a cloud to which the EPG apparatus is preferably operatively coupled. If the user detects a conflict with a scheduled appointment, he/she may than easily cause storing and/or time-shifting of the colliding content item. Alternatively, the user may time-shift an appointment in the calendar, such that the conflict is resolved. For example, if there is a conflict with a show, such as a soccer game, the user may prefer regarding this show according to the fixed broadcasting time and rather shift an appointment than cause recording of the soccer game and watch it later. The calendar is thus preferably displayed such that it allows for modifying an associated calendar file by means of user inputs. Such user inputs may be transmitted based on any arbitrary means, such as a keyboard, a remote control, a touch screen, via speech commands, via drag-and-drop commands and so forth. The user may thus modify the calendar file by simply shifting appointments, adding notes, adding alarms, adding reminders and so forth. The user may choose, whether the calendar is to be displayed in the EPG window section and/or in the selection plan window section of the display by providing corresponding commands to the EPG apparatus. The user may further include content item icons of content items in his calendar, such that the corresponding content item appears as an appointment in his calendar. Thus, it is ensured that the user will be reminded to that content item shortly before it is scheduled for broadcasting.

Vice versa, a device that stores the calendar file may access the generated viewing/recording file and may be adapted to display the calendar together with the selection plan according to the viewing/recording file. Thus, the user may organize his calendar, i.e., his appointments according the selected content items and thus avoid conflicts in advance.

In yet another embodiment, the method further includes: receiving, from the user, a note information signal, the note information signal containing a personal note to be added to content item icon of either the EPG or the selection plan; and displaying the content item icons in the EPG and/or in the selection plan by including the personal note. For instance, the display is a touch screen and the user may handwrite his/her personal note regarding a certain content item icon. Such personal note is preferably stored. It may be deleted by the user by means of a virtual rubber. The personal note may also be input by any other means, such as a keyboard or with speech commands. Such note information signal may be provided with regards to a content item presented in the EPG and/or with regards to a content item presented in the selection plan. If the personal note is provided with regards _ _Λ

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to a content item icon of the EPG, and if the content item associated to that content item icon is then selected by the user, the personal note preferably is displayed also within the selection plan. If the personal note is provided via speech commands, there are two possibilities: Either, the speech commands are converted into text and the personal note is displayed in text form. Or, the speech commands are stored as such and the personal note is acoustically rendered, if the user instructs the EPG apparatus to do so. In the latter case, it is preferred that the content item icon, for which the personal note has been stored, is displayed with a hint to the user that there is stored a personal note, such as loudspeaker symbol. The user may then click on the loudspeaker symbol and the personal note is read to him/her in response.

If the personal note is displayed in text form, the entire column in which the content item icon, for which the personal note has been stored, may be used. If need be, the user may scroll up and down in order to be able to read the entire personal note. The viewing/recording file that has been generated in accordance with the above described method of the first aspect of the invention can be used by a control unit of the television device as follows: The control unit causes recording of content items according to the viewing/recording file by ensuring coupling of an input of the television system to a storage device of the television system. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit causes rendering of content items according to the viewing/recording file on the display of the television system by ensuring coupling of the input of the television system to a display driver of the television system. Thus, the generated viewing/recording file can cause the television system to automatically turn on components and turn components into stand-by that are necessary for recording and/or rendering of content items. Thereby, energy consumption of the television system is reduced. Preferably, the viewing/recording file is generated such that user shall provide a confirmation signal to the television system. If such confirmation signal is not provided within a predetermined time period after the beginning of rendering of the selected content items, rendering of the selected content items is aborted. Optionally, the remaining selected content items are then automatically recorded. Preferably, the user may provide, during rendering of the selected content items, an abort signal to the television system. In response to receiving such abort signal, rendering of the selected content items is aborted and the user may watch, e.g., TV in a regular manner, e.g. by zapping through channels. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the above-identified technical problem is solved by a computer program according to claim 25. _

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According to a third aspect of the present invention, the above-identified technical problem is also solved by an EPG apparatus according to independent claim 26 or according to dependent claim 27. Both the computer program of the second aspect of the invention and the EPG apparatus of the third aspect of the invention share the advantages of the above described method of operating an EPG apparatus and have similar preferred embodiments, in particular as defined in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following Drawings: shows exemplary and schematically a representation of a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the first aspect of the invention, shows schematically and exemplary a representation of a block diagram of the EPG apparatus implemented in a television system in accordance with the third aspect of the invention,

Fig. 3 shows schematically and exemplary a representation of an EPG and selection plan that are displayed in accordance with the method of the first aspect of the invention, and

Fig. 4 shows schematically and exemplary a representation of a selection plan that is displayed in accordance with the method of the first aspect of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows schematically and exemplary a representation of a flow chart illustrating an embodiment 100 of the method of the first aspect of the invention. In accordance with the method 100, a viewing/recording file is generated. The method 100 can be summarized as follows:

The method 100 is a method of operating an EPG apparatus 200 (cf. Fig. 2) for generating a viewing/recording file for a television system 300. Such television system _

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300 and such EPG apparatus 200 are exemplary and schematically depicted in Fig. 2, wherein, in this example, the EPG apparatus 200 is part of the television system 300. A control unit (not shown) of the television system 300 can control the television system 300 based on the generated viewing/recording file, such that content items are automatically rendered/recorded in a predetermined sequence indicated in the viewing/recording file.

During generation of the viewing/recording file, a user of the EPG apparatus 200 is confronted with both an EPG 400 and a selection plan 450, as exemplary illustrated in Fig. 3. However, it is not necessary that both the EPG 400 and the selection plan 450 are displayed simultaneously. The user can select and deselect content items. According to the user selections, the viewing/recording file is generated. The selection and deselection within the EPG preferably occurs via a point-and-click mechanism. Thus, a user may select or deselect a content item in the EPG 400 by pointing to an associated content item and clicking a button on a remote control or by pushing the display area in which the content item icon is displayed, if the display 310 is touch sensitive.

In a first step 1 10 of the method 100, EPG data is received that comprises a plurality of data pieces, wherein each of the priority of data pieces is associated to a content item.

In a next step 120, an EPG 400 is displayed in an EPG window section 312 of a display 310. Such displaying occurs based on the received EPG data. The displayed EPG 400 comprises content item icons 410-1 to 410-5. Each content item icon 410-1 to 410-5 represents a respective associated content item.

A user may now scroll, i.e., browse through the displayed EPG 400 and select content items he/she wishes to consume, e.g., by clicking or pushing on the associated content item icons. In response to receiving corresponding selection signals from the user of the EPG apparatus 200, data pieces are identified (step 130) that are associated to selected content items. This can, e.g., occur by setting a respective flag of the data pieces that are associated to the selected content items.

Based on the identified data pieces a selection plan 450 is displayed in a selection plan window section 314 of the display 310 (step 140). The displayed selection plan 450 contains the content item icons 410-1 to 410-8 associated to the identified data pieces.

As can be derived from Fig. 2, the selection plan 450 provides good overview to the user about which content items the user has selected for later consuming/recording. While _

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browsing through the EPG 400, the user can quickly lose overview of which content items he has selected for consumption. The reason for this is the large amount of available channels and sources that are presented within the EPG 400. Since the user is now offered a selection plan 450, the user can easily keep track of selected content items.

When being confronted with the selection plan 450, the user can submit to the EPG apparatus 200 a number of preference signals. Such a preference signal is indicative of a time at which the user wishes to view/record a content item associated to one of the content item icons of the selection plan.

Based on the received preference signals, the identified data pieces are concatenated in step 150. Thereby, the viewing/recording file is generated (step 160).

Based on the generating viewing/recording file, a control unit of the television system 300 may control the television system 300, such that selected content items are automatically recorded and/or rendered on the display 310 in the predetermined sequence.

The EPG apparatus 200 capable of implementing the method 100 and part of television system 300 will now be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 shows schematically and exemplary a block diagram of the television system 300 that comprises the EPG apparatus 200 in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention. The television system 300 comprises the display 310 for rendering video content. The EPG apparatus 200 uses the same display 310 for displaying the EPG 400 and the selection plan 450. It is certainly possible that the television system 300 is not only capable of rendering video content but also mixed audio and video content or, respectively, audio content only. For the sake of simplicity, it is described that a content item is displayed on the display 310, whereas it shall be understood that the invention is certainly not limited to rendering video content on the display 310.

Further, the television system 300 comprises a display driver 330, a coupler 340, an input 350 and a storage device 320. All these components are coupled to the EPG apparatus 200. The input 350 of the television system 300 is capable of receiving content items from external sources, such as broadcasting stations, servers of the internet, servers of a home network and so forth. The input 350 comprises corresponding tuners and further technical means that are necessary for such reception. The coupler 340 is connected _

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downstream of the input 350. It is capable of directing content items received by the input 350 to the storage device 320, such that the storage device 320 can store such content item. Further, the coupler 340 is capable of directing content items received via input 350 and content items stored in the storage device 320 to the display driver 330. The display driver 330 drives the display 310 of the television system 300. Certainly, such display 310 can also comprise loudspeakers for outputting audio signals and the display driver 330 is also capable of driving such loudspeakers (which are not shown in Fig. 2).

The storage device 320 can be any kind of storage device capable of storing content items. For instance, the storage device is a Blu-ray recorder, a DVD-recorder, a hard disc and so forth. The storage device 320 may be implemented within the television system 300. However, the storage device 320 may also be a remote storage device that is operatively coupled to both the controller 240 and the coupler 340. Thus, the storage device 320 could, e.g., be a hard disc drive of a computer that is wirelessly coupled to the television system 300. The storage device 320 must not necessarily be physically implemented within the system 300.

The EPG apparatus 200 generates the viewing/recording file in accordance with the method 100 as explained above. The EPG apparatus 200 may be part of the control unit (not shown in Fig. 2) of the television system 300 that is capable of controlling the television system 300 based on the generated viewing/recording file.

For generating the viewing/recording file, the EPG apparatus 200 receives, from one or more external sources 500, such as broadcasting stations, internet-based servers and so forth, EPG data with a receiver 210. A controller 240 of the EPG apparatus 200 controls a display driver 330 of the television system 300 such that an EPG 400 is displayed in an EPG window section 312. In response to receiving selection signals from a user, which have been submitted via a remote control 360 of the television system 300, the controller identifies data pieces within the EPG data that are associated to selected content items.

Further, the controller 240 controls the display driver 330 such that the selection plan 450 is displayed in the selection plan window section 314 of the display 310. The displayed selection plan 450 contains the content item icons 410-1 to 410-8 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 that are associated to the identified data pieces.

The controller 240 further receives, from the user, a number of preference signals. Again, such signals may have been submitted by the user via the remote control 360. Each of the number of preference signals is indicative of the time in which a user wishes to „ _

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view/record a content item associated to one of the content item icons 410-1 to 410-8 of the selection plan 450. The controller 240 concatenates the identified data pieces in dependence of such preference signals. Thereby, the controller 240 generates the viewing/recording file.

The controller 240 of the EPG apparatus 200 is coupled to the display driver 330, such that the EPG apparatus 200 can cause displaying of the EPG 400 and displaying of the selection plan 450. Further, for providing the information about content items stored in the storage device 320 of television system 300, the controller 240 is coupled to the storage device 320 and the display driver 330, such that the EPG apparatus 200 can display a file explorer 480 (shown in Fig. 4) which informs the user of the EPG apparatus 200 about the content items stored in storage device 320.

The control unit of the television system 300 that controls the television system 300 based on the generated viewing/recording file may be implemented in the controller 240 of the EPG apparatus 200. This is why the controller 240 is also operatively coupled to the input 350 of the television system 300. In the outcome, the control unit for executing the viewing/recording file can control the input 350, the coupler 340, the storage device 320 and the display driver 330 in such a way that the content items identified in the viewing/recording file are rendered on the display 310 and/or recorded by storage device 320 in a predetermined sequence indicated in the viewing/recording file.

Fig. 3 shows schematically and exemplary a representation of the EPG 400 and the selection plan 450. The EPG 400 includes a plurality of content item icons 410-1 to 410-5 that are arranged in a grid structure formed by an EPG channel axis 404 and an EPG time axis 402. The EPG time axis 402 indicates a time at which the content item is being broadcasted and the EPG channel axis 404 indicates the channel or, respectively, the source, on which a respective content item is available. Generally spoken, the setup of the EPG 400 initially corresponds to a setup of a conventional EPG. However, it should be acknowledged that the EPG 400 may not only include content items of TV channels, but also content items of radio channels, content items that are available on a server of the internet, such as a YouTube-server or a server of broadcasting stations and so forth. Due to the large amount of available channels/sources, a user quickly looses track of which content items he/she has selected in the EPG for later consumption. ^

For facilitating navigation through the EPG 400, the user may submit a time interval signal that is indicative of a time interval during which the user wishes to consume/record content items. In response to receiving such time interval signal by the controller 240, the EPG 400 is displayed such that it comprises only content item icons associated to content items that are available within the indicated time interval. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the time interval ranges from 07:00 p.m. to 01 :00 am. However the time interval could certainly be shorter or longer.

All input signals submitted by the user may be conveyed via means, such as the remote control 360 (as exemplary depicted in Fig. 4), via a keyboard, a mouse, a touch sensitive display and so forth.

Both the EPG 400 and/or the selection plan 450 are displayed such that they allow for drag-and-drop-functionality. Thus, the user can for instance move content item icons from the EPG window section 312 to the selection plan window section 314. In other words, the selection signals submitted by the user may comprise a drag-and-drop-command as an alternative or an addition to the point-and-click mechanism. A user can simply move a content item icon, e.g., content item icon 410-1 , from the EPG 400 to the selection plan 450. In the selection plan 450, the content item icon is initially automatically positioned in dependence of an associated fixed broadcasting time, if present.

For instance, the user has selected the Talkshow (content item icon 410-1 ) from channel 1 , the News (410-2) from channel 2, a first movie from channel 99 (content item icon 410- 4), a second movie from channel 3 (content item icon 410-3) and a documentation (content item icon 410-5) from channel 100. All these content item icons are moved via drag-and-drop, or respectively, automatically (if the user has selected the content items by clicking on or pushing on the associated content item icons) from the EPG 400 into the selection plan 450. The user may browse through the EPG 400 and select content items as just described. The selection plan 450 is updated continuously in dependence of the selections made by the user. Thus, the user may keep track of his/her selections.

The selection plan 450 comprises a selection plan content item axis 454 and a selection plan time axis 452. The selection plan 450 may include more than one selection plan time axis. For example, the time axis 452 is repeated for every three columns, such that the user may easily determine, when a content item is scheduled for rendering/recording. As shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 4, the content item icons of the selected content items are automatically arranged in dependence of their associated broadcasting time/user-defined rendering time, wherein each content item icon is arranged in a separate column. _

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Conflicts in broadcasting times are graphically highlighted as depicted in Figs. 3 and 4. This allows the user to easily detect, whether or not there is a conflict in broadcasting time between two or more adjacent content items. As indicated above, the method 100 allows the user to submit preference signals, wherein each of the preference signals is indicative of a time at which the user wishes to view/record a content item associated to one of the content item icons of the selection plan 450. The meaning of such preference signals will now be explained with respect to Fig. 4.

For instance, a preference signal includes a preference value and the method comprises assigning the preference value to the content item icons of the selection plan 450. This is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 with the numbers arranged in a circle. For example, the user has given the content item of content item icon 410-6 (Dokul ) a comparatively low priority by assigning a preference value of 4 to it. This is why the beginning and the ending of that content item is graphically highlighted as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thereby indicating to the user that priority is given to the content item of content item icon 410-4 (Moviel ), which has been assigned with the preference value of 2 and the content item of content item icon 410-2 (News), which has been assigned with a highest priority, namely a preference value of 1 . Thus, the viewing/recording file is generated such that from 07:00 p.m. to 08:00 p.m., Moviel is rendered on the display 310. From 08:00 p.m. to 08:15 p.m., Dokul will be rendered. At 08:15 p.m., rendering of Dokul will be aborted, such that the News (content item icon 410-2) can be rendered until 08:30 p.m. After that, Movie2, which has been assigned with the preference value of 3, is rendered. All the remaining content items associated to content item icons 410-1 , 410-7, 410-8 and 410-5 have no assigned preference value,

The conflict with the subsequent Talkshow (content item icon 410-1 ) that has already been selected by the user for viewing can be solved as follows: The user may try to move downward, i.e., to time-shift content item 410-1 in column 5 via a drag-and-drop command included in the preference signal. In response to such preference signal, it is checked, whether a television system 300 allows for simultaneous rendering of Movie2 and recording of Talkshow 410-1 . If so, the content item icon 410-1 may be moved as indicated in Fig. 3 (this is indicated with the bold arrow in column 5 of Fig. 4 and the bold arrow in column 6 of Fig. 3; these arrows are not meant to be actually displayed on the display 310 but serve only illustration purposes). Thus, the viewing/recording file is generated such that the television system 300 automatically switches, after rendering of Movie2, from channel 3 to storage device 320 (and not to channel 1 ), which has recorded the Talkshow. Thus, instead of rendering the Talkshow by coupling an input 350 of the television system 300 to channel 1 , the television system 300 is controlled such that an output of the storage device 320 is coupled to the display 310 such that the user can consume the Talkshow in full length. In the outcome, the Talkshow associated to content item icon 410-1 is rendered at a time shifted compared to the original fixed broadcasting time. This is indicated in Fig. 4 with the dashed arrow pointing from the content item icon 410-1 to the file explorer 480 and from the file explorer 480 to the content item icon 410- 1 . As indicated, displaying of the selection plan 450 may also include displaying of the file explorer 480 that lists content items stored in storage device 320 in a first column 482 and a corresponding date of recording in a second column 482 of the file explorer 480. The file explorer 480 is displayed adjacent to the selection plan 450. It is further displayed such that it allows for a conventional scrolling and browsing and adjustment of mode settings, as it is known from conventional file explorers implemented within computer operating software, such as Windows.

For generating the viewing/recording file, the user may also include content items listed in the file explorer 480, e.g., by dragging corresponding icons into the selection plan 450. For example, the user has selected the content item 3 stored in the storage device 320 by dragging a corresponding icon 410-7 (Doku2) into the selection plan 450. Preferably, the content item the user has selected within the file explorer 480 (e.g. Doku2) is automatically positioned in the selection plan 450 such that no, or respectively, a minimal conflict in broadcasting times with content items, which have already been selected, is produced, when the viewing/recording file is generated according to the selection plan. If a mayor collision in broadcasting time is unavoidable, the content item selected within the file explorer 480 is positioned at a default position, e.g., before the content item that is scheduled to be rendered at first or after the content item that is scheduled to be rendered at last.

If the user now recognizes that there is a conflict in broadcasting time with subsequent content item (content item icon 410-8, Seriesi ), the user can simply drag content item icon 410-8 into the file explorer 480, thereby causing generation of the viewing/recording file, such that Seriesi is automatically being recorded while Doku2 is rendered on the display 310.

Displaying of the selection plan 450 may further include displaying of a second selection plan 460 which is directed to another time interval, e.g. for a TV session of the next day. _

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For example, if the user has recognized that content item Doku3 (content item icon 410- 5) is scheduled too late for consumption, the user can simply move content item icon 410-5 via drag-and-drop into the second selection plan 460. Such kind of preference signal will cause generation of the viewing/recording file such that Doku3 is automatically recorded by the storage device 320 and scheduled for rendering according to the second selection plan 460. This is indicated with the dashed arrows pointing from Doku3 to the file explorer 480 and from the file explorer 480 to the second selection plan 460.

Displaying of the selection plan 450 may further include displaying of an additional window 470 which may comprise content item icons of content items that cannot be presented within the EPG 400. As with the file explorer 480, the user can simply move content item icons into the selection plan 450 or, respectively, into the second selection plan 460 and thus cause generation of corresponding viewing/recording files. For example, the additional window 470 informs the user about services like video-on- demand.

For example, content item icons are displayed in the additional window 470 that are associated to content items that have been automatically selected by the television system 300 in accordance with user preferences. Thus, the additional window 470 may inform the user about recommended content items. The additional window 470 is also implemented such that it allows for drag-and-drop functionality. Thus, the user may include recommended content items by dragging corresponding content item icons from the additional window 470 into the selection plan 450. Accordingly, automatic assigning of priority values based on the user information and/or based on the operation history of the television device may serve at least three different purposes: For directly recommending content items to the user by displaying content item icons in the additional window 470; for automatically arranging content item icons of recommended content items in the EPG 400; and/or for automatically assigning priority values to selected content items in order to suggest solutions for solving conflicts in broadcasting time within selected content items.

Even though Fig. 4 shows only one additional window 470, it shall be understood that displaying the selection plan may also include displaying further windows for presenting to the user content items that are available via, e.g., Blu-Ray, Watchme, Streaming services etc.. _

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Preferably, the selection plan 450, the file explorer 480, the second selection plan 460 and the additional 470 and optionally the further windows are all provided with drag-and- drop functionality, such that the user may easily manage selection as well as scheduling of rendering and recording of content items.

It now follows a more detailed description of the functionality implemented within the selection plan 450.

The selection plan 450 comprises the vertical selection plan time axis 452. Titles and, if present, additional text concerning background information related to content items are arranged in columns 1 to 8 that are positioned adjacent to each other. The content item icons 410-1 to 410-8 are positioned in accordance with their associated broadcasting times (which can either be set by the user (user-defined rendering time) or fixed by the broadcasting stations), i.e. they are arranged with respect to the selection plan time axis 452. Further, a respective spatially extent of the content items icons 410-1 to 410-8 may be indicative of an associated broadcasting time / an associated user-defined rendering time.

Each of the columns 1 to 8 may exhibit an individual color or other graphical feature that allows for more easy distinction between the columns 1 to 8. It is further possible that an entire respective column 1 to 8 is used in order to present more information to the user with respect to a content item of a respective column. Thus, for instance, in contrast to only showing the title within the content item icons 410-1 to 410-8, entire columns 1 to 8 could be used in order to present information, such as pictures, preview video content, textual information, about the content items to the user. The controller 240 is adapted to receive corresponding display mode signals from the user and adapt the mode of displaying the content item icons 410-1 to 410-8 accordingly. However, it shall be ensured with the selection plan 450 that the user is capable of deriving the user-defined rendering time or, respectively, the fixed broadcasting time of a content item.

Further, the controller 240 may be adapted to display the selection plan 450 such it allows the user to not only scroll within left-to-right or right-to-left direction and up- down/down-up direction the entire selection plan 450, but to also allow the user to scroll up and down within a single column, such as column 1 .

The columns 1 to 8 have a respective width that allows the user to easily recognize the displayed content items 410-1 to 410-8. If the user has selected so many content items such that not every content item icon can be displayed within the selection plan window _

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section 314, the selection plan 450 is displayed such that it allows for scrolling/browsing. For example, the selection plan 450 could be displayed, upon receiving a corresponding command from the user, that columns 9 to 16 are displayed instead of columns 1 to 8. The user may not only scroll from left to right or, respectively, from right to left, but also downwards and upwards.

Generally spoken, the user may adapt representation of a selection plan 450 by providing the display mode signal with remote control 360 to the controller 240. The controller 240 controls the display driver 330 such that the selection plan 450 is displayed in the mode indicated within said display mode signal, for example, the user can indicate, within such display mode signal, a color of a respective column, the size of the content item icons 410-1 to 410-8, the time scale on the selection plan time axis 452, the number of columns in the selection plan content item axis 454 and so forth. As exemplary shown in Fig. 4, there are several conflicts in broadcasting times and between content items of content item icons 410-2, 410-6 and 410-4 and between content items of content item icons 410-1 and 410-3. There are several possibilities to solve such conflicts. The first possibility is that the user provides said preference signals to the controller 240 and rendering of Dokul (content item icon 410-6) is only rendered or, respectively, recorded from 08:00 p.m. to 08:15 p.m. Thus, the beginning of Dokul and the ending of Dokul is not rendered/recorded such that Moviel , the News, and Movie2 can be rendered/recorded in full length. In a similar manner, a Talkshow (content item icon 410- 1 ) would be recorded/rendered at 10:00 p.m., thereby missing the beginning of the Talkshow.

According to a second possibility, Dokul (content item icon 410-6) is recorded in full length, while Moviel and the News and Movie2 are also recorded in full length or, respectively, rendered in full length on the display 310. However, the television system 300 must be capable of such simultaneous recording. If such simultaneous recording is possible, the user is informed correspondingly. The conflict with regards to the Talkshow (content item icon 410-1 ) can also be solved by simultaneous recording of the Talkshow and rendering of Movie2. While Movie2 (content item icon 410-3) is still rendered on the display 310, recording of the Talkshow begins right at time at 09:45 p.m. After rendering of Movie2 is finished, the Talkshow is rendered on the display 310. However, the Talkshow is not rendered by coupling the input 350 to the display driver 330, but by coupling an output of storage device 320 to the display driver 330. The recorded Talkshow is thus rendered on the display 310. This is indicated in Fig. 4 with the arrow pointing downward in column 5. If the television system 300 is capable of recording sufficient content items simultaneously, principally any conflict in broadcasting time can be solved as just described with respect to the Talkshow (content item icon 410-1 ).

The user may also indicate with the preference signal that any content item that has a fixed broadcasting time later than a predetermined time is automatically recorded and that a corresponding content item icon (content item icon 410-5) is positioned in the second selection plan 460.

The preference signal provided by the user to the controller 240 can also indicate, that a content item identified in the selection plan 450, shall not be rendered on the display 310, but simply be stored in the storage device 320. For instance, the user simply drags content item icon 410-8 into the file explorer 480 thereby causing generation of the viewing/recording file such that Seriesl (content item icon 410-8) is recorded and subsequently listed in the file explorer 480. Similarly, the user may simply drag content item icons of the file explorer 480 into the selection plan 450 or, respectively, into the second selection plan 460, as indicated with the content item labelled Doku2 (content item icon 410-7).

As indicated, the user may position a content item icon in the selection plan 450 by simply dragging it to a designated position. If such content item does not exhibit a fixed broadcasting time, the content item icon shall remain at the position designated by the user within the drag-and-drop command. Thereby, the user may define/set the rendering time. However, if the content item associated to the content item icon exhibits a fixed broadcasting time, e.g., because a content item is a TV program or radio program, then it is first checked whether the content item can previously be recorded, such that rendering of the content item at a time indicated with the position designated by the user is possible. If it is determined that such rendering of the content item at a time indicated with the position designated by the user, is not possible, the user is informed automatically about this circumstance. The user may then decide whether the content item icon shall automatically be arranged at a position according to the fixed broadcasting time of the content item or to drag the content item icon into the file explorer 480, thereby indicating that the associated content item is to be recorded.

To indicate to the user, whether a content item exhibits a fixed broadcasting time or user- defined rendering time (, a content item icon associated to a content item with a fixed broadcasting time is graphically represented in a different manner than a content item _

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icon associated to a content item having no fixed broadcasting time, but a user-defined rendering time.

A content item is not only recorded, if a corresponding content item icon is moved from the selection plan 450 to the file explorer 480, but also if the user moves content item icon from the selection plan 450 into the second selection plan 460, as, e.g. the case with Doku3 (content item icon 410-5). By dragging content item icon 410-5 from selection plan 450 to selection plan 460, a viewing/recording file is generated according to which the television system 300 automatically records Doku3 and renders Doku3 on another day at 07:00 p.m. according to the second selection plan 460 directed to another day than selection plan 450. Thereby, the user can plan watching television for a long period of time.

Instead of rendering the content items identified in the selection plan 450 on the display 310, these content items may also "only" be stored on storage device 320, if the user has not confirmed, by providing a corresponding signal to the controller 240, that he/she wishes that these content items shall be rendered on the display 310. Thereby, the television system 300 is able to recognize that the user is absent and thus simply records the content items according to the viewing/recording file such that these content items can later be rendered if the user is present. Content item icons associated to these content items are then listed in the file explorer 480.

The user may, by submitting the display mode signal to the controller 240, personalize rendering of the selection plan 450, of the second selection plan 460, of the file explorer 480, of the EPG 400 and/or of the additional window 470. Such personalization may comprise typical features, such as adaption of size, of the font, of the colours, of the amount of selection plans to be displayed, and so forth. The user may cause storing of such mode signal in the controller 240, such that whenever he/she uses television system 300, the EPG 400, the selection plan 450 and the selection plan 460 and, if applicable, further selection plans, the file explorer 480 and the additional window 470 are displayed in accordance with his/her personal settings.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. _

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It shall be understood that an arrangement of elements of a respective figure predominately serves a purpose of an evident description; it does not relate to any actual geometric arrangement of parts of a manufactured device according to the invention. The computer program of the second aspect of the invention may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

A single unit or device may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

„„

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LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

100 Method of operating an EPG apparatus

1 10 Receiving EPG data

120 Displaying EPG

130 Identifying data pieces

140 Displaying selection plan

150 Concatenating data pieces

160 Generating the viewing/recording file

200 EPG apparatus

210 Receiver

240 Controller

300 Television system

310 Display

312 EPG window section

314 Selection plan window section

320 Storage device

330 Display driver

340 Coupler

350 Input

360 Remote control

400 EPG

402 EPG time axis

404 EPG channel axis

410-1 ,.. . Content item icon

450 Selection plan

452 Selection plan time axis

454 Selection plan content item axis

460 Second selection plan

462 Second selection plan time axis

464 Second selection plan content item axis

470 Additional window

480 File explorer

482 First column

484 Second column

500 External sources

* * * * *

Claims

A method (100) of operating an EPG apparatus (200) for generating a viewing/recording file for a television system (300), comprising:

- receiving (1 10) Electronic Program Guide data, in the following referred to as EPG data, that comprises a plurality of data pieces, each of the plurality of data pieces being associated to a content item;

- displaying (120) an EPG (400) in an EPG window section (312) of a display (310) of the EPG apparatus (200) based on the received EPG data, the displayed EPG comprising content item icons (410-1 ,...) representing respective associated content items,

- in response to receiving selection signals from a user of the EPG apparatus (200) that are directed to some of the content item icons (410-1 ,...) of the EPG (400) for selecting content items associated thereto, identifying (130) data pieces that are associated to the selected content items; and

- displaying (140) a selection plan (450) in a selection plan window section (314) of the display (310) based on the identified data pieces, the displayed selection plan (450) containing the content item icons (410-1 ) associated to the selected content items; characterized in that the method further comprises:

- concatenating (150) the identified data pieces in dependence of a number of preference signals received from the user, wherein each of the number of preference signals is directed to one of the content item icons (410-1 ,...) of the selection plan (450) and is indicative of a time at which the user wishes to view/record the content item associated to the one content item icon, thereby generating (160) a viewing/recording file.

The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

- receiving, from the user, a time interval signal, the time interval signal being indicative of a time interval during which the user wishes to consume/record content items; and

- displaying (120) the EPG (400) such that it comprises only content item icons associated to content items that are available within the indicated time interval.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

- receiving, from the user, a type signal, the type signal being indicative of a type of content items which the user wishes to consume/record; and

- displaying (120) the EPG (400) such that it comprises only content item icons associated to content items that are of the type indicated in said type signal.

The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the selection plan (450) is displayed such that at least some of the content item icons (410-1 ,...) shown in the selection plan (450) are arranged in dependence of their broadcasting times and/or in dependence of a user-defined rendering time.

The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

- graphically highlighting a conflict in broadcasting time in the selection plan (450).

The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

- displaying (140) the selection plan in a grid structure having a selection plan time axis (452) and a selection plan content item axis (454) perpendicular to the selection plan time axis (452).

The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the number of preference signals includes a preference value, and wherein the method further comprises:

- assigning the preference value to a data piece of a content item associated to one of the content item icons (410-1 ) of the selection plan (450);

- displaying the content item icons in the selection plan in accordance with the preference value; and

- concatenating (160) the identified data pieces in dependence of the preference value.

The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the selection plan (450) and/or the EPG (400) are/is displayed such that they/it allow/allows for a drag- and-drop functionality and/or for a point-and-click mechanism and/or for a touchscreen mechanism.

9. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein displaying of the EPG (400) and displaying of the selection plan (450) occurs simultaneously.

10. The method according to claims 8 and 9, wherein at least one of the selection signals includes a drag-and-drop command and the method comprises:

moving a content item icon (410-1 ,...) selected with said selection signal from the displayed EPG (400) window to the displayed selection plan (450) window via a drag-and-drop mechanism.

1 1 . The method according to claim 8 and 9 or according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the number of preference signals includes a drag-and-drop command, and wherein the method comprises:

- arranging a displayed content item icon (410-1 ,...) within the selection plan (450) according to the drag-and-drop command and concatenating (150) the identified data pieces based on the rearranged selection plan (450). 12. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

- checking recording capabilities of the television system (300).

13. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

- receiving, from the user, a deselection signal, the deselection signal identifying a content item associated to one of the content item icons (410-1 ) displayed in the selection plan (450); and

- deleting the data piece associated to said identified content item from the viewing/recording file. 14. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

- receiving, from the user, a display mode signal, the display mode signal indicating a display mode; and

- displaying the EPG (400) and/or the selection plan (450) in accordance with said display mode.

15. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the identified data pieces indicates a fixed broadcasting time of the content item associated to the at least one data piece, and wherein concatenating (150) of the identified data pieces further occurs in dependence of said fixed broadcasting time.

16. The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein generating (160) the viewing/recording file comprises:

- including a number of channel switching commands in the viewing/recording file, wherein each of the number of channel switching commands is configured for causing the television system (300) to automatically switch to a channel indicated in the channel switching command.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the number of channel switching commands is configured for causing the television system (300) to automatically abort rendering/recording of a content item of a first channel and to automatically start rendering/recording a subsequent content item of a second channel according to the viewing/recording file by switching from the first channel to the second channel.

18. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the concatenated data pieces of the generated viewing/recording file refer to an earlier and a later content item whose associated broadcasting times at least partially overlap, and wherein one of the number of channel switching commands is included in the viewing/recording file in dependence of the preference signals received with respect to the earlier and the later content item, such that the viewing/recording file is configured to cause the television system to switch to a channel rendering the later content item for rendering/recording either after rendering of the earlier content item has been finished or during rendering of the earlier content item.

19. The method (100) according to claim 13, further comprising:

- checking, in the EPG data, if there is an alternative broadcast for the earlier content item and/or later content item, and optionally, if the checking is positive, rendering a audio/text/video message for informing the user about the alternative broadcast.

20. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein displaying (120) the EPG (400) and/or displaying (140) the selection plan (460) further comprises:

- in response to receiving, from the user, a preview command with respect to one of the displayed content item icons, rendering of an audio/video clip for providing, to the user, a summary and/or background information of the content item that is associated to said displayed content item icon.

21 . The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

- registering the selection signals and/or the preference signals from the user over time;

- deriving, from the registered selection signals and/or preference signals, user information;

- assigning, based on the user information, priority values to the data pieces of the received EPG data; and

- displaying (120; 140) the EPG and/or the selection plan in dependence of the assigned priority values.

22. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the preference signal includes a time shift command, the method further comprising:

- in response to receiving the time shift command, concatenating the identified data pieces such that the television system (300) renders each of the selected content items associated to the identified data pieces subsequently according to the generated viewing/recording list.

23. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

- displaying a calendar in the display (310), preferably in the selection plan window section (314) and/or in the EPG window section (312).

24. The method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, a note information signal, the note information signal containing a personal note to be added to content item icon of either the EPG

(400) or the selection plan (450); and

- displaying the content item icons in the EPG (400) and/or in the selection plan (450) by including the personal note. 25. A computer program for generating, with an EPG apparatus, a viewing/recording file for a television system, the computer program comprising program code means for causing the EPG apparatus to carry out the steps of the method as defined in one of the claims 1 to 24, when the computer program is run on a computer controlling the EPG apparatus.

26. An EPG apparatus (200) for generating a viewing/recording file for a television system (300), the EPG apparatus (200) being configured to carry out the method as defined in one of the claims 1 to 24.

27. The EPG apparatus (200) of claim 26, the EPG apparatus (200) comprising:

- a receiver (210) configured to receive (1 10) Electronic Program Guide data, in the following referred to as EPG data, that comprises a plurality of data pieces, each of the plurality of data pieces being associated to a content item; and

- a controller (240) configured

- to control a display driver (330) of the EPG apparatus (200) such that an EPG (400) is displayed in an EPG window section (312) of a display (310) of the EPG apparatus (200) based on the received EPG data, the displayed EPG comprising content item icons representing respective associated content items;

- to identify (140), in response to receiving selection signals from a user of the EPG apparatus (200) that are directed to some of the content item icons (410-1 ,...) of the EPG (400) for selecting content items associated thereto, data pieces that are associated to the selected content items; and configured

- to control the display driver (330) such that a selection plan (450) is displayed in a selection plan window section (314) of the display (310) based on the identified data pieces, the displayed selection plan (450) containing the content item icons associated to the selected content items; characterized in that the controller (240) is further configured to concatenate the identified data pieces in dependence of a number of preference signals received from the user, wherein each of the number of preference signals is directed to one of the content item icons (410-1 ,...) of the selection plan (450) and is indicative of a time at which the user wishes to view/record the content item associated to the one content item icon, thereby generating a viewing/recording file.