Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Other

Jenny S Chow

Yuko Nishikawa

Kazuto Mugura

Kim Mingo

Hong Yang

Aaron John Dew

Norifumi Takaya

Andy Proehl

Ronaldo Diaz

Yumiko Minakawa

Xuan Zhang

Tara Burnhouse

Alternative-channel user selectivity is provided when a user tunes to a broadcast channel for which the desired broadcast station corresponding to such broadcast channel has been reassigned. In one embodiment, after tuning to broadcast channel in response to a user input, it may first be determined if in fact the desired broadcast station corresponding to the tuned broadcast channel has been reassigned. If so, one or more alternative broadcast channels corresponding to the desired broadcast station may be identified, and an alternative channel availability indicator may then be displayed to the user to provide alternative-channel user selectivity.

System and method for providing available-channel user selectivity

The present invention relates to an entertainment system and method for selectively storing broadcast channels by the entertainment system. To store a broadcast channel, the system first receives programming data associated with the channel. A show associated with the channel is displayed and a menu associated with the storing of the channel in memory may also be displayed. The viewer may then select to add to or remove from memory the programming data associated with the currently tuned channel via a one-step process, and the programming data is subsequently loaded into the memory.

System and method for providing channel selection in an electronic programming guide

An integrated DS S/WebTV receiver is communicatively connected to an Internet service provider, a DSS service provider, and (optionally) a local broadcast station to provide a display of DSS programs, Internet web sites, and local broadcast channels in a seamless fashion. The DSS/WebTV receiver generates a graphical user interface (GUI), displayed on a television screen, for facilitating a user's navigation through the DSS, Internet, and local broadcast data. The GUI includes an option palette that enables the user to filter the presentation of DSS data in accordance with predetermined filtering criteria. The predetermined filtering criteria includes filtering by category type, filtering in accordance with a user-entered search term, and filtering in accordance with a user-selected date and/or time. The option palette also enables the user to select the amount of filtered information that is displayed on the television screen.

Satellite system/internet system with display option palette with multiple filtering options

A system and method for providing a default source to program channel numbers. In one embodiment, the system allows a user to program over-lapping channel numbers to a selected default source. The system includes at least one channel number usable by a plurality of sources for providing a station to transmit television programs. The system generates an electronic system guide identifying the plurality of sources. The system allows a user to select one of the plurality of sources from the electronic system guide as a default source. The system programs the at least one channel number to tune to a station for receiving television programs provided by the selected default source numbers. The system the programs the over-lapping channel numbers to tune to a station provided by the selected second default source and program any non-over-lapping channel numbers to tune to a station provided by the selected first default source.

Default source setup for channel numbers

A periodic clock display method and system for a viewing device, such as a television set. A clock is displayed on a viewing device according to a first time interval and a second time interval. The first time interval determines how long the viewing device displays the clock. After the first time interval is finished, the clock is removed from the viewing device. The second time interval determines how long the clock remains off the viewing device. When the second time interval is complete, the clock is again displayed on the viewing device for the duration of the first time interval. This continues indefinitely until the user turns the periodic clock display function off.

Method and system for periodically displaying a clock on a viewing screen

A method and apparatus for providing a calendar-based on-screen planner in an electronic program guide for broadcast events are provided, wherein at least one electronic program guide is generated and displayed representing programming on a number of channels. A first on-screen planner is generated comprising at least one monthly calendar view. The first on-screen planner, which may be accessed from the electronic program guide, provides for a review of selected broadcast activity for a number of days of a selected month. The selected broadcast activity is selected from a group comprising broadcasts selected for automatic tuning, broadcasts selected for recording, and pay-per-view broadcasts selected for purchase. A second on-screen planner is generated comprising at least one daily calendar view. The second on-screen planner, which may be accessed from the first on-screen planner, provides for review and editing of the selected broadcast activity for at least one day of the selected month. The electronic program guide and the on-screen planners are displayed on the screen in response to a user selection.

Method and apparatus for providing a calendar-based planner in an electronic program guide for broadcast events

An integrated DSS/WebTV receiver is communicatively connected to an Internet service provider, a DSS service provider, and (optionally) a local broadcast station to provide a display of DSS programs, Internet web sites, and local broadcast channels in a seamless fashion. The DSS/WebTV receiver generates a graphical user interface (GUI), displayed on a television screen, for facilitating a user's navigation through the DSS, Internet, and local broadcast data. The GUI includes a TV Planner icon which, if selected by the user, causes the televison to display a monthly calender (or recording/reminder list) that indicates which programs are purchased and/or selected for recording by a VCR. A &ldquo;Purchase&rdquo; icon appears adjacent purchased programs and a &ldquo;Record&rdquo; icon appears adjacent programs to be recorded. If the user selects &ldquo;Purchase&rdquo; icon, the user is visually presented (e.g., via a pull-down screen) with the cost, date, and time of the program purchased or to be purchased. If the user selects &ldquo;Record&rdquo; icon, the user is visually presented (e.g., via a pull-down screen) with the title, date, and time of the program to be recorded. The TV Planner screen also includes a &ldquo;Timer & Rec.&rdquo; icon and a &ldquo;Review Purchases&rdquo; icon. If the user selects &ldquo;Timer & Rec.&rdquo; icon, the user is presented with a &ldquo;Timer & Rec.&rdquo; screen that lists the programs that the user selected to view or record. If the user selects &ldquo;Review Purchases&rdquo; icon, the user is presented with a &ldquo;Review Purchases&rdquo; screen that lists all the programs purchased (e.g., PPV programs) by the user in a given time period (e.g., one month). The user can modify selected data (e.g., delete or add programs ) when the user is in the &ldquo;Timer &Rec&rdquo; or &ldquo;Review Purchases&rdquo; screens. The user may also scroll from time period to time period (e.g., month to month) within TV Planner screen by selecting &ldquo;forward&rdquo; and &ldquo;backward&rdquo; arrow icons.

TV planner for DSS

An integrated DSS/WebTV receiver is communicatively connected to an Internet service provider, a DSS service provider, and (optionally) a local broadcast station to provide a display of DSS programs, Internet web sites, and local broadcast channels in a seamless fashion. The DSS/WebTV receiver generates a graphical user interface (GUI), displayed on a television screen, for facilitating a user's navigation through the DSS, Internet, and local broadcast data. The GUI includes a user-selectable icon for causing the DSS processing circuitry to present on the television a decimated video region for simultaneously displaying, in reduced form, programs that are currently being broadcast as well as a program guides logo in which there is displayed a miniature video of the current tuned channel.

Miniature video in the guide logo

An integrated DSS/WebTV receiver is communicatively connected to an Internet service provider, a DSS service provider, and (optionally) a local broadcast station to provide a display of DSS programs, Internet web sites, and local broadcast channels in a seamless fashion. The DSS/WebTV receiver generates a graphical user interface (GUI), displayed on a television screen, for facilitating a user's navigation through the DSS, Internet, and local broadcast data. The GUI includes user-selectable icons for filtering and/or selecting the received data, a scrolling ticker region for displaying information about upcoming DSS events and providing access to related Internet web sites, and a decimated video region for displaying, in reduced form, DSS programs that are currently being broadcast.

Growing community of inventors

Oceanside, CA, United States of America

Jenny S Chow