The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 01, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 28, 1997
Ludovic Legrand, La Jolla, CA (US);
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Sony Electronics, Inc., Park Ridge, NJ (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating an on-screen guide by which a user may select channels to view in a multiple channel broadcasting system are provided. According to one aspect of the invention, a program guide is generated comprising a number of still video pictures that represent current programming on a number of channels. The program guide is generated by the system tuning sequentially to each one of a number of channels. A visually usable video frame is captured from one of the number of channels. The visually usable video frame is then decimated. Each of the steps of tuning, capturing, and decimating are then repeated for each of a selected number of channels. Following generation, the program guide is displayed on a screen or display. A system pointer is displayed on the screen along with the program guide, and the system pointer is manipulated in response to input by the user. A channel is selected for viewing by manipulating the system pointer to an area associated with the still video picture of the corresponding channel.