System and method for using television schedule information

Abstract

A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A television schedule system for displaying television schedule information on a display screen comprising: 
 an on-screen program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, an on screen pointer can be moved over the plurality of television program listings;    a second area for displaying a first live video of a first currently telecast television program simultaneous with the on-screen program guide;    a third area for displaying a second live video of a second currently telecast of a television program other than the first currently telecast program simultaneous with the live video of the first currently telecast television program wherein, the live video of the second currently telecast of a television program changes as a different television program listing is selected from the on-screen program guide; and    an input device for switching sound between the first currently telecast television program and the second currently telecast television program.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first currently telecast television program is a last watched program.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first currently telecast television program is a highlighted television program listing.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the input device is capable of activating and deactivating the on-screen program guide, the second area, and the third area, and for moving through television program listing within the on-screen program guide to selectively highlight a television program listing to change the data displayed in the third area.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the on-screen program guide includes times and channels for each television program and means for scrolling through the times and the channels.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the on-screen program guide includes a message area for displaying a message to a user.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising means for activating the message area to obtain more information related to the message.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the on-screen program guide includes a matrix of cells, each cell containing information associated with a television program and a length that is proportional to a duration of the television program.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising visual display means within each cell for displaying an amount of time left in the associated television program.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the visual display means comprises means for highlighting a portion of each cell, the highlighted portion representing an amount of time left in the associated television program.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising means for continuously reducing the length of the highlighted portion to indicate the amount of time left in the associated program.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a database containing information about each television program within the television schedule, the database including a plurality of criteria, each television program being associated with one or more criteria; and  
 means for searching the database to match television programs that include a selected criterion.  
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 means for automatically placing the matched television programs into a selection window; and  
 means for providing a visual indication for each matched program in the on-screen program guide.  
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the database is in a location remote from the display screen and coupled to a communication network.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the input device includes one or more of a remote controller device, a pointer device, a mouse, a keyboard, and a microphone.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an information area for displaying information about the second currently telecast television program.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a memory for storing a selected television program.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising means for designating the stored program as a favorite program.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising means for placing a reminder for watching the stored program.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  further comprising means for automatically recording the stored program on a recording device.  
     
     
         21 . A method for displaying television schedule information on a screen comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, a television program listing can be selectively highlighted;    displaying, in a second, a first live video of a first currently telecast television program simultaneous with the displayed program guide;    displaying, in a third area, a second live telecast of a second television program, other than the first currently telecast program simultaneous with the displayed program guide and;    changing the display of the second live video of the second currently telecast television program when a different television program listing is selected from the displayed program guide.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first currently telecast television program is a last watched program.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the currently telecast television program is a highlighted television program listing.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of displaying a program guide includes displaying times and channels for each television program and scrolling through the time and the channels for highlighting a program.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of displaying a program guide includes displaying a message to a user in a message area.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the step of activating the message area to obtain more information associated with the message.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the on-screen program guide includes a matrix of cells, each cell containing information associated with a television program and a length that is proportional to a duration of the television program.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of visually displaying an amount of time left in the associated television program.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the visually displaying step comprises the step of highlighting a portion of each cell, the highlighted portion representing an amount of time left in the associated television program.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising the step of continuously reducing the length of the highlighted portion to indicate the amount of time left in the associated program.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of searching a database for matching television programs that include a selected criterion, the database containing information about each television program within the television schedule, and including a plurality of criteria, each television program being associated with one or more criteria.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising the step of automatically placing the matched television programs into a selection window and providing a visual indication for each matched program in the displayed program guide.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the database is in a location remote from the display screen and coupled to a communication network.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of displaying information about the second currently telecast television program in an information area.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising the step of storing a selected television program in a memory.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising the step of designating the stored program as a favorite program.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising the step of placing a reminder for watching the stored program.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising the step of automatically recording the stored program on a recording device.  
     
     
         39 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions including instruction for displaying television schedule information on a screen the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computers to perform the steps of: 
 displaying a program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, a television program listing can be selectively highlighted;    displaying, in a second, a first live video of a first currently telecast television program simultaneous with the displayed program guide;    displaying, in a third area, a second live telecast of a second television program, other than the first currently telecast program simultaneous with the displayed program guide and;    changing the display of the second live video of the second currently telecast television program when a different television program listing is selected from the displayed program guide.