Method and apparatus for transmitting, storing, and processing electronic program guide data for on-screen display

Abstract

A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronic program guide comprising: 
 a display;    a memory configured to store electronic program guide data, the electronic program guide data including a plurality of titles of television programs;    a tuner configured to receive a television transmission including a plurality of television programs, the tuner coupled to the display, the tuner configured to display one of the plurality of television programs in a first area of the display;    a microprocessor coupled to the memory, the microprocessor configured to access the memory to recover the electronic program guide data, the microprocessor further coupled to the tuner;    a video processor coupled to the microprocessor, the video processor configured to selectively display a first portion of the plurality of titles from the recovered electronic program guide data and a second portion of the plurality of titles from the recovered electronic program guide data in a second area of the display; and    an input device coupled to the microprocessor, the input device configured to highlight titles in the second area of the display, wherein in a first mode the one of the plurality of television programs displayed in the first area corresponds to the highlighted one of the first portion of the plurality of titles, and in a second mode the highlighted one of the second portion of the plurality of titles is independent of the one of the plurality of television programs displayed in the first area.    
     
     
         2 . The electronic program guide of  claim 1 , wherein the video processor is further configured to display a description in a third area of the display, wherein in the first mode the description corresponds to the highlighted one of the first portion of the plurality of titles and in the second mode the description corresponds to the highlighted one of the second portion of the plurality of titles.  
     
     
         3 . The electronic program guide of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the plurality of titles includes titles for current television programs and the second portion of the plurality of titles includes titles for future television programs.  
     
     
         4 . The electronic program guide of  claim 1 , wherein in the second mode the video processor is further configured to display a title on the display, the title corresponding to the one of the plurality of television programs displayed in the first area.  
     
     
         5 . The electronic program guide of  claim 1 , wherein the video processor is further configured selectively display a third portion of the plurality of titles from the recovered electronic program guide data, wherein in a third mode the a highlighted one of the third portion of the plurality of titles is independent of the one of the plurality of television programs displayed in the first area.  
     
     
         6 . The electronic program guide of  claim 5 , wherein the video processor is further configured to display a description in a third area of the display, wherein in the third mode the description corresponds to the highlighted one of the third portion of the plurality of titles.  
     
     
         7 . The electronic program guide of  claim 5 , wherein the third portion of the plurality of titles includes titles for television programs available for viewing at a specified time.  
     
     
         8 . The electronic program guide of  claim 7 , wherein the input device is further configured to selectively input the specified time.  
     
     
         9 . The electronic program guide of  claim 5 , wherein in the third mode the video processor is further configured to display a title on the display, the title corresponding to the one of the plurality of television programs displayed in the first area.  
     
     
         10 . The electronic program guide of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic program guide data further includes category information, the video processor further configured selectively display a list of categories, the input device further configured to highlight categories in the second area of the display, wherein in a third mode the a highlighted one of the list of categories is independent of the one of the plurality of television programs displayed in the first area.  
     
     
         11 . The electronic program guide of  claim 10 , wherein the video processor is further configured to display category information in a third area of the display, the category information corresponding to the highlighted category.  
     
     
         12 . The electronic program guide of  claim 10 , wherein the input device is further configured to select the highlighted category, the video processor further configured to display a plurality of subcategories in the second area of the display, the plurality of subcategories corresponding to the selected category.  
     
     
         13 . The electronic program guide of  claim 5 , wherein the electronic program guide data further includes category information, the video processor further configured selectively display a list of categories, the input device further configured to highlight categories in the second area of the display, wherein in a third mode the a highlighted one of the list of categories is independent of the one of the plurality of television programs displayed in the first area.  
     
     
         14 . The electronic program guide of  claim 13 , wherein the video processor is further configured to display category information in a third area of the display, the category information corresponding to the highlighted category.  
     
     
         15 . The electronic program guide of  claim 13 , wherein the input device is further configured to select the highlighted category, the video processor further configured to display a plurality of subcategories in the second area of the display, the plurality of subcategories corresponding to the selected category.  
     
     
         16 . A method for processing electronic program guide data comprising: 
 receiving a transmission comprising a plurality of television programs;    storing electronic program guide data in a memory, the electronic program guide data including a plurality of titles;    retrieving the electronic program guide data from memory;    displaying one of the plurality of television programs in a first area of a display;    selectively displaying a first portion of the plurality of titles and a second portion of the plurality of titles in a second area of the display; and    wherein a highlighted title in the first portion of the plurality of titles corresponds to the displayed one of the plurality of television programs in the first area, and a highlighted title in the second portion of the plurality of titles is independent of the displayed one of the plurality of television programs in the first area.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 displaying a description in a third area of the display, wherein the description corresponds to the highlighted title in the second area of the display.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion of the plurality of titles includes titles for current television programs and the second portion of the plurality of titles includes titles for future television programs.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 displaying on the display, in the second mode, a title corresponding to the displayed one of the plurality of television programs.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 further selectively displaying a third portion of the plurality of titles in the second area of the display, wherein a highlighted title in the third portion of the plurality of titles is independent of the displayed one of the plurality of television programs in the first area.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 displaying a description in a third area of the display, wherein the description corresponds to highlighted title in the second area of the display.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein displaying a third portion of the plurality of titles in the second area of the display includes displaying titles of television programs available for viewing at a specified time.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 selecting the specified time using an input device coupled to the microprocessor.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 displaying on the display, in the second mode, a title corresponding to the displayed one of the plurality of television programs.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 further selectively displaying a list of categories in the second area of the display, wherein a highlighted category in the list of categories is independent of the displayed one of the plurality of television programs in the first area.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 displaying category information in a third area of the display, the category information corresponding to the highlighted category.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 selecting the highlighted category using an input device coupled to the microprocessor; and    displaying a plurality of subcategories in the second area of the display, the plurality of subcategories corresponding to the selected category.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 further selectively displaying a list of categories in the second area of the display, wherein a highlighted category in the list of categories is independent of the displayed one of the plurality of television programs in the first area.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 displaying category information in a third area of the display, the category information corresponding to the highlighted category.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 selecting the highlighted category using an input device coupled to the microprocessor; and    displaying a plurality of subcategories in the second area of the display, the plurality of subcategories corresponding to the selected category.