User interface for television schedule system

Abstract

Screen ( 10 ) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array ( 24 ) of irregular cells ( 26 ), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns ( 28 ) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows ( 30 ) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns ( 28 ) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells ( 26 ), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen ( 10 ) as the cursor moved from a cell ( 26 ) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array ( 24 ) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided. With the cursor ( 32 ), the entire cell ( 26 ) is 3-D highlighted, using a conventional offset shadow ( 34 ). The offset shadow ( 34 ) is a black bar that underlines the entire cell and wraps around the right edge of the cell. To tag the underlying position—which defines where the cursor ( 32 ) is and thus, where it will move next—portions ( 36 ) of the black bar outside the current underlying position are segmented, while the current position is painted solid.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A television schedule system, which comprises: 
 a display,    means connected to said display for displaying the television schedule on the display as an array of irregular cells which vary dimensionally in length, corresponding to different television program time lengths,    means connected to said display for providing a cursor with the television schedule on the display, said cursor having a variable length corresponding to the length of a selected one of the irregular cells in which the cursor is located,    means connected to said means for providing the cursor for moving the cursor in the array in a series of equal length steps, with at least some of the irregular cells having a length which is greater than the length of the steps.    
     
     
         2 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  in which said means for providing the cursor is configured to provide the cursor with a first portion corresponding to one of the steps at which the cursor is positioned having a first appearance and a second portion outside the one of the steps at which the cursor is positioned having a second appearance different than the first appearance.  
     
     
         3 . The television schedule system of  claim 2  in which the first portion of the cursor has a solid appearance and the second portion of the cursor is segmented.  
     
     
         4 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  in which said means for displaying the schedule is configured to show a portion of the array corresponding to a given period of time, said means for displaying the schedule being further configured to display a continuity icon with programs contained only in part within the given period of time.  
     
     
         5 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  in which said means for displaying the schedule is further configured to display the irregular cells with a different appearance to indicate recording status.  
     
     
         6 . The television schedule system of  claim 5  in which said means for displaying the schedule is configured to display the irregular cells with different appearances to show that a program has been selected for recording, is presently being recorded, has been recorded, and was mis-recorded.  
     
     
         7 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  in which said means for displaying the schedule is further configured to display a linking icon with programs that are to be recorded in combination with other programs.  
     
     
         8 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  in which said means for displaying the schedule is further configured to display a time status indicator delineating past time from future time.  
     
     
         9 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display a program note overlay for a selected program on a portion of the array.  
     
     
         10 . The television schedule system of  claim 9  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display the program note overlay in different locations to avoid masking a title of the selected program.  
     
     
         11 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to allow selection by a user of a first number of desired channels for display of schedule information which is less than a second number of available channels.  
     
     
         12 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  additionally comprising a television tuner connected to said means for displaying a schedule and in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display a channel to which said television tuner is tuned with a different appearance than other channels in the schedule.  
     
     
         13 . The television schedule system of  claim 12  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured so that the cursor follows a change in a channel to which said television tuner is tuned.  
     
     
         14 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display alternatively a schedule for a plurality of channels covering a first time period or a schedule for a single channel covering a second time period.  
     
     
         15 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  additionally comprising a television set connected to said means for displaying a schedule and in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display an overlay containing information on a television program being shown on said television set when a channel being shown on the television set is changed.  
     
     
         16 . The television schedule system of  claim 15  in which the information on the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, date and time.  
     
     
         17 . The television schedule system of  claim 16  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to provide an alternate overlay including a program note for the television program being shown on said television set.  
     
     
         18 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  additionally comprising a recording device connected to said means for displaying a schedule and in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display information about recording in response to a user command to record a program.  
     
     
         19 . The television schedule system of  claim 1  additionally comprising a recording device connected to said means for displaying a schedule and in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display an index of recorded programs.  
     
     
         20 . The television schedule system of  claim 19  in which the index of recorded programs includes an identification by title.  
     
     
         21 . The television schedule system of  claim 19  in which the index of recorded programs includes a pointer showing current location on a recording medium in said recording device.  
     
     
         22 . The television schedule system of  claim 21  in which the pointer is graduated in segments corresponding to each recorded program on the recording medium, and linearly with respect to position in each segment.  
     
     
         23 . The television schedule system of  claim 19  additionally comprising a memory for the index connected to said means for displaying a schedule, said memory having a capacity to store an index for a plurality of recording media for said recording device.  
     
     
         24 . The television schedule system of  claim 23  in which the recording media include a data channel and said recording device is configured to include a title of a program recorded on the recording media in the data channel, said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to compare a title in the data channel with the index in said memory and to display an index for the recording medium in said recording device based on a match of the title on the recording medium with the index in the memory.  
     
     
         25 . The television schedule system of  claim 24  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to generate an index during playback and recording with the recording medium and to store the index in said memory in the absence of a match between a title on the recording medium with the index in the memory.  
     
     
         26 . A process for operating a television schedule system, which comprises: 
 displaying the television schedule as an array of irregular cells which vary dimensionally in length, corresponding to different television program time lengths,    providing a cursor with the television schedule on the display, the cursor having a variable length corresponding to the length of a selected one of the irregular cells in which the cursor is located,    moving the cursor in the array in a series of equal length steps, with at least some of the irregular cells having a length which is greater than the length of the steps.    
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising providing the cursor with a first portion corresponding to one of the steps at which the cursor is positioned having a first appearance and a second portion outside the one of the steps at which the cursor is positioned having a second appearance different than the first appearance.  
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 27  in which the first portion of the cursor has a solid appearance and the second portion of the cursor is segmented.  
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 26  in which the schedule is shown as a portion of the array corresponding to a given period of time, the process additionally comprising displaying a continuity icon with programs contained only in part within the given period of time.  
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 26  in which the irregular cells are displayed with a different appearance to indicate recording status.  
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 30  in which the irregular cells are displayed with different appearances to show that a program has been selected for recording, is presently being recorded, has been recorded, and was mis-recorded.  
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising displaying a linking icon with programs that are to be recorded in combination with other programs.  
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising displaying a time status indicator delineating past time from future time.  
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising displaying a program note overlay for a selected program on a portion of the array.  
     
     
         35 . The process of  claim 34  in which the program note overlay is displayed in different locations to avoid masking a title of the selected program.  
     
     
         36 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising displaying schedule information for a first number of desired channels which is less than a second number of available channels in response to user selection of the desired channels.  
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising tuning a television tuner to a channel and displaying the channel to which said television tuner is tuned with a different appearance than other channels in the schedule.  
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 37  in which the cursor follows a change in a channel to which the television tuner is tuned.  
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 26  in which the television schedule is alternatively displayed as a schedule for a plurality of channels covering a first time period or a schedule for a single channel covering a second time period.  
     
     
         40 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising displaying an overlay containing information about a television program being shown on a television set connected to the television schedule system when a channel being shown on the television set is changed.  
     
     
         41 . The process of  claim 40  in which the information on the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, date and time.  
     
     
         42 . The process of  claim 41  additionally comprising providing an alternate overlay including a program note for the television program being shown on said television set.  
     
     
         43 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising displaying information about recording in response to a user command to record a program.  
     
     
         44 . The process of  claim 26  additionally comprising connecting a recording device to the schedule system and displaying an index of recorded programs.  
     
     
         45 . The process of  claim 44  in which the index of recorded programs includes an identification by title.  
     
     
         46 . The process of  claim 44  in which the index of recorded programs includes a pointer showing current location on a recording medium in the recording device.  
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 46  in which the pointer is graduated in segments corresponding to each recorded program on the recording medium, and linearly with respect to position in each segment.  
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 44  additionally comprising storing an index for a plurality of recording media for the recording device in a memory.  
     
     
         49 . The process of  claim 48  in which the recording media include a data channel and a title of a program recorded on the recording media is included in the data channel, the process additionally comprising comparing a title in the data channel with the index in the memory and displaying an index for a recording medium in the recording device based on a match of the title on the recording medium with the index in the memory.  
     
     
         50 . The process of  claim 49  in which an index is generated during playback and recording with the recording medium and stored in the memory in the absence of a match between a title on the recording medium with the index in the memory.  
     
     
         51 . A control system for a video recording machine, which comprises a controller for starting and stopping the video recording machine, for recording video information on recording media, and for playing recorded video information on recording media, a display generator for providing display image generation signals, means for supplying information to said display generator for generation of display images relating to operation of the video recording machine, said means for supplying information including means for generating a recording media position indicator graduated as segments corresponding to programs recorded on the recording media.  
     
     
         52 . The control system for a video recording machine of  claim 51  in which said recording media position indicator is graduated according to position of the recording media within a program segment.  
     
     
         53 . The control system for a video recording machine of  claim 51  in which said control system includes a memory and a means for storing indexes of video material recorded on the recording media in said memory.  
     
     
         54 . The control system for a video recording machine of  claim 53  in which the recording media include a data channel and said control system has a means for including a title of a program recorded on the recording media in the video recording machine and a time of recording the program in the data channel, said control system including a means for comparing the title of the program and the time of recording with indexes in said memory and displaying an index for a selected one of the recording media based on a match between the program title and recording time on the selected one of the recording media with the indexes in said memory.  
     
     
         55 . The control system for a video recording machine of  claim 54  in which said system includes a means for generating an index during playback and recording with the selected one of the recording media and to store the generated index in said memory in the absence of a match between a title and recording time on the selected one of the recording media with the indexes in said memory.  
     
     
         56 . The control system for a video recording machine of  claim 51  in which the video recording machine is a video cassette recorder and the recording media are video tape.  
     
     
         57 . A system comprising the control system for a video recording machine of  claim 51  connected to a video recording machine.  
     
     
         58 . A process for controlling a video recording machine, which comprises generating a recording media position indicator graduated as segments corresponding to programs recorded on the recording media and displaying the recording media position indicator as position of a selected one of the recording media in the video recording machine is changed.  
     
     
         59 . The process for controlling a video recording machine of  claim 58  in which the recording media position indicator is graduated according to position of the recording media within a program segment.  
     
     
         60 . The process for controlling a video recording machine of  claim 58  additionally comprising storing indexes of video material recorded on the recording media in a memory.  
     
     
         61 . The process for controlling a video recording machine of  claim 60  additionally comprising including a title of a program recorded on the recording media and a time of recording the program in a data channel on the recording media and comparing the title of the program and the time of recording with the indexes in the memory and displaying an index for a selected one of the recording media based on a match between the program title and recording time on the selected one of the recording media with the indexes in said memory.  
     
     
         62 . The process for controlling a video recording machine of  claim 61  additionally comprising generating an index during playback and recording with the selected one of the recording media and storing the generated index in the memory in the absence of a match between a title and recording time on the selected one of the recording media with the indexes in the memory.  
     
     
         63 . A control system for a video recording machine, which comprises a controller for starting and stopping the video recording machine, for recording video information on recording media, and for playing recorded video information on recording media, a memory, a means connected to said memory for storing indexes of video material recorded on the recording media in said memory, the recording media include a data channel and said control system has a means for including a title of a program recorded on the recording media in the video recording machine in the data channel, said control system including a means for comparing the title of the program with indexes in said memory and displaying an index for a selected one of the recording media based on a match between the program title on the selected one of the recording media with the indexes in said memory.  
     
     
         64 . The control system for a video recording machine of  claim 63  in which said system includes a means for generating an index during playback and recording with the selected one of the recording media and to store the generated index in said memory in the absence of a match between a title on the selected one of the recording media with the indexes in said memory.  
     
     
         65 . The control system for a video recording machine of  claim 63  in which the video recording machine is a video cassette recorder and the recording media are video tape.  
     
     
         66 . A system comprising the control system for a video recording machine of  claim 63  connected to a video recording machine.  
     
     
         67 . A process for controlling a video recording machine, which comprises storing indexes of video material recorded on recording media in a memory, the recording media including a data channel, including a title of a program recorded on the recording media in the video recording machine in the data channel, comparing the title of the program with indexes in the memory and displaying an index for a selected one of the recording media based on a match between the program title on the selected one of the recording media with the indexes in said memory.  
     
     
         68 . The process for controlling a video recording machine of  claim 67  additionally comprising generating an index during playback and recording with the selected one of the recording media and storing the generated index in the memory in the absence of a match between a title on the selected one of the recording media with the indexes in the memory.  
     
     
         69 . A television schedule system, which comprises: 
 a display,    means connected to said display for displaying the television schedule on the display,    said means for displaying a schedule being configured to allow selection by a user of a first number of desired channels for display of schedule information which is less than a second number of available channels,    a programmable tuner connected to said means for displaying a schedule,    said programmable tuner being configured to follow said first number of desired channels when said television schedule is shown on said display in response to a channel up or channel down command, and said programmable tuner being configured to follow the second number of available channels in the absence of said television schedule on said display in response to a channel up or channel down command.    
     
     
         70 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  additionally comprising means connected to the display for providing a cursor with the television schedule on the display, and in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured so that the cursor follows a change in a channel to which said programmable tuner is tuned.  
     
     
         71 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  in which said means for displaying the schedule is configured to show the schedule as an array, a portion of the array corresponding to a given period of time, said means for displaying the schedule being further configured to display a continuity icon with programs contained only in part within the given period of time.  
     
     
         72 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  in which said means for displaying the schedule is further configured to display programs with a different appearance to indicate recording status.  
     
     
         73 . The television schedule system of  claim 72  in which said means for displaying the schedule is configured to display the programs with different appearances to show that a program has been selected for recording, is presently being recorded, has been recorded, and was mis-recorded.  
     
     
         74 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  in which said means for displaying the schedule is further configured to display a linking icon with programs that are to be recorded in combination with other programs.  
     
     
         75 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  in which said means for displaying the schedule is further configured to display a time status indicator delineating past time from future time.  
     
     
         76 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display a program note overlay for a selected program on a portion of the display.  
     
     
         77 . The television schedule system of  claim 76  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display the program note overlay in different locations to avoid masking a title of the selected program.  
     
     
         78 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display a channel to which said television tuner is tuned with a different appearance than other channels in the schedule.  
     
     
         79 . The television schedule system of  claim 78  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured so that the cursor follows a change in a channel to which said television tuner is tuned.  
     
     
         80 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display alternatively a schedule for a plurality of channels covering a first time period or a schedule for a single channel covering a second time period.  
     
     
         81 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  additionally comprising a television set connected to said means for displaying a schedule and in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display an overlay containing information on a television program being shown on said television set when a channel being shown on the television set is changed.  
     
     
         82 . The television schedule system of  claim 81  in which the information on the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, date and time.  
     
     
         83 . The television schedule system of  claim 82  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to provide an alternate overlay including a program note for the television program being shown on said television set.  
     
     
         84 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  additionally comprising a recording device connected to said means for displaying a schedule and in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display information about recording in response to a user command to record a program.  
     
     
         85 . The television schedule system of  claim 69  additionally comprising a recording device connected to said means for displaying a schedule and in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to display an index of recorded programs.  
     
     
         86 . The television schedule system of  claim 85  in which the index of recorded programs includes an identification by title.  
     
     
         87 . The television schedule system of  claim 85  in which the index of recorded programs includes a pointer showing current location on a recording medium in said recording device.  
     
     
         88 . The television schedule system of  claim 87  in which the pointer is graduated in segments corresponding to each recorded program on the recording medium, and linearly with respect to position in each segment.  
     
     
         89 . The television schedule system of  claim 85  additionally comprising a memory for the index connected to said means for displaying a schedule, said memory having a capacity to store an index for a plurality of recording media for said recording device.  
     
     
         90 . The television schedule system of  claim 89  in which the recording media include a data channel and said recording device is configured to include a title of a program recorded on the recording media in the data channel, said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to compare a title in the data channel with the index in said memory and to display an index for the recording medium in said recording device based on a match of the title on the recording medium with the index in the memory.  
     
     
         91 . The television schedule system of  claim 90  in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to generate an index during playback and recording with the recording medium and to store the index in said memory in the absence of a match between a title on the recording medium with the index in the memory.  
     
     
         92 . A process for operating a television schedule system, which comprises: 
 selecting a first number of desired channels for display of schedule information which is less than a second number of available channels,    displaying the schedule information on a display,    following the first number of desired channels when the schedule information is shown on the display in response to a channel up or channel down command, and    following the second number of available channels in the absence of the television schedule on the display in response to a channel up or channel down command.    
     
     
         93 . The process of  claim 92  in which the schedule information is shown as a portion corresponding to a given period of time, the process additionally comprising displaying a continuity icon with programs contained only in part within the given period of time.  
     
     
         94 . The process of  claim 92  in which programs in the schedule information are displayed with a different appearance to indicate recording status.  
     
     
         95 . The process of  claim 94  in which the programs are displayed with different appearances to show that a program has been selected for recording, is presently being recorded, has been recorded, and was mis-recorded.  
     
     
         96 . The process of  claim 92  additionally comprising displaying a linking icon with programs that are to be recorded in combination with other programs.  
     
     
         97 . The process of  claim 92  additionally comprising displaying a time status indicator delineating past time from future time.  
     
     
         98 . The process of  claim 92  additionally comprising displaying a program note overlay for a selected program on a portion of the schedule information.  
     
     
         99 . The process of  claim 98  in which the program note overlay is displayed in different locations to avoid masking a title of the selected program.  
     
     
         100 . The process of  claim 92  additionally comprising tuning a television tuner to a channel and displaying the channel to which said television tuner is tuned with a different appearance than other channels in the schedule information.  
     
     
         101 . The process of  claim 37  additionally comprising tuning a television tuner to a channel and in which a cursor follows a change in a channel to which the television tuner is tuned.  
     
     
         102 . The process of  claim 92  in which the schedule information is alternatively displayed as a schedule for a plurality of channels covering a first time period or a schedule for a single channel covering a second time period.  
     
     
         103 . The process of  claim 92  additionally comprising displaying an overlay containing information about a television program being shown on a television set connected to the television schedule system when a channel being shown on the television set is changed.  
     
     
         104 . The process of  claim 103  in which the information on the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, date and time.  
     
     
         105 . The process of  claim 104  additionally comprising providing an alternate overlay including a program note for the television program being shown on said television set.  
     
     
         106 . The process of  claim 92  additionally comprising displaying information about recording in response to a user command to record a program.  
     
     
         107 . The process of  claim 92  additionally comprising connecting a recording device to the schedule system and displaying an index of recorded programs.  
     
     
         108 . The process of  claim 107  in which the index of recorded programs includes an identification by title.  
     
     
         109 . The process of  claim 107  in which the index of recorded programs includes a pointer showing current location on a recording medium in the recording device.  
     
     
         110 . The process of  claim 109  in which the pointer is graduated in segments corresponding to each recorded program on the recording medium, and linearly with respect to position in each segment.  
     
     
         111 . The process of  claim 107  additionally comprising storing an index for a plurality of recording media for the recording device in a memory.  
     
     
         112 . The process of  claim 111  in which the recording media include a data channel and a title of a program recorded on the recording media is included in the data channel, the process additionally comprising comparing a title in the data channel with the index in the memory and displaying an index for a recording medium in the recording device based on a match of the title on the recording medium with the index in the memory.  
     
     
         113 . The process of  claim 112  in which an index is generated during playback and recording with the recording medium and stored in the memory in the absence of a match between a title on the recording medium with the index in the memory.