Method of acquiring program guide information, program guide method appropriate for the same, and program guide apparatus

Abstract

A method acquires program guide information in an image signal receiver, and program guide method and apparatus using the same. In the program guide apparatus, information immediately required by a user is obtained first, and information of less preferential channels is obtained next, thus presenting a smooth interface to the user. The method of acquiring program guide information for channels includes acquiring the program guide information for each channel by scanning accessible channels while a received program is not displayed. The program guide apparatus includes a tuner tuning a channel, a program guide information detector, a memory, a key input, a microprocessor, and a character signal generator.

1 . A method to display program guide information for a set of accessible channels, comprising: 
 judging which channel among the set of accessible channels is currently tuned into;    determining a priority level of each remaining channel based on a predetermined relationship between the remaining channel to the currently tuned in channel;    acquiring program guide information, which is associated with the currently tuned in channel and a first set of the remaining accessible channels found to have priority over a second set of the remaining channels, after a program guide mode is entered; and    displaying the acquired program guide information for the currently tuned in channel and the first set of remaining accessible channels while program guide information for the second set of remaining accessible channels is acquired in a background operation.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises judging a numerical distance between the currently tuned in channel and each remaining accessible channel.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the determining further comprises judging that the remaining accessible channels that are numerically near the currently tuned in channel have the high priority level.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the judging proceeds in a numerically upward and downward alternating direction from the currently tuned in channel.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the judging proceeds in a numerically upward direction from the currently tuned in channel.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the judging proceeds in a numerically downward direction from the currently tuned in channel.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises judging a probability that a remaining accessible channel will be tuned into.