System and method for pointing to a displayable program guide

Abstract

A method and system that allows a user to, with a single button press on a remote control, quickly navigate within a program guide to an established reference point, such as the program information associated with the last viewed channel and the current time. The establishment of a reference point provides a subscriber with a known position within program information that may cover weeks of time, thousands of channels, and a variety of categories or sorting methods. The subscriber that has advanced through many hours and channels of program information is provided with a method of easily navigating to a known reference within the program information.

1 . A method for establishing a referenced television information within a television program guide, the method comprising: 
 establishing the referenced television information within the television program guide based on at least one display parameter;    associating a user input key with the referenced television information;    causing a portion of the television program guide to be displayed;    receiving a single activation of the user input key requesting the display of at least a portion of the referenced television information based on the at least one display parameter; and    responsive to receiving the single activation of the user input key, providing the at least a portion of the referenced television information based on the at least one display parameter.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the referenced television information is displayed within a two-dimensional program guide, wherein the program guide is navigable in both dimensions and one of the dimensions corresponds to the at least one display parameter.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the referenced television information is displayed within a one-dimensional browse banner, wherein the browse banner is navigable in at least one dimension and one navigable dimension corresponds to the at least one display parameter.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one display parameter is chosen from a group of parameters consisting of a channel number, a time interval in relation to the present time, and a program theme category.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an icon depicting the user input key is displayed within the portion of the television program guide caused to be displayed.  
   
   
       6 . A method for navigating a television program guide, the method comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a referenced displayable location with at least one portion of the television program guide;    associating a user input key with the referenced displayable location based on at least one display parameter;    causing a portion of the television program guide to be displayed;    receiving a single activation of the user input key requesting to display the referenced displayable location; and    responsive to receiving the single activation of the user input key, displaying the referenced displayable location.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the displayable location is displayed within a one-dimensional browse banner wherein the browse banner is navigable in one dimension corresponding to the at least one navigable display parameter.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one display parameter is chosen from a group of parameters consisting of a channel number, a time interval in relation to the present time, and a program theme category  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein an icon depicting the user input key is displayed within the portion of the television program guide caused to be displayed.  
   
   
       10 . A system for establishing a referenced television information within a television program guide, the system comprising: 
 a transmitter for transmitting the television program guide and system control parameters;    a transmission medium over which the television program guide and the system control parameters are transmitted; and    at least one receiver, the receiver being operative to: 
 establishing the referenced television information within the television program guide;  
 associating a user input with the referenced television information based on at least one display parameter of the television program guide; and  
 receiving the user input requesting to display the referenced television information based on the at least one display parameter; and  
   responsive to receiving the user input, providing the display of the referenced television information based on the at least one display parameter within the display of a portion of the television program guide.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the receiver further being operative to cause to be displayed, with the television program guide, an icon indicating the user input that corresponds to requesting display of the referenced television information.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the user input is received from a remote control device.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one display parameter is chosen from a group of parameters consisting of a channel number, a time interval in relation to the present time, and a program theme category.  
   
   
       14 . A subscriber television system for navigating within a television program guide, the system comprising: 
 a headend for transmitting the television program guide and system control parameters;    a transmission medium over which the television program guide and the system control parameters are transmitted; and    at least one home communication terminal, the home communications terminal being operative to: 
 establishing a referenced television display within the television program guide;  
 associating a user input with the referenced television display based on at least one parameter within the television program guide, the user input being generated from a user input key;  
 causing the television program guide to be displayed; and  
 receiving a single activation of the user input key requesting to display the referenced television display based on the at least one parameter; and  
   responsive to receiving the single activation of the user input key, displaying the referenced television display based on the at least one parameter within the television program guide.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the home communications terminal further being operative to cause to be displayed, with the television program guide, an icon indicating a button on a remote control that a system user would press to provide the user input requesting display of the referenced television display.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the user input is received from a remote control device.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one parameter is chosen from a group of parameters consisting of a channel number, a time interval in relation to the present time, and a program theme category.  
   
   
       18 . A method for providing television program information on a display, the method comprising: 
 associating a list identifying a plurality of reference points within a user input key;    associating each one of the plurality of reference points with a respective portion of the television program information;    receiving a first user input corresponding to the user input key;    displaying at least a portion of the list identifying the plurality of reference points responsive to receiving the first user input;    receiving a second user input corresponding to a user selection of a first reference point in the plurality of reference points; and    displaying the portion of the respective television program information associated with the first reference point responsive to receiving the second user input.    
   
   
       19 . A method for providing television program information on a display, the method comprising: 
 associating a user input key with a user-selected program guide view; providing an option for a user-selectable program guide view from a plurality of program guide views, wherein each program guide view in the plurality of program guide views is navigable by a user in two dimensions, each said dimension corresponding to a respective display parameter;    establishing the user-selected program guide view responsive to a selection by the user of a first program guide view from the plurality of program guide views;    causing display of a portion of television program information in a second program guide view that is different than the first program guide view;    receiving a single activation of the user input key requesting the first program guide view; and    causing display of a portion of television program information in the first program guide view responsive to receiving the single activation of the user input key.