Techniques for displaying data based on characteristics of a display device

Abstract

A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving data having a first format;   receiving a display characteristic;   selecting a portion of said data based on said display characteristic;   fitting said selected portion of said data in an image frame having a second format; and   communicating said image frame to a display.   
     
     
         2 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein said display characteristic includes one or more of an aspect ratio of said display, a resolution of said display, a size of said display, a font type and a font size. 
     
     
         3 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein said display characteristic is automatically received from said display. 
     
     
         4 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein said display characteristic is received from a user. 
     
     
         5 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein fitting said selected data comprises anamorphic formatting said selected data. 
     
     
         6 . The method recited in  claim 5 , wherein said anamorphic formatting said selected data comprises compressing or stretching said selected data based on said display characteristic of said display. 
     
     
         7 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein selecting said portion of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
 comparing an aspect ratio of said display to a predetermined threshold;   increasing a horizontal portion of said data selected if said aspect ratio of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and   decreasing said horizontal portion of said data selected if said aspect ratio of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein selecting said portion of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
 comparing a resolution of said display to a predetermined threshold;   increasing a horizontal or vertical portion of said data selected if said resolution of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and   decreasing said horizontal or vertical portion of said data selected if said resolution of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein selecting said portion of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
 comparing a size of said display to a predetermined threshold;   increasing a horizontal or vertical portion of said data selected if said size of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and   decreasing said horizontal or vertical portion of said data selected if said size of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein selecting said portion of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
 comparing an aspect ratio of said display to a predetermined threshold;   comparing resolution of said display to a predetermined resolution threshold;   comparing a size of said display to a predetermined size threshold; and   adjusting said selected portion of said data based on a weighting of said aspect ratio comparison, said resolution comparison and said size comparison.   
     
     
         11 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein said display characteristic is received from said display;   receiving an additional display characteristic from a user;   adjusting said selected portion of said data based on said additional display characteristic;   wherein fitting said selected portion of said data in said image frame comprises fitting said adjusted selected portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication of an acceptability of said selected portion of said data from a user;   determining if an alternative display characteristic exists if said selected portion of said data is not acceptable;   selecting a different portion of said data based on said alternative display characteristic, if said alternative display characteristic exists; and   fitting said selected different portion of said data in said image frame based on said alternative display characteristic.   
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12 , further comprising choosing an acceptable image frame as a default selected portion of said data and default format for said image frame. 
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising selecting said portion of said data based on a default display characteristic, if said characteristic is not received from said display device or a user. 
     
     
         15 . The method recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an input from a user regarding an appearance of said image frame on said display device;   changing said portion of said data based on said input from said user;   formatting said changed portion of said data to create an adjusted image frame for said display device; and   communicating said adjusted image frame to said display device.   
     
     
         16 . A video device comprising:
 a receiver unit for receiving data having a first format;   a processor coupled to said receiver unit; and   a computer readable memory coupled to said processor and containing program instructions stored therein that when executed causes said processor to implement a method comprising:
 receiving a display characteristic; 
 determining a given amount of said data based on said display characteristic; 
 formatting said given amount of data as an image frame having a second format based on said display characteristic, wherein said first format is different from said second format; and 
 communicating said image frame to said display. 
   
     
     
         17 . The video device recited in  claim 16 , wherein determining said given amount of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
 comparing an aspect ratio of said display to a predetermined threshold;   increasing said given amount of data if said aspect ratio of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and   decreasing said given amount of data selected if said aspect ratio of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         18 . The video device recited in  claim 16 , wherein determining said given amount of said data based on said display characteristic comprises:
 comparing a resolution of said display to a predetermined threshold;   increasing said given amount of data if said resolution of said display is greater than said predetermined threshold; and   decreasing said given amount of data selected if said resolution of said display is less than said predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The video device recited in  claim 16 , wherein said method further comprises:
 receiving an indication of an acceptability of said given amount of said data from a user;   determining if an alternative display characteristic exists is said given amount is not acceptable;   determining a different amount of said data based on said alternative display characteristic, if said alternative display characteristic exists; and   formatting said different amount of said data in said image frame having said second format based on said alternative display characteristic.   
     
     
         20 . The video device recited in  claim 16 , wherein said method further comprises:
 receiving an input from a user regarding an appearance of said image frame on said display device;   changing said given amount of said data based on said input from said user;   formatting said changed amount of said data to create an adjusted image frame for said display device; and   communicating said adjusted image frame to said display device.