Improved electronic television program guide schedule system and method

Abstract

An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information from the memory and displays a portion of the program schedule information in overlaying relationship with a television program appearing on a television channel in at least one mode of operation of the television programming guide. The data processor controls the video display generator with video control commands, issued in response to the user control commands, to display program schedule information for any chosen one of the plurality of television programs in overlaying relationship with at least one television program then appearing on any chosen one of the plurality of channels on the television receiver.

1 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A method of using a program guide system for tuning between a plurality of television channels, the method comprising:
 storing a plurality of channel tuning sequences each comprising a subset of television channels or a rearranged sequence of television channels;   receiving a user selection of a first of a plurality of tuning sequence activation keys on the user input device, wherein each of the plurality of tuning sequence activation keys causes a different one of the plurality of channel tuning sequences to be activated;   in response to receiving the user selection, activating a first of the plurality of channel tuning sequences corresponding to the first tuning sequence activation key; and   controlling a sequence of tuning of the plurality of television channels in response to change-channel commands from the user input device, such that the television channels are tuned in an order defined by the first channel tuning sequence.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  further comprising:
 receiving a user selection of a second of the plurality of tuning sequence activation keys on the user input device; 
 in response to receiving the user selection of the second tuning sequence activation key, activating a second of the plurality of channel tuning sequences; and 
 controlling the sequence of tuning of the plurality of television channels in response to change-channel commands from the user input device, such that the television channels are tuned in an order defined by the second channel tuning sequence. 
 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the tuning sequence activation keys on the user input device are implemented as different buttons of the user input device. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the change-channel commands include selection of direction arrow keys of the user input device. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 65  further comprising limiting a display of schedule information only to those channels that are designated in the activated channel tuning sequence. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the change-channel commands include channel up and channel down commands on the user input device. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the plurality of channel tuning sequences include user defined channels and categorical entries. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the user television equipment includes a set top box. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the user input device is a remote control. 
     
     
         74 . A system of using a program guide system for tuning between a plurality of television channels, the system comprising:
 a user input device comprising a plurality of tuning sequence activation keys; and   processing circuitry configured to:
 store a plurality of channel tuning sequences each comprising a subset of television channels or a rearranged sequence of television channels; 
 receive a user selection of a first of the plurality of tuning sequence activation keys, wherein each of the plurality of tuning sequence activation keys causes a different one of the plurality of channel tuning sequences to be activated; 
 in response to receiving the user selection, activate a first of the plurality of channel tuning sequences corresponding to the first tuning sequence activation key; and 
 control a sequence of tuning of the plurality of television channels in response to change-channel commands from the user input device, such that the television channels are tuned in an order defined by the first channel tuning sequence. 
   
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 receive a user selection of a second of the plurality of tuning sequence activation keys on the user input device;   in response to receiving the user selection of the second tuning sequence activation key, activate a second of the plurality of channel tuning sequences; and   control the sequence of tuning of the plurality of television channels in response to change-channel commands from the user input device, such that the television channels are tuned in an order defined by the second channel tuning sequence.   
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the tuning sequence activation keys on the user input device are implemented as different buttons of the user input device. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the change-channel commands include selection of direction arrow keys of the user input device. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to limit a display of schedule information only to those channels that are designated in the activated channel tuning sequence. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the change-channel commands include channel up and channel down commands on the user input device. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the plurality of channel tuning sequences include user defined channels and categorical entries. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the user television equipment includes a set top box. 
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the user input device is a remote control.