Universal programming system and method for EPG with localized interactive content
View Patent ↗An EPG to display programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information. A communication module in the EPG receives localized content containing multiple objects from one or more servers coupled to a network. Users may interact with the content (e.g., buy and sell goods and services from local franchises) through a user-interface coupled to the EPG.
1. A system, comprising:
memory storing a first object, a second object, and a third object, the second object configured to define an interactive component for display in an interactive electronic programming guide (EPG), the interactive component including localized content and the third object including content information for display in the EPG; and
a processor configured to:
analyze the content information of the third object;
determine a thematic content of the third object based on the analysis;
identify a plurality of world objects each defining a different theme for an EPG layout;
select the first object from the plurality of world objects, the first object having a thematic content associated with the thematic content of the third object; and
generate and display the interactive EPG by combining the first object, the second object and the third object, wherein a layout of the interactive EPG is defined by the first object.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises a set-top box, a television, or a VCR.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the system includes a plurality of drivers, one of the drivers communicating with a separate unit to replenish programming information.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the third object includes at least one of a schedule time, channel identification and a title.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second object is configured to provide non-EPG e-commerce interactivity.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the second object is received in real time.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first object is selected from the plurality of world objects based on a selected type of programming.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first object defines a virtual world and a subset of the virtual world is displayed as a matrix of rectangular boxes containing current program information.
9. The system of claim 1 further including a user interface configured to receive user interaction with the localized content of the interactive EPG.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interactive component is based on the content information displayed in the EPG.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third object corresponds to a selection from a user.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the third object is a sports channel and the first object has a thematic content of a ballpark.
13. A method, comprising:
storing in memory a third object including information associated with current programming events;
analyzing content information of the third object;
determining a thematic content of the third object based on the analysis;
identifying a plurality of world objects each defining a different theme for an EPG layout;
selecting a first object from the plurality of world objects, the first object having a thematic content associated with the thematic content of the third object, the first object configured to define a layout of an interactive electronic programming guide (EPG) displaying content programming information;
selecting a second object including a localized interactive component for display in the interactive EPG; and
generating and displaying the interactive EPG by combining the first object, the second object, and the third object.
14. The method of claim 13 performed by a set-top box, a television system, or a VCR.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the third object includes at least one of a schedule time, a channel identification, and a title.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the second object is a non-EPG e-commerce object.
17. The method of claim 16 further including receiving the second object in real time.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein the first object defines a virtual world and wherein a subset of the virtual world is displayed as a matrix of rectangular boxes containing current program information.
19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating a user interface coupled to the EPG and configured to receive user interaction with the localized interactive component.
20. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a sequence of instructions executable by a processor to perform a method for providing for an interactive electronic programming guide (EPG), the method comprising:
receiving a third object including information associated with a programming event;
analyzing content information of the third object;
determining a thematic content of the third object based on the analysis;
identifying a plurality of world objects each defining a different theme for an EPG layout;
selecting a first object from the plurality of world objects, the first object having thematic content associated with the thematic content of the third object, the first object configured to define a layout of an interactive electronic programming guide (EPG) displaying programming information;
selecting a second object including a localized interactive component for display in the interactive EPG; and
generating and displaying the interactive EPG by combining the first object, the second object, and the third object.
21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 20 stored in a set-top box, a television, or a VCR.
22. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21 further including instructions to provide a plurality of drivers, one of the drivers communicating with a separate unit to replenish the programming information.
23. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the third object includes at least one of a schedule time, channel identification, and a title corresponding to the programming event.
24. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein the second object is a non-EPG e-commerce object.
25. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 24 wherein the first object defines a virtual world corresponding to selected content.
26. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein a subset of the virtual world is displayed as a matrix of rectangular boxes containing current program information.
27. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 20 further comprising receiving the second object in real time.
28. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 27 further including instructions for generating a user interface configured to receive user interaction with the localized interactive component of the interactive EPG.