Television system
View Patent ↗A television system is provided which includes a display screen connected to or integrally formed with a broadcast data receiver (BDR). The BDR receives data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decodes the data to form video, audio and/or auxiliary data. At least part of the decoded data is used to generate first and second windows ( 4, 6, 8, 20, 22 ) on the display screen and one or more of the windows contain user selectable options. Upon user selection of a particular option ( 24 ) from the first window, at least a part of the first or second windows ( 4, 6, 8, 20, 22 ) are reconfigured, such that the at least part of the first window covers or disables a remaining part of the first window and/or a part or whole of the at least second window.
1. A television system, said system comprising:
a broadcast data receiver receiving data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decoding said data to form video, audio and/or auxiliary data;
a display screen connected to or integrally formed with the broadcast data receiver;
at least first and second windows generated from at least part of said decoded data on the display screen wherein at least one of said first and second windows contains user selectable options and upon user selection of a particular option from said first window, at least a part of at least one of said at least first and second windows is resized, such that a remaining part of said resized window and/or part or whole of said other window(s) is disabled, said resizing taking place in a series of expansions or reductions sufficiently gradual to indicate to a user that other selectable options have temporarily been taken away.
2. A television system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second windows is reconfigured when the user selected option in the first window results in a further user response being required.
3. A television system according to claim 2 wherein once the further user response has been made, at least one of said at least first and second windows return to its original configuration.
4. A television system according to claim 2 wherein a message or query is generated by said broadcast data receiver which requires a further response from the user.
5. A television system according to claim 4 wherein said message or query is generated by said broadcast data receiver during or after reconfiguration of at least one of said at least first and second windows.
6. A television system according to claim 4 wherein said message or query is already present on said display screen but is hidden or is non-selectable prior to user selection of a particular option by the user.
7. A television system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least first and second windows is reconfigured to cover non-selected options in said at least first and second windows.
8. A television system according to claim 1 wherein said first window having several graphical areas and any one of these graphical areas are reconfigured to cover or hide non-selected options in at least one of said first window and second window.
9. A television system according to claim 1 wherein the whole area of said at least first and second windows is reconfigured.
10. A television system according to claim 1 wherein resizing of at least one of said at least first and second windows is substantially instantaneous following user-selection of a particular option.
11. A television system according to claim 1 wherein resizing of at least a part of said first window includes enlargement of said window.
12. A television system according to claim 1 wherein resizing of at least a part of said second window includes reducing the size of said window.
13. A television system according to claim 10 wherein said first window is enlarged and said at least second window is reduced in size.
14. A television system according to claim 1 wherein said at least part of the video and/or auxiliary data is used to generate an electronic program guide for display on said display screen and said electronic program guide includes said at least first and second windows.
15. A broadcast data receiver, said broadcast data receiver comprising:
means to receive data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decode said data to form video, audio and/or auxiliary data;
at least part of said decoded data being used to generate at least first and second windows on a display screen, one or more of said windows containing user selectable options and upon user selection of a particular option from said first window, at least a part of at least one of said first and second windows is resized, such that a remaining part of said resized window and/or a part or whole of said other window(s) is disabled, the resizing taking place in a series of expansions or reductions sufficiently gradual to indicate to a user that other selectable options have temporarily been taken away.
16. An electronic program guide for display on a display screen providing information relating to a number of television programs and/or channels and being generated via a broadcast data receiver which is connected to or integrally formed with the display screen and which receives digital data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decodes the data, at least part of said decoded data being used to generate said electronic program guide, said electronic program guide comprising:
a plurality of windows containing user selectable options and upon user selection of a particular option from a first window, at least a part of said windows is resized such that a remaining part of said resized window and/or a part or whole of another window(s) is disabled, the resizing taking place in a series of expansions or reductions sufficiently gradual to indicate to a user that other selectable options have temporarily been taken away.
17. A television system according to claim 15 wherein said first window is enlarged and said at least second window is reduced in size.