Graphical indication of selected cell within an interactive program guide
View Patent ↗An electronic program guide (EPG) having a variable indicator to focus a user's attention upon a corresponding field of a selectable program instance The EPG includes a user interface screen for providing a plurality of television program instances by time and channel in a grid menu. Each television program becomes selectable from the EPG based upon user interaction. The indicator is depicted in association with each television program when it becomes selectable as a result of user interaction. The indicator is configured based upon attributes of the currently selectable program instance.
1. A system for providing an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:
a means for providing an EPG; and
a means for displaying said EPG; said EPG comprising a user interface screen for providing a plurality of program instances arranged by time and channel in a grid menu, said grid menu having program instance fields for identifying said program instances, each said program instance being selectable from said EPG based upon user interaction, and an indicator depicted in association with each said program instance when said program instance becomes selectable as a result of said user interaction, said indicator comprising a graphic element having a length that depends on the duration of said program instance when selectable, said indicator having a first end corresponding with a start time of said program instance and a second end corresponding with an end time of said program instance, wherein the user's attention is focused upon said selectable program instance by said indicator, said indicator depicted in said user interface screen within a time portion of the grid menu, and wherein said indicator blinks at a rate depending upon a period of time that said one selectable program instance is highlighted.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said indicator indicates a position of said program instance in said grid menu.
3. A method for focusing a user's attention within an electronic program guide (EPG), said method comprising the following steps:
said user navigating through a plurality of program instance fields for identifying program instances of a user interface screen, the user interface screen comprising the program instances arranged by time and channel in a grid menu, each said program instance being selectable from said EPG based upon user interaction;
identifying one of said program instance fields as being selectable based upon said user's interaction with said EPG; and
in response to said one program instance field being selectable, rendering an indicator in association with said one field, wherein said indicator comprises a graphic element having a length dependent on the duration of said program instance identified by said one program instance field, said indicator having a first end corresponding with a start time of said program instance identified by said one program instance field, and a second end corresponding with an end time of said program instance identified by said one program instance field, said indicator rendered at a position that depends on said one program instance field, said indicator included within a time portion of the grid menu, wherein said indicator blinks at a rate bated upon a duration of said one selectable program instance.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of said indicator corresponding with another said program instance field when becoming selectable and said one program instance field no longer being selectable due to said user interaction, and varying said indicator based upon the duration of another program instance identified by said other program instance field.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said indicator indicates a position of said one program instance field in said grid menu or a size of said one program instance field.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein as the user navigates through the plurality of program instance fields, the indicator scrolls within the time portion.
7. A system for providing an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:
a means for providing an EPG; and
a means for displaying said EPG; said EPG comprising a user interface screen for providing a plurality of program instances arranged by time and channel in a grid menu, said grid menu having program instance fields for identifying said program instances, each said program instance being selectable from said EPG based upon user interaction, and an indicator depicted in association with each said program instance when said program instance becomes selectable as a result of said user interaction, said indicator comprising a graphic element having a length that depends on the duration of said program instance when selectable, said indicator having a first end corresponding with a start time of said program instance and a second end corresponding with an end time of said program instance, wherein the user's attention is focused upon said selectable program instance by said indicator, said indicator depicted in said user interface screen within a time portion of the grid menu, wherein said indicator blinks at a rate based upon a duration of said one selectable program instance.