Intuitive electronic program guide display

1. A method of generating an electronic program guide comprising:

receiving television content and electronic program guide data;

separating the program guide data from the television content;

storing the program guide data;

determining user preferences from user-selected settings;

comparing the program guide data to the user preferences to determine a grade corresponding to a variable level of correspondence of the user preferences and the program guide data; and

changing an audible tone of a program element in response to the user preference and grade so that different grades have different tones.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein changing display an audible tone comprises generating an audible preview message of the program element in response to the user preferences.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the television content comprises receiving the television content and the electronic program guide data from a satellite.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the television content and electronic program guide comprises receiving the television content and electronic program guide data at a satellite television receiving unit.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving the television content and electronic program guide data comprises receiving the television content and electronic program guide data at a mobile satellite television receiving unit.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining user preferences comprises determining the user preference from previously viewed programming.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising selecting a zoom-out mode and wherein program elements of the display are reduced in size in response to the user preference.

8. A method of generating an electronic program guide comprising:

receiving television content and electronic program guide data;

separating the program guide data from the television content;

storing the program guide data;

determining user preferences from user-selected settings;

comparing the program guide data to the user preferences to determine a grade corresponding to a variable level of correspondence of the user preferences and the program guide data;

generating an audible tone of a program element in response to the user preferences and grade; and

changing a color of the display in response to the user preferences and grade so that different grades have different colors and tones.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein changing a color comprises changing a shade of a color in response to the user preference.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein changing a color comprises changing a brightness of a color in response to the user preference.

11. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising selecting the color corresponding to a program type.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein changing a color comprises changing a shade or brightness of the color in response to the user preference.

13. A system comprising:

a receiving unit having a controller module that receives television content and electronic program guide data;

said controller comprising a separation module separating the program guide data from the television content;

said controller storing the program guide data;

said controller further comprising a preference module determining user preferences from user-selected settings;

comparing the program guide data to the user preferences to determine a grade corresponding to a variable level of correspondence of the user preferences and the program guide data; and

the display module comprises an audible display module that changes a display by changing an audible tone of a program element in response to the user preferences and the grade so that different grades have different tones.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the audible display module changes a display by generating an audible preview message of a program element in response to the user preferences and grade.

15. A system as recited in claim 14 wherein the audible display module changes the display by generating an audible tone of a program element in response to the user preferences and grade.

16. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the receiving unit comprises a satellite television receiving unit.

17. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the receiving unit comprises a mobile satellite television receiving unit.

18. A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a satellite broadcasting the television content and the electronic program guide data to the receiving unit.

19. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the preference module determines user preferences from user-selected settings and previously viewed programming.

20. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the display module comprises a visual display module that changes a display by changing an appearance of a program guide element in response to the user preferences.

21. A system comprising:

a receiving unit having a controller module that receives television content and electronic program guide data;

said controller comprising a separation module separating the program guide data from the television content;

said controller storing the program guide data;

said controller further comprising a preference module determining user preferences from user-selected settings;

comparing the program guide data to the user preferences to determine a grade corresponding to a variable level of correspondence of the user preferences and the program guide data; and

an audible display module and a visual display module, said audible display module changes a display by changing an audible tone of a program element in response to the user preferences and grade and said visual display module changes a color of a program guide element in response to the user preferences and grade.

22. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein the visual display comprises a zoom-out mode wherein program elements of the display are reduced in size and have a color in response to the user preferences and grade.

23. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein the visual display module changes a shade of a color in response to the user preferences and grade.

24. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein the visual display module changes a brightness of a color in response to the user preferences and grade.

25. A system as recited in claim 21 wherein the visual display module changes the color based on a program type.