Combination of recorded program index and EPG
View Patent ↗A television system has a television viewing mode and a guide mode. The guide mode includes an electronic program guide (EPG), which provides the viewer program information for tuned programs, and a tape index guide (TIG), which provides information for programs recorded on a video cassette. In both guides, real time images of a program are displayed in a PIP window on the television screen and guide information is displayed in the background. In both guides, the viewer may switch between a currently telecast program or a recorded program. The viewer may access either guide from the television mode and vice versa. In the guide mode, the viewer may independently switch the guide information and the type of program, i.e., tuned or recorded, in the PIP window.
1. A method of displaying program listings and video comprising:
receiving the video from a program source;
displaying the video in a display area of a display screen;
receiving a first user indication to display broadcast program listings;
in response to receiving the first user indication:
continuing to receive the video from the program source;
displaying the video in a window, wherein the window occupies a first portion of the display area; and
displaying in a listing area at least one broadcast program listing, wherein the listing area occupies a second portion of the display area;
receiving a second user indication to display at least one recorded program listing; and
in response to receiving the second user indication:
continuing to receive the video from the program source;
continuing to display the video in the window; and
displaying in the listing area the at least one recorded program listing instead of the at least one broadcast program listing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program source is a source of broadcast programming.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program source is a source of recorded programming.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying program information associated with one of the at least one broadcast program listing.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying program information associated with one of the at least one recorded program listing.
6. A system that displays program listings and video comprising:
a broadcast program listing generator;
a recorded program listing generator;
a guide switch for switching between the broadcast program listing generator and the recorded program listing generator;
a program source switch for switching between one or more program sources;
a picture in picture (PIP) generator for:
connecting to the guide switch and the program source switch;
displaying a window that displays a video output from the program source switch and a listing area displaying at least one broadcast program listing from the guide switch; and
a microprocessor for:
receiving a user indication to display at least one recorded program listing; and
controlling the PIP generator to display the at least one recorded program listing in the listing area and to continue to display the video output in the window.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the program source is a source of broadcast programming.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the program source is a source of recorded programming.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the PIP generator displays program information associated with one of the at least one broadcast program listing while displaying the at least one broadcast program listing.
10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the PIP generator displays program information associated with one of the at least one recorded program listing while displaying the at least one recorded program listing.
11. A method of displaying program listings and video comprising:
receiving the video from a program source;
displaying the video in a display area of a display screen;
receiving a first user indication to display recorded program listings;
in response to receiving the first user indication:
continuing to receive the video from the program source;
displaying the video in a window, wherein the window occupies a first portion of the display area; and
displaying in a listing area at least one recorded program listing, wherein the listing area occupies a second portion of the display area;
receiving a second user indication to display at least one broadcast program listing; and
in response to receiving the second user indication:
continuing to receive the video from the program source;
continuing to display the video in the window; and
displaying in the listing area the at least one broadcast program listing instead of the at least one recorded program listing.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the program source is a source of broadcast programming.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the program source is a source of recorded programming.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying program information associated with one of the at least one recorded program listing.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying program information associated with one of the at least one broadcast program listing.
16. A system that displays program listings and video comprising:
a broadcast program listing generator;
a recorded program listing generator;
a guide switch for switching between the broadcast program listing generator and the recorded program listing generator;
a program source switch for switching between one or more program sources;
a picture in picture (PIP) generator for:
connecting to the guide switch and the program source switch;
displaying a window that displays a video output from the program source switch and a listing area displaying at least one recorded program listing from the guide switch; and
a microprocessor for:
receiving a user indication to display at least one broadcast program listing; and
controlling the PIP generator to display the at least one broadcast program listing in the listing area and to continue to display the video output in the window.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the program source is a source of broadcast programming.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the program source is a source of recorded programming.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the PIP generator displays program information associated with one of the at least one recorded program listing while displaying the at least one recorded program listing.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the PIP generator displays program information associated with one of the at least one broadcast program listing while displaying the at least one broadcast program listing.
21. A system that displays program listings and video comprising:
a video receiver that receives the video from a program source;
a display generator that displays the video in a display area of a display screen;
a user input device that receives a first user indication to display broadcast program listings and a second user indication to display at least one recorded program listing; and
a microprocessor configured to:
in response to the first user indication:
cause the display generator to display the video in a window while the video receiver continues to receive the video from the program source, wherein the window occupies a first portion of the display area; and
cause the display generator to display in a listing area at least one broadcast program listing, wherein the listing area occupies a second portion of the display area; and
in response to the second user indication:
cause the display generator to display in the listing area the at least one recorded program listing instead of the at least one broadcast program listing while the video receiver continues to receive the video from the program source, and the display generator continues to display the video in the window.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the program source is a source of broadcast programming.
23. A system that displays program listings and video comprising:
a video receiver that receives the video from a program source;
a display generator that displays the video in a display area of a display screen;
a user input device that receives a first user indication to display recorded program listings and a second user indication to display at least one broadcast program listing; and
a microprocessor configured to:
in response to the first user indication:
cause the display generator to display the video in a window while the video receiver continues to receive the video from the program source, wherein the window occupies a first portion of the display area; and
cause the display generator to display in a listing area at least one recorded program listing, wherein the listing area occupies a second portion of the display area; and
in response to the second user indication:
cause the display generator to display in the listing area the at least one broadcast program listing instead of the at least one recorded program listing while the video receiver continues to receive the video from the program source, and the display generator continues to display the video in the window.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the program source is a source of recorded programming.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a local source of recorded programming.
26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a VCR.
27. The system of claim 8 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a local source of recorded programming.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a VCR.
29. The system of claim 18 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a local source of recorded programming.
30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a VCR.
31. The system of claim 21 , wherein the program source is a source of recorded programming.
32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a local source of recorded programming.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a VCR.
34. The method of claim 13 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a local source of recorded programming.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the source of recorded programming is a VCR.