System and method for displaying an electronic program guide
A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.
1 - 59 . (canceled)
60 . A method for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) comprising:
accessing program information from a database;
displaying, in a display screen, at least a portion of the accessed program information in a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell of the plurality of cells includes a truncated program title;
navigating a cursor to the at least one cell; and
in response to navigating the cursor to the at least one cell, automatically displaying a full program title corresponding to the truncated program title in a program information region of the display screen.
61 . The method of claim 60 further comprising:
accessing a set of rules for shortening program titles; and
generating the truncated program title based on the set of rules.
62 . The method of claim 60 further comprising displaying a highlight border around the at least one cell.
63 . The method of claim 60 further comprising automatically displaying a brief program description in the program information region of the display screen in response to navigating the cursor to the at least one cell.
64 . The method of claim 60 wherein the truncated program title is shortened to fit within the at least one cell.
65 . The method of claim 60 wherein the truncated program title includes an ellipsis that is displayed within the at least one cell.
66 . The method of claim 60 wherein the plurality of cells comprise a visual grid structure.
67 . A system for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) comprising:
memory to store program information; and
control circuitry configured to:
display, in a display screen, at least a portion of the program information in a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell of the plurality of cells includes a truncated program title;
receive user input to navigate a cursor to the at least one cell; and
in response to receiving the user input, automatically display a full program title corresponding to the truncated program title in a program information region of the display screen.
68 . The system of claim 67 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
access a set of rules for shortening program titles; and
generate the truncated program title based on the set of rules.
69 . The system of claim 67 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a highlight border around the at least one cell.
70 . The system of claim 67 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically display a brief program description in the program information region of the display screen in response to receiving the user input.
71 . The system of claim 67 wherein the truncated program title is shortened to fit within the at least one cell.
72 . The system of claim 67 wherein the truncated program title includes an ellipsis that is displayed within the at least one cell.
73 . The system of claim 67 wherein the plurality of cells comprise a visual grid structure.