System and method for grazing television channels from an electronic program guide
View Patent ↗A television system comprises an electronic program guide (EPG) including a picture-in-picture (PIP) window and means for returning to a last channel viewed full screen (LCF) in a television viewing mode prior to entering the guide mode. The EPG displays a program list including a listing for the LCF and text identifying it as such. This last channel listing is positioned at the top of a program list area in the guide. The viewer returns directly to the LCF in the television viewing mode by setting a cursor to the last channel listing prior to exiting the guide mode. In guides including listings for future programs, the last channel listing remains in a designated position of the program list area. To return to the LCF from the guide mode, the viewer cursors to the last channel listing in the program list and then presses a GUIDE/TV button, designates the LCF as the default channel to which the system automatically tunes when exiting the guide mode, or presses a LAST CHANNEL button on the remote control unit to simultaneously exit the guide mode and tune the system to the LCF. Alternately, the system may employ separate television and PIP tuners. In the guide mode, the television input is switched to the PIP tuner and the television tuner remains tuned to the LCF. Thus, when the viewer reselects the television viewing mode, the program being telecast on the LCF is displayed full screen.
1. A method for tuning to multiple channels using multiple tuners, the method comprising:
receiving a first user input to tune to a first channel;
tuning a first tuner to the first channel in response to receiving the first user input;
receiving a user selection of an electronic program guide (EPG) mode;
entering the EPG mode in response to the user selection of the EPG mode, wherein the first tuner remains tuned to the first channel after the EPG mode is entered;
receiving a second user input to navigate to one of a plurality of program listings that is associated with a second channel while in the EPG mode;
tuning a second tuner to the second channel in response to receiving the second user input while in the EPG mode that comprises the plurality of program listings;
displaying the second channel in a picture-in-picture window of the EPG mode, without simultaneously displaying the first channel, in response to tuning the second tuner; receiving a user selection of a television mode; and displaying, after displaying the second channel in the picture-in-picture window, the first channel, which is tuned to by the first tuner, in response to the user selection of the television mode.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein tuning the first tuner to the first channel comprises storing the first channel mechanically.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein tuning the first tuner to the first channel comprises storing the first channel using a phase-locked loop.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying, while in the EPG mode, a last channel designation associated with the first channel tuned to by the first tuner.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein receiving the user selection of the television mode comprises marking the last channel designation in the EPG mode.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein displaying the last channel designation comprises maintaining the last channel designation in a fixed position while in the EPG mode.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising changing the plurality of program listings while maintaining the last channel designation in a fixed position while in the EPG mode.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the plurality of program listings comprises displaying program listings for programs to be telecast in the future.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the first channel comprises displaying the first channel in full screen.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of program listings identifies a program.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of program listings obscures the first channel.
12. A system for tuning to multiple channels using multiple tuners, the system comprising: a first tuner; a second tuner; a display; a picture-in-picture window; a user input device;
a processor coupled to the first tuner, the second tuner, the display, the picture-in-picture window, and the user input device, wherein the processor is configured to: receive, via the user input device, a first user input to tune to a first channel; tune the first tuner to the first channel in response to receiving the first user input; receive, via the user input device, a user selection of an electronic program guide (EPG) mode;
enter the EPG mode in response to the user selection of the EPG mode, wherein the first tuner remains tuned to the first channel after the EPG mode is entered;
receive, via the user input device, a second user input to navigate to one of a plurality of program listings that is associated with a second channel while in the EPG mode;
tune the second tuner to the second channel in response to the second user input while in the EPG mode that comprises the plurality of program listings;
display, on the display, the second channel in the picture-in-picture window of the EPG mode, without simultaneously displaying the first channel, in response to tuning the second tuner;
receive, via the user input device, a user selection of a television mode; and display, on the display, after displaying the second channel in the picture-in-picture window, the first channel, which is tuned to by the first tuner, in response to the user selection of the television mode.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to store, using the first tuner, the first channel mechanically.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to store, using the first tuner, the first channel using a phase-locked loop.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to display on the display, while in the EPG mode, a last channel designation associated with the first channel tuned to by the first tuner.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to mark the last channel designation in the EPG mode.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to maintain, on the display, the last channel designation in a fixed position while in the EPG mode.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to change the plurality of program listings while maintaining the last channel designation in a fixed position while in the EPG mode.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to display on the display program listings for programs to be telecast in the future.
20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to display on the display the first channel in full screen.
21. The system of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of program listings identifies a program.
22. A method for tuning to multiple channels using multiple tuners, the method comprising:
receiving a first user input to tune to a first channel; tuning a first tuner to the first channel in response to receiving the first user input; receiving a user selection of an electronic program guide (EPG) mode; entering the EPG mode in response to the user selection of the EPG mode, wherein the first tuner remains tuned to the first channel after the EPG mode is entered, wherein entering the EPG mode comprises displaying a channel, other than the first channel tuned to by the first tuner, in the picture-in-picture window of the EPG mode;
receiving a second user input to navigate to one of a plurality of program listings associated with a second channel while in the EPG mode;
tuning a second tuner to the second channel in response to receiving the second user input while in the EPG mode that comprises the plurality of program listings;
displaying the second channel in a picture-in-picture window of the EPG mode, without simultaneously displaying the first channel, in response to tuning the second tuner; receiving a user selection of a television mode; and displaying, after displaying the second channel in the picture-in-picture window, the first channel, which is tuned to by the first tuner, in response to the user selection of the television mode.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of program listings identifies a program.