Channels and services display
View Patent ↗The availability of a new information service is publicized by displaying an icon in an EPG when the presence of a new information service is detected. A list of new services is then displayed responsive to a user command. When one of the new services is displayed instead of the list.
1. A method for indicating the availability of a new service comprising:
displaying a program title on a display;
determining the availability of a new service;
displaying an indicator simultaneously with the program title to indicate the availability of the new service only in response to determining that the new service is newly available;
receiving a user selection of the indicator; and
displaying a list of only services that are available to the user for the first time in response to receiving the user selection of the indicator,
wherein the determining is performed with a user equipment device, and wherein the new service is a service that delivers video content to the user equipment device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting a service from the list of services; and
displaying a description of the selected service in response to a user command.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the description of the service is displayed on the display in place of the list of services.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of services is displayed on the display in place of the program title.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of services includes at least one of a new television service and a new television channel.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of services includes at least one of a new information service and a new channel.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the new service is one of a new television service and a new channel.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising ordering one of the services from the displayed list of services in response to a second user command.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the availability of a new service includes monitoring transmitted data packets.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the availability of a new service further includes detecting a unique signature designating the new service.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the unique signature is included in a header of each of the data packets.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the availability of a new service includes receiving a new channels command.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tuning directly to one of the services in response to a second user command.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes at least one of channel call letters and a channel number.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying includes displaying, at once, a list of all of new channels and services that are available on a cable television network.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the new service is newly available comprises processing locally stored information to determine whether the locally stored information indicates that the new service is newly available.
17. A system for displaying information on a monitor comprising:
a display;
a display controller configured to display a program title on the display;
a memory for storing program title information; and
a processor coupled to the memory and the display controller, the processor configured to process the program title information, determine the availability of a new service, display an indicator simultaneously with the program title indicating the availability of the new service only in response to determining that the new service is newly available, receive a user selection of the indicator, and display a list of only services that are available to the user for the first time in response to receiving the user selection of the indicator,
wherein the determining is performed with a user equipment device, and wherein the new service is a service that delivers video content to the user equipment device.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a user selection of a service from the list of services, and display a description of the selected service.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the list of services includes at least one of a new television service or a new television channel.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the list of services includes at least one of a new information service or a new channel.
21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to monitor transmitted data packets in determining the availability of a new service.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect a unique signature designating the new service in monitoring transmitted data packets.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the unique signature is included in a header of each of the data packets.
24. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a new channels command.
25. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to tune directly to one of the services in response to a second user command.
26. The system of claim 17 , wherein the indicator includes at least one of channel call letters and a channel number.
27. In a system with a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, a display controller coupled to the processor wherein the display controller displays data including a program title, an indicator to indicate the availability of a new service, the indicator simultaneously displayed with the program title only in response to determining that the new service is detected, and a list of only services that are available to the user for the first time displayed in response to receiving a user selection of the indicator,
wherein the determining is performed with a user equipment device, and wherein the new service is a service that delivers video content to the user equipment device.
28. A apparatus for displaying information on a display comprising:
means for displaying a program title on a display;
means for storing program title information; and
means for processing the program title information including an indication means to indicate the availability of a new service, the indication means displayed simultaneously with the program title only in response to determining that the new service is detected, and a list of only services that are available to the user for the first time displayed in response to receiving a user selection of the indication means,
wherein the determining is performed with a user equipment device, and wherein the new service is a service that delivers video content to the user equipment device.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising:
means for selecting a service from the list of services; and
means for displaying a description of the selected service.