Method for providing an electronic program guide, multimedia reproduction system, and computer readable storage medium

1. A method for providing an electronic program guide for use in a multimedia reproduction system, the method comprising:

at the multimedia reproduction system:

(a) grouping first electronic program list data according to at least two condition factors from a plurality of condition factors to generate at least a first set of two-dimensional program list data, wherein the at least two condition factors are not related to program broadcasting time; and

(b) controlling a display unit of the multimedia reproduction system to present the at least the first set of two-dimensional program list data in a form of a virtual channel, wherein the virtual channel is with a virtual channel code and displayed on a screen of the multimedia reproduction system, wherein the screen displays a plurality of image blocks on a first plane, the image blocks on the first plane individually represent at least a portion of programs corresponding to the virtual channel and are arranged according to first and second coordinate axes corresponding to first and second condition factors of the at least two condition factors;

wherein:

in the step (a), the at least two condition factors further include a third condition factor not related to program broadcasting time, the step (a) further generates a second set of two-dimensional program list data; and

in the step (b), the step (b) further displays the second set of two-dimensional program list data on the screen, wherein the screen further displays a plurality of image blocks on a second plane, the image blocks on the second plane individually represent at least a portion of programs corresponding to the second set of two-dimensional program list data and are arranged according to the first and second coordinate axes corresponding to the first and second condition factors;

wherein when the system receives a selection indication, a program represented by one of the image blocks corresponding to the selection indication is played on the screen of the system, the screen further displays the first plane and the second plane arranged in a three-dimensional space simulated on the screen according to a third coordinate axis corresponding to the third condition factor, and the third coordinate axis is controllable by a user.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the third condition factor is one of a set of condition factors: condition factors according to channel sequence, according to time that each program is published, according to length of time for each program, and according to program category.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the screen further displays corresponding parameters corresponding to the first plane and the second plane according to the third condition factor in the three-dimensional space.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before the step (a), further comprising:

at the multimedia reproduction system:

(g1) detecting a search criterion, the search criterion including a keyword;

(g2) checking whether to set the at least two condition factors; if so, setting the at least two condition factors by detecting selection indications; if not, setting the at least two condition factors by using default values; and

(g3) obtaining the first electronic program list data by searching an electronic program list for any programs that satisfy the search criterion, wherein the electronic program list includes external network video linking data.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the image blocks on the screen displays corresponding descriptions of the external network video link data, each description includes the keyword.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first or the second condition factor is one of a set of condition factors: condition factors according to channel sequence, according to time that each program is published, according to length of time for each program, and according to program category.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored program code of one or more program modules, which, when executed by an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform the method for providing an electronic program guide according to claim 4 .

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored program code of one or more program modules, which, when executed by an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform the method for providing an electronic program guide according to claim 1 .

9. A multimedia reproduction system, comprising:

a display unit;

a storage unit;

a network unit; and

a control unit, coupled to the storage unit, the network unit, and the display unit, the control unit operative to group first electronic program list data according to at least two condition factors from a plurality of condition factors to generate at least a first set of two-dimensional program list data, wherein the at least two condition factors are not related to program broadcasting time;

wherein the control unit is operative to present the at least the first set of two-dimensional program list data in a form of a virtual channel, wherein the virtual channel is with a virtual channel code and displayed on a screen of the multimedia reproduction system, wherein the screen displays a plurality of image blocks on a first plane, the image blocks on the first plane individually represent at least a portion of programs corresponding to the virtual channel and are arranged on the first plane according to first and second coordinate axes corresponding to first and second condition factors of the at least two condition factors;

wherein:

the at least two condition factors further include a third condition factor not related to program broadcasting time, the control unit is further operative to generate a second set of two-dimensional program list data; and

the control unit is further operative to control the display unit to further display the second set of two-dimensional program list data on the screen, wherein the screen further displays a plurality of image blocks on a second plane, the image blocks on the second plane individually represent at least a portion of programs corresponding to the second set of two-dimensional program list data and are arranged according to the first and second coordinate axes corresponding to the first and second condition factors;

wherein when the system receives a selection indication, a program represented by one of the image blocks corresponding to the selection indication is played on the screen of the multimedia reproduction system, the screen further displays the first plane and the second plane arranged in a three-dimensional space simulated on the screen according to a third coordinate axis corresponding to the third condition factor, and the third coordinate axis is controllable by a user.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the third condition factor is one of a set of condition factors: condition factors according to channel sequence, according to time that programs are published, according to length of time for programs, and according to program category.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the multimedia reproduction system:

detects a search criterion, the search criterion including a keyword;

check whether to set the at least two condition factors; if so, setting the at least two condition factors by detecting selection indications; if not, setting the at least two condition factors by using default values; and

obtains the first electronic program list data by searching an electronic program list for any programs that satisfy the search criterion, wherein the electronic program list includes external network video linking data.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the image blocks on the screen displays corresponding descriptions of the external network video link data, each description includes the keyword.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the first or the second condition factor is one of a set of condition factors: condition factors according to channel sequence, according to time that programs are published, according to length of time for programs, and according to program category.