Channels and services display
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:
receiving an indication that a new service is available;
determining using control circuitry that the new service was previously unavailable to a user and is now available to the user for the first time;
generating a display of an indicator to indicate availability of the new service,
receiving a user selection of the indicator;
generating for display a list of only services that are available to the user for the first time in response to the user selection of the indicator; and
responsive to a user selection of a service from the displayed list, displaying a description of the selected service instead of the list of services.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of services includes at least one of a new information service and a new channel.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the new service is one of a new information service and a new channel.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising ordering one of the services from the displayed list of services in response to a third user selection.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the new service was previously unavailable to a user and is now available to the user for the first time further includes monitoring transmitted data packets.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining that the new service was previously unavailable to a user and is now available to the user for the first time further includes detecting a unique signature designating the new service.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the unique signature is included in a header of each of the data packets.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving an indication that the new service is available includes receiving a new services command.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising tuning directly to one of the services in response to a second user selection.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes at least one of channel call letters and a channel number.
11. A system for indicating the availability of a new service, comprising:
control circuitry configured to
receive an indication that a new service is available;
determine that the new service was previously unavailable to a user and is now available to the user for the first time;
generate for display an indicator to indicate availability of the new service,
receive a user selection of the indicator;
generate for display a list of only services that are available to the user for the first time in response to the user selection of the indicator; and
responsive to a user selection of a service from the displayed list, display a description of the selected service instead of the list of services.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the list of services includes at least one of a new information service and a new channel.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the new service is one of a new information service and a new channel.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to order one of the services from the displayed list of services in response to a third user selection.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry configured to determine that the new service was previously unavailable to a user and is now available to the user for the first time is further configured to monitor transmitted data packets.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry configured to determine that the new service was previously unavailable to a user and is now available to the user for the first time is further configured to detect a unique signature designating the new service.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the unique signature is included in a header of each of the data packets.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive an indication that the new service is available by receiving a new services command.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to tune directly to one of the services in response to a second user selection.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the indicator includes at least one of channel call letters and a channel number.