MXPA01002597A

MXPA01002597A - Electronic program guide with digital storage

Info

Publication number: MXPA01002597A
Application number: MXPA/A/2001/002597A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Joel G Hassell; B Knudson Edward; David M Berezowski; Michael D Ellis; L Joe Hedges
Original assignee: United Video Properties Inc
Priority date: 1998-09-17
Filing date: 2001-03-12
Publication date: 2001-11-21

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define"super-programs"for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.

Description

ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE WITH DIGITAL STORAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to video systems, and more particularly to interactive television programming guide systems that allow digital storage of programs and information related to programs . Cable, satellite and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Traditionally, users have consulted printed television programming guides to determine the programs that are being broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactive electronic television programming guides have been developed that allow the information of television programs to be displayed on a user's television. Interactive television programming guides allow the user to navigate through advertisements of television programs using a remote control. In a typical visual presentation of the programming guide, advertisements for television programs are organized into subsets of advertisements, in accordance with multiple organizational criteria, and are classified in various ways. One method is to organize the program announcements in a program announcement grid. Each row of the grid contains advertisements for television programs for a different channel. The columns of the grid correspond to a series of programmed broadcast schedules. The user can scroll up or down to see program announcements from different channels, or can pan "pan" to the left or right to see information about programs that are being broadcast at different times. Recently, interactive programming guides have been developed that allow the storage of selected programs with the programming guide, in an independent storage device, typically a video recorder. Usually, a control path that includes an infrared transmitter connected to an infrared receiver located on the VCR is used to control the VCR. However, the use of analog storage devices such as video recorders does not allow the execution of the most advanced functions that could be implemented if there was a digital storage device associated with the programming guide. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television programming guide with digital storage. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION This and other objects of the invention are achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention, by providing an interactive television programming guide system with digital storage that allows the programming guide to be used to supply more functions. advanced than previously offered by the interactive programming guidance systems. The data of the programming guide are supplied by a data source located in a satellite uplink facility. This information is transmitted to a television distribution facility such as a cable system terminal, through a satellite link. The television distribution facility distributes the information (and television programming signals) to the user's television equipment in which an interactive television programming guide is implemented. An appropriate distribution scheme involves transmitting television channels and distributing program announcement information in the vertical blanking interval of one of the channels or in a sideband. The user's television equipment to receive and process the advertisements of television programs and the ^ METHODFÉÉILÉ data of the programming guide may include a box that is placed on the set-top box. The box that is placed on the television set can also receive the television programming distributed by the television distribution facility. The programming guide implemented in the box that is placed on the television set processes the information of the television program announcements and generates visual presentation screens (for example, a grid of interactive television programming guide) to be displayed for example on a standard television monitor. The user can interact with the television programming guide by entering orders through an interface for data entry by the user. An illustrative interface for data entry is an infrared remote control with directional keys, a "guide" button, a "record" button, a "play" button, a "exit" button, an "info" button, and a "button" intro '(enter), "select" or "OK." The box that is placed on the television can store television programming and program information on a digital storage device associated with the programming guide. it can be an optical or magnetic storage device (for example, a device that uses digital video discs in which it can be written, magnetic disks, or a hard disk drive or a random access memory (RAM), etc.) The use of a digital storage device associated with the programming guide provides the user with more advanced functions than could be executed using an independent analog storage device. For example, the present invention provides the user with the ability to store information associated with recorded programs, in a directory of the digital storage device, thereby providing easy access to program information. The programming guide may also provide a global media library to indicate the programs recorded on the removable storage media used with the programming guide. The data that does not depend on time and is associated with the recorded programs can be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data when it is played, as if the program was being broadcast on the original broadcast. The programming guide also allows the user to define "superprograms" for the reproduction of a sequence of stored programs or program segments. The programming guide can also make it possible to transfer programs and subroutines to other volumes of the digital storage device or to a secondary storage device. Other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of television equipment illustrating the user, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 is a generalized schematic block diagram of parts of the illustrative television equipment of Figure 2. Figures 15-22 are flow charts of the steps involved in the operation of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An illustrative system 10 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The main installation 12 supplies data from the programming guide from the data source of the programming guide, 14, to the television distribution facility 16, via the communication link 18. Preferably, there are numerous television distribution facilities. 16, although in Figure 1 only one installation is shown, to avoid complicating the drawing too much. The link 18 can be a satellite link, a link by telephone network, ur. link by cable or fiber optics, a link by micro-waves, a combination of such links, or any other suitable means of communication. If, in addition to data signals, it is desired to transmit video signals over the link 18, a relatively high bandwidth link such as a satellite link may generally be preferable., rather than a relatively low bandwidth link such as a telephone line. The television distribution facility 16 can be any suitable distribution facility, for example a cable system terminal, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, or any other suitable type of television distribution facility. The data transmitted by the main facility 12 to the television distribution facility 16 includes television program announcement data (for example, schedules, channels, titles and descriptions of the programs) and other information from the programming guide relating to services. additional non-television program advertisements (eg, weather information, links to the associated Internet network, computer programs, etc.). The television distribution facility 16 distributes the advertisements of television programs and additional data to multiple users, through the 2C communication channels. Each user has a television set 22 to display the information of the television program advertisements, using an interactive television programming guide. The communication paths 20 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow the television distribution facility 16 to distribute television programming to the user's television equipment 22. If desired, television programming and video products can be provided by means of Separate communication (-not shown-). An illustrative arrangement of the user's television equipment 22 is shown in Figure 2. The user's television equipment 22 of Figure 2 receives video and data from the television distribution facility 16 (Figure 1) at the 26th entrance. television is normally watched, the user tunes the box that is placed on the television set, 28, in a desired television channel. The signal from that television channel is then supplied to the video output 30. The signal supplied at the output 30 is typically a radio frequency (RF) signal in a predefined channel (for example, channel 3 or 4), or a analog demodulated video signal, but may also be a digital signal supplied to the television 36 on an appropriate digital "bus" (for example, a bus using the 1394 standard from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) - not shown -). The video signal at the output 30 is received by the optional secondary storage device 32. The secondary storage device 32 can be any other suitable type of analog or digital storage device (e.g., a video recorder, a disc player, etc.). digital video (DVD) with the ability to burn DVDs, etc.). The recording of programs and other functions can be controlled by the box 28 using the control path 34. If the secondary storage device 32 is a video recorder, for example, a typical control path 34 involves the use of an infrared transmitter connected to the infrared receiver located in the VCR that normally accepts commands from a remote control such as the remote control 40. The remote control 40 can be used to control the box that is placed on the television set, 28, the secondary storage device 32, and the television 36.

The user can also record programs and program data in digital form, in the digital storage device 31. The digital storage device 31 can be an optical storage device in which it can be written (such as a capable DVD player). of handling DVDs on which it can be recorded), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or a digital tape), or any other digital storage device. The secondary storage device 31 preferably supports a directory structure containing information associated with the selected programs that have been stored. This information contained in the directory can be stored in a certain location, for example at the beginning or at the end of the storage device. The information contained in the directory can also be distributed (for example, by storing a portion of that information in the same location as each program). In the case of removable storage media such as DVDs, each storage unit can have its own information in the directory, and the programming guide can maintain a global media library (discussed below). The digital storage device 31 may be contained in the box 28 or it may be an external device connected to the box 28 through an output port and an appropriate interface. If necessary, the processing circuit of the box 28 gives a digital file-like format to the received video, audio and data signals. Preferably, the file format is an open file format as indicated by the MPEG-2 standard of the Group of Experts in Moving Images (MPEG). The resulting data is directed to the digital storage device 31 via an appropriate bus (for example, a bus using the 1394 standard of the IEEE), and stored in the digital storage device 31. The television 36 receives the signals from video from the secondary storage device 32 via the communication path 38. The video signals on the communication path 38 can be generated either by the secondary storage device 32 when playing a pre-recorded storage medium (for example, a video cassette or a digital video disc that can be recorded), by the digital storage device 31 when playing a pre-recorded digital medium, can be passed through the box 28, can be directly supplied to the television 36 from the box 28, if the secondary storage device 32 is not included in the user's television set 22, or can be received directly by television 36. While watching television normally, the video signals supplied to the television 36 correspond to the desired channel in which the user has tuned the box 28. The video signals can also be supplied to the television 36 by the channel. 28 when said box 28 is used to reproduce information stored in the digital storage device 31. When the user wishes to access the functions of the programming guide, the user can use a "menu" key of the remote control 40 or an appropriate key that corresponds to the desired function. For example, if the user wants to see information about programming, a "guide" key of the remote control can be used. When the box 28 receives commands from the remote control 40 which inform the box 28 that the "menu" button or other function button has been pressed, the processing circuit located inside the box 28 supplies information that is displayed on the television 36 , as described in more detail later. In Figure 3 a more generalized embodiment of the user's television equipment 22 is shown (Figure 2). As shown in Figure 3, program announcements, programming, and data-from programs-that are associated with programming, from the television distribution facility (Figure 1), are received by the control circuit 42 of the user's television equipment 22. The video signals are typically supplied in multiple television channels. The data -of the programs- that are associated with programming and program announcements can be supplied in the sideband of a television channel, in the vertical suppression interval of a television channel, using a digital signal in band, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by means of any other suitable data transmission technique. The user controls the operation of the user's television equipment 22 with the Unterfaz for data entry by the user, 46. The interface for data entry by the user, 46, can be a pointing device, a wireless remote control, a keyboard, a tablet (pad) to the touch, a voice recognition system, or any other device suitable for data entry by the user. To watch television, a user instructs the control circuit 42 to display a desired television channel on the monitor 45. To access the functions of the programming guide, the user instructs the programming guide implemented in the computer. television of the user 22 so that it generates a main menu or a visual presentation screen of the desired programming guide, for display on the monitor 45. The functions of the control circuit 42 can be supplied using the box arrangement that goes placed on the television set shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, these functions can be integrated into an advanced television receiver, a television with personal computer (PC / TV) or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such provisions may be used. When a user indicates a desire to access the main menu or another function of the programming guide (for example, by entering an order with the user interface 46), the programming guide generates an appropriate display screen of the programming guide , to be displayed on monitor 45. Figure 4 shows an illustrative screen with a main menu. From the main menu, the user can access any function of a number of functions of the programming guide. The functions indicated by the screen 50 that contains the main menu may include program announcements, recording schedules, the directory of the digital storage medium, the configuration of the programming guide, the transfer of the stored programs and of the superprograms to another volume or device, and the global media library. These and other functions will be described below. When the screen 50 of the main menu is displayed on the monitor 45, the user can access a function indicating a desire to do so. This can be done, for example, using the user interface 46 to place the mobile highlight region 56 on the desired function. If the interface 46 for data entry by the user is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can place the highlighting region 56 using, for example, the "up", "directional" keys. down "," on the left "and" on the right ". The user can then access the desired function by entering an appropriate order using, for example, a "select" or "OK" key hereinafter referred to as "selecting" said entry. The main menu screen can also be composed of "buttons" that the user "tightens" by entering the appropriate commands with the user interface 46 (for example, by highlighting a button and selecting it). The programming guide then generates the appropriate screen for the presentation of the programming guide, to be displayed on the monitor 45. When a user indicates a desire to see information about television programming (for example, selecting on the 50 screen of the main menu option 48 of program announcements, or using a "guide" key on the remote control 40), the programming guide generates an appropriate screen with program announcements, for display on the monitor 45. A screen with program announcements may contain one or more lists of programs, organized according to multiple organization criteria (for example, by type of program, by topic, or by any other criteria predefined or defined by the user and selectable) and classified in various ways (for example, alphabetically). The screen with the program announcements can be superimposed on top of a program that is being viewed by the user, or superimposed on top of a part of the program, in a "search" mode. One method is to organize the announcements of programs in a grid. An illustrative grid 60 of program announcements is shown in Figure 5a. The program announcement grid 60 has the program announcement rows 62, 64, 66 and 68. Row 62 contains selectable advertisements referred to programs 1 and 2 on channel 2 (Public Television). Row 64 contains selectable announcements of programs 1 and 2 on channel 3 (HBO). Row 66 contains selectable advertisements for programs 1, 2 and 3 on channel 4 (NBC). Row 68 contains £ áliÉÍ__j_áí ___ ¡__ a selectable ad for channel 1 program 1 (FOX). Typically, the programs of each channel are different. The program announcement grid 60 preferably has a mobile region for highlighting cells, 61, which highlights the cell of the grid that is in use. The range of motion of the highlighting region 61 is typically limited to the left by column 63, at the top by the schedule cells of the program announcements, to the right by the limit 67 of the screen, and in the upper part by the lower limit 69 of the screen. The user can place highlighting region 61 by entering appropriate commands with user interface 46. For example, if the interface for data entry by the user is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can place the highlighting region using the arrow keys "up", "down" , "on the left" and "on the right". If the user repeatedly moves the highlighting region 61 until it reaches the lower limit 69 of the screen, other attempts to make a downward movement cause the program announcements to move in the vertical direction. Similarly, the announcements of the grid 60 move when a pan-over motion is printed to the highlighting region (ie, it is moved to the right or to the left). Moving the highlighting region 61 to the right causes the program announcements in all rows 62, 64, 66 and 68 to pan to the left in an equal amount of offset. This allows new program announcements to be displayed. The schedule cells 65 are adjusted accordingly (i.e., increasing each cell in 30 minutes). If a panning to the left is printed to the highlighting region 61, the program announcements contained in rows 62, 64, 66 and 68 move to the right. After a user places the highlighting region 61 on a desired selectable program announcement, the user can access a number of features of the programming guide. For example, the user can access additional information (typically text or graphics, but possibly video) about the ad, selecting that ad. The user can obtain this information without leaving the grid 60. The user makes selections by entering appropriate selection commands with the user interface 46 (Figure 3). If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of Figure 2, to make a selection the user may use a "select", "OK" or "info" key. When making a selection, it goes to the programming guide so that it generates a screen with information about program announcements, to be displayed in file 45. An illustrative screen that contains information about program announcements is shown in Figure 6. The information displayed on the information screen 70 may include any information associated with the advertisement provided by the main facility 12. The information may include, for example, the title of the selected program, a description, information about the episodes, the channel, the members of the cast, grades ^ with parental control, categories, language or languages available, video formats available, or other information such as associated Internet sites or computer programs. The user can leave the screen 70 which contains information of the program announcement indicating a desire to leave the screen, for example by entering the appropriate commands with the user interface 46 (Figure 3). If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user may for example use a "exit" or "last" key to exit the screen. The programming guide can respond to an order of "last" generating the previous screen of presentation of the programming guide, to be displayed on the monitor 45. The programming guide can respond to an "exit" command by returning the user to the way of watching television normally. In an alternative embodiment, the scheduling guide may also provide selectable advertisements for programs that are stored in the digital storage device 49 in any form of list, table or grid. Program announcements can be organized in accordance with selectable organization criteria, and classified. One method is to use a program ad grid, as shown in Figure 5b. This can be done, for example, by using row 145 of the program announcement grid 141 to indicate the programs that are currently stored, thereby treating the digital storage device 49 as an additional channel. Multiple rows can be used to organize advertisements, according to organizational criteria (for example, by topic, type of program, or any other predefined or user-defined selectable organizational criteria). In each row, program announcements can be classified (for example, alphabetically). Each entry in a different column 147 of row 145 may correspond to a different movie stored in digital storage device 49. To see additional titles, the user may, for example, pan right or left using the arrow keys "a the right "and" to the left "of the remote control 40 of Figure 2. In the same way as the program announcement grid 60 shown in Figure 5a, the program announcement grid 141 shown in the Figure 5b may contain the highlight region 149 for selecting advertisements from any of the rows, including row 145, and thereby access screen 70 containing information about a program advertisement (Figure 6) to reach a selected advertisement. If the user selects a program stored in the digital storage device 49 (ie, an advertisement in row 145), the programming guide responds by obtaining from the digital storage device 49 the information associated with the advertisement, to be displayed in the display 70 of the announcement of programs, and displaying said screen 70 with information about the program announcements. The information for the screen 70 can be stored in the form of a register of the directory located in the digital storage device 49. The user can also select from the grid 141 a program stored in the digital storage device 49, for its reproduction . If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can use a digital "play" key to select the program whose advertisement located in row 145 is surrounded by the highlighted region 61 The programming guide responds by issuing appropriate commands to the digital storage device 49 to read the selected program and display it. Any non-time dependent data associated with the program stored in the digital storage device 49 can be presented to the user by the programming guide in the same way as it was presented when the program was originally airborne. This will be described more fully later. The programming guide can also provide functions during playback that are similar to those provided by current analog storage technologies (eg, "fast forward", "rewind", "pause" and "stop"). The programming guide may also display an options screen in response to the selection of any program advertisement made by the user. Such an options screen may include options such as "play", "erase" and "record", which the user can select on the screen by issuing appropriate commands with the user interface 46 (for example, by placing a highlight region on the desired function and selecting the function, or by pressing a "button" on the screen representing the option). The user can select a program and its associated data to be recorded in the digital storage device 49, without leaving the grid 60 or the grid 141. The user makes selections for digital recording by entering appropriate commands with the user interface 46 (Figure 3) . If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can use a digital "record" key to select the program whose advertisement is surrounded by the highlight region 61, for digital recording . If desired, the predetermined recording techniques used by the programming guide may be digital recording. When making a selection intended for digital recording, the programming guide proceeds to gather information from the digital storage medium that is currently loaded in the digital storage device. Such information may include the estimated amount of time left in the storage medium (if, for example, the digital storage medium is a partially full disk). The programming guide can also verify the information of the directory contained in the digital storage medium and compare it with the selected program announcement, in order to determine if the selected program has already been certified. If the programming guide determines that the selected program has already been recorded, it is not necessary to record again. The programming guide may retain the information associated with the selected program announcement (provided by the main facility 12 of Figure 1) so that the user can access it (for example, using the screen containing the recording schedule, described below).

In response to an indication by the user to digitally record a selected program, the programming guide can generate a screen with the schedule of recordings, to be displayed on the monitor 45. The screen with the recording schedule sets in lists the programs that are currently programmed to be recorded on the digital storage device 49. An illustrative screen 80 containing a recording schedule is shown in Figure 7a. Screen 80 containing the recording schedule contains a number of information elements which may include, for example, the name of the media volume that is currently loaded in the digital storage device, an estimate of the amount of time that is in the middle, and a grid 81 or other list 0 proper table showing the programs that are programmed to be recorded and the information related to the recording. The grid 81 may include the title of the selected programs, the channel to be recorded, the date and time of recording and the duration of the selected program. The user can access the data of the programs that are associated with the programming, which are supplied by the main installation 12 of the Figure 1 and corresponding to the programs that have been programmed to record, indicating a desire to perform that access (for example, by placing the highlighting region 82 on a desired program announcement and pressing an "OK" key). In response to such an indication, the programming guide generates a screen with selected program announcement information to be displayed on the monitor 45. An illustrative screen 84 with selected program announcement information is shown in Figure 7b. A screen with information selected from program announcements is similar to a screen with program announcement information (see Figure 6), but may also contain user-defined fields that the user can edit to add information that they wish to associate with the program. Figure 7b shows the illustrative field 85 of the description, the field 86 of the category and another field 88 defined by the user. The user can edit the contents of these fields, for example using the user's interface 46 to place the highlighted region 89 on the desired field and indicating the information that the user wishes to associate with the program. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of Figure 2, alphanumeric keys of remote control 40 may be used, or the user may scroll through the alphabet using "up" and "down" keys. to select individual letters and thus form words in the fields defined by the user. If all the information does not enter a single screen, the user can scroll down (and up) to see the information not displayed indicating a desire to perform such action, for example using the "up" and "down" keys on the remote control 40. The programming guide responds to such an indication by scrolling the screen and displaying the information not displayed. The screen 80 that contains the schedule of recordings, shown in Figure 7a, can also indicate which of the programs that are programmed for . * __ > to. . being recorded will enter the storage medium that is loaded (for example, when a DVD is loaded in a DVD player). This can be done, for example, by using bold text or text of a different color (see, for example, ads 89"M * A * S * H" and "TERMINATCR"). Selected programs that can not enter can be indicated by a different indicator, such as broken line 83. One or the other indicator, or both, can be used, and the types shown in Figure 7a are for illustrative purposes only. The user can leave the screen 80 containing the recording schedule indicating a desire to do so (for example, entering appropriate commands with user interface 46 shown in Figure 3). If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can use, for example, a "exit" key to exit the screen. When the order is given, the programming guide can respond by generating the previous screen for display on the monitor 45. The user can also see the screen 80 that contains the recording schedule when it is not on a program announcement screen. For example, if the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can access the screen 80 that contains the recording schedule when it is located on the main menu screen 50 that is shows in Figure 4, placing highlighting region 56 (Figure 4) on the option "recordings schedule" 52 and selecting the option "recordings schedule" 52. The user can also access screen 80 that contains the chronogram of recordings by selecting a program from the program announcement screen and selecting a "schedule of recordings" option on the screen from a list of options on the screen. The user may also select programs and data associated with the programming for recording in digital form, when it is not located in the program announcement grid 60, indicating a desire to perform such action while watching television normally (eg, entering appropriate commands with user interface 46 shown in Figure 3). If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40, this can be done by using a "record" key while watching television. The programming guide responds by generating a recording screen to be displayed on the monitor 45. An illustrative recording screen 87 is shown in Figure 8. Screen 87 with the recording schedule can display information about the program that is currently being viewed by the user, such as the channel in use, the start time and the end time, for recording. The programming guide can provide the user with the opportunity to edit the displayed information (for example, the start and end times) by issuing appropriate commands with the user interface 46. When finished, the programming guide can return the user to the normal way of watching television and start recording the selected program; The programming guide can generate a screen with the recording schedule to be displayed on the monitor 45, so that the viewer can see the recording schedule. Before recording a new program and the data associated with the programming, the programming guide can automatically act for the digital storage device 49 to search for available space, and can store the program and its data associated with the programming anywhere in the digital storage device 49 (for example, between two other programs). The program and its data associated with the programming can even be stored in non-contiguous space in the storage medium. An algorithm can be used for the best adaptation, to determine where to store the program based on the available free space and the extension and format of the program.

The programming guide may also store the data -of the programs- associated with the programming in a directory record of the digital storage device 49. This data may include, for example, the date and time the program was recorded, the channel in which the program was recorded, the duration of the program, the title and description of the program, the members of the cast, ratings with parental control, categories of programs, information about episodes, recorded languages and video formats, links Internet, graphics or any other information provided by the main installation 12 of Figure 1, by the user or by the programmer. Along with the program and the data thereof associated with the programming, the programming guide may also store additional components of a program in the digital storage device 49. This may include additional video formats, additional languages, additional subtitles or other data. that can not be stored in a directory record. The programming guide will store all the video formats and languages supplied or store only the variant that corresponds to the current preferences of the viewer's profile (described below). To the extent that the data-of the programs-associated with the programming are time-dependent, the user can interact with the data flow during playback, exactly as when the program was originally put on the air. If, for example, the data associated with the programming consists of computer programs to which the user could have accessed when the program was originally airborne, the computer programs may be stored in the digital storage device 49, so that the user can access them during playback. Such computer programs can be, for example, a program for purchases that allows the user to place orders to purchase products offered in the program. Or, a television program may have associated an Internet link that the user can select and thus access an Internet site. The programming guide can also allow a user to see the information contained in the directory, referring to the storage medium that is loaded. The user can access this function by indicating a desire to do so, for example by issuing the appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, this can be done by using a "directory" or "list" key. This can also be done by accessing the main menu 50 (Figure 4) and placing highlighting region 56 on the "medium directory" option 53 and selecting it. When the user indicates a desire to see the information of the directory referring to the storage medium that is loaded, the programming guide obtains the information contained in the directory from the digital storage device 49 and generates a screen for presenting the information contained in the directory, to be displayed on the monitor 45. Figure 9 shows an illustrative display 90 of directory information. Screen 90 may indicate, for example, the name of the volume and the available time remaining in the storage medium that is currently loaded. Screen 90 may also include grid 91 for displaying directory information. The grid 91 contains information about the programs stored in the digital storage device 49. This information may include any information contained in the directory and stored in the medium and may be presented in accordance with the current preferences of the viewer (described below). ). It may include, for example, the title, the channel, the recording date, the recording time and the duration of the programs. It may also include an indication of whether the programs have been viewed. Because the information contained in the directory and destined for the screen 90 is stored in digital form, it is generally possible to access the file quickly (by exercise, in a fraction of a second).; . This quick access capability makes the directory function easy to use to quickly check the status of stored programs. This would not be possible if an analog storage device such as a standard VCR was used. The programming guide can allow the user to access a full view of all the information contained in the directory and stored for a selected program. The user can access this function while it is located on the display screen 90 of the directory information, indicating a desire to do so, for example, by entering appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control of Figure 2, this can be done by placing the highlighting region 95 on the desired program using the "up" and "down" keys, and then selecting the program, not selecting an "info" option on the screen. Once the user indicates a desire to see all the information contained in the directory referring to a program, the programming guide generates a screen with complete information about the program, to be displayed on the monitor 45. In Figure 10 it is shown an illustrative screen 100 with complete program information. If the complete directory information does not enter a screen, the user can scroll down (and up) indicating a desire to do so, using for example the "up" and "down" keys of the remote control 40. In addition, the user-defined fields can be edited by placing highlighting region 101 over any user-defined field and entering information in the highlighted field (eg, with alphanumeric keys of remote control 40). To exit the screen 100 with complete program information, the user indicates a desire to exit, for example, by using a "exit" key from the remote control 40. The programming guide responds by saving the directory information in the digital storage device 49 if the information has changed, and generating the above screen for display on the monitor 45. The programming guide allows a user to play a stored program when the user indicates a desire to perform such an action by entering appropriate commands with the interface 46 of the user. This can be done, for example, by selecting a program from the grid 91 and using a "play" button of the remote control 40, or by selecting a "play" option on the screen from a list of on-screen options generated by the programming guide in response to the selection of a program by the user. Any non-time-dependent data associated with the program can be presented to the viewer by the programming guide exactly as if it were presented when the program was originally broadcast. The programming guide can also edit a program and its associated data when the user indicates a desire to execute such an action. This can be done, for example, by entering appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, then this can be done by using the "delete" keys in a particular way (such as by using the "delete" key twice), or by using a "partial" key, when the user is located on the display screen 90 of directory information. This can also be done by selecting an "edit" option on the screen, provided by the programming guide in response to the selection of a program advertisement or a directory record. Once the user indicates a desire to edit a program, the programming guide generates an editing screen for display on the monitor 45. An illustrative edition screen 110 is shown in Figures 11, 11, and 11c. The screen 110 indicates the program to be edited and other related information. This information may include, for example, the title, the channel, the recording date, the recording time and the duration of the program. The screen 110 may also contain the edit indicator 115 to indicate the part of the program to be deleted. The indicator 115 may have the start time 116, the end time 117, the markers 118 and 140 and the highlight region 119. The screen 110 may also have the video display area 113 to show the user the program part corresponding to the position of the markers 118 and 140. The highlighting region 119 is initially located by the programming guide so as to surround one of the markers, for example the marker 118. The user may indicate a start time that he wishes delete, placing the marker 118 (Figure 11b). This can be done, for example, by entering appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, this can be done by using the "left" and "right" buttons of the remote control 40 to slide the marker 118 to the left and right. As the position of the marker 118 changes, its time position ("marker time") is displayed, as shown in Figures 11b and 11c. The beginning part of a program is edited leaving the marker 118 in its initial position. When the marker 118 indicates the desired time position for the start, the user can select the marker 140 to define the end of the program segment using, for example, the "OK" key of the remote control 40. The programming guide responds by placing the highlight region 119 around marker 140. The user may indicate the end time of the part of the program to be deleted, for example by placing marker 140 in the same manner in which marker 118 was placed, as shown in the Figure 11c. The video display area 113 may display the part of the program corresponding to the markers 118 and 140 as the markers are located by the user. The programming guide can also provide the user with the opportunity to see the part of the program that has been selected to be deleted, in a "fast forward" playback mode, once the part of the program has been selected.

After the user has finished, the programming guide can allow the user to continue editing additional segments. The programming guide can also return the user to a previous screen (for example, the screen 90 for displaying the directory information) or to the normal way of watching television, when the user indicates a desire to execute that action (for example , using a "last" or "exit" key of the remote control 40). The programming guide can also provide the user with the opportunity to confirm that the part selected to delete is properly defined. Once the part (s) has been defined, the programming guide issues appropriate commands to the digital storage device 49 to delete the selected program segment, additional components and associated data, as appropriate. For example, the programming guide may immediately display the screen 90 and impart appropriate commands to the digital storage device 49 to delete the selected part and update the information contained in the directory associated with that part, if convenient. The programming guide can also allow the user to define "superprograms". Superprograms are sequences of programs or segments of programs that the guide will play sequentially in a specified order. The user can indicate the desire to access the superprogram function, for example by entering appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control of Figure 2, the user can use a "superprogram" key of the remote control 40 after placing a highlight region, such as the highlight region 95 of the screen 90 for presenting directory information (Figure 9), about a desired program advertisement (for example, M * A * S * H), or by selecting an option "superprogram" on the screen, from a list of on-screen options that are provided by the programming guide when a program is selected. The programming guide can also provide the user with the ability to name the superprograms and store them in the digital storage device 49. The records of the named superprograms can be stored in the directory maintained in the digital storage device 49, and may be displayed on screens having a list of directory records (eg, display 90 of directory information display), together with the directory records referred to program advertisements. For example, when the screen 90 is displayed by the programming guide, the programming guide can provide the user with the opportunity to select a superprogram which has been given a name. In response to the selection by the user of a superprogram which has been given a name, the programming guide can generate a screen that presents a superprogram to be displayed on the monitor 45. The programming guide can also supply the user a list of options on the screen to execute functions related to the subroutines (for example, pass -play-, transfer or edit the subroutine). When the user indicates a desire to define a superprogram, the programming guide generates a screen with a superprogram to be displayed on the monitor 45. An illustrative screen 130 showing a superprogram is shown in FIGS. 12a and 12b. Screen 130 presenting a superprogram is organized into three zones. The zone 131 indicates the selected programs stored in the digital storage device 49 (or in the digital storage medium of the device 49 that is currently loaded). Zone 132 indicates the sequence of the superprogram. The video presentation area 137 exhibits the part of the program included in the superprogram. The screen 130 presenting the superprogram can also indicate the name of the volume and the time remaining in the storage medium that is loaded. The three areas of the screen 130 can also be presented only when necessary. For example, the zone 131 can be displayed only when the programming guide is providing the user with the opportunity to select a program stored in the digital storage device 49. Once the user has selected a program, the zone 131 can be removed and replaced. through the zone 132 while the programming guide is providing the user with the opportunity to define a program segment for inclusion in the superprogram. The video display area 137 may be displayed only in response to an indication made by the user to the programming guide to display the program segment. In this way, it may not be necessary for all three zones to be displayed at the same time. To define a superprogram, the user indicates which program will be included in the superprogram sequence. The programming guide can also provide the user with the ability to include other previously defined superprograms in the current superprogram. The zone 131 includes a grid 133 for displaying the directory information in order to present a list of the programs and super-programs stored in the digital storage device 49. If the user interface is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can use the "up" and "down" keys to place the highlighting region 134 on top of the desired program or subroutine. The user can then select a program or superprogram by using a "select" or "OK" key of the remote control 40. The user can also access other information associated with the selected program by using a "info" key of the remote control 40, or by selecting an appropriate option from a list of on-screen options provided by the programming guide When the "info" key is pressed, the programming guide generates a screen with complete information about the program, which contains information associated with the selected program. When the user selects a program, the programming guide places the selected program in the sequence of the superprogram, at a defined point in the sequence (for example, at the end of the sequence.) As shown in Figure 12a, for example, the user has selected a first program segment and the user is selecting a second program segment. they appear in the second zone 132. The user then has the option of defining the segment to pass (piay) of the program that is going to be passed. Indicators 135 indicate the segment to pass that is defined in that breath. If the user wishes to define a segment to be passed, the user can do so, for example, using the markers 136 to define the segment in the same manner described for program editing. As shown in Figure 12b, the user uses the highlight region 134 (placed by the programming guide on one of the markers) to move the markers 136 and define the segment to pass. The video display area 137 exhibits the part of the program corresponding to the markers 136, as the markers 136 are individually positioned. The user can indicate that he has ended by defining the segment to be passed for example by using an "OK" key of the remote control 40. The programming guide then responds to this indication by placing the highlight region 134 (Figure 12a) in the first area 131 to allow the user to define another program in the superprogram sequence. The user can indicate that he has finished defining the superprogram by issuing appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can use a "play" key to finish editing the superprogram and pass it. The user can also select a "play" option on the screen, from a list of on-screen options provided by the programming guide. The programming guide responds by imparting the appropriate instructions to the digital storage device 49 to read the programs and data thereof associated with the programming, which correspond to the defined sequence of the superprogram. The programming guide then instructs the television crew 22 to supply the program? any associated data (for example, computer programs) in the appropriate format for display on the monitor 45 and its use by the user, as if the user were viewing the program when it was originally issued. If the monitor 45 is a television, for example, the user's television equipment 22 can convert the program from its analog format to the appropriate RF signal or demodulated video signal, for display on the monitor 45. The user can also Store the superprogram for playback or editing at a later time. The user may indicate a desire to postpone the reproduction, for example by issuing appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can use a "exit" key from the remote control or select an "exit" option on the screen. The control circuit 42 responds to an indication of postpone playback by storing the sequence for playback (either in the memory or in the digital storage device). The user can later access the superprogram, for example by selecting the superprograms while on the screen 90 for displaying the directory information. The programming guide can respond by providing a list of options on the screen (for example, edit, play, transfer) that the user can select. The programming guide can also respond by generating a screen with a superprogram, based on the previously selected programs entered and the segments to be defined, providing the user with the opportunity to add, edit or reorder programs and program segments. The programming guide may also allow the user to transfer programs and super-programs stored in the digital storage device 49 to other volumes of the digital storage device 49 or to the secondary storage device 47 (Figure 3). The secondary storage device 47 may be another storage device available in the home network system such as a video recorder, a digital video disc device in which it can be recorded, a computer (with an appropriate storage device), or another digital storage device. This function can be accessed, for example, by issuing appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user can use a "record" or "transfer" key when on the superprogram screen or, for example, the user can select a "transfer" option from a list of on-screen options provided by the programming guide in response to the selection by the user of a subroutine of the display 90 of directory information. The programming guide responds to this indication by issuing appropriate instructions to the digital storage device 49 to read the selected programs and the associated data, or the programs and associated data of the sequence of the selected subroutine. The programming guide then transfers the programs and associated data (if possible), in an appropriate format, to the secondary data storage device 47 of the programs. If, for example, the secondary storage device 47 is a video recorder, the programming guide directs the television equipment of the user 22 to convert the stored program or super-program in digital form to an appropriate analog format. The transfer of data (eg, computer programs) associated with a program or superprogram may not be possible with some analog secondary storage devices, so that the programming guide may consequently ignore the associated data during the transfer. However, the programming guide can provide the labeling of the analog storage media with associated data. The programming guides that provide the labeling of videocassettes with information of the programs are described, for example, in the U.S. patent application. Blackwell et al, Serial No. 08 / 924,813, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. If desired, the programs and data can also be transferred from the digital storage device 49 to the secondary storage device 47 via channel 43. The programming guide can also transfer the programs and data to another volume of the digital storage device 49. If the digital storage device 49 is a device using removable recording media (for example, floppy disks or optical disks on which it can be recorded), the programming guide may also allow a user to see a screen containing a global media library; This screen indicates information contained in the directory about the removable storage media used with the programming guide. The user can access this function by indicating a desire to do so, for example by entering appropriate commands with the user interface 46. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, this can be done, for example, by using a "library" key. This can also be done by accessing the main menu 50 (Figure 4) and placing the highlight region 56 on the "global media library" option 57 and selecting it. The global media library can be maintained automatically by the programming guide. For example, the programming guide may store or update the information of the directory records, in accordance with the current preferences of the viewer (described below) in a central storage area (eg, a random access memory ( RAM) or a central hard disk drive) each time the directory information is stored or updated on a removable storage medium. The programming guide can also store unique identifiers that identify the removable storage medium in which the programs are stored (for example, name of the volumes or numbers of the media). An illustrative screen is shown in Figure 13 250 that contains a global media library. The screen 250 containing the global media library may display advertisements for programs in any list, table, grid or other suitable form containing information about the programs stored in the removable storage media used in the digital storage device 49. Ads can be grouped into subsets of ads according to multiple organizational criteria and classified in various ways. Another method is to display the advertisements in a library bulletin board, such as library ad 251. The grid Library advertisement 251 may include a row for each removable storage medium used with the digital storage device 49 (eg, rows 261, 262, 263, 264, and 265) and columns for each program stored in each medium of storage. removable storage (for example, columns 271, 272 and 273). A user may access additional storage media and additional programs not displayed, for example by moving up and down or panning left and right. In the same way as the screen 90 for displaying the directory information, which is shown in Figure 9, the screen 250 containing the global media library, shown in Figure 13, allows the user to access functions of the programming guide already described (for example, placing the highlight region 257 alreaedor of an announcement of program and selecting it), which can? include access to a screen with complete information about the programs, play, suppress programs and partially delete programs, and define super programs that contain programs of different storage media. The user can also access these functions by selecting the desired function from a list of on-screen options provided by the programming guide in response to the selection of a program advertisement by the user. If the user indicates a desire to access a function of the programming guide that operates in a medium that is not currently loaded in the digital storage device 49, the programming guide can automatically change the loaded storage medium if the Digital storage device has the ability to do so. The digital storage device 49 can be, for example, an optical disc player with multiple optical discs on which it can be recorded. If the user selects a program on a disc that is not currently placed before a head for reading / writing the disc player, it reorders the discs until the disc containing the selected program is placed for reading or writing. If the disc containing the selected program is not in the disc player, the programming guide can display for the user the indication 255 that the disc should be loaded. The programming guide may also display such an indication if, for example, the digital storage device 49 is a floppy disk drive and the disk containing the selected program is not in the unit. The indication 255 may include a unique identifier that identifies the non-loaded storage medium. Preferably, the unique identifier is not displayed for the user to see unless the required removable storage medium is not loaded. If the digital storage device 49 uses removable storage media (for example, floppy disks or optical disks on which it can be recorded), the programming guide can provide the user with the opportunity to enter an identifier identifying the removable storage medium. in which the program is stored. The identifier can be the name of a volume, the number of a medium or another suitable unique indicator. The programming guide can also allow the user to choose various selectable options and select the types of information for display on various screens. The user can access this function indicating a desire to do so, for example, using the user interface 46 to enter appropriate commands. If the user interface 46 is a remote control such as the remote control 40 of Figure 2, the user may indicate a desire to access this function by selecting the "configure" option 54 from the main menu screen of Figure 4, or using a "configure" key of the remote control 40. When the user indicates a desire to access the "configuration" function of the programming guide, the control circuit 42 generates a configuration screen to be displayed on the monitor 45. The configuration function allows a user to select options and set their preferences. Figure 14 shows a ?? a m illustrative configuration 120. The configuration screen 120 may be organized in parts. For example, one part can be used to manage visual presentation options for information about programs, another can be used to manage storage options, and another part can be used to manage playback options. The program information zone 121 is an example of how the configuration screen 120 can be used to display selectable components that the user can select for display on displays displaying program information (eg, program announcement grid 50). , the screen 80 containing the recording schedule and the 90 display screen of the directory information). Directory components that are not selected can not be seen on such screens, and can only be viewed on a complete information screen (for example, screen 70 that contains information on program announcements and screen 100 with full information on the programs).

The storage options zone 122 allows the user to select options relating to storage.

For example, the user can select language tracks or video formats to store with a program. The user can also establish whether a parental control function is applicable to the recording of programs that do not meet certain control criteria defined by the parents. The user can also choose if the programming guide automatically deletes from the digital storage device 49 those programs that have already been viewed. When a program is deleted, the information contained in the directory referred to that program, as well as its additional components, is removed from the digital storage device 49. Playback zone 133 allows the user to select options related to program playback. A selectable function, for example, is a function to skip advertisements. If active, the programming guide tries to distinguish between programs and advertisements based on recorded data with programming or other suitable indications. Any material identified as advertising is automatically skipped during playback. The user can also set default languages and video formats for program playback. In Figures 15-20, the intervening steps in the use of the programming guide of the present invention are established. Figure 15 illustrates an overview of the steps that are followed to access a series of functions of the programming guide. The steps that are represented in Figures 15-20 are illustrative and can be executed in any order. In step 400 of Figure 15, the programs and data thereof which are associated with the programming are stored in the digital storage device 49 using a programming guide. In step 402, the additional components are stored in digital form. In step 404, the programs and their data associated with the programming are displayed on the monitor 45 (Figure 3) using the programming guide. The programs and data thereof associated with the programming can be displayed on the monitor 45 so as to give the user access to the programs and their data associated with the programming, as if the programs and their data were being originally broadcast, as set forth in step 406. In steps 408, 410, 412 and 414 the programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 a configuration screen (such as the configuration screen 120 of Figure 14), a screen with a schedule of recordings (such as screen 80 containing the schedule of recordings, shown in Figure 7a), a screen with program announcements (such as a screen containing the program announcement grid 60), which is shown in Figures 5a and 5b), and an editing screen (such as the editing screen 110 of Figures a, llb and 11c). In step 416, the programming guide transfers the programs and their data associated with the programming (if possible) to another volume of the digital storage device 49 or to the secondary storage device 47 (Figure 3). Figure 16 illustrates the steps that are followed to provide the user the ability to define selectable options. In step 424, the programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to define storage options. If v storage options are provided that refer to language, video format, parental control execution and self-deletion (Figure 15), the programming guide stores the programs and data associated with the programming on the device. digital storage 49 according to how the storage options are defined according to the provisions of steps 426, 428, 430 and 432, respectively. The programming guide can also provide the user with the opportunity to define playback options, as set out in step 434. If playback functions are provided referring to default language, default video format and skip advertising, the programming guide displays in the monitor 45 the programs and their data associated with the programming, according to how the options are defined according to what is established in steps 436, 438 and 440, respectively. Figure 17 illustrates the steps that are followed to provide a user with the opportunity to record programs and the data thereof associated with programming in the digital storage device 49. In step 410, the programming guide displays on the monitor 45 a screen with a schedule of recordings, such as screen 80 with schedule of recordings of Figure 7a. In step 450, the programming guide indicates on the monitor 45 the programs that are intended to be stored in the digital storage device 49. In step 452, the programming guide provides the user with an opportunity to select one of the programs indicated. The programming guide may also display a screen containing selected program announcement information, such as the display 84 of selected program announcement information shown in Figure 7b, for a selected program that is displayed on the monitor 45, as set forth in step 454. In step 456, the programming guide displays one or more data fields-of the programs-associated with the schedule, and may also display one or more user-defined fields in step 458. In step 460, the programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to enter information in 460 fields defined by the user. In step 462, the program, the associated data and the additional components are stored in the digital storage device 49. The programming guide can also provide the user with the opportunity to record programs while watching television, in step 464. In at step 466, the programming guide generates a recording screen for display on the monitor 45. At step 468, the programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to edit the information about the recording, such as the start time and of completion. In step 470, the programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to access the screen containing the recording schedule. The programming guide displays the screen containing the recording schedule (step 410) or begins recording programs, associated data and components (step 462) according to the indication given by the user. Figure 18 illustrates the steps involved in displaying program announcements and information about program announcements on monitor 45. In step 412, the programming guide may display a screen with program announcements on the monitor 45. The programming guide may include on the screen with program announcements a grid with program announcements (sub-step 470). In step 472, the scheduling guide provides the user with the opportunity to define and select organizational criteria (e.g., theme, program type, etc.) and to choose a classification method (e.g., alphabetically) to organize and classify announcements. In step 474, the scheduling guide provides the user with the opportunity to select a program advertisement. The programming guide may also display on the monitor 45 a screen with program announcement information such as screen 70 with program announcement information, which is shown in Figure 6 and indicates associated information referred to the program announcements. In step 478, the programming guide can provide a list of on-screen options that the user can select to access the functions of the programming guide. For example, there may be screen options of type "record" and "superprogram". If the superscripts and stored programs are included in the program announcement screen, the programming guide can also provide "transfer" and "play" on-screen options. In step 480, the programming guide exhibits programs, associated data and additional components. This can be the program, the data and the components of the selected program announcement. In step 480, the programming guide may also return the user to the program he was viewing before accessing the screen with program announcements. Step 480 may also correspond to where the user watches television programming before having accessed the screen containing program announcements. In Figure 19 further steps are established, which are followed to access programs and associated data stored in the digital storage device 49. In step 406, the programming guide stores programs and data thereof associated with the programming in the digital storage device 49. In step 488, the programming guide maintains a directory of the stored data (of the programs), which are associated with the programming. In step 490, the programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 a display screen for information contained in the directory, such as the directory information display screen 90 (Figure 9). In step 492 the programming guide indicates the information of the directory records (for example, by displaying on the monitor 45 the grid 92 for displaying the directory information shown in Figure 9), and provides the user with the opportunity. to select, in step 494, the information of the directory records. In step 495, the programming guide provides the user with a list of options on the screen (for example, "play", "transfer", "superprogram", etc.). The steps involved in displaying additional information of a selected program are set forth in steps 496, 498, 500 and 502. In step 496, the programming guide displays on the monitor 45 a complete program information screen, such as the screen 100 that contains complete information of the program. In step 498, the programming guide exhibits 45 information fields of the directory registers in the monitor, and in step 500 the programming guide exhibits 45 user-defined fields in the monitor. In step 502, the programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to enter user information in user defined fields. The steps involved in the editing of programs and their data associated with the programming, programs and data associated in turn with the information of the records of the directory, are set out in steps 504, 506, 508 and 510 of Figure 20. The programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 an editing screen such as the editing screen 110 of Figures a, ll, and 11c. In step 506, the programming guide provides a user with the opportunity to define the parts of the programs and the data (associated with the programming) stored that are to be edited by the programming guide. In step 508, the programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 a video presentation area. In step 510, the programming guide edits the portions of said programs and data stored in the digital storage device 49. In Figure 21, the steps that are followed to provide the overall media library function of the present invention are set forth. . In step 522, the programming guide stores the programs and data thereof that are associated with programming in digital storage media located in the digital storage device 49. In step 524, the programming guide maintains a library of global media that contains the stored data that correspond to the programs and are associated with the programming. In step 526 the programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 a screen with a global media library, such as screen 250 that contains a global media library (Figure 13). In step 528, the programming guide provides a user with the opportunity to select a program indicated by the screen containing the global media library. If the digital storage medium containing the selected program is not loaded in the digital storage device 49, in step 530 the programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 an indication that the storage medium is not loaded. In Figure 22, the steps that follow to provide the superprogram function of the present invention are established. In step 532, the programming guide stores programs and data thereof associated with programming in the digital storage device 49. In step 534, the superprogram sequence is defined. This can be done by displaying on the monitor 45 a screen with a superprogram, such as the screen 130 containing a superprogram (Figures 12a and 12b), as set forth in step 536. The stored programs are indicated by the programming guide in the monitor 45 in step 538, and in step 540 the programming guide provides a user with the opportunity to select the indicated programs. In step 550 the programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 the programs and data thereof associated with the programming that are part of the superprogram sequence, in accordance with the sequence of the superprogram. Other steps that follow to provide the superprogram function are set forth in steps 524, 544, 546 and 548. In step 542, the programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to define segments of programs and data to be passed. The programming guide may display an indicator and a marker to define the segment to pass, as indicated in step 544. In step 546, the programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 a video presentation area. In step 548 the programming guide exhibits on the monitor 45 the program and data segments associated with the programming that are to be passed, in accordance with the sequence of the superprogram. The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications may be introduced by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An interactive television programming guide system that operates in a user television equipment (22), which displays programs and data of programming guide associated with a user, characterized in that it comprises: a means to exhibit in the computer of user's television (22) the programs and their data that are associated with the programming, using the interactive television programming guide; and a means for storing in digital form the programs and data thereof that are associated with the programming, in a digital storage device (31) content on the user's television equipment (22), using the interactive television programming guide.
2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the means for displaying further comprises means for displaying a configuration screen (120) on the user's television equipment (22), using the interactive television programming guide.
The system defined in claim 2, wherein the configuration screen (120) comprises a means for providing a user with an opportunity to define one or more storage options.
The system defined in claim 3, wherein the storage options comprise one or more storage options selected from the group consisting of: languages, video format, application of parental control over storage, and self-deletion of programs already seen.
5. The system defined in claim 4, further comprising a means for storing in digital form the programs in a language, in a digital storage device (31), by means of the interactive television programming guide, using the option of storage of languages.
The system defined in claim 4, further comprising a means for storing the programs in a digital format in a video format, in a digital storage device (31), by means of the interactive television programming guide, using the option to store video formats.
The system defined in claim 4, further comprising a means for storing in digital form the programs and data thereof which are associated with the programming, in a digital storage device (31), by means of the guidance of interactive television programming, using the application option of parental control over storage.
The system defined in claim 4, further comprising means for automatically erasing from a digital storage device (31) programs and data thereof associated with programming, through the interactive television programming guide, using the option of auto-deletion of programs already seen.
The system defined in claim 2, wherein the configuration screen (120) comprises a means for providing a user with an opportunity to define reproduction options.
The system defined in claim 9, wherein the reproduction options comprise one or more reproduction options selected from the group consisting of: default language, default video format, skip announcements.
The system defined in claim 10, wherein the means for displaying exhibits in the user's television equipment (22), in a language, through the interactive television programming guide, the programs and the data thereof that they are associated with programming, stored in digital form, using the playback option with default language.
The system defined in claim 10, wherein the means for displaying exhibits in the user's television equipment (22), in a video format, by means of the interactive television programming guide, the programs and the data of These are associated with programming, stored in digital form, using the option of reproduction with default video format.
The system defined in claim 10, further comprising: a means for determining whether programs stored in digital form contain advertising, using the interactive television programming guide; and where the means to exhibit avoids displaying the advertising information when it exhibits, through the interactive television programming guide, the programs and data associated with the programming stored in digital form, using the reproduction option to skip the advertisements.
The system defined in claim 2, wherein the configuration screen (120) comprises a means for providing a user with an opportunity to select components for display on displays displaying program information.
The system defined in claim 1, wherein the means for displaying further comprises means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen containing a recording schedule, ¿M * ^ ^ ¿M ^^^^ m - ^ - ^^^ - ^^ - ^ - * i m - ^^ - ^ - ^ - *. -. -í ^ Éim¿ ^^ - using the interactive television programming guide.
The system defined in claim 15, wherein the screen containing the schedule of recordings comprises: an indication of the programs that are currently programmed to be stored by the digital storage medium; a means to provide a user with an opportunity to select one of the programs; and where the means for displaying further comprises a means for displaying on the user's television equipment. (22) a screen containing information selected from program announcements, referred to the selected program, using the interactive television programming guide.
The system defined in claim 16, wherein the selected program announcement information screen comprises one or more data fields associated with the programming guide, referred to the selected program.
The system defined in claim 17, wherein the selected program announcement information screen further comprises: one or more user fields; and a means to provide a user with an opportunity to enter user information in one or more of the user fields.
The system defined in claim 1, wherein the means for displaying further comprises means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen with program advertisements, using the interactive television programming guide, comprising the screen with program announcements a means to provide the user ina opportunity to select a program advertisement.
The system defined in claim 19, wherein the means for displaying a program advertisement screen further comprises a means for displaying advertisements for programs arranged in subsets of advertisements, in accordance with one or more organization criteria.
21. The system defined in claim 20, further comprising means for providing a user with an opportunity to select the organization criteria.
22. The system defined in claim 20, further comprising a means for providing a user with an opportunity to define the organization criteria.
The system defined in claim 19, wherein the means for displaying a program advertisement screen further comprises a means for displaying advertisements for programs in classified lists, in accordance with classification criteria.
The system defined in claim 23, further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to select the classification criteria.
The system defined in claim 19, wherein the screen with program advertisements comprises advertisements of the programs stored by the digital storage medium.
26. The system defined in claim 19, wherein the means for displaying further comprises means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen with program announcement information relating to the selected program advertisement, using the guide of interactive television programming.
The system defined in claim 26, wherein the display with program announcement information comprises one or more data fields of the programs associated with the programming, selected from the group consisting of: title, description, episode, channel, duration , program already seen, members of the cast, category or categories, language, video format, start and end time, date, repetition indicator, stereo indicator, closed caption indicator, and other information.
The system defined in claim 25, wherein: the means for displaying further comprises means for displaying one or more options on the screen; and also comprises a means to provide a user with an opportunity to select an option on the screen.
29. The system defined in claim 19, wherein the means for displaying the program advertisements further comprises a means for displaying program advertisements in a program announcement grid.
30. The system defined in claim 29, wherein the program announcement grid contains one or more display rows of the programs stored by the digital storage medium.
The system defined in claim 1, wherein the means for displaying further comprises means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22), using the interactive television programming guide, the programs and the data thereof that are associated with programming, stored in digital form, to provide users with an opportunity to access data associated with programming as if programs and program data were being originally broadcast.
32. The system defined in claim 1, in = ^^^^ where the digital storage means further comprises a means for storing in digital form additional components of the programs, in a digital storage device (31).
33. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said program data that is associated with the programming comprises programming announcement data, provided by a main facility (12).
34. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the data of the programs that are associated with the programming comprise information added by the user.
The system defined in claim 1, further comprising means for transferring stored programs in digital form to a secondary storage device (32), using the interactive television programming guide.
36. An interactive television program guide system operating in a user television equipment (22), which displays program and program guide data associated with a user, the system is characterized by: a digital storage device (31) ) located on the user's television equipment (22), for storing in digital form the programs and the data thereof that are associated with the programming, using the interactive television programming guide; and a means to maintain a directory of those data of the programs that are associated with the programming and are stored in digital form, using the interactive television programming guide.
37. The system defined in claim 36, further comprising means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a display screen for the information contained in the directory, using the interactive television programming guide.
38. The system defined in claim 37, wherein the display screen of the information contained in the directory comprises: a means for indicating information of the directory records; and a means to provide a user with an opportunity to select information from directory records; wherein the means for displaying further comprises means for displaying a screen (100) with complete information about a program, in response to the selection of directory information by the user.
39. The system defined in claim 38, wherein the screen (100) with complete registration information comprises a plurality of information fields of the directory records, selected from the group consisting of: title, description, episode, channel, duration , program already seen, members of the cast, category or categories, language, video format, start and end time, date, repetition indicator, stereo indicator, closed caption indicator, and other information.
40. The system defined in claim 39, wherein the display (100) with complete registration information further comprises: one or more fields defined by the user; and a means for providing a user with an opportunity to enter user information in one or more of the user defined fields.
41. The system defined in claim 36, further comprising: means for displaying an editing screen; and a means for editing parts of the programs and the data thereof associated with the programming, stored in digital form, from the digital storage device (31), using the interactive television programming guide.
42. The system defined in claim 41, wherein the editing screen comprises a means for providing a user with an opportunity to define the parts of the programs and the data thereof associated with the programming, stored in digital form, to be edited by the editing medium.
43. The system defined in claim 42, in which the partial editing screen further comprises a video display area (113).
44. The system defined in claim 36, wherein: the digital storage device (31) digitally stores the programs and data thereof associated with programming in removable digital storage media, using the interactive television programming guide; and the means to maintain maintains the data of the programs that are associated with the programming, in a global media library, using the interactive television programming guide.
45. The system defined in claim 44, further comprising means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen with a global media library, using the interactive television programming guide.
46. The system defined in claim 45, in ..Atot. .3 ^ jiü ^ where: the screen containing the global media library comprises a means for providing a user with an opportunity to select a program stored on the removable storage media; and means for displaying an indication that the removable storage medium containing the selected program is not loaded in the digital storage device (31).
47. An interactive television programming guide system operating in a user television equipment (22), which displays program and programming guide data associated with a user, the system is characterized by having: a digital storage device (31) located on the user's television equipment (22), for storing in digital form the programs and the data thereof associated with the programming, using the interactive television programming guide; a means to define the sequence of a superprogram; and a means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22) the programs and segments of the programs and the data thereof associated with the programming, in accordance with the defined sequence of the superprogram, using the interactive television programming guide.
48. The system defined in claim 47, wherein the means for defining further comprises a means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen displaying a superprogram, using the interactive television programming guide.
49. The system defined in claim 48, wherein the screen presenting the super-program comprises: a zone indicating the programs stored in the digital storage device (31); and a means for providing a user with an opportunity to select a program to be included in the superprogram sequence.
50. The system defined in claim 48, wherein: the screen presenting the superprogram further comprises a zone for providing a user with an opportunity to define segments to be passed; and the means for displaying further comprises means for displaying on the user's television equipment (22) the segments to be passed, which belong to the programs and to the data thereof associated with the programming, in accordance with the sequence of the superprogram, using the interactive television programming guide.
51. The system defined in claim 50, wherein the area to provide a user with an opportunity to define segments to be passed comprises: an indicator of the segments to be passed; and one or more markers to define the segment to be passed.
52. The system defined in claim 48, wherein the screen presenting the superprogram further comprises a video display area (113).
53. The system defined in claim 47, further comprising means for transferring stored programs in digital form to a secondary storage device (32) in accordance with the defined superprogram, using the interactive television programming guide.
54. A method in which television programs and their data that are associated with programming are displayed to users by an interactive television programming guide implemented on a user's television equipment (22), the method is characterized by the steps of: displaying on the user's television equipment (22) the programs and data thereof that are associated with the programming, using the interactive television programming guide; and storing in digital form the programs and data thereof that are associated with programming, in a digital storage device (31) contained in the user's television equipment (22), using the interactive television programming guide.
55. The method defined in claim 54, further comprising the step of displaying a configuration screen (120) on the user's television equipment (22)., using the interactive television programming guide.
56. The method defined in claim 55, wherein step of displaying a configuration screen (120) further comprises the step of providing a user with an opportunity to define one or more storage options.
57. The method defined in claim 56, wherein the step of displaying a configuration screen (120) further comprises the step of providing a user with an opportunity to define one or more storage options selected from the group consisting of: languages, video format, application of parental control over storage, and self-deletion of programs already seen.
58. The method defined in claim 57, further comprising the step of storing the programs in a digital language in a storage device. .... ... Ja > i _ «... v digital (31), by means of the interactive television program guide, using the language storage option.
59. The method defined in claim 57, further comprising the step of storing the programs in digital form in a video format, in a digital storage device (31), by means of the interactive television programming guide, using the option to store video formats.
60. The method defined in claim 57, further comprising the step of storing in digital form the programs and the data thereof which are associated with the programming, in a digital storage device (31), by means of the user guide. interactive television programming, using the application option of parental control over the storage option.
61. The method defined in claim 57, further comprising the step of automatically erasing from a digital storage device (31) programs and data thereof associated with programming, by means of the interactive television programming guide, using the auto-deletion option of programs already seen.
62. The method defined in claim 55, wherein the step of displaying a configuration screen (120) further comprises the step of providing a user with an opportunity to define playback options.
63. The method defined in claim 55, wherein the step of displaying a configuration screen (120) further comprises providing a user with an opportunity to define one or more reproduction options selected from the group consisting of: predetermined language, default video format, skip announcements.
64. The method defined in claim 63, further comprising the step of displaying on the user's television equipment (22), in a language, through the interactive television programming guide, the programs and the data thereof that they are associated with programming, stored in digital form, using the playback option with default language.
65. The method defined in claim 63, further comprising the step of displaying on the user's television equipment (22), in a video format, through the interactive television programming guide, the programs and the data of These are associated with programming, stored in digital form, using the option of reproduction with default video format.
66. The method defined in claim 63, further comprising the steps of: determining whether programs stored in digital form contain advertising, using the interactive television programming guide; and skip the advertising information when the programs and data associated with the programming stored in digital form are displayed, through the interactive television programming guide, using the reproduction option to skip the advertisements.
67. The method defined in claim 55 further comprising the step of providing a user with an opportunity to select components for display on displays displaying program information.
68. The method defined in claim 54, further comprising the step of displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen containing a schedule of recordings, using the interactive television programming guide.
69. The method defined in claim 68, further comprising the steps of: indicating the programs that are currently programmed to be stored by the digital storage medium; provide a user with an opportunity to select one of the programs; and displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen containing information selected from program announcements, referred to the selected program, using the interactive television programming guide.
70. The method defined in claim 69, wherein the step of displaying an information screen selected from program advertisements comprises the step of displaying one or more data fields associated with the programming guide, referred to the selected program.
71. The method defined in claim 70, further comprising the steps of: displaying one or more fields defined by the user; and providing a user with an opportunity to enter user information in one or more of the fields defined by the user.
72. The method defined in claim 54, further comprising the steps of: displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen with program advertisements, using the interactive television programming guide; and provide the user with an opportunity to select a program advertisement.
73. The method defined in claim 72, wherein the means for displaying on a screen advertisements of ^ tecttbtai programs further comprises a means for displaying advertisements for programs arranged in subsets of advertisements, in accordance with one or more organizational criteria.
74. The method defined in claim 73, further comprising the step of providing a user with an opportunity to select the organization criterion.
75. The method defined in claim 73, further comprising the step of providing a user with an opportunity to define the organization criteria.
76. The method defined in claim 72, further comprising the step of displaying program advertisements in classified lists, in accordance with classification criteria.
77. The method defined in claim 76, further comprising the step of providing the user with an opportunity to select the classification criteria.
78. The method defined in claim 72, wherein the step of displaying a screen with program advertisements further comprises the step of displaying advertisements of the programs stored in a digital storage device (31).
79. The method defined in claim 78, further comprising the step of displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen with program announcement information relating to the selected program advertisement, using the g & interactive television programming.
80. The method defined in claim 79, wherein the step of displaying a display with announcement information of the programs also comprehends the step of displaying one or more data fields of the programs associated with the programming, selected from the group. composed of: title, description, episode, channel, duration, program already seen, members of the cast, category or categories, language, video format, start and end time, date, repetition indicator, stereo indicator, subtitle indicator closed, and other information.
81. The method defined in claim 78, further comprising the steps of: displaying one or more options on the screen; and provide a user with an opportunity to select an option on the screen.
82. The method defined in claim 72, wherein the step of displaying the program advertisements further comprises the step of displaying program advertisements in a program announcement grid.
83. The method defined in claim 72, wherein the step of displaying a program advertisement grid comprises the step of displaying one or more display rows of the programs stored by the digital storage medium.
84. The method defined in claim 54, further comprising the step of displaying on the user's television equipment (22), using the interactive television programming guide, the programs and the data thereof which are associated with the programming, stored in digital form, to provide a. users an opportunity to access the data associated with programming as if programs and program data were being originally broadcast.
85. The method defined in claim 54, further comprising the step of storing in digital form additional components of the programs, in a digital storage device (31).
86. The method defined in claim 54, further comprising the step of providing a user with the opportunity to give information aggregated by the user.
87. The method defined in claim 54, further comprising the step of transferring the stored programs in digital form to a secondary storage device (32), using the interactive television programming guide.
88. A method in which television programs and data of these that are associated with the programming are displayed for the users by an interactive television programming guide implemented in the user's television equipment (22), the method is characterized by the steps of: storing in digital form the programs and the data of these that are associated with the programming, using the interactive television programming guide; and maintain a directory of those data of the programs that are associated with the programming and are stored in digital form, using the interactive television programming guide.
89. The method defined in claim 88, further comprising the step of displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a display screen of the information contained in the directory, using the interactive television programming guide.
90. The method defined in claim 89, further comprising the steps of: indicating information of the directory records; and provide a user with an opportunity to select information from directory records; display a screen with complete information (100) about a program, in response to the selection of directory information by the user. Éa = __-- ^.
91. The method defined in claim 90, further comprising the step of displaying a plurality of information fields of the directory records, selected from the group consisting of: title, description, episode, channel, duration, program already seen, members of the cast , category or categories, language, video format, start and end time, date, repeat indicator, stereo indicator, closed caption indicator, and other information.
92. The method defined in claim 91, further comprising the steps of: displaying one or more fields defined by the user; and N providing a user with an opportunity to enter user information in one or more of the user defined fields.
93. The method defined in claim 88, further comprising the steps of: displaying an editing screen; and editing parts of the programs and the data thereof associated with the programming, stored in digital form, from the digital storage device (31), using the interactive television programming guide.
94. The method defined in claim 93, further comprising the step of providing a user with an opportunity to define the parts of the programs and the data thereof associated with the programming, stored in digital form, to be edited by the user. editing medium.
95. The method defined in claim 94, further comprising the step of providing a video display area (113).
96. The method defined in claim 88, further comprising the steps of: storing in digital form the programs and data thereof associated with programming in removable digital storage media, using the interactive television programming guide; and maintain those data of the programs that are associated with the programming, in a global media library, using the interactive television programming guide.
97. The method defined in claim 96, further comprising the step of displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen with a global media library, using the interactive television programming guide.
98. The method defined in claim 97, further comprising the steps of: providing a user with an opportunity to * - - - - select a program stored in the removable storage media, and display an indication that the removable storage medium containing the selected program is not loaded in the digital storage device (31) -
99. A method for use in an interactive television programming guide implemented in a user television equipment (22), which exhibits associated programs and program data, the method is characterized by the steps of: storing the programs and data in digital form of these associated with programming, using the interactive television programming guide, defining the sequence of a superprogram, and displaying on the user's television equipment (22) the programs and segments of the programs and their data associated with the programming, in accordance with the defined sequence of the superprogram, using the interactive television programming guide.
100. The method defined in claim 99, further comprising the step of displaying on the user's television equipment (22) a screen displaying a superprogram, using the interactive television programming guide.
101. The method defined * in claim 100, further comprising the steps of: indicating the programs stored in the digital storage device (31); and provide a user with an opportunity to select a program to be included in the superprogram sequence.
102. The method defined in claim 100, further comprising the steps of: providing a user with an opportunity to define segments to be passed; and display on the user's television equipment (22) the segments to be passed, which belong to the programs and to the data of these associated with the programming, in accordance with the sequence of the superprogram, using the interactive television programming guide.
103. The method defined in claim 102, further comprising the steps of: displaying an indicator of the segments to be passed; and provide one or more markers to define the segment to be passed.
104. The method defined in claim 100, further comprising the step of providing a video display area (103).
105. The method defined in claim 99, further comprising the step of transferring stored programs in digital form to a secondary storage device (32) in accordance with the defined superprogram, using the interactive television programming guide. IMM ^ ta_¿ =? ^^^^^^ _ i ^^^^^^ _ Í ^. ^ S_i ___ lte ---