CN1592408A - 具有点播电视浏览功能的节目向导系统 - Google Patents

具有点播电视浏览功能的节目向导系统 Download PDF

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CN1592408A
CN1592408A CNA200410059202XA CN200410059202A CN1592408A CN 1592408 A CN1592408 A CN 1592408A CN A200410059202X A CNA200410059202X A CN A200410059202XA CN 200410059202 A CN200410059202 A CN 200410059202A CN 1592408 A CN1592408 A CN 1592408A
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迈克尔·D·埃利斯
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TV Guide International Inc
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Abstract

本发明提供了一种交互式电视节目向导系统，其中，观众可以操纵电视机同时显示一个选定的电视节目和一个节目向导显示窗口。观众可以利用该节目向导显示窗口来浏览可选的点播电视(VOD)，同时继续在背景中观看预先选好的节目。观众可以用遥控装置上的一系列按键浏览所述节目向导显示窗口中的点播电视节目。观众可以操纵所述节目向导，来点播特定的点播电视节目，并为点播的节目设定所需的播放时间。

Description

具有点播电视浏览功能的节目向导系统
本申请是发明名称为“具有点播电视浏览功能的节目向导系统”，申请日为1999年5月18日，申请号为99807599.X的中国专利申请的分案申请。
技术领域
本发明涉及交互式电视节目向导，尤其是允许观众浏览点播电视节目的电视节目向导。在一个显示屏幕上，可以同时显示一个电视节目以及一个节目向导显示窗口。
背景技术
在电视的发展历史中，广播网络一直在争取向电视观众在方便的观看时间提供感兴趣的节目安排。由于电视观众的极端分散性，这个目标已被证明是很困难的。随着时间的迁移，出现了提供诸如“现买现看(pay-per-view)”和“点播(request)”频道之类的服务的电缆系统，向电视观众提供了更多的节目安排方式，并使观众对自己的节目观看时间表有更多的控制权。但是，这些系统向观众提供的节目数目比较少，只在预定的少数几个播放时间播放。
最近，有些电缆系统用户已经可以看到点播电视或者说“VOD”节目了。点播电视节目通常包括一个能够在任何时候提供观看的节目的库。这些节目一般存储在附近的电视转播设施的视频服务器中。观众可以从该节目库选择节目并请求所述视频服务器提供该节目。视频服务器处理该请求，如果所选的节目可以播放的话，就将该节目的视频信号发送到该观众的电视设备。这样的点播电视系统事实上允许观众在任何时候观看节目库中的节目。美国专利第5619249号公开了一种这样的点播电视服务，其中提供了一种电视播送服务，实现了应观众要求提供电视节目的能力。
电视节目向导帮助电视观众选择感兴趣的节目。电视观众传统上是从印刷的节目单上获取信息来决定在特定时刻播放的节目的。最近，电缆、卫星和广播电视系统向观众提供了数量越来越巨大的可供选择的电视频道。由于观众感兴趣的节目的潜在数量增加了，就开发出了交互式的电子节目向导，来帮助观众确定什么节目可能是最感兴趣的。这样的交互式节目向导一般是用连接到观众的电视机的微处理器控制的机顶盒实现的。机顶盒一般从中央广播中心获取节目信息，并存储在机顶盒内的存储器中。所述信息一般包括节目名称、播放时间、频道、节目说明，等等。
观众可以调用该节目向导显示窗口，并用上下遥控光标键仔细查看可供安排的节目列表。一旦定位了某个感兴趣的节目，观众就可以通过遥控指令机顶盒显示该节目。
目前的交互式点播电视节目向导在观众的显示屏幕上显示节目列表。并且提供了所显示的节目的文字说明以及点播选项。这种点播电视节目向导的显示窗口覆盖了整个电视屏幕，观众无法同时看到该点播电视节目向导显示窗口和预先已经选定的电视频道。如果观众想看点播电视节目，就必须离开正在进行中的任何节目，显示出全屏覆盖的节目向导来查看点播电视节目选项。
因此，本发明的一个目的就是提供一种功能得到改进的用来查看和选择电视节目的点播电视节目向导系统。
本发明的另一个目的是提供一种点播电视节目向导系统，允许观众在一个电视机显示屏上同时看到点播电视节目向导显示窗口和已经选定的电视节目。
发明内容
按照本发明的原理，本发明的上述及其他目的是通过一种具有点播电视浏览功能的交互式电视节目向导系统实现的。观众可以操作该节目向导，在观众的电视设备上显示含有点播电视节目的节目向导显示窗口。
本发明的节目向导显示窗口显示某分类中的一个或多个点播电视(VOD)节目。其他分类中的点播电视节目的信息不显示。在特定的分类中，观众可以通过用上下光标键在该节目向导上浏览的方式获取其他点播电视节目的信息。用左右光标键可以选择其他的点播电视节目分类。
当节目向导显示窗口激活时，节目向导可以缩小当前频道所用的屏幕面积，使得节目向导显示窗口和当前频道的显示不相互遮挡。但是，如果需要的话，节目向导显示窗口也可以叠加在观众电视屏幕的一部分上，使得观众可以继续在显示节目向导的同时在背景上观看预先选定的节目。这样，就允许用户浏览点播电视节目时继续观看节目。
节目向导显示窗口可以含有正在显示的点播电视节目的简要文字说明。当观众使用遥控光标键浏览可选的节目时，所述简要文字说明可以自动更新，与所显示的节目对应。
观众可以按下位于遥控装置上的“信息”键来获取某点播电视节目的更多信息。这会导致出现一个详细信息屏幕，提供该点播电视节目的其他信息。
观众可以通过按下屏幕上的按钮或者遥控装置上的某个键比如选择键来预订点播电视节目。此时会出现一个配置和控制屏幕，要求观众输入信息完成预订。所述信息可以包括输入家长控制码和/或输入所需的节目起始时间。节目向导可以为观众提供一个确认屏幕，来确认观众的预订。
从附图以及下文对优选实施例所作的详细说明，可以更清楚地了解本发明的其他特征和各种优点。
附图说明
图1A是一种传统的点播电视节目向导的显示窗口，它盖住了观众的显示屏的大部分，可允许观众选择节目的分类。
图1B是一种传统的点播电视节目向导的显示窗口，它盖住了观众的显示屏的大部分，可允许观众仔细查看某一具体分类中的节目。
图1C是一种传统的点播电视节目向导显示窗口的预订确认屏幕，它盖住了观众的显示屏的大部分。
图2是一个系统的框图，可以在其中实现本发明的交互式电视节目向导。
图3是一个可与本发明的节目向导系统一同使用的作为例子的视频服务器的示意图。
图4是另一个系统的框图，可以在其中实现本发明的交互式电视节目向导。
图5是一个可与本发明的节目向导系统一同使用的作为例子的遥控装置的示意图。
图6A是本发明的节目向导显示窗口的一个举例的显示屏幕，观众可以利用该显示屏幕浏览显示在节目向导显示窗口中的点播电视节目，同时在背景中继续观看预先选好的频道上的电视。
图6B是本发明的节目向导显示窗口的一个举例的显示屏幕，观众可以利用该显示屏幕同时做到：(1)浏览显示在节目向导显示窗口中的点播电视节目，(2)观看点播电视节目的视频剪辑，(3)在背景中观看预先选好的频道上的电视。
图7是本发明的节目向导显示窗口的一个举例的显示屏幕，用以说明当观众改变节目分类时，显示在节目向导显示窗口中的节目是如何自动更新的。
图8是本发明的节目向导系统的一个举例的配置和控制屏幕。
图9是一个流程图，用来说明按照本发明提供浏览显示屏幕所涉及的步骤。
具体实施方式
在图1A到图1C中示出了传统的点播电视节目向导系统(图中未示出)的一组节目向导显示屏幕1。利用这个系统，观众可以查看可供观看的点播电视节目的列表。当被调用时，该节目向导最开始在显示屏幕3上显示一个分类显示窗口2(示于图1A中)，该窗口覆盖在正在进行的节目4上。分类显示窗口2含有一系列点播电视节目分类5，以及一个屏幕节目选择按钮6。观众可以在可供选择的节目分类5中滚动，并用特定的遥控键(图中未示出)选择感兴趣的分类。感兴趣的分类也可以用屏幕上的选择按钮6来选择。
选中某个分类后，节目向导在显示屏幕3上显示出一个节目显示窗口7(示于图1B中)，该窗口叠加在正在进行的节目4上。显示窗口7一般含有选中的分类11的多个节目列表8，其中每个节目列表包括节目标题9和节目说明框10。观众可以用遥控器(图中未示出)上的光标键在节目列表8中滚动，查看点播电视节目的列表。如果观众希望预订显示在节目向导显示窗口7上的某个点播电视节目9(例如X-Files The Movie)，观众可以按下屏幕上的选择按钮12或者遥控器(图中未示出)上的专用按钮。节目选中后，节目向导显示窗口显示出一个预订确认屏幕13(示于图1C中)，该屏幕含有选中的节目标题14、价格16以及屏幕按钮17和18。观众可以通过按下“是”按钮17来预订选中的节目14或者按下“否”按钮18来取消预订。也可以用遥控器(图中未示出)上的特定按键来确认或者取消节目的预订。
图1A到图1C所示的方案有许多缺点。例如，示于图1A到图1C的节目向导显示窗口不允许观众在查看可供点播的点播电视节目时同时观看预先选好的频道上的电视节目。为了选择点播电视节目，观众必须离开当前进行中的任何节目而全屏显示节目向导显示窗口2、7和13。
另外，观众不能做到以下几点：(1)在节目显示窗口7中改变节目分类11而不需要首先返回到分类浏览屏幕2，(2)为选中的点播电视节目选择播放时间，(3)观看点播电视节目的视频剪辑预览。
相反地，本发明提供的具有浏览显示的节目向导允许观众在继续观看预先选好的电视节目的同时从可供选择的点播电视节目的列表中浏览和选择。观众可以选择点播电视节目并为其选择播放时间。观众还可以观看列在节目向导中的特定点播电视节目的视频剪辑。
该节目向导显示窗口在宽度方向(即水平方向)和长度方向(即垂直方向)上都可以是单一单元。或者，如果需要的话，可以显示含有多个点播电视节目列表的多个单元。在所述单元中可以提供当前列出的点播电视节目的简要文字说明。如果观众希望获得特定的点播电视节目的更多信息，可以操纵节目向导显示含有该节目详细信息的附加屏幕。
在图2中示出了本发明的一个举例的节目向导系统20。节目向导系统20可以包括一个主设施22、一个地区电视转播设施26以及用户电视设备30。主设施22(可以是多个设施22)包括一个节目向导数据库24，用来存储节目向导信息21，比如点播电视节目向导列表数据、预订数据、电视节目向导列表数据、现买现看点播信息、电视节目宣传信息，等等。所述信息可以按照源标识码或者地址25安排，也可以包括“标签”或者其他的进一步标示节目类型(例如点播电视、现买现看等等)的标记27。
来自节目向导数据库24的信息可以通过通信链路28传送到地区电视转播设施26。但是，在另外的实施例中，某些或者所有的数据库24都可以包括在地区转播设施26中(未示出)。链路28可以是卫星链路、电话网络链路、电缆或光纤链路、微波链路、前述各种链路的组合或者合适的其他通信链路。如果需要在链路28上传输处理数据信号之外的视频信号，通常要用带宽比较大的链路比如卫星链路，而不用带宽较小的链路比如电话线。
地区电视转播设施26是用来将电视信号转发到观众的设施，比如是电缆系统头端(headend)、地区广播转播设施或者卫星电视转播设施。
在示于图2的方案中，在转播设施26中可以包括一个视频服务器29，该服务器可以包括一个点播电视节目的数据库31(图3)，用来向观众提供节目。视频服务器29(图3)可以由能够向观众电视设备30提供点播节目视频信号的任何合适的数字、模拟或者数字与模拟混合存储与检索系统33组成。这样的系统可以包括(但不限于)磁带录像机(VCR)系统、通用数字光盘系统(DVD)、LD系统(laser discsystems)、光盘系统、磁带和磁盘系统、磁光系统(比如读写数字盘系统)等等。
视频服务器29还可以包括一个控制器39，比如联网计算机系统，其可以与上述存储和检索系统联合使用，以处理点播电视节目请求。由控制器39执行的部分功能可以包括各种接口和控制任务，比如与节目向导系统20的其他部分通信、检查节目的可用性、排队和协调节目播放时间、选择和播放点播的节目、发送选中的节目到点播者的地址，等等。
视频服务器29可以位于给定的节目向导系统中任何合适的地点。例如，在图4中，节目向导系统40的视频服务器29放置在本地电视转播设施41中。本地转播设施41或者“相邻节点”可以用作连接地区电视转播设施26和观众电视设备30的中间转播设施。
如图4所示，地区电视转播设施26可以将电视节目和节目向导信息21转发到相邻节点41，后者可以随后将所述信息通过通信链路32定期地、连续地或者应请求转发到观众电视设备30。如果需要，节目向导信息21可以存储到本地节点41中，并可以通过通信链路32(图中未示出)定期地、连续地或者应请求转发到观众电视设备30。在任何一种方案中，电视节目和节目向导信息都可以在模拟电视频道上传输，节目向导数据可以在链路32的带外信道上传输。数据的传输也可以利用链路32上的一个或多个数字信道。所述数字信道也可以用来传输电视节目和其他信息。
通过提供多个相邻节点41，带来了两个重要的好处：(1)降低对处理能力有限的单个点播电视服务器的需求，(2)降低通信链路32的带宽需求。
可能需要定期地更新节目数据库31，以添加最近发行的节目。可以对视频服务器29进行配置，使得节目数据库31的内容可以远程更新，而不是在各自的地理位置手工更新数据库31。通信链路28和/或32可以用来下载新节目到数据库31中。这种节目传输可以在节目需求低的期间进行，以将对系统观众的影响减到最小。例如，在图2和图4中，主设施22可以包括一个用来向视频服务器数据库31传输的新节目的数据库23。节目向导系统20和40可以将这些节目通过通信链路28传送到地区电视转播系统26，后者随后可以将这些节目发送到视频服务器29(可能是通过通信链路32)。控制器39然后可以操纵存储和检索系统33更新数据库31，使之包括所述节目。
主设施22传送到地区电视转播设施26的节目向导信息21可以包括当前节目、将来节目和点播电视节目列表的电视节目列表数据。每种节目的节目列表数据可以包括(但不限于)节目的标题、节目的频道、安排的播放时间(起始时间)和结束时间(或者持续时间)。其他的典型节目数据可以包括收视率、评论分级、简要文字介绍、类别(体育、电影、儿童节目等)、演员等。传送的节目信息还可以包括广告信息、付费节目数据比如各个节目包括VOD节目的价格信息、预约频道、预订节目和频道的时间间隔、不能脉冲预约(impulseordered)的节目的电话预约号码，等等。
如图2所示，地区电视转播设施26可以通过通信链路32向多个观众的观众电视设备30传输电视节目和节目向导信息。例如，电视节目可以在模拟电视信道上传输，节目向导数据可以在链路32的带外信道上传输。数据传输也可以使用链路32上的一个或多个数字信道。这样的数字信道也可以用来传输电视节目和其他信息。
观众电视设备30一般包括机顶盒34。观众电视设备30也可以是在其中集成了类似于机顶盒的电路的任何合适的设备，比如高级电视接收机(比如HDTV)、个人计算机电视(PC/TV)，或者其他任何合适的电视设备。可以通过通信链路32向机顶盒34提供多路电视和音频信道(模拟的，数字的，或者既有模拟又有数字)。如果需要，可以用类似于但独立于电视转播设施26的一个或多个传输设施通过独立于通信链路32的通信链路传输节目列表和其他信息。
某些功能比如预订点播电视节目可能需要机顶盒34通过通信链路32向本地转播设施41(图4)和/或地区转播设施26发送数据。所述数据可以在电话线、电缆或者其他独立的通信链路上传输。如果通过独立于地区电视转播设施26的设施提供如上所举的功能，则可以直接与所述独立的设施进行某些涉及机顶盒34的通信。
每一组观众电视设备30可以具有同时接收、解码和显示两个独立的视频信号的能力。例如，观众电视设备30可以使用双调谐器的机顶盒。所述调谐器可以具有模拟、数字或者模拟数字混合功能。如果需要，可以用别的适当方案来处理双视频信号的同时显示问题。
节目向导数据21可以连续地、定期地或者应请求向观众电视设备30传输。地区电视转播设施26或者相邻节点41也可以定期向观众电视设备30查询特定的信息(例如付费节目帐号信息，或者关于用本地授权技术已经购买和观看的节目的信息)。主设施22最好具有一个处理器来处理信息传输任务。每个观众电视设备30最好具有一个处理器来处理与在观众电视设备30上实现交互式电视节目向导有关的任务。地区电视转播设施26和/或相邻节点41也可以具有一个处理器来完成监视观众和实现于机顶盒34上的交互式节目向导之间的交互作用有关的任务，并处理与节目向导数据和其他信息向观众电视设备30的传输有关的任务。
观众电视设备30中的每个机顶盒34可以连接到一个磁带录像机36和/或家庭存储设备35。磁带录像机36允许将选中的电视节目录下来。每个磁带录像机可以连接到一个电视机38。为了录节目，机顶盒34向磁带录像机36发出控制信号(例如用红外发射器)，指挥磁带录像机36在合适的时间开始和停止录制。节目向导系统20或者40可以通过机顶盒34在家庭存储设备35中存储特定的信息比如点播电视节目和点播电视节目数据。
在实现于机顶盒34中的交互式电视节目向导的使用过程中，点播电视节目列表和其他的信息可以显示在电视机38上。这种节目向导显示可以不遮挡观众已经用机顶盒34调出的节目，或者，如果需要，也可以叠加于电视节目的一部分上。每个机顶盒34、磁带录像机36和电视机38都可以用一个或多个遥控装置50或者其他任何合适的观众输入接口设备进行控制，所述观众输入接口设备比如是无线键盘、鼠标、跟踪球、专用按钮组，等等。
在图5中示出了一种举例的遥控装置50。在正常操作时，“播放”键58或者VOD浏览键51可以用来在主显示屏上开关节目向导显示窗口。频道的上下键(频道键)57可以用来改变机顶盒34调谐的频道。上下光标键54a和54b可以用来在节目向导中在可选的点播电视节目中垂直滚动。左右光标键54c和54d可以用来改变点播电视节目分类。选择键52或者购买键56可以用来进行选择，比如，当从可选节目列表中选择一个节目预订时。数字键60可以用来在正常观看电视时或者在浏览点播电视节目时直接选取所需的节目。
当节目向导显示窗口激活时，信息键53可以用来激活一个详细信息屏幕，来获取关于特定点播电视节目的更多信息。该详细信息屏幕可以具有一个屏幕按钮，可用之预订特定的点播电视节目。购买键56和/或确认键55可以用来触发该屏幕按钮，从而预订显示在所述详细信息屏幕上的点播电视节目。“退出到电视”键59可以用来退出节目向导显示，返回正常的电视观看模式。其他的各种键(图中未示出)可以用作其他功能，比如电源控制、磁带录像机(VCR)功能、音量控制等等。图5所示的遥控装置50的按键只是一种合适的遥控装置方案的一种举例。如果需要，可以使用任何其他合适的遥控装置键位方案。
可以控制机顶盒34，使之在主显示屏72上显示节目向导显示窗口70。机顶盒34可以调整(亦即缩小)当前节目77(频道5)所占屏幕面积，使得主显示屏72既可显示节目向导显示窗口70又可不受遮挡地显示当前的节目77(图中未示出)。但是，如果需要，节目向导显示窗口70也可以叠加在当前节目77的一部分上，如图6所示。这样就允许观众在观看主显示屏72上的电视节目的同时查看点播电视节目列表。
点播电视节目向导显示窗口70也可以用任何合适的技术激活，比如使用遥控装置50上的专用键比如播放键58、VOD浏览键51(图5)，或者用屏幕上的按钮(图中未示出)。或者，向导70也可以通过下述方式调用：首先输入一个“正常浏览模式”(即，调用一个显示常规广播节目的节目向导显示窗口)，然后用上下光标键54a和54b或者数字键60选择指定的点播电视频道。
节目向导显示窗口70最好含有关于特定的点播电视节目的信息。如果需要，可以按照特定的分类72组织所述点播电视节目。所述分类比如是“最近发行”、“sitecoms”、“动作/冒险”、“戏剧”等。在图6所示的例子中，观众正在查看“戏剧”分类中的节目，并且显示了可供点播的某个戏剧节目的信息。所述显示的信息可以包括(但不限于)节目标题(The Truman Show)、该节目的长度或者播放时间74(110分钟)、该节目的简要文字介绍73、一个指示该节目确实可供点播的图标75、一个指示所列点播电视节目存在视频剪辑的图标79、点播电视节目号77(VOD1)和节目分级78(TV-Y)。按下信息键53(图5)可以获取更多的关于特定点播电视节目的详细信息。所述详细信息可以包括主要情节、演员等，并可以作为一个独立的详细信息窗口(图中未示出)显示在主屏幕72上。
尽管示于图6中的节目向导显示窗口70在宽度方向(即垂直方向)和长度方向(即水平方向)上只是单一单元，但其在任何方向或者两个方向上也可以显示为多个单元(图中未示出)。
节目向导显示窗口70的每个单元可以包括一个节目说明框73，其中包括当前显示在向导70中的节目标题的简要文字介绍。例如，在示于图6的方案中，显示了节目标题“The Truman Show”，因此节目说明框73含有节目“The Truman Show”的简要文字介绍。观众可以按遥控器50上的信息键53(图5)获取该节目更多的详细信息，并/或查看其他的可能选项(图中未示出)。选择键52或者屏幕按钮可以用来选择其他选项。
观众可以用遥控器50上的任何合适的键比如上下光标键54a和54b(图5)浏览给定点播电视分类72中的节目列表。这可以使节目向导显示窗口70显示该分类中下一个点播电视节目的信息。例如，在图6中，节目向导显示窗口70设定在点播电视分类“戏剧”中，显示了该分类中第一个点播电视节目(VOD1)的信息(The Truman Show)。如果观众按一次向上光标键54a，点播电视节目号77就增一，显示窗口70将显示该分类中的下一个节目(即VOD2)。如果观众再按一次向上光标键54a，点播电视节目号77就增一到该分类中的下一个节目(即VOD3)。依此类推。向下光标键54b可以类似操作，使点播电视节目77递减。
可以用遥控器50上任何合适的键比如左右光标键54c和54d(图5)改变点播电视分类72。这可以使得节目向导显示窗口70显示下一个点播电视分类72中的第一个点播电视节目。例如，在图6中，点播电视分类设定在“戏剧”，显示了该分类中第一个点播电视节目(VOD1)为The Truman Show。如果观众按一次向右光标键54c，点播电视分类72就改变到另一个分类比如“sitecoms”，并显示出该分类中第一个节目(VOD1)的信息(Seinfeld)。这示于图7中。如果观众再按一次向右光标键54c，点播电视分类72就继续增加到下一个分类(例如“最近发行”)，等等。向左光标键54d可以类似操作，以与向右光标键54c相反的顺序滚动分类72。如果需要，观众也可以用数字键60直接将节目向导显示窗口70调节到特定分类中的特定点播电视节目。
当节目向导显示窗口70活动时，机顶盒34当前调谐到的电视节目继续在主显示屏72上显示。尽管观众可以在节目向导显示窗口70上的若干点播电视节目中滚动，主显示屏72上的电视仍然保持在频道上的节目5。但是，观众每次将节目向导显示窗口70滚动到新的点播电视节目列表时，节目介绍框73也得到更新，显示当前显示的节目的信息。结果是，观众可以在浏览自动更新的点播电视节目文字说明的同时观看已选中的电视节目。这个特点例如在一个家庭成员希望浏览点播电视节目而另一个家庭成员希望继续正在进行中的节目时尤其有用。
某些点播电视节目可以有相关的视频剪辑预览。如图6a所示，节目向导显示窗口70可以包括一个视频剪辑图标79，指示该列出的节目有相关的视频剪辑预览。如果正在浏览节目向导显示窗口70中的节目列表的观众对某个点播电视节目感兴趣，他/她就可以请求预览该节目的视频剪辑。例如，在图6中，假设观众对“The Truman Show”感兴趣，该观众就可以按下遥控器50上的适当按键比如确认键55(图5)来操纵节目向导从视频服务器29(图3)请求播放该节目的视频剪辑。在提供了视频剪辑预览后，可以向该观众显示一个显示屏，询问该观众是否要预订该节目(图中未示出)。该观众可以通过按下遥控器50(图5)上的合适按键或者用屏幕上的按钮(图中未示出)接受或者拒绝所述建议。
如果观众请求预览视频剪辑，该预览可以显示在一个视频窗口71中，使正在进行的节目71、节目向导显示窗口70和视频窗口71均可以同时看到(示于图6b)中。但是，在某些实施例中，视频窗口71可以全屏显示，或者可由观众选择(即，观众可以从全屏显示变为部分屏幕显示，或者反之)。视频窗口71可以用任何适当的方法实现，比如部分屏幕叠加，或者是画中画视频窗口，等等。
如果正在浏览节目向导显示窗口70中的节目列表的观众对某个点播电视节目感兴趣，他/她可以点播该节目。例如，在图6中，假设观众想点播节目“The Truman Show”，该观众可以通过按下遥控器50上的适当按键比如选择键52(图5)来操作节目向导从视频服务器29(图3)点播该节目。如果该观众恰好正在详细信息屏幕(图中未示出)上浏览某个节目的详细信息，该屏幕可以包含一个屏幕按钮，用来点播该点播电视节目。通过按下遥控器50上的任何适当按键比如购买键56(图5)，观众可以激活屏幕按钮，并而操纵节目向导从视频服务器29(图3)点播该节目。
观众点播了点播电视节目之后，可以显示出一个或多个配置与控制屏幕，要求观众输入信息以完成预订。如图8所示，配置和控制屏幕80可以包括所点播的节目的标题81和价格89，以及一系列要求观众输入的数据区。所述数据区可以包括购买确认区82、家长控制码区84、提交表格区85、节目开始时间区86和立即开始播放节目区88。观众可以用光标键54在配置和控制屏幕80中移动，并可以用遥控器50(图5)上的适当按键向所述数据区中输入要求的信息。
配置和控制屏幕上的某些数据区可能要求从遥控器50上的数字键60输入。例如，节目开始时间区86可能要求输入数字以确定所点播的点播电视节目希望播放的起始时间。开始时间区86可以是一个下拉菜单，提供一个开始时间列表(图中未示出)，可以用遥控器50上的光标键54和一个二义(是/否)输入键比如确认键55进行选择。家长控制码区84也可以要求输入数字。其他的数据区比如立即开始播放节目区88和购买确认区82也可以从遥控器50上的二义输入键比如确认键55接受输入。
当配置和控制屏幕80正确地填写并提交之后，就完成了预订过程。节目向导系统可以提供一个答复屏幕以确认观众的预订(图中未示出)。
如果选中的点播电视节目不要立即开始，该节目可以全部或者部分地下载到本地的存储器(例如家庭存储设备35)中，以减少传输该节目所需的带宽，并/或可以在非高峰时间传输。对于这样的“高级节目预订”，可以提供价格折扣(图中未示出)。
这里所描述的提供浏览显示功能所涉及的某些步骤示于图9的流程图中。在步骤100，节目向导向观众提供是调用点播电视浏览模式还是调用普通浏览模式的选择。如果观众选择调用点播电视浏览模式，节目向导显示窗口70就在步骤101显示在观众电视设备30上。如果观众选择调用普通浏览模式，节目向导显示窗口就在观众电视设备30上显示一个节目向导显示窗口(图中未示出)，该窗口可以显示当前频道中的节目列表。
假设在步骤100选择了点播电视浏览模式，在步骤101，节目向导显示窗口70就显示在观众电视设备30上。当节目向导显示窗口70第一次显示时，其可能设定在“默认”分类和节目列表，其或者可以返回预先选定的分类和/或节目。在步骤102，观众可以用左右光标键54d和54c浏览可选的节目分类并/或用上下光标键54a和54b浏览该分类中可选的节目。如果在该分类中没有找到感兴趣的节目，可以选择一个新的分类，并在该分类中浏览节目。观众可以继续浏览可选的分类和节目，直到找到感兴趣的节目，或者可以按下遥控器50(图5)上的“退出到电视”键59退出节目向导显示窗口70。
如果找到了感兴趣的点播电视节目，观众有几种选择。例如，观众可以：(1)如果有的话，点播该节目的视频剪辑(例如用屏幕按钮或者遥控键)，(2)点播该节目(例如，用屏幕按钮或者遥控键)或者(3)通过按信息键53请求获取该节目更多的信息(步骤103)。如果点播了视频剪辑，就在该观众的显示屏幕上播放该视频剪辑(步骤102)。如果点播了点播电视节目，就出现一个配置和控制屏幕，要求观众输入数据(步骤104)。观众可以填写并提交该表格，以点播所要求的节目。
此时，观众可以返回到节目向导显示窗口70浏览更多的点播电视节目，或者，如果需要，观众可以按“退出到电视”键退出该节目向导(步骤105)。
如果选中的节目已设定为立即播放，节目向导就将立即提供该节目。但是，如果所选的节目是为稍后的时间预订的，节目向导可以在该时间自动开始播放该节目。另外，可以配置该节目向导，使之在选中的节目即将开始播放之前显示一个提醒屏幕(图中未示出)，提醒观众计划中的播放时间。当收到该提醒后，观众可以有下列选择：(1)在计划的时间观看该节目，(2)立即观看该节目，(3)将该节目重新安排到另一个时间(例如输入新的播放时间或者从该节目向导提供的列表中选择一个播放时间)，或者(4)取消该节目。
尽管在图9的流程图中未具体图示，观众可以通过按下遥控器50上的“退出到电视”键59在任何时候退回正常的电视观看。
以上只是对本发明的原理进行说明，本领域的技术人员可以作各种各样的修改而并不脱离本发明的范围和精神。

Claims (1)

1.一种在具有一个主显示屏的观众电视设备上实现的交互式电视节目向导系统，其包括：
用于在所述观众电视设备上显示特定电视节目的装置；和
用于在显示所述特定电视节目的同时，在所述观众电视设备上显示部分屏幕的节目向导显示窗口的装置，所述节目向导显示窗口包括至少一个点播电视节目列表。
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