On-screen electronic resources guide

Patent 6219839 Issued on April 17, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 5, 2019. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor

Sampsell, Jeffrey Brian

Assignee

Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.

Application

No. 263911 filed on 03/05/1999

US Classes:

725/40, For displaying additional information725/49, Combined at local receiver725/51Having link to external information resource (e.g., online resource)

Examiners

Primary: Flynn, Nathan J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Varitz, PC; Robert D.

International Class

H04N 005/445

Abstract

A system for providing an on-screen electronic resource guide (ERG) includes an audio/visual display device; plural peripheral devices, each having an active mode and an inactive mode; an interface located between said audio/visual device and said peripheral devices; and an ERG generator for providing an ERG display for displaying programming available to said audio/visual display device from said peripheral devices when such devices are in their active mode. A method for providing an on-screen electronic resource guide (ERG) in an audio/visual display device having plural peripheral devices connected thereto over an interface, wherein each peripheral device has an active mode and an inactive mode includes generating an ERG display for displaying programming available to the audio/visual display device from said peripheral devices when such devices are in their active mode, and controlling a peripheral device from the ERG display.