The present invention relates to a television receiver which implements a user interface.

In the past, television receivers, whether implemented in full television sets or as set top boxes or similar, were constructed to receive broadcast television programs over a single medium, such as cable, satellite or terrestrial UHF transmissions, and typically provided relatively simple user interfaces providing a user with visual information about the television programs being currently broadcast and which would be broadcast in the future.

Developing technology has led to the increasing popularity of television receivers which are also capable of recording received broadcast content for future use, and/or of receiving and displaying and/or recording on demand content from service providers, for example over the Internet.

The increasing complexity and options available in such television receivers has made them more difficult for users to operate, and it would be desirable to provide user interfaces in such receivers which made operation and obtaining information about viewable television programs more intuitive, straightforward and convenient.

The invention addresses these and other problems of the related prior art.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the invention provides a television receiver arranged to present to a user, using a video output, received television programs and a user interface, the user interface comprising: a first interface section arranged to concurrently present to a user, for a plurality of television channels available to said television receiver, a first list of television programs currently being broadcast on each of those channels, a second list of television programs which will be broadcast next on each of those channels, and concurrently no other lists of television programs which have been, are currently being, or will be broadcast on those channels. The invention also provides a television receiver arranged to present to a user, using a video output, television programs and a user interface, the user interface comprising: a second interface section arranged to present to a user, for only one of said plurality of television channels at any one time, an earlier list of television programs which have been broadcast earlier than the television programs which are currently being broadcast on the plurality of television channels.

In either case, the video output may be provided, for example, using a video or audio visual interface or connection, for example for coupling to a television set or other display. The television receiver could be, for example, a separate unit or "set top box" such as a satellite receiver unit, or could be incorporated into a television set. The television receiver is arranged to receive broadcast of said television channels, for example over one or more broadcast interfaces such as a satellite, a terrestrial UHF, or a cable television interface.

The various lists mentioned above are interactive lists, in the sense of a user being able to navigate to a particular item on a list and select such an item and/or launch a user interface action in respect of that item, using user suitable user interface controls.

Typically, a television receiver of the invention may be provided with, or comprise, or be arranged to communicate with a remote control or other input device, with the various interface controls mentioned below being arranged to respond to controls or keys of the remote control input device. Such a remote control device could be dedicated to the receiver, or could be provided by programmed functionality of another device such as a mobile telephone or tablet computer. The remote control device, or aspects of such a device, may be implemented alternatively or additionally in other ways such as by identification and interpretation of user gestures which could be detected using a camera, inertial or orientation sensors, a touch screen or in other ways.

Generally, where controls within the user interface or within a particular interface section are discussed herein, such controls may be implemented by, for example, a particular key press, gesture or other interface operation which is coupled to the particular interface control functionality at the appropriate time, for example to a particular operation within that particular interface section, or to a particular operation in respect of a focused or highlighted element such as a graphical image, or a representation of program, a channel or another entity. In this context, interface controls may be provided to enable a user to navigate the interface, for example using arrow keys, such that different particular interface elements such as a graphical images, programs, channels and so forth are highlighted or made a focus of the interface, followed by an interface operation (such as pressing an "ok" key, or a more specific operation such as pressing a "play" or "record" key) which causes an action to be carried out in respect of the selected, highlighted or focused element

The earlier list of television programs mentioned above may, for example, comprise only television programs which are available on demand to the receiver, for example over a data network, or which the receiver has been instructed or informed will become available on demand over the data network, for example in the near future. Alternatively, the earlier list of television programs may also comprise programs which are already available at the receiver as a recording, for example having been recorded from a broadcast channel, or having previously been received on demand over the data network. Television programs available on demand may include such television programs which are available subject to a purchase or some other contractual arrangement or user action being

completed, and such a purchase or contractual arrangement may apply, for example, to a group or series of related television programs, as well as to an individual television program.

A television receiver may implement both the first and section interface sections discussed above. For example, the first interface section may comprise an earlier interface control which when operated by a user causes transition from presentation to the user of the first interface section to presentation to the user of the second interface section.

The first interface section may identify a currently selected one of said plurality of television channels, for example using a graphical marker or highlighting, and the earlier list of television programs may then initially list programs from the currently selected channel immediately following a transition from presentation to a user of the first interface section to presentation to a user of the second interface section.

The second interface section may present said earlier list of television programs such that all television programs in said earlier list at any one time are television programs that were broadcast on the same day, the second interface section further comprising one or more other day interface controls which, when operated by a user, provide transition to presentation to the user, in said earlier list, television programs broadcast on different days.

The user interface may further comprise: a third interface section presented separately to the first interface section and comprising, for said plurality of television channels, a graph or grid of television programs which will be broadcast on each of said plurality of television channels, with the position of each television program in the graph corresponding to when that television program will be broadcast. The graph is interactive in the same way as the interactive lists discussed above.

The first interface section may comprise a later interface control which when operated by a user causes transition from presentation to the user of the first interface section to presentation to the user of the third interface section. The graph of television programs may also comprise, for said plurality of television channels, television programs which are currently being broadcast. The user interface may be arranged such that the graph of television programs displays no television programs for which broadcast has already completed, or may be arranged such that no interface action is possible in respect of television programs for which broadcast has already completed.

The user interface may also be arranged to present any of the first interface section, the second interface section, and the third interface section, while presenting video of a currently displayed television program, for example a program currently being received over a broadcast channel, or being streamed on demand or being played from a recording at the receiver. The user interface may be arranged to present any such interface sections as an overlay on top of video, for example full screen or substantially full screen video of the currently displayed television program. The number of television channels displayed in any such one or more of the first interface section and the third interface section may be limited, for example to two, three or four, and in particular may be fewer than displayed in the interface section when not presented to a user as an overlay.

The user interface may be arranged to present any or all of the first, second and/or third interface sections both in this overlay mode, and in a standard, non-overlay mode in which a larger number of channels (for the first and second sections) or programs (for the second section) are presented at any one time, and the user interface may provide controls for transitioning either in one or both directions between these respective modes for any of the interface sections.

Generally, each of the interactive lists and/or the interactive graph of television programs mentioned above may enable a user to carry out at least one of the following actions in respect of separate ones of the listed and/or graphed television programs: play a program; schedule playing of a program; schedule a program for recording; set a user reminder in respect of broadcast of a program; and display further information relating to program. Other actions may be provided, such as schedule a series of related programs for recording.

The invention also provides a television receiver, which may include any or all of the aspects discussed above, and which is arranged to present to a user, using a video output, received television programs and a user interface, the user interface being arranged to present to the user an interactive list of television programs currently being broadcast on each of a plurality of channels available to the television receiver, the interactive list providing the user with an option to watch a currently broadcast program, for which broadcast has already started, from the beginning of that program. This "restart" option may be provided in addition to an option to watch the program from a currently broadcast time point, and may be supported for example by suitable on-demand download functionality or a local recording functionality of the receiver to display the selected restart program with a time delay from the broadcast time.

The interactive list of television programs may correspond, for example, to the first list of television programs currently being broadcast on each of those channels as discussed above, and which may be presented in association with the a second list of television programs which will be broadcast next on each of those channels also as discussed above.

Each program for which an option is available to watch a currently broadcast program from the beginning of that program may be indicated using a "restart" icon presented in the user interface in association with the listed program, for example adjacent to a name of the program or proximal to a channel identifier.

The invention also provides methods corresponding to the above apparatus, for example methods of operating a television receiver arranged to present to a user, using a video output, television programs and a user interface as set out above and elsewhere herein. The invention also provides

corresponding computer programs and computer program products for

implementing or partly implementing such methods, user interfaces and television receivers.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

figure 1 shows an example television system within which embodiments of the invention may be implemented;

figure 2 illustrates a television receiver according to the invention;

figure 3 illustrates a first interface section of a user interface implemented using the receiver of figure 2, presenting a table of broadcast channels with columns for television programs being broadcast now and to be broadcast next as labelled in the user interface;

figure 4 illustrates a second interface section of the user interface, which may be accessible from the first interface section of figure 3, showing a table of previously broadcast television programs available on demand following earlier broadcast on a single broadcast channel;

figure 5 shows a third interface section of the user interface, accessible from the first interface section of figure 3, presenting a time based graph of television programs to be broadcast in the future; figure 6 shows an alternative or additional mode of operation in which the first interface section is presented in an overlay mode on full screen video;

figure 7 shows an alternative or additional mode of operation in which the second interface section is presented in an overlay mode on full screen video; and

figure 8 shows an alternative or additional mode of operation in which the third interface section is presented in an overlay mode on full screen video.

Detailed description of embodiments

Referring now to figure 1 there is illustrated schematically an example television system within which embodiments of the invention may be

implemented. A television receiver 10 is adapted to receive television programs broadcast over a plurality of broadcast channels. In figure 1 , the receiver receives the broadcast channels over a satellite broadcast link, and is therefore

describable as a satellite television receiver unit. The receiver 10 could also or alternatively receive over one or more other media or interfaces such as cable television and terrestrial UHF broadcast links (not shown). The television programs originate from one or more service providers 12, which may include one or more aggregators or distributors of content from others of the service providers, and are delivered via broadcast head end and other apparatus as appropriate. A second connection between the receiver 10 and the service provider(s) 12 which can be used to broadcast television programs to the receiver unit if required, as well as providing other data transfers, is provided by a data network 14 such as the Internet.

Television programs received at the television receiver 10 can be displayed on a television 16 or other display unit. Of course, the display unit may be incorporated in the same unit as the television receiver if required. Typically, one or more remote control units 18 are used to control functionality of the television receiver and display unit or units. Such remote control units may provide user input to the receiver for example in response to remote control unit button presses, user gestures detected using a camera, a touch screen or other detector arrangements, and/or other input mechanisms. As well as providing broadcast television programs, a service provider 12 may provide the receiver 10 with on-demand access to television programs and other content, for example by receiving requests from the receiver 10 over the network 14 and transmitting the requested content to the receiver 10 over the network 14 or another route such as via a cable television connection. In this way, a receiver 10 can receive, for example, television programs which have been broadcast in the past.

Other content provided by the service provider(s) 12 includes electronic program guide content, for example including schedules of television programs to be broadcast over the next few days or weeks, details of television programs which have been broadcast, and which may or may not be available to the receiver using on-demand access, and editorial content such as viewing recommendations, associations between groups of television programs such as television series, and the like. The service provider may also make available to the receiver digital rights management and/or conditional access data, in order to control the extent to which the receiver 10, and other similar receivers, can use the broadcast television programs and on demand content, for example by limiting access to certain channels and/or programs, restricting recording and future playback, and so on.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically some of the functionality which may typically be found in the receiver 10. A decoder 20 receives broadcast signals from a satellite dish, or other signal source 21 , to output a data stream including for example television audio visual data streams and electronic program guide data. A network interface 22 transmits requests for data to the service provider(s) 12 and receives for example television programs, other content, electronic program guide data relating to programs to be broadcast, and other data from the service provider(s) 12. Depending on digital rights management control, television programs and other content may be stored in memory 24 for future access. The memory 24 may also be used to store electronic program guide data, other content, and other data and computer software used for operation of the receiver. The memory 24 may include for example one or more of solid state memory and hard disk memory. A processor 25 may control operation of the receiver, for example in conjunction with programs stored in the memory 24.

A remote control unit interface 26 provides input from a remote control unit 18 for control of the receiver 10. A display interface 28 provides a video output of television programs and other content, as well as user interface output to a display such as a television 16. One or more audio outputs (not shown) will also typically be provided, either separately or in conjunction with the video output.

The receiver is provided with a control function 30 which enables a user to control the receiver, for example to select decoding of a currently broadcast television program for output to the display 16, for requesting on-demand content from a service provider 12, and any other required function. The control function typically implements a graphical user interface 32 which is presented on the display 16 and controlled using the remote control unit 18, for example using cursor and "OK" keys; page up and page down keys; forward, fast forward, back and rewind keys; and so forth. The control function and user interface are typically implemented in software in the receiver 10, for example using the processor 25 in combination with other hardware and software elements as required. Software or parts of the software implementing the user interface, and other aspects of the control function, may be provided to the receiver over a network connection for example as update software, and may exist as software on one or more computer readable media.

The user interface 32 comprises one or more of first, second and third sections 40, 60, 80. The first interface section 40 of the user interface 32, as presented on display 16, is illustrated in figure 3. A user of the receiver 10 can navigate through the user interface 32 to this section 40 using the remote control unit 18. A plurality of television channels are available for display by the receiver 10 using the user interface 32, and some of these channels are presented by the first interface section 40, for example seven of the channels as shown in the scrollable channel lists of figure 3. In particular, the first interface section 40 presents a first list 42 of television programs currently being broadcast on each of those channels, under the heading "now", and a second list 44 of television programs which will be broadcast next on each of those channels, under the heading "next". Of course, these particular words need not be used in

presentation of the first interface sections. Alternative words or symbols, or no such words or symbols, may be used. No other lists of television programs which have been, are currently being, or will be broadcast on those channels are presented by the first interface section, in order to improve clarity of the interface to the user and improve usability. In particular, this and other aspects of the first interface section provide immediacy and quick navigation to other and nearest channels.

Within the first list 42 and second list 44, each item is identified by a start time and a program name 45 (no text is shown for these names in the figure), although other ways of presenting the first and second lists may be used. The first and second lists are shown side by side so that the programs on "now" and "next" for each channel are adjacent. To one side of the first and second lists are further lists of the corresponding channel numbers 46 and channel names 48, although these further lists could be placed elsewhere such as between the first and second lists. The first and second lists, and optionally the further lists 46, 48, therefore form a tabular display of broadcast television programs tabulated in one axis by channel and in the other axis by whether the program is currently being broadcast, or will be broadcast after, and in particular immediately after the program currently being broadcast.

The first interface section 40 graphically identifies a currently selected one of the television channels, or a currently selected program which could belong to either of the first or second lists, shown in the figure by stippled elements of the table row corresponding to channel 104. The currently selected channel or program can be changed by a user, for example by scrolling the channel lists 42,

44, 46, 48 and/or using direction controls to move up and down and across the displayed channel lists. One or more interface controls are provided to enable the user to make an action in respect of a currently selected channel or program, for example to watch by displaying in full screen video the currently broadcast program on that channel, or to provide further information about that program or the next program to be broadcast on the channel. More generally, the first and second lists of television programs displayed by the first interface section are interactive in the sense that the user can, for example, carry out at least one of the following actions in respect of separate ones of the listed television programs: play a program; schedule playing of a program; schedule a program for recording; set a user reminder in respect of broadcast of a program; and display further information relating to program. Other actions may be provided, such as scheduling a series of related programs for recording.

In the first interface section 40 of figure 3 a video box 50 shows a currently viewed television program. This could be, for example, from a currently received broadcast channel, such as the currently selected channel, or from a channel which was being displayed before the first interface section was entered by the user. A program information area 52 shows more information relating to program or program of a channel currently selected in the first interface section such as the full channel name, the full name of the currently broadcast program or program to be broadcast next, and how much time remains before a currently broadcast program finishes or the length of a program to be broadcast next. The user may exit the first interface section using an appropriate control of the user interface, and the broadcast video of the currently selected television channel may then be shown in full screen video on the display 16.

The first and second lists 42, 44 and associated interface elements may be paged vertically by the user, for example by the number of channels displayed concurrently (seven in figure 3).This may be achieved by use of page up and page down keys on the remote control unit 18. The user interface may retain a focus or highlight on a current channel of program even when such paging action is taken. A corresponding paging function may also be implemented in respect of the vertical, broadcast channel axis of the graph 82 of the third interface section discussed below in connection with figure 5.

The receiver 10 may provide functionality allowing a user to start display or watching from the beginning of a program currently being broadcast, whether or not the program is or has been partly displayed or watched already. Such functionality may be notified to the user by, for example, a "restart" icon displayed in association with each of one or more programs of the first list 42 of interface section 40. The first interface section 40 then provides the user with a selectable interface option to display or watch any such program from the start of the program, typically in addition to an option to displaying the program from a currently broadcast time point within that program.

The user interface 32 may provide display of extended information about any one or more of a plurality of programs currently listed or otherwise indicated in the user interface, for example in the first interface section 40 illustrated in figure 3. Such display may be triggered or toggled using an "i" or "info" key or some other key on the remote control unit 18. In the context of interface sections 40, 50, 60 illustrated in figures 4, 5 and 6, this extended information may occupy all of or be substantially the only information presented in an uppermost region or upper horizontal bar area of the display, above any listing, table or graph of channels or programs. Such extended information may include, for example, one or more of when the relevant program will be broadcast again, an image relating to the program, a short textual program synopsis, and a video clip or trailer of that program.

The first interface section 40 comprises an earlier interface control enabling a user of the user interface to cause a transition from the first interface section 40 illustrated in figure 3 to the second interface section 60 illustrated in figure 4 which, for only one of said plurality of television channels at any one time, shows a scrollable earlier list of television programs which have been broadcast earlier than the current time. The first interface section also comprises a later interface control enabling a user of the user interface to cause a transition from the first interface section 40 shown in figure 3 to the third interface section 80 illustrated in figure 5 which for said plurality of television channels, presents to the user a scrollable graph or grid of television programs which are going to be broadcast on each of said plurality of television channels, with the position of each television program in the graph corresponding to when that television program will be broadcast. Note that only one of the first, second and third interface sections is typically presented to the user at any one time, although the described transitions could involve graphical effects such as fades and similar if desired. Note also that in some aspects of the invention, a receiver may be provided which implements only one or two of the first, second and third interface sections, for example only the first interface section or only the second interface section, with suitable changes made to the related controls discussed herein.

The presentation to a user of the first interface section 40 shown in figure 3 includes an earlier interface graphic 56 indicating the availability of a transition to the second interface section, and a later interface graphic 58 indicating availability of a transition to the third interface section. Typically, the earlier interface control and later interface control may be implemented, for example, using corresponding buttons or controls on the remote control unit 18, but could also be implemented using active versions of the earlier 56 and later 58 interface graphics, for example in conjunction with an "ok" or "select" key on a remote control device 18.

Figure 4 illustrates the presentation to a user of the second interface section 60 which is accessible as a transition from the first interface section 40 using the earlier interface control. The earlier list of broadcast programs 62 mentioned above is preferably in order of time of broadcast, and for each program the program name (not expressly shown in text in the figure) and the time of broadcast are shown in the display. Each item of the earlier list also associated with a watch now interface control, which may be provided by a suitable remote control key press or similar, or by selecting a watch now graphic 64 followed by a suitable key press, which if activated by the user requests the listed television program as on-demand content from a service provider 12, and causes the television program to be displayed. Details of which programs are available on demand may be provided by the service provider(s) over the network 14 and/or broadcast interface(s). If a listed television program is not yet available on demand from a service provider 12, but the receiver has been informed that it will be in the future (for example available soon) then this information may be conveyed to the user in the earlier list, for example as available soon flag 66. Note that the interface may be implemented such that television programs which are not available on demand, and will not become available through the second interface section 60, are not shown in the list of earlier broadcast programs.

If a receiver 10 has stored a copy of an earlier broadcast program, for example at the time of broadcast, or through a previous on-demand request, then in some embodiments the second interface section 60 may also list such programs in the earlier list. The watch now interface control may then provide access to display of that copy, rather than requesting the television program on demand from a service provider 12. Thus, the watch now interface graphic 64 may be displayed for television programs even if they are not and will not become available on-demand, but that have been recorded by the receiver 10.

The user can scroll up and down the list of earlier broadcast programs using suitable controls. Page up and page down keys on the remote control unit 18 may be used to page up and down, for example by the number of programs shown concurrently (seven in figure 4) or by another number. Optionally, a concurrently displayed list of earlier broadcast programs shows only television programs broadcast on a single day. To transition the second interface section 60 to show a list of television programs broadcast on other days, one or more other day interface controls may be provided. Such controls could be provided, for example, using fast forward and rewind keys on the remote control unit 18. In particular, for a previous or earlier day, a previous day control is provided. If the earliest day for which programs are available is already shown, then the previous day control may be inactivated. A previous day graphic 68 may indicate the availability of the previous day control. To transition the second interface section to display a later day, when a previous or earlier day is already shown, a next day control is provided. When the current day is already shown, the next day control becomes a now and next control which causes a transition from presentation of the second interface section 60 back to presentation of the first interface section 40. The availability of the next day control and/or the now and next control may be represented by a next day graphic 70 or now and next graphic 72 as appropriate, which may be identical in appearance.

When the user interface 32 transitions from presenting the first interface section 40 to a user to presenting the second interface section 60 to a user the default behaviour of the interface may be to show in the second interface section 60 a list of earlier programs for the same channel as that which was currently selected in the first interface section 40. A channel bar 74 presented by the second interface section shows which channel is currently the subject of the earlier program list in the second interface section. User controls are provided to change the channel which is currently the subject of the second interface section 60, for example by moving the focus of the interface to the channel bar 74 and then providing directional controls to move through the available channels.

One or more interface controls may be provided in addition to the watch now control to enable the user to select an available action in respect of a currently selected program, for example to request further information about that program, or to schedule future viewing, future downloading, or a viewing or downloading or other reminder.

Similar to the first interface section 40, in the second interface section 60 an earlier program information area 76 shows more information relating to a currently selected earlier program, such as the full channel name, the full name of the selected program, and the length of the program. To one side of the list of earlier broadcast programs a promotional area 78 may contain, for example, images and/or information about programs available for viewing through the second interface section, and optionally user controls for direct access to such programs or related content. For example, the promotional area may contain information about the programs for the currently shown channel which have been requested most for on demand viewing by the present and other receivers 10, or similar.

As for figure 4, a video box 50 may show the video of a currently received broadcast channel or other currently viewed program, for example of the currently selected channel, in particular for the channel which is currently the subject of the earlier broadcast program list 62, or in another mode of operation, of a channel which was selected or on demand or recorded content that was being displayed before the first or second interface section was entered by the user.

Figure 5 illustrates presentation to a user of the third interface section 80 which is accessible as a transition from the first interface section 40 using the later interface control discussed in connection with figure 3. The third interface section 80 presents a scrollable time based graph 82 or table or grid of television programs which will be broadcast on each of the television channels in the future, for example today and on future days, and optionally which are currently being broadcast. In figure 5, the time axis of the graph is horizontal in the display, beginning at a start time point which can be the present time or a time in the future, and becoming later in time to the right, that is in the same sense as the first interface section shows programs which will be broadcast next to the right of programs which are currently being broadcast. In particular, the position of each television program in the graph 82 corresponds to when that television program will be broadcast. The other axis of the graph, which in figure 5 is vertical, represents the different broadcast channels.

Each television program to be broadcast may be represented on the graph 82 by the full or abbreviated or truncated name of the program (not specifically shown in text in the figure), depending on how much space is available (which depends on the duration of the relevant broadcast and the length of the name). The start time of the broadcast is represented on the graph by the start of the name of the program. The graph may include television programs which are currently being broadcast, for example by starting the names of the currently broadcast programs at or close to the start time of the graph 82.

On transition from the first interface section to the third interface section 80, the third interface section preferably presents to the user the same channels as were shown using the first interface section at the time of transition, and in the same order and screen position along the axis representing the multiple channels. However, as for the first interface section 40, a user is enabled to scroll and/or page through the channels for example using suitable interface controls. The user interface may be implemented such that paging and/or scrolling does not change the currently selected or highlighted channel.

The user may also scroll or page the graph 82 horizontally, that is in the direction of broadcast time, and the user interface may be implemented such that this scrolling or paging does not change the currently selected or highlighted program or channel. Horizontal scrolling or paging could be implemented, for example, using forward and back keys of the remote control unit 18 to move forward and back in time by an interval of the same size or smaller than the interval currently displayed, for example by 2 hours. Paging may also be implemented in larger intervals, for example of 24 hours using fast forward and rewind keys of the remote control unit 18.

As for the first interface section 40 of figure 3, the third interface section 80 presents, to one side of the graph 82, lists of the channel numbers 84 and channel names 86. The graph 82 and the channel number and channel name lists 84, 86, therefore form a tabular display of television programs being or to be broadcast tabulated in one axis by channel and in the other axis by time of broadcast. A time axis label bar 88 parallel to the time axis of the graph 82 provides the time scale of the graph, for example being labelled in 30 minute increments, although other scales could of course be used.

Also as for the first interface section 40 of figure 3, one of the channels or programs may be graphically indicated as a currently selected channel or program, indicated in figure 5 by stippling of corresponding parts of the channel number and channel name lists and programs for that channel. Similar to figure 3, a video box 88 may show a currently viewed television program. This could be, for example, from a currently received broadcast channel, such as the currently selected channel, or from a channel which was being displayed before the first or third interface section was entered by the user. A program information area 90 shows more information relating to a currently selected program or program of a currently selected channel, for example similar to program information area 52 of the first interface section 40.

The user may exit the third interface section 80 using an appropriate control of the user interface, and the currently selected television channel or program is then presented in full screen video on the display 16. A return interface control is also provided, preferably in association with a return interface graphic 92 which may generally indicate a backwards step in time from the graph. Activation by a user of the return interface control causes a transition back to the first interface section 40. Various other functionality may be provided in

association with the third interface section 80 as will be familiar to the person skilled in the art. In particular, the graph of television programs is interactive, providing actions such as play, schedule for future play, schedule for future recording of a particular program and/or series or group of related programs, schedule a user reminder, provide further information on a program and so forth, for example by selecting a particular program in the interface and then activating suitable interface controls, for example provided by keys on the remote control device.

The first, second and third interface sections illustrated in figures 3, 4 and

5 are illustrated as occupying substantially the full display screen when presented on the display 16, with optionally a small video box 50, 88 showing a currently viewed or currently selected television program or channel. In these examples using a small video box, the first and third interface sections can show

information relating to a larger number of channels simultaneously, for example for more than five and typically about seven or eight channels, with information relating to other channels being obtained through channel scrolling. Similarly, the second interface section can show information relating to a larger number of earlier programs available on demand and/or available from a recording by the receiver in a time order on a single channel, for example more than five and typically about seven or eight programs, with further programs available by program scrolling.

In other modes of operation of user interface 32, the video of a currently viewed television program or currently selected channel may extend substantially to the edges of the full screen when presented on the display 16, i.e. it may be presented in a full screen mode or near full screen mode, and any or all of the first, second and third interface sections may then be presented as overlays on this full screen video. In order to provide reduced interference with the display of the currently viewed program, the first and third interface sections presented in this full screen video mode can show information relating to a smaller number of channels simultaneously than in the earlier described modes of operation, for example for from two to four, and preferably for exactly three channels, with information relating to other channels being obtained through channel scrolling. Similarly, the second interface section when used in the full screen video mode can show information relating to a smaller number of earlier programs available on demand and/or available from a recording by the receiver in a time order on a single channel, for example from two to four and preferably for exactly three programs, again with scrolling functions providing access to other programs in the displayed list. A combination of the modes in which one or more of the interface sections occupies substantially the full screen, and in which one or more of the interface sections operates in the described full screen video mode may also be provided.

A full screen video mode of operation of the first interface section 60 is shown in figure 6. As well as showing fewer channels at any one time in the first and second channel lists 42, 44, a reduced set of other graphical user interface elements is also used when compared with the display of figure 3. However, the channel number and channel name lists 46, 48 and the earlier and later interface controls and corresponding graphics 56 and 58 are still provided. As discussed above, the presentation of the interface section is overlaid onto the currently viewed full screen video 100. The full screen video mode of the first interface section may be entered, for example, by pressing a remote control arrow key while a broadcast program on a currently viewed channel is being watched in regular full screen mode. On entry into the full screen video mode of the first interface section, the currently viewed channel may appear as the top line of the table of channel number, channel name, and the first and second channel lists, with the currently viewed program and/or channel being a currently selected program and/or channel (shown as stippled in the figure). Other channels and programs in the list can be selected, with the lists scrolling as appropriate, using interface controls such as arrow keys on the remote control unit, with the same number of channels preferably always being in view as the lists scroll.

As for the mode of operation of the first interface section shown in figure 3, an earlier interface control and a later interface control, optionally in association with an earlier interface graphic 56 and a later interface graphic 58, may provide access to the second and third interface sections respectively, for example each in a full screen video mode corresponding to that shown in figure 6 in respect of the first interface section 40. User actions can be taken in respect of displayed and/or selected programs and channels as already discussed in connection with figure 3. The full screen video 100 displayed in figure 6 is preferably the video of a currently broadcast channel or of on-demand or pre-recorded content which was being displayed before entry in the relevant interface section. However, in an alternative mode the full screen video may, for example, be the currently broadcast video of a different channel currently selected in the interface section.

A full screen video mode of operation of the second interface section 60 is shown in figure 7. As for the full screen video mode of the first interface section 40 shown in figure 6, a reduced amount of data is displayed, with three consecutive programs being presented in the scrollable earlier list of broadcast programs 62. Programs are selectable and the user can action a selected program in the same way as for the second interface section as discussed in connection with figure 4. As for figure 6, a reduced set of other graphical user interface elements is also used when compared with the display of figure 4, and presentation of the interface section is overlaid onto the currently viewed full screen video 100.

A full screen video mode of operation of the third interface section 80 is shown in figure 8. As for the full screen video mode of the first interface section 40 shown in figure 6, a reduced amount of data is displayed, with three channels being presented in the scrollable graph. As for figure 5, particular programs are selectable and the user can action a selected program. As for figures 6 and 7, a reduced set of other graphical user interface elements may also be used when compared with the display of figure 5, and presentation of the interface section is overlaid onto the currently viewed full screen video 100.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to the skilled person that various modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, although the figures show particular numbers of programs and channels displayed at any one time by the interface sections, different numbers of programs and channels may be used. Although particular orientations and directions of lists and tables have been presented in the figures, for example channel lists extending and scrollable in the vertical direction, other directions may be used where appropriate or desirable for the interface sections, for example for use in different parts of the World. The second and third interface sections have generally been described as accessible from the first interface section, but other access routes could additionally or alternatively be provided by the user interface, and optionally only one or two selected ones of the three interface sections could be implemented in some embodiments of the invention.