An Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is an interactive, on screen analog to TV listings found in local newspapers or other print media. An EPG provides 20 information about each program within the time frames covered by the EPG which typically ranges from the next hour up to seven days. The information contained in an EPG includes programming characteristics such as channel number, program title, start time, end time, elapsed time, time remaining, rating (if available), topic, theme, and a brief description of the program's content. EPGs are usually arranged in a two dimensional table or grid format with time on one axis and channel numbers on the other axis. Unlike non interactive guides that reside on a dedicated channel and merely scroll through the current programming on the other channels for the next 2 to 3 hours, EPGs allow viewers to select any channel at any time up to seven days forward. Further EPG features include the ability to highlight individual cells of the grid containing program information. Once highlighted the viewer can perform functions pertaining to that selected program. For instance, the viewer could instantly switch to that program if it is currently being aired. Viewers could also program one touch video cassette recording (VCR) or the like if the television is properly configured and connected to a recording device.
Such EPGs are known in the art and are described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,353,121, 5,479,268, and 5,479,266 issued to Young et al. and assigned to StarSight Telecast, Inc. These patents are directed to television scheduling systems or EPGs in which a television display can be activated by a viewer that shows the current channel offerings in a table format. The cells of the table which form the columns and rows are irregular in length (row dimension) because not every program spans the same amount of time while the columns are regular in height. Typically, programs are broken down into 1/2 hour increments and a single program can last in excess of two hours. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,121 in which "Perfect Strangers" spans from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM while in the row below "Sesame Street" spans the length of the grid covering in excess of 1 1/2 hours.
Television programming extends over a broad spectrum of shows and events. Each show or event has distinct characteristics, or attributes, which are enjoyed most by viewers when various characteristics, or attributes, of the television receiver, e.g., audio and video settings, are matched to the characteristics of the program. The particular program characteristics that are of interest may be indicated by the topic and theme of the program. For instance, musical events are best viewed with audio and video settings which are different from sporting events. Clearly, the settings used for a fast moving, action packed ice hockey game would be different than those used for a symphony orchestra. Further, different sports each require different settings. Golf and football, while both sporting events, each have characteristics distinct from one another that require different audio and video settings to enhance the viewer's enjoyment of the broadcast. Similarly, different types of movies require different audio and video settings. Dramatic movies and comedic movies require different audio and video settings to maximize their appeal to viewers.
The current state of television art allows for automatic picture and sound adjustment. However, it requires viewers to manually select the topic and theme of the program using a menu driven remote control system. Then, the television automatically sets the optimal audio and video settings for the current program.
Thus, a system which can automatically determine program characteristics such as theme and topic information and use the program characteristics to update current receiver characteristics such as audio and video settings without viewer involvement is desired.