Method and apparatus for displaying entertainment system data upon selection of a video data display

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection. A first area of the first window displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection. The GUI includes a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection. A second area of the second window, displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection. Upon selection by a user of the respective window, entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window is displayed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for presenting entertainment selections, comprising: 
 displaying video data of a first entertainment selection on a first window;    displaying video data of a second entertainment selection on a second window; and    displaying entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window upon selection by a user of the respective window.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 displaying further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection in a first area of the first window; and    displaying further entertainment system data corresponding to the second entertainment selection in a first area of the second window;    wherein selection of the respective window comprises selection of the respective first areas of the respective windows.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 displaying still further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection in a second area of the first window; and    displaying still further entertainment system data corresponding to the second entertainment selection in a second area of the second window;    wherein selection of the respective window comprises selection of the respective second areas of the respective windows.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the further entertainment system data in the first area comprises at least one of a call sign of the entertainment selection source, a channel of the entertainment selection source, a title of the entertainment selection, rating information of the entertainment selection, time of broadcast of the entertainment selection, and length of broadcast of the entertainment selection.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entertainment system data displayed upon selection of the respective window comprises at least one of a description of the respective entertainment selection and a critique of the respective entertainment selection.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video data comprises video images of the respective entertainment selections.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the video images comprise a still image taken from a real-time broadcast of the respective entertainment selections.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a full-screen display of the corresponding entertainment selection upon selection by the user of the respective window.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining a user's preference of entertainment selection sources;    obtaining video data corresponding to entertainment selections broadcasted on the preferred entertainment selection sources; and    wherein the first and second entertainment selections are selected from among the obtained video data.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving a preferred trait from the user, the trait being related to at least one entertainment selection;    identifying entertainment selections with the preferred trait by reference to a database of entertainment selections; and    wherein the first and second entertainment selections are selected from among the identified entertainment selections.    
     
     
         11 . A graphical user interface (GUI), comprising: 
 a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection;    a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection;    the first and second windows comprising selectable multimedia identifiers that can be selected by a user to cause the display of descriptive information regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window.    
     
     
         12 . The GUI of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first area of the first window that displays an identification of the source of the first entertainment selection;    a second area of the first window, that displays a title of the first entertainment selection;    a first area of the second window, that displays an identification of the source of the second entertainment selection; and    a second area of the second window, that displays a title of the second entertainment selection;    wherein selection of the respective window comprises selection of the respective second areas of the respective windows.    
     
     
         13 . The GUI of  claim 11 , further comprising a navigation tool that allows a user to view additional windows that display video data of additional entertainment selections on the GUI.  
     
     
         14 . The GUI of  claim 11 , wherein the entertainment system data displayed upon selection of the respective window comprises at least one of a description of the respective entertainment selection, rating information of the respective entertainment selection, and a critique of the respective entertainment selection.  
     
     
         15 . The GUI of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a user selectable multimedia identifier of a trait of an entertainment selection; and    information stored in a database of entertainment selections related to the trait, displayed upon selection of the multimedia identifier.    
     
     
         16 . The GUI of  claim 15 , wherein the selectable multimedia identifiers can further be selected by a user to cause a full-screen display of the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window.  
     
     
         17 . A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: 
 displaying video data of a first entertainment selection on a first window;    displaying video data of a second entertainment selection on a second window; and    displaying entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window upon selection by a user of the respective window.    
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise: 
 displaying further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection in a first area of the first window; and    displaying further entertainment system data corresponding to the second entertainment selection in a first area of the second window;    wherein selection of the respective window comprises selection of the respective first areas of the respective windows.    
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise: 
 displaying still further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection in a second area of the first window; and    displaying still further entertainment system data corresponding to the second entertainment selection in a second area of the second window;    wherein selection of the respective window comprises selection of the respective second areas of the respective windows.    
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further comprise: 
 receiving a preferred trait from the user, the trait being related to at least one entertainment selection;    identifying entertainment selections with the preferred trait by reference to a database of entertainment selections; and    wherein the first and second entertainment selections are selected from among the identified entertainment selections.