Method and apparatus for selectively displaying additional information relating to broadcast information

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying a primary display and a window containing additional information is provided. The apparatus contains a display device, a displaying mechanism, and an exposing mechanism. The display device has a screen, and the displaying mechanism displays the primary display on the screen. The exposing mechanism generates and displays the window containing the additional information on the screen such that the window is located underneath the primary display while the primary display is displayed on the screen and is exposed by removing the primary display from on top of the window. A method which is performed by the apparatus is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for displaying a primary display and a window containing additional information, comprising: 
 a display device having a screen;    displaying means for displaying said primary display on said screen; and    exposing means for generating and displaying said window containing said additional information on said screen such that said window is located underneath said primary display while said primary display is displayed on said screen and is exposed by removing said primary display from on top of said window.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said exposing means exposes said window by sliding said primary display at least partially off of said screen.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said exposing means slides said primary display in a particular direction such that said primary display exits a particular side of screen, and 
 wherein a first portion of said window located furthest away from said particular side of said screen is exposed before a second portion of said window located closer to said particular side of said screen is exposed.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said primary display is a broadcast program.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said primary display is a computer-generated graphic display.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said computer-generated graphic display contains information relating to a broadcast program, and 
 wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said exposing means causes said primary display to slide off of said window in response to a first command input from a user via an input device.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said exposing means ceases displaying said window in response to a second command input from said user via said input device.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said exposing means slides said primary display back on top of said window when said second command is input after said window is displayed.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said exposing means immediately and entirely redisplays said primary display when said second command is input after said window is displayed.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said exposing means exposes said window by rolling up at least a portion of said primary display.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein, said exposing means rolls up said primary display in a particular direction towards a particular side of screen, and 
 wherein a first portion of said window located furthest away from said particular side of said screen is exposed before a second portion of said window located closer to said particular side of said screen is exposed.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said exposing means rolls up said primary display in said particular direction such that at least a portion of said primary display located furthest away from said particular side of said screen is no longer displayed.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said primary display is a broadcast program.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said primary display is a computer-generated graphic display.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said computer-generated graphic display contains information relating to a broadcast program, and 
 wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said exposing means causes said primary display to roll up off of said window in response to a first command input from a user via an input device.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said exposing means ceases displaying said window in response to a second command input from said user via said input device.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said exposing means unrolls said primary display over said window when said second command is input after said window is displayed.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said exposing means immediately and entirely redisplays said primary display when said second command is input after said window is displayed.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said exposing means exposes said window by disintegrating at least a portion of said primary display in a piecewise fashion.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said primary display is a broadcast program.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said primary display is a computer-generated graphic display.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said computer-generated graphic display contains information relating to a broadcast program, and 
 wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said exposing means causes said primary display to disintegrate off of said window in response to a first command input from a user via an input device.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said exposing means ceases displaying said window in response to a second command input from said user via said input device.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said exposing means reforms said primary display over said window in a piecewise fashion when said second command is input after said window is displayed.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said exposing means immediately and entirely redisplays said primary display when said second command is input after said window is displayed.  
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for displaying a primary display and a window containing additional information, comprising: 
 a display device having a screen;    displaying means for displaying said primary display on said screen; and    exposing means for generating and displaying said window containing said additional information, 
 wherein said exposing means slides said primary display in a particular direction off said screen such that at least a portion of said primary display exits a particular side of said screen and such that at least a remaining portion of said screen is unoccupied by said primary display,  
 wherein said exposing means slides said window onto said screen such that said window occupies at least some of said remaining portion of said screen.  
   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said exposing means slides said primary display off said screen in said particular direction and slides said window onto said screen in said particular direction.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said exposing means slides said window onto said screen simultaneously when said primary display is slid off said screen, and 
 wherein a side of said window which is closest to said particular side of said screen is disposed against a side of said primary display which is furthest from said particular side of said screen so as to give an appearance that said window pushes said primary display off said screen in said particular direction.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said primary display is a broadcast program.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said primary display is a computer-generated graphic display.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said computer-generated graphic display contains information relating to a broadcast program, and 
 wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.    
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said exposing means causes said primary display to slide off said screen and causes said window to slide onto said screen in response to a first command input from a user via an input device.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein said exposing means ceases di splaying said window in response to a second command input from said user via said input device.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein said exposing means slides said window off of said screen in a second direction which is opposite to said particular direction and slides said primary display onto said window in said second direction when said second command is input after said window is displayed.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein said exposing means immediately and entirely redisplays said primary display when said second command is input after said window is displayed.  
     
     
         43 . A method for displaying a primary display and a window containing additional information, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) displaying said primary display on a screen of a display;    (b) generating said window containing said additional information; and    (c) displaying said window on said screen such that said window is located underneath said primary display while said primary display is displayed on said screen and is exposed by removing said primary display from on top of said window.    
     
     
         44 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein said step (c) comprises the step of: 
 (c1) exposing said window by sliding said primary display at least partially off of said screen.    
     
     
         45 . The method as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein said step (c1) comprises the step of: 
 (c1a) sliding said primary display in a particular direction such that said primary display exits a particular side of screen, 
 wherein a first portion of said window located furthest away from said particular side of said screen is exposed before a second portion of said window located closer to said particular side of said screen is exposed.  
   
     
     
         46 . The method as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said primary display is a broadcast program.  
     
     
         47 . The method as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.  
     
     
         48 . The method as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said primary display is a computer-generated graphic display.  
     
     
         49 . The method as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said computer-generated graphic display contains information relating to a broadcast program, and 
 wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.    
     
     
         50 . The method as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said step (c1a) comprises the steps of: 
 (c1a1) inputting a first command from a user via an input device; and    (c1a2) causing said primary display to slide off of said window in response to said first command.    
     
     
         51 . The method as claimed in  claim 50 , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) ceasing to display said window in response to a second command input from said user via said input device.    
     
     
         52 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein said step (d) comprises the step of: 
 (d1) sliding said primary display on top of said window when said second command is input after said window is displayed.    
     
     
         53 . The method as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein said step (d) comprises the step of: 
 (d1) immediately and entirely redisplaying said primary display when said second command is input while said window is displayed.    
     
     
         54 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein said step (c) comprises the step of: 
 (c1) exposing said window by rolling up at least a portion of said primary display.    
     
     
         55 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein said step (c1) comprises the step of: 
 (c1a) rolling up said primary display in a particular direction towards a particular side of screen, 
 wherein a first portion of said window located furthest away from said particular side of said screen is exposed before a second portion of said window located closer to said particular side of said screen is exposed.  
   
     
     
         56 . The method as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein said step (c1a) comprises the step of: 
 (c1a1) rolling up said primary display in said particular direction such that at least a portion of said primary display located furthest away from said particular side of said screen is no longer displayed.    
     
     
         57 . The method as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein said primary display is a broadcast program.  
     
     
         58 . The method as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.  
     
     
         59 . The method as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein said primary display is a computer-generated graphic display.  
     
     
         60 . The method as claimed in  claim 59 , wherein said computer-generated graphic display contains information relating to a broadcast program, and 
 wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.    
     
     
         61 . The method as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein said step (c1) comprises the steps of: 
 (c1a) inputting a first command from a user via an input device; and    (c1b) causing said primary display to roll up off of said window in response to said first command.    
     
     
         62 . The method as claimed in  claim 61 , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) ceasing to display said window in response to a second command input from said user via said input device.    
     
     
         63 . The method as claimed in  claim 62 , wherein said step (d) comprises the step of: 
 (d1) unrolling said primary display back on top of said window when said second command is input after said window is displayed.    
     
     
         64 . The method as claimed in  claim 62 , wherein said step (d) comprises the step of: 
 (d1) immediately and entirely redisplaying said primary display when said second command is input after said window is displayed.    
     
     
         65 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein said step (c) comprises the step of: 
 (c1) exposing said window by disintegrating at least a portion of said primary display in a piecewise fashion.    
     
     
         66 . The method as claimed in  claim 65 , wherein said primary display is a broadcast program.  
     
     
         67 . The method as claimed in  claim 66 , wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.  
     
     
         68 . The method as claimed in  claim 65 , wherein said primary display is a computer-generated graphic display.  
     
     
         69 . The method as claimed in  claim 68 , wherein said computer-generated graphic display contains information relating to a broadcast program, and 
 wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.    
     
     
         70 . The method as claimed in  claim 65 , wherein said step (c1) comprises the steps of: 
 (c1a) inputting a first command from a user via an input device; and    (c1b) causing said primary display to disintegrate off of said window in response to said first command.    
     
     
         71 . The method as claimed in  claim 70 , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) ceasing to display said window in response to a second command input from said user via said input device.    
     
     
         72 . The method as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein said step (d) comprises the step of: 
 (d1) reforming said primary display over said window in a piecewise fashion when said second command is input after said window is displayed.    
     
     
         73 . The method as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein said step (d) comprises the step of: 
 (d1) immediately and entirely redisplaying said primary display when said second command is input after said window is displayed.    
     
     
         74 . A method for displaying a primary display and a window containing additional information, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) displaying said primary display on a screen of a display;    (b) generating said window containing said additional information;    (c) sliding said primary display in a particular direction off said screen such that at least a portion of said primary display exits a particular side of said screen and such that at least a remaining portion of said screen is unoccupied by said primary display; and    (d) sliding said window onto said screen such that said window occupies at least some of said remaining portion of said screen.    
     
     
         75 . The method as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein said step (d) comprises the step of: 
 (d1) sliding said window onto said screen in said particular direction.    
     
     
         76 . The method as claimed in  claim 75 , wherein said step (d1) comprises the step of: 
 (d1a) sliding said window onto said screen simultaneously when said primary display is slid off said screen, 
 wherein a side of said window which is closest to said particular side of said screen is disposed against a side of said primary display which is furthest from said particular side of said screen so as to give an appearance that said window pushes said primary display off said screen in said particular direction.  
   
     
     
         77 . The method as claimed in  claim 75 , wherein said primary display is a broadcast program.  
     
     
         78 . The method as claimed in  claim 77 , wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.  
     
     
         79 . The method as claimed in  claim 75 , wherein said primary display is a computer-generated graphic display.  
     
     
         80 . The method as claimed in  claim 79 , wherein said computer-generated graphic display contains information relating to a broadcast program, and 
 wherein said additional information contained in said window relates to said broadcast program.    
     
     
         81 . The method as claimed in  claim 76 , wherein said step (c) comprises the steps of: 
 (c1) inputting a first command from a user via an input device; and    (c1) causing said primary display to slide off of said window in response to said first command.    
     
     
         82 . The method as claimed in claim  81 , further comprising the step of: 
 (e) ceasing to display said window in response to a second command input from said user via said input device.    
     
     
         83 . The method as claimed in claim  82 , wherein said step (e) comprises the step of: 
 (e1) sliding said window off of said screen in a second direction which is opposite to said particular direction and sliding said primary display onto said window in said second direction when said second command is input after said window is displayed.    
     
     
         84 . The method as claimed in claim  82 , wherein said step (e) comprises the step of: 
 (e1) immediately and entirely redisplaying said primary display when said second command is input after said window is displayed.