Electronic programming guide

Abstract

A method and apparatus of displaying visual guide for multimedia content. In one embodiment, the visual guide is constructed of a three dimensional environment, in which multimedia content information is displayed. A user may navigate the three dimensional environment to view additional or alternative information. In one or more arrangements, different surfaces of the three dimensional environment may correspond to different levels of preference or desirability.

1 . A method comprising:
 generating, by a computing device having at least one processor, a visually three dimensional environment defined by a plurality of surfaces including a plurality of surfaces, each surface at a visually different depth within the visually three dimensional environment; and   generating, by the content rendering device, a display of information relating to a visual guide for multimedia content on one or more of the plurality of surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of surfaces include one or more hyperbolic planes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-parallel surface is displayed with an isometric view. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed information corresponds to one or more television programs. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said visually three dimensional environment is generated exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said three dimensional environment is generated as a two dimensional image having a three dimensional appearance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of surfaces includes a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces representing different levels of preference. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first surface corresponds to preferred content and the second surface corresponds to non-preferred content. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing computer readable memory that, when executed, cause the apparatus to:
 generate a visually three dimensional environment defined by a plurality of surfaces including a plurality of surfaces, each surface at a visually different depth within the visually three dimensional environment; and 
 generate a displayable visual guide including an indication of availability of multimedia content on one or more of the plurality of surfaces. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is a set-top box and information indicating the availability of multimedia content is received from a remote server. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the generated multimedia content includes one or more television programs. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein visually three dimensional environment is generated exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said three dimensional environment is generated as a two dimensional image having a three dimensional appearance. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of surfaces includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surfaces represent different levels of preference. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first surface corresponds to preferred content and the second surface corresponds to non-preferred content. 
     
     
         16 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:
 generate a three dimensional environment defined by a plurality of surfaces including a plurality of parallel surfaces and a non-parallel surface, wherein the non-parallel surface is disposed between the plurality of parallel surfaces; and   generate a display of information relating to an electronic programming guide (EPG) on the non-parallel surface.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of parallel surfaces includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surfaces represent different levels of preference. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 17 , wherein the first surface corresponds to preferred content and at least one of the second surface and the non-parallel surface corresponds to non-preferred content.