Enhanced program preview content

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing an enhanced EPG or EPG banner are described. A method of displaying first and second audiovisual content, the first audiovisual content comprising a current program and the second audiovisual content comprising audiovisual content relating to a future program according to a program broadcast schedule, the method comprising receiving the first audiovisual content at a media playback device, receiving the second audiovisual content at the media playback device from a remote content system over a packet-based data network, in response to user input, outputting the first and second audiovisual content to an output device having a screen, and controlling the screen of the output device to display the first and second audiovisual content concurrently. A method of controlling a screen, the display being operable in different modes according to whether a PiP window is shown, and whether currently broadcast or future content is shown.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of displaying program video content, the method comprising:
 receiving a current program video content and content associated with future program video content;   outputting the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content to an output device having a display device;   displaying the current program video content on the display device; and   if the current program video content does not match a highlighted program video content in an electronic programming guide (EPG), displaying the content associated with future program video content in a picture-in-picture (PIP) window.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a channel change selection function which comprises an on-screen graphical user interface (GUI) displaying textual information and scheduling information for the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a user input request is to navigate to part of the channel change selection function displaying information corresponding to the content associated with future program video content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the channel change selection function is one or more of: an EPG or EPG banner. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current program video content is requested using one or more of: a satellite connection, a wireless connection, a cable connection, or a packet-based network connection. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content is stored on one or more of: the media playback device or on a local storage module associated with the media playback device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media playback device is a set-top-box (STB) or a computer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current program video content is requested at a discrete interval. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content comprise video or video with audio. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the audio of one of the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content is muted. 
     
     
         11 . A media playback device having a controller configured to control a display, the device comprising:
 the controller is configured to receive a current program video content and content associated with future program video content, and output the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content to the display;   the display is configured to display the current program video content and if the current program video content does not match a highlighted program video content in an electronic programming guide (EPG), display the content associated with future program video content in a picture-in-picture (PIP) window.   
     
     
         12 . The media playback device of  claim 11 , further comprising comprising a channel change selection function which comprises an on-screen graphical user interface (GUI) displaying textual information and scheduling information for the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content. 
     
     
         13 . The media playback device of  claim 12 , wherein a user input request is to navigate to part of the channel change selection function displaying information corresponding to the content associated with future program video content. 
     
     
         14 . The media playback device of  claim 13 , wherein the channel change selection function is one or more of: an EPG or EPG banner. 
     
     
         15 . The media playback device of  claim 11 , wherein the current program video content is requested using one or more of: a satellite connection, a wireless connection, a cable connection, or a packet-based network connection. 
     
     
         16 . A system for displaying program video content, the system comprising:
 a memory device; and   a computer processor in communication with the memory device having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the computer processor, casue the computer processor to:
 receive a current program video content and content associated with future program video content; 
 output the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content to an output device having a display device; 
 display the current program video content on the display device; and 
 if the current program video content does not match a highlighted program video content in an electronic programming guide (EPG), display the content associated with future program video content in a picture-in-picture (PIP) window. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content is stored on one or more of: the media playback device or on a local storage module associated with the media playback device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the media playback device is a set-top-box (STB) or a computer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the current program video content is requested at a discrete interval. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the current program video content and the content associated with future program video content comprise video or video with audio.