Abstract: A TV graphical user interface includes a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels provided by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. A direct access channel bar is arranged on a screen so as to cause the channel boxes to display the number and logo of a selected TV channel when the user directs the pointing device at the point on the direct access bar that represents the selected channel. The direct access channel bar is provided with an absolute cursor position indicator that indicates to the user the numbers of TV channels represented by various points on the direct access channel bar, when the user moves the pointing device over these points.

Abstract: A TV GUI is provided to display a program guide that contains information on TV programming for a time period of predetermined duration. The program guide has a time scroll bar that enables a user to scroll a TV program schedule back and forward in time within the selected time period. When the user clicks on a MORE icon on the time scroll bar, the GUI switches into a "more times" mode to offer a menu of time options that represent various preselected time periods of TV programming. A time preset button may be provided on the program guide to enable users to review TV program information covering any preselected time period. A single click on the time preset button causes the GUI to switch to a program guide for the preselected time period.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface (GUI) is provided in a satellite TV system to enable users to create customized channel lists. Everyday, favorite and theme lists may be generated to respectively combine TV channels being watched regularly, favorite TV channels and channels relating to particular subjects. In a regular channel changer mode, the TV GUI displays graphical channel changer composed of channel boxes that show numbers and logos of available TV channels. To create a customized channel list, the TV GUI is switched into a change list content mode, wherein a channel grid is displayed in addition to the channel changer. Using a "drag and drop" procedure, graphical boxes corresponding to selected channel boxes may be moved from the channel changer to cells of the channel grid, to create a customized list of TV channels or to add new channels to an existing list. TV channels may be removed from the list by moving boxes that represent unwanted channels from the grid and placing them outside the grid area.