Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for receiving a multitude of programs which may be classified by a first and a second attribute. For example, a program may be classified by a channel name and a program category. The apparatus is capable of defining one or more user profiles which comprise ratings for some or all combinations of values of the first and the second attribute. Thus, a user can supply preferences in a very precise way. The user profile influences the behavior of various components, such as the zap function and the electronic program guide.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for simultaneously displaying a graphic image (23) (e.g., a control menu of a television receiver or video recorder) and a video image (22). In order to achieve optimal legibility of the menu without fully obscuring the underlying video signal, the graphic image is accommodated within a window (21) and the window is given an adequate color (24) which is additively mixed with the video signal. The mixing factor is preferably controlled in response to the amount of spatial and/or temporal activity of the video signal within the window.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting a multimedia title that is based on a multi-node structure while preferring nodes with a relatively spare visit history over nodes that have a relatively frequent visit history.For a multimedia title that is based on an information structure with a finite number of information nodes, first an entry point to the structure is presented to a user. Further, user visits as pertaining to specific nodes are logged, and a visit history of certain nodes is indicated to a user. In particular, the indicating prefers to present nodes with a relatively spare visit history over nodes that have a relatively frequent visit history.

Abstract: In a display device equipped with a picture-in-picture function, during controlling of the picture parameters of the main picture, one or several auxiliary pictures are presented on the screen, each having a certain combination of parameter settings. These may be preprogrammed, defined by a user, or automatically determined. The display device is provided with circuitry for transferring the parameter settings of one of the auxiliary pictures to the main picture. In a special embodiment, an auxiliary picture represents the parameter settings at the start of the picture parameter adjustment process. As a result, the old parameter settings may be compared with the new ones and, if so desired, may be reinstated in a simple manner.

Abstract: In a consumer player or recorder operating with a linear medium such as a tape or disc there is a time analog display of a representation of various identifiable discrete information items such as sector, record, track. The display is length-proportional and for each item may signal an activity level, an activity state, or a past/future state with respect to a pick-up element position.

Abstract: A consumer apparatus has an executing mode and a specifying mode. In the latter an array of formalized specifying proposals is displayed. The device has a cursor for stepping through the array for so selectively highlighting one of the array elements. Thereupon, for that actualized element a list of prestored proposals can be cycled through, while they are selectable displayed as collocated with the associated array element.