Importance

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Abstract

Two-dimensional channel navigation techniques for use in a video distribution system in which broadcast providers each transmit an anchor channel. Some of the broadcast providers may transmit the anchor channel as a single HDTV channel, while the others transmit a set of multiplexed channels including an anchor channel and one or more associated multiplex channels. A receiver which receives the anchor channels and any associated multiplex channels generates an on-screen display which indicates to a viewer the multiplex channels, if any, associated with a currently-selected anchor channel. The on-screen display includes a multiplex indicator with a series of icons, each of the icons representing a particular one of the multiplex channels associated with the currently-selected anchor channel. Each of the icons may be configured to provide an indication of the program content which may be found on the associated multiplex channel. The viewer presses channel right or channel left keys on a remote control or other channel selection device to sequence horizontally through the multiplex channels associated with the selected anchor channel, and uses channel up and down keys to sequence vertically through the anchor channels of the various broadcast providers.

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First Claim