Electronic television program guide schedule system and method including virtual channels

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An electronic program schedule system having virtual channels which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller is utilized , by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control …