MXPA01007884A - A preferred service management system for a multimedia video decoder - Google Patents

Abstract

A video decoder (100) provides an interface enabling a User to create, manage and maintain favorite service lists for facilitating User navigation through a complex array of multimedia services. The on-screen display interface system (30, 37) generates an abbreviated menu list of favorite multimedia services available from both local and remote sources to enable navigation through user selected favorite services. A database (60) associates individual services and corresponding menu items in the favorite services menu with their respective sources and supports service selection, tuning and acquisition (13, 15, 17, 22). Additional abbreviated lists of favorite multimedia services, comprising sub-sets of parent service lists, are also hierarchically displayed in response to User command (70)in order to facilitate and focus a search for a desired service.

Description

A PREFERRED SERVICE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A MULTIMEDIA VIDEO DECODER This invention relates to the creation, control and navigation of lists of favorite services, for example, lists of favorite video channels, in a multimedia video decoder.

Home entertainment systems that combine a Personal Computer and television functions (PC / TV systems), are increasingly generic, interactive with the User, multiple sources and multi-destination communication devices. These systems are required to communicate in different data formats between multiple locations for a variety of applications in response to User requests. For example, a PC / TV system can receive data from satellite or terrestrial sources that include High Definition Television (HDTV) transmissions, Multi-point Microwave Distribution System (MMDS) transmissions and Digital Video Transmissions (DVB). ). A PC / TV system can also receive and transmit data via the telephone (for example, the Internet) and coaxial lines (for example, cable TV) and from both remote and local sources, such as Digital Video Disc (DVD) , CDROM, VHS and VHS Digital type (DVHS®) players, PCs, and many other types of sources. A number of problems arise in the invention of a User Interface for a PC / TV system that supports complex user interactivity tasks while providing a simple command interface available to the general public. Specifically, problems arise by providing an interface that makes it possible for the user to create, control, and maintain lists of favorite services through a spectrum of multimedia services. It is desirable that these lists facilitate the User's navigation through the complex order of multimedia services provided in a multimedia decoder. These problems and related problems are solved by a system according to the present invention. A video decoder display visualization interface system generates a short menu list of the favorite multimedia services available from both remote and local sources to enable navigation through the favorite services selected by the user. A database associates the individual services and the corresponding menu items in the menu of favorite services with their respective sources and supports the selection of services, tuning, and acquisition. Additional abbreviated lists of the favorite multimedia services are also displayed hierarchically, which comprise subgroups of lists of origin services, in response to the command of the User in order to facilitate and refine a search of the desired services. In the drawing: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a multimedia system showing the communication interfaces in both local and remote devices. Figure 2 is a block diagram of a digital video processing system employing a User interface that includes menus of favorite services, in accordance with the principles of the invention. Figure 3 shows the display of the hierarchical menus of favorite services containing entries from the local and remote service sources, according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a function selection interface of the multimedia decoder showing an electronic service guide that includes a superimposed list of favored services, according to the invention. Figure 5 shows a flowchart to identify and display a favorite service through User navigation through the hierarchical menus of favorite services, according to the invention.

Figure 6 shows an example remote control unit that supports the use of favorite service lists, according to the invention. Figure 7 shows a flow diagram to facilitate the addition of a favorite multimedia service to the list of favorite services during the operation of the multimedia service, according to the invention. Figure 8 shows a flow diagram to facilitate the addition of a favorite multimedia service selected from a first list of services to a second list of favorite services, according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example multimedia system showing communication interfaces with both local and remote devices. The decoder 100 processes a video program and other data from a plurality of different sources including a terrestrial antenna 10, a satellite dish 87, a PC / Internet source 83, a VCR / DVD 90 unit and a telephone system / fax 80. The decoder 100 can also process output data to an IEEE 1394 compliant device, an HDTV decoder, an Ethernet-linked device, a DVSH system and can also provide an image-in-picture output directly to another device Of reproduction. The decoder 100 provides an interface that makes it possible for the User to create, control and maintain lists of favorite services to facilitate User navigation through a complex order of multimedia services. Specifically, the decoder interface system 100 provides an abbreviated list of the favorite multimedia services available from both local and remote sources to enable the User to quickly change the function of the decoder 100 and acquire a new service. Additional abbreviated lists of favorite multimedia services comprising subgroups of the source service lists in response to a User command are also displayed hierarchically. A database associates the individual services and the corresponding menu items in the menu of favorite services with their respective sources and supports the selection of the service, the tuning and the acquisition. Figure 2 is a block diagram of a digital video processing system employing a User interface that includes menus of favorite services, in accordance with the principles of the invention. Although the published system is described in the context of a system for receiving a terrestrial transmission of video signals incorporating program-specific auxiliary information in an MPEG compatible format, this is only an example. The MPEG data format is widely adopted and detailed in the MPEG2 image coding standard (Expert Group of Moving Images), hereinafter referred to as the "MPEG standard", (ISO / IEC 13818-1, June 10, 1994 , and ISO / IEC 13818-2, January 22, 1995). The principles of the invention can be applied to terrestrial transmission systems, cable, satellite, Internet, or computer network where the type of coding or the modulation format can vary. These systems may include, for example, systems not compatible with MPEG, encompassing other types of encoded data streams. In addition, although the published system is described as processing transmission programs, this is only an example. The term "program" is used to represent any form of packaged data such as audio data, telephone messages, computer programs, Internet data, or other communications, for example. In the video reception system of Figure 2, a modulated transmission bearer with signals carrying audio, video, and associated data representing the content of a transmission program, is received by an antenna 10 and processed by a unit 13. The resulting digital output signal is demodulated by a demodulator 15. The demodulated output from unit 15 is decoded into a network, it is mapped in byte length data segments, deinterleaved and the Reed-Solomon error is corrected by decoder 17. The output data corrected from unit 17 is in the form of transport data stream compatible with MEPG containing multiplexed, audio, video and data components representative of the program. The transport stream from the unit 17 is demultiplexed into the audio, video and data components by the unit 22, which are further processed by the other elements of the decoder system 100. In one mode, the decoder 100 provides decoded data. in MPEG to display and play audio in units 50 and 55, respectively. In another mode, the transport stream from the unit 17 is processed by the decoder 100 (and the interface 95) to provide a data stream compatible with MPEG to be stored in a storage medium 105 by means of the storage device 90. controller 60 configures processor 13, demodulator 15, decoder 17 and decoding system 100 to demodulate and decode the input signal format and encoding type. In addition, the controller 60 configures the units 13, 15 and 17 for other communication modes, such as for the reception of cable television signals (CATV) and for bidirectional communication by means of a coaxial line 14, or for bidirectional communication (for example, Internet), for example by means of a telephone line 11 or satellite reception by means of dish 87. In an analog video mode, an NTSC compatible signal is received by units 13, 15 and 17 and is processed by the unit 27 of the decoder 100 to display video and play audio on the units 50 and 55, respectively. The units 13, 15, 17 and the subunits within the decoder 100 are individually configured for the type of input signal by the controller 60 through the establishment of the control register values within these elements using bidirectional data and the busbar of control signals C. The controller 60 comprises a processor 62 and a processor 64. The unit 62 processes (i.e., distributes, collates and assembles) the system information, for example the timing information, and the program-specific information. , to form a database. The database supports communication with local and remote sources and peripheral devices and enables the tuning and acquisition of the service. The individual data packets received (by the decoder 100 comprising a program selected by the User, for example) are identified and assembled using the specific information of the program assembled within the database of unit 62. The specific information of the program it contains conditional access, network information, and identification and link data that make it possible for the system of Figure 2 to tune into a desired channel and assemble the data packets to form complete programs. The program-specific information contained in the database of unit 62 also contains auxiliary information from the program guide (for example, an Electronic Program Guide - EPG) and descriptive text related to transmission programs, as well as data that they support the identification and assembly of this auxiliary information. The processor 64 develops the remaining control functions required in the operation of the decoder 100. Although the functions of the unit 60 can be implemented as separate elements 62 and 64, as shown in Figure 1, they can be alternative way implemented with only one processor. For example, the functions of units 62 and 64 can be incorporated into the programmed instructions of a microprocessor. A User operates a decoder 100 by inputting commands and by selecting options displayed in the menus displayed on the unit 50 using a remote control unit 70 via a remote interface 65. The menu options are selected directly by direct entry of a number of the menu item or by navigating the cursor to the article followed by the selection of the item using the remote unit 70. In this way the User selects and initiates a multimedia function as a reproduction of the program, email, telephony, Internet access, fax, or DVD / VCR operation, and also initiates the installation and adjustment of the decoder system 100. The commands entered are processed by the controller 60, which controls the operation of the elements of the decoder 100 using the bidirecciopal busbar C. A user selects to watch a TV channel (channel selected by the user-SC) or an on-screen menu, such as a program guide, by using a unit to remote control 70. The resulting decoded data stream from the decoder 17 is provided to the demultiplexer 22.

The output of the packet decoded data stream through interface 17 contains video and audio data representing a video program, for example, and may also contain sub-picture data. This sub-picture data contains picture elements associated with a program, such as visual display commands, subtitling, content menus, descriptive text, selectable menu options or other items, for example. The packets containing video, audis and subpicture data are identified in the decoded data stream from the decoder 17 by the demultiplexer 22 using the values of the Packet Identifier (PID) contained in their respective packet headers. The demultiplexer 22 collates the PIDs of the incoming packets in the data stream from the interface 17 with the previously loaded PID values in the control registers within the unit 22 via the controller 60. The demultiplexer 22 provides the video, audio packets and sub-picture to MPEG 25 video decoder, audio processor 35 and sub-picture processor 30, respectively. The decoder 25 decodes and decompresses the MPEG compatible packet video data from the unit 22 and provides pixel data representative of the decompressed program to the NTSC 45 encoder by means of the multiplexer 40. Similarly, the audio processor 35 decodes the audio data. in pack from the unit 22 and provides decoded and amplified audio data synchronized with the associated decompressed video data, to the device 55 for audio playback. The processor 30 decodes and decompresses the subpicture data received from the unit 22 to provide data mapped in uncompressed pixels to the On-Screen Visual Display (OSD) and the graphics generator 37. Using the sub-image data from the unit 30 and the specific information of the program from unit 60, unit 37 creates a set of interactive menu, control and information displays to be presented in unit 50. These menu displays include, for example, the hierarchical lists of favorite services shown in Figure 3 and the EPG and the superimposed list of favorite services of Figure 4. The menu displays are generated in the form of pixel map data superimposed by the OSD generator 37 under the address of the controller 60 and are updated using the database maintained by unit 64 in controller 60. This database links individual menus with selectable menu option icons in the menu currently displayed on the unit 50. The controller 60 is thus enabled to determine and generate the next hierarchical menu to be displayed on the unit 50 in response to a User selection of an option icon of the current menu. Figure 3 shows a hierarchical menu of favorite services 325 containing entries from local and remote service sources displayed in unit 50. Menu list 325 is displayed as an overlay in a video program 303 currently shown in response to User selection of icon 305 in the underlying menu. Alternatively, the favorite list 325 may be displayed directly in response to the User pressing a button on the remote unit 70, such as the "Fetch" button ("Search") 890 of the example remote unit 70 of the Figure 6. Articles 1-10 in list 325 of Figure 3 comprise favorite multimedia services previously added to the list of favorites by the User. The sample multimedia favorites list 325 includes HDTV, terrestrial and satellite transmission channels, as well as DVD, VCR, and recording camera functions, a URL on an Internet web page, a file address on the server. local, an email address and a phone number. However, you can also add any other local or remote multimedia feature to the favorites list. Any of the services 1-10 in the list 325 can be activated by direct entry in the item number in the menu, or by cursor navigation and item selection using the remote unit 70. The menu items 307-323 in the underlying menu may comprise a longer list of available services of which the list 325 comprises a subgroup exhibited hierarchically. Alternatively, items 307-325 may comprise commands or other menu selection icons.

The abbreviated list 325 is advantageously displayed during a program or at any time during the operation of the decoder 100 in response to a single push of a button on the remote unit 70. This facilitates the user to navigate through a large number of channels of communication. programs and other multimedia services available in decoder 100, and also minimizes User confusion. The unit 37 of Figure 2 generates the menus of Figure 3 as superimposed pixel map data, and these pixel map data together with the decompressed program data representing the video program 303, are directed to the encoder 45 by means of of multiplexer 40. The menu and program data are combined in a pixel map buffer in unit 45 under the direction of controller 60 to form a mixed visual display. The encoder 45 converts the memory data of the pixel map stored in the buffer into conventional luminance and chrominance components. The conventional luminance and chrominance components, together with the timing data provided by the controller 60, are processed by the encoder 45 in a conventional manner to form an NTSC signal to be displayed on the NTSC 50 compliant image reproduction device, for example. example a television or video monitor. The encoder 45 may, in another embodiment, provide RGB output data to be displayed by a RGB compatible playback device or a high definition television. The encoder 45 may be a commercially available conventional integrated circuit for the conversion of signals and the generation of NTSC. Figure 4 shows a function selection interface of the multimedia decoder showing an electronic service guide that includes a list of favorite services superimposed 964 similar to list 325 of Figure 3. As in Figure 3, the abbreviated list 964 is a list of favorite services associated with a specific User (User number one in this example). However, in Figure 4, the list of favorite services 964 is displayed superimposed on an underlying electronic service guide (or program) and comprises a subgroup displayed hierarchically of the services listed in the service guide. The 964 list is displayed in response to User selection of the 962 icon in the service guide or when the User presses a button on the remote unit 70 (for example, the "Fetch" button "890" of the remote unit 70 of Figure 6). An additional hierarchical list of favorite services can be displayed by selecting an icon in list 964 (not shown for clarity of drawing) or by pressing a button on the remote unit while displaying list 964. In this way , a User is able to refine his search of a desired program or service by browsing through the lists of favorite services displayed hierarchically of increasing specialization. A first list may comprise 100 favorite services, and the second, third, fourth and fifth lists may comprise 40, 20, 10 and 5 favorite services, respectively. In addition, the list of services can be compared according to attributes including: (a) the User, identified by a user identification and / or password, and (b) the service source, for example a satellite, cable, terrestrial Internet, LAN, etc. As a result, a User is able to navigate more easily and select a desired program. This is of particular importance in multimedia decoders capable of both receiving hundreds of video channels from a variety of sources, and of performing various other multimedia functions (eg, selectable functions by means of the icons 905-950 of the Figure 4) . In addition, the menus of favorite services displayed hierarchically can include lists generated in an automatic way, for a specific user derived using: (a) the previously determined preferences of the User, or (b) the records "of the most frequently used services In addition, the menus of favorite services displayed hierarchically can automatically incorporate articles that are associated with the items listed, for example, a web page associated with a movie, for example, therefore, in this case, a list of favorite services displayed hierarchically may contain services that are not in the list previously displayed in the hierarchy, and thus does not exclusively comprise a subgroup of this prior list The lists of services and menus of Figure 4 are generated by units 37, 40, 45 and 60 to be displayed in unit 50 of Figure 2 in a similar manner to that previously described for the menus of Figure 3. Controller 60 (in conjunction with decoder 100) employs the process of Figure 5 for i to identify and initiate a favorite service for a particular User through the navigation of the User through the hierarchical menus of favorite services. Following the start of step 500, the controller 60 in step 503 generates a first menu list (an Electronic Service Guide, ESG) of the favorite multimedia services that are available from remote and local sources for a particular User. Remote sources include terrestrial, satellite or cable TV sources, or Internet sources and servers and remote sources and networks, for example. Local sources may include a DVD / VCR, local area network sources and servers, a PC, a top box, or other local video decoder, for example. In addition, the first list is generated in response to the push of a button by the User on the remote unit 70 or in response to a User selecting an item from the displayed menu. In step 505, the controller 60 generates a second menu list of favorite local and remote multimedia services for a particular user in response to the user pressing a button on the remote unit 70 or selecting an item from the displayed menu. The second list is generated as an overlay (for example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4) or as a separate window in the image presented in unit 50. The second list of favorite services menu typically comprises a hierarchical subgroup of the services displayed in the first menu of services. However, the first list of services may comprise an EPG that tabulates planned programs and associated video channels. The first list of services may also comprise other lists of services, such as channel lists, peripheral devices or interfaces that are employed by the user during the installation, configuration or initialization of the decoder 100, for example. A favorite service list that is displayed hierarchically following an initial visual display of an ESG, EPG or other first service list may contain services that were not in the first service list previously displayed. Consequently, the successive service lists displayed hierarchically may not exclusively comprise subgroups of immediately preceding lists. In step 510, the controller 60 selects a service in the second list of services by direct entry of the menu item number or by cursor navigation and item selection using the remote unit 70 (e.g., by use of the "OK" key 893 of the unit 70 of Figure 6). In step 515 of Figure 5, the controller 60 directs the elements within the decoder 100 and the units 13, 15 and 17 to tune a service (e.g., the transmission of a video channel) and to acquire data and to initiate Bidirectional communication as required to support the selected service. Individual data packages, which represent data from the selected service source, are identified and assembled by the controller 60 and the decoder 100 using data identifiers associated with the service selected by the database of the unit 62. Similarly, the data communicated to a source service by decoder 100 are appropriately formed by controller 60 (and decoder elements 100 and units 13, 15 and 17) to incorporate the correct protocol and identification codes associated with the selected service and the source by the base In addition, the controller 60 uses the database of the unit 62 to determine: (a) the communication protocol (e.g., TCP / IP, SLIP, etc.), (b) a frequency communication (for example, a transmission channel), (c) the type of modulation (for example, QAM, QPSK, PAM, etc.), (d) type of coding (for example, HTTP, FTP, Trellis / no -Trellis, etc.) for e Establish a unidirectional or bidirectional communication with a service source. In step 520, the controller 60, in conjunction with the decoder 100, conditions the received data to display them in the unit 50 in the manner previously described in connection with Figure 3. The process of Figure 5 ends in step 525. Figure 6 shows an exemplary remote control unit that supports the use of favorite service lists, as previously described. The "Fetch" ("Search") key 890 can be used to navigate through the hierarchical lists of favorite services in such a way that the hierarchically ordered successive favorite service lists are displayed, with the corresponding successive pressures of the 890 key. Alternatively, the "Fetch" key ("Search") 890 can be assigned different functions with the successive pressing of the key to simplify the User's creation and manipulation of the service lists. For example, in the processes of Figures 7 and 8, pressing the 890 key for the second time results in the addition of the selected service in a list of favorite services, as will be discussed later in connection with these Figures. In addition, a selection key (for example, the "OK" key 893 of Figure 6) is used to select an illuminated service in a particular list of favorite services. The use of the keys 890 and 893 in combination, as described in Figures 5, 7 and 8, facilitates and simplifies the operation by the User of the decoder 100 and the lists of favorite services. The controller 60 employs the process of Figure 7 to facilitate the addition of a favorite multimedia service to a list of favorite services of a particular user during the operation of a multimedia service, i.e. during the playing of a program, for example. In step 603, following the start in step 600, the controller 60 (in conjunction with the decoder 100) generates a menu list of the favorite multimedia services to be displayed (in unit 50) during the concurrent operation of the multimedia service ("the concurrent service") for example, during the reproduction of a video program such as program 303 of Figure 3 or the reproduction of a compact disc. The list of favorite services is generated as an overlay or as a separate window in the image presented in unit 50 during the concurrent service. In addition, the list of favorite services is generated in response to User pressure of the "Fetch" key (eg, key 890 of remote unit 70 of Figure 6). The menu list generated in step 603 comprises a fixed number of locations available for adding favorite services (ten locations in the examples previously presented in Figures 3 and 4). In other modalities, a list of favorite services of variable length can be generated where the aggregated services can be assigned a particular rank in the list, and the number of services in the list may be expanded or reduced as required, by adding or deleting the User using the manipulation of the cursor and the remote unit 70 or any other data entry device (e.g., a keyboard, mouse, etc.). In step 605, a location is selected from the list of favorite services displayed in step 603 (e.g., locations 1-10 in list 325 of Figure 3). A location is selected in step 605 by direct entry (with the remote unit 70) of the menu item code identifying a location of the available list, or by identifying a service to be replaced. Alternatively, a location can be selected by navigating the cursor and selecting an item using the remote unit 70. In step 608, the concurrent service is added to the list by the controller 60 at the location selected in step 605 in response to the pressure by the User of the Fetch key (Search) a second time (for example, key 890 of Figure 6). Once the service is added to the list of favorite services, it can be activated in a manner similar to that previously described in steps 510 and 515 of Figure 5. The process in Figure 7 ends in step 610. The controller 60 employs the process of Figure 8 to facilitate the addition of a favorite multimedia service selected from a first list of services, to a second list of services comprising the favorite services of a particular user. Following the start in step 620, the controller 60, in step 623, selects a service item presented in a first list of services in the unit 50 (Figure 2). A service item is selected from the first list in step 620 by directly entering an identification code of the menu item or by navigating the cursor and selecting the item using the remote unit 70. The first list of services can be comprising an ESG, an EPG, or a list of services, channels, peripheral devices or interfaces that are employed by the User during the installation, configuration or initialization of the decoder 100, for example. In step 625, the controller 60 (operating with the decoder 100) generates a second menu list of favorite multimedia services to display in the unit 50 in response to the User pressing the Fetch key (for example, the key). 890 shown in Figure 6). The second menu list generated in step 625 (Figure 8) comprises a fixed number of available locations for adding favorite services. In other embodiments, a list of favorite services of variable length can be generated as previously described in connection with Figure 7. In step 627, a location is selected from the list of favorite services displayed by direct entry of a security code. identification of the menu item or by cursor navigation and item selection using the remote unit 70 (for example, the selection of one of locations 1-10 in list 964 of Figure 4). In step 630, the service selected in step 625 is added to the second menu list in the selection selected in step 627 in response to user pressure of the Fetch key (Search) a second time (for example, the key 890 of Figure 6). Once the service is added to the list of favorite services, it can be activated in a manner similar to that previously described in steps 510 and 515 of Figure 5. The process of Figure 8 ends in step 630. A example of the application of the process of Figure 8 is shown in Figure 4. Specifically, in step 623, a DVD movie - Star Wars (article 967 of Figure 4) is selected, in the EPG of the Figure 4 immediately after visual display using icons 957 and 955 (Figure 4) and cursor navigation using remote unit 70, for example. In step 625, a second menu list (964 of Figure 4) is generated as an overlay in the EPG, and in step 627, article 6 (of the list 964) is selected as an item from the list for be replaced. In step 630, the movie Star Wars is added as article 6 (from the list 964) replacing the current article 6. The architecture of Figure 2 and the example processes of Figures 5, 7 and 8 are not exclusive. Other architectures and processes can be derived according to the principles of the invention to realize the same objectives. In addition, the functions of the decoder elements 100 of Figure 2 and the process steps of Figures 5, 7 and 8 may be implemented in whole or in part within the programmed instructions of a microprocessor.

Claims (12)

1. A method for making navigation possible through the favorite multimedia services selected by the user, with a visual display interface system on the screen using data from video programs that are received from a plurality of different sources, which comprises the steps of: generating a first visual menu display of the first group of favorite multimedia services comprising a subset of available services, wherein the services include a video transmission service from a remote transmission source and a non-transmitted video service available from a local device; selecting a desired service from the first visual display of the menu in response to user input; and acquiring the desired service selected using a database that associates the individual services and the corresponding menu items in the first visual display of the menu, with their respective remote and local sources.

2. A method according to claim 1, which generates a second visual display of the hierarchical menu of the favorite services comprising a subgroup of services in the first visual display of the menu.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein: the second visual display of the hierarchical menu is displayed in response to the selection by the user of an item that is displayed in the first visual display of the menu.

A method according to claim 2, which includes the steps of: selecting the desired service selected within the second visual display of the hierarchical menu in response to user input,

5. A method according to claim 2, which includes the steps of: adding a service to the second visual display of the hierarchical menu in response to the user's input selection.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein: the second visual display of the hierarchical menu contains the favorite multimedia services associated with at least one of: (a) a second type of service, (b) a second source, and (c) a program category.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein: the first visual display of the menu lists at least two of: (a) a video channel, (b) an Internet web page, (c) an email address, and (d) a telephone number.

A method according to claim 1, wherein: the remote transmission source includes at least one of: (a) satellite, (b) cable, (c) terrestrial, and (d) sources of networked work of Internet, and the local device includes at least one of: (i) a VCR, (ii) a DVD, (iii) a work source in a local area network, (iv) a PC, and (v) a top box , and (vi) a local video decoder.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein: the first visual display of the menu contains the favorite services associated with at least one of: (a) a first user, (b) a first type of service, and (c) ) a first source.

A method according to claim 1, wherein: the database associates an individual multimedia service with a signal format to be used in the acquisition and decoding of a selected multimedia service.

A method according to claim 1, wherein: the generation of the first visual display of the menu is automatic based on at least one of: (a) the preference criteria of the Default User, and (b) the records of the most frequently used services.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein: the database further associates an individual favorite service with one of: (a) an analogous signal, and (b) a digital signal.