System and method for miniguide implementation

• US 20020059602A1
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Macrae, Douglas B., Ward, Thomas Edward III
• Application Number:
  US09/962,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system and method for displaying detailed information about a currently displayed program along with a related advertisement in a miniguide overlaid on a small portion of a current television program. A viewer invokes a miniguide command using a viewer input device, such as a remote control, while watching a current television program in full screen format. In response to the miniguide command, the television system displays a portion of the television schedule information associated with the television program in an information area, and an advertisement on a panel ad window located horizontally adjacent to the information area. The advertisement displayed on the panel ad window is based on the television program being watched or customized based on viewer profile information. The viewer may interact with the advertisement by highlighting the advertisement and activating a function with respect to the highlighted advertisement. Such functions include, for instance, displaying information and/or a video clip about a product advertised on the panel ad window.

Claims

1. A method for displaying television schedule information in a television system including a television having a display screen, the method comprising:

displaying a television program on the screen in a full screen format;

displaying a portion of the television schedule information associated with the television program on a first area of the screen; and

displaying an advertisement on a second area of the screen located horizontally adjacent to the first area;

wherein the portion of the information in the first area and the advertisement in the second area are invoked concurrently and overlaid on a portion of the television program in response to a user command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second areas occupy about ⅓

of a total area of the screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the position and size of the first and second areas are customized by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the television schedule information is organized in plurality levels of detail, and the first area of the screen initially displays a first level of detail.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein additional layers of detail are displayed in the full screen format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is based on the television program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is customized based on a viewer profile.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

highlighting the advertisement; and

activating a function with respect to the highlighted advertisement.

9. A television system for displaying television schedule information, the system comprising:

a television screen including a first area and a second area located horizontally adjacent to the first area;

means for invoking a first mode for displaying a television program on the screen in a full screen format; and

means for invoking a second mode for displaying a portion of the television schedule information associated with the television program on the first area and an advertisement on the second area, the portion of the information and the advertisement being overlaid on a portion of the television program and displayed concurrently with the television program.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for customizing the position and size of the first and second areas.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for selecting the advertisement based on the television program.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for customizing the advertisement based on a viewer profile.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

means for highlighting the advertisement; and

means for activating a function with respect to the highlighted advertisement.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the program instructions further include selecting the advertisement based on the television program.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the program instructions further include customizing the advertisement based on a viewer profile.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the program instructions further include:

highlighting the advertisement; and

activating a function with respect to the highlighted advertisement.

14. A television system for displaying television schedule information, the system comprising:

a television screen including a first area and a second area located horizontally adjacent to the first area;

a tuner coupled to the television screen for displaying a television program in a full screen format;

a memory coupled to the television screen for storing the television schedule information;

a viewer input device for providing user commands;

a processor coupled to the viewer input device and the memory, the processor being operable to execute program instructions including displaying in response to the user command a portion of the television schedule information associated with the television program on the first area and an advertisement on the second area, the portion of the information and the advertisement being overlaid on a portion of the television program and displayed concurrently with the television program.