Electronic program guide displayed simultaneously with television programming

• US 20020170057A1
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WebTV Networks Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T., Yaksick, Jeffrey D., Danker, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A method for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) to a viewer. The method includes displaying one or more data slices representative of broadcast programming to a viewer. In response to input from the viewer, the displayed number of data slices is increased, for example, from one slice to two slices. In browser mode the viewer can scroll through multiple EPG data slices without selecting to view full mode EPG, while in full mode the EPG can expand from a single column of data slices to multiple columns of data slices based upon viewer selections. The EPGs of the present invention can display programming that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than other programming. A data slice representing the predicted programming can be inserted into the EPG so that the viewer can identify programming that is likely to be of interest.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an electronic program guide to a viewer while television programming is substantially viewable by the viewer, the method comprising:

a step of retrieving electronic program guide data from a data source, the electronic program guide data comprising a plurality of data slices representing data related to the programming;

a step of displaying at least one data slice of the plurality of data slices to the viewer; and

in response to a selection by the viewer, a step of expanding the at least one data slice to at least two data slices of the plurality of data slices while substantially displaying the programming to the viewer.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of data slices comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of (i) a programming element, (ii) a channel element, and (iii) a time element.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying at least one data slice on a display device.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the data source is remote from the display device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising in response to a selection by the viewer, a step of reducing the at least two data slices viewable to the viewer to a single data slice.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of expanding comprises expanding the at least one data slice to a maximum number of viewable data slices of the plurality of data slices.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of expanding comprises expanding the at least one data slice to a number of data slices defined by the viewer.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one data slice comprises a single programming element, a single channel element, and a single time element.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of expanding comprises increasing the number of time elements viewable to the viewer.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of expanding comprises increasing the number of programming elements, channel elements, and time elements viewable to the viewer.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of predicting at least one data slice of the plurality of data slices that a viewer is more likely to view at a particular time than others of the plurality of data slices at a particular time.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the retrieving act comprises retrieving the electronic program guide from at least one of a local data source and a remote data source.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the predicting act comprises:

(a) retrieving stored demographic information associated with the viewer; and

(b) analyzing the stored demographic information to identify at least one type of program that a viewer is more likely to watch than other types of program; and

(c) based upon the identified type of program, analyzing the available programs to identify at least one program of the plurality of programs that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than others of the plurality of programs at the particular time.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the predicting act comprises:

(a) retrieving stored data associated with viewing preferences of the viewer;

(b) analyzing the stored data to identify at least one type of program that a viewer is more likely to watch than other types of program; and

(c) based upon the identified type of program, analyzing the plurality of data slices to identify at least one program of the plurality of programs that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than others of the plurality of programs at the particular time.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one data slice has a format different from substantially all other data slices inserted within the one or more display screens.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the one or more display screens comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion comprising one or more of the plurality of data slices.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the inserting act comprises inserting the at least one data slice into the upper portion, the at least one data slice being a copy of one of the plurality of data slices incorporated in the lower portion.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least one data slice is substantially continually maintained with the at least one program.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of data slices comprises a numerical channel element, the plurality of data slices in the lower portion capable of being examined by the viewer in numerical order of the numerical channel elements as the at least one data slice in the upper portion remains unchanged.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of data slices comprises a numerical channel element, the plurality of data slices in the lower portion capable of being examined by the viewer in numerical order of the numerical channel elements as the at least one data slice in the upper portion changes based upon the plurality of data slices viewable by the viewer.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of data slices comprises at least one of (i) a channel element, (ii) a programming element, and (iii) a time element.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the step of changing the number of data slices displayed on the display device comprises increasing the number of data slices on a slice-by-slice basis to a maximum number of data slices.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the maximum number of slices is definable by a viewer of the display device.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the maximum number of slices is definable by the computer system.

29. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the step of changing the number of data slices displayed on the display device comprises decreasing the number of data slices on a slice-by-slice basis.

30. A method as recited in claim 24, further comprising a step of changing the number of time elements displayed on the display device.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of changing comprises decreasing the number of time elements displayed on the display device.

32. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of changing comprises increasing the number of time elements displayed on the display device.

12. A computer product for implementing, in a system that includes a processor and a display device on which television programming can be displayed, a method of displaying an electronic program guide to a viewer while television programming is substantially viewable by the viewer, the computer programming product comprising:

a computer readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions for implementing the method, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform comprise;

a step of retrieving electronic program guide data from a data source, the electronic program guide data comprising a plurality of data slices representing data related to the programming;

a step of displaying at least one data slice of the plurality of data slices to the viewer; and

in response to a selection by the viewer, a step of expanding the at least one data slice to at least two data slices of the plurality of data slices while substantially displaying the programming to the viewer.

13. In a system that includes a processor and a display device on which video program can be displayed, a method for displaying an electronic program guide in a predictive manner to a viewer by way of the display device, the method comprising the acts of:

retrieving an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of data slices representing a plurality of programs,

predicting at least one program of the plurality of programs that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than others of the plurality of programs at the particular time;

based on the act of predicting, inserting at least one data slice representing the at least one program into one or more display screens associated with the electronic program guide; and

in response to input from the viewer selecting a particular one of the one or more display screens, displaying the selected display screen, including the at least one data slice, to the viewer using the display device.

23. A computer product for implementing, in a system that includes a processor and a display device on which television programming can be displayed, a method of displaying an electronic program guide in a predictive manner to a viewer by way of a display device, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions for implementing the method, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the acts of;

retrieving an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of data slices representing a plurality of programs,

predicting at least one program of the plurality of programs that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than others of the plurality of programs at the particular time;

based on predicting at least one program, inserting at least one data slice representing the at least one program into one or more display screens associated with the electronic program guide; and

in response to input from the viewer selecting a particular one of the one or more display screens, displaying the selected display screen, including the at least one data slice, to the viewer using the display device.

24. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and an input device, a method of providing and selecting from an electronic program guide on the display device, comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving a plurality of data slices for the electronic program guide, each of the plurality of data slices representing data associated with programs that can be viewed upon the display device;

(b) displaying one of the programs on the display device and concurrently displaying one slice of the plurality of data slices representing data associated with the displayed program;

(c) receiving an electronic program guide selection signal specifying that the number of data slices displayed on the display device is to be changed; and

(d) in response to receiving the electronic program guide selection signal, changing the number of data slices displayed on the display device while continuing to display said one or the programs on the display device.

33. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and an input device, a method of providing and selecting an electronic program guide in a predictive manner to a viewer by way of the display device, comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of data slices representing a plurality of programs;

(b) displaying at least one of the plurality of data slices on the display device;

(c) receiving an electronic program guide selection signal specifying that the computer system is to predict at least one program of the plurality of programs that a viewer is more likely to watch at a particular time than others of the plurality of programs at the particular time;

(d) in response to receiving the electronic program guide selection signal, predicting the at least one program of the plurality of program s that the viewer is more likely to watch; and

(e) in response to predicting the at least one program of the plurality of programs, displaying at least one data slice representing the at least one program to the viewer using the display device.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein the displaying step comprises:

(a) based on the step of predicting, inserting at least one data slice representing the at least one program into one or more display screens associated with the electronic program guide; and

(b) in response to input from the viewer selecting a particular one of the one or more display screens, displaying the selected display screen, including the at least one data slice, to the viewer using the display device.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein each of the plurality of data slices comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of (i) a programming element, (ii) a channel element, and (iii) a time element.

37. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying at least one data slice on a display device.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein the data source is remote from the display device.

39. A method as recited in claim 35, further comprising in response to a selection by the viewer, a step of reducing the at least two columns viewable to the viewer to the single column.

40. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the step of expanding comprises expanding the single column to a maximum number of viewable columns.

41. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the step of expanding comprises expanding the single column to a number of columns defined by the viewer.

42. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein one of the plurality of data slices comprises a single programming element, a single channel element, and a single time element.

43. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the step of expanding comprises increasing the number of programming elements, channel elements, and time elements viewable to the viewer.

44. A method as recited in claim 35, further comprising a step of predicting at least one data slice of the plurality of data slices that a viewer is more likely to view at a particular time than others of the plurality of data slices at a particular time.

47. A method as recited in claim 46, wherein the number of time periods displayed on the display device is definable by the viewer of the display device.

48. A method as recited in claim 46, wherein the number of time periods displayed on the display device is definable by the computer system.

49. A method as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of changing the number of columns comprises increasing the number of columns on a column-by-column basis.

50. A method as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of changing the number of columns comprises decreasing the number of columns on a column-by-column basis

35. A method for displaying to a viewer an electronic program guide containing data representing broadcast programming, the displayed data capable of being varied based upon selections of the viewer, the method comprising:

a step of retrieving electronic program guide data from a data source, the electronic program guide data comprising a plurality of data slices representing data related to the broadcast programming for a plurality of time periods;

a step of displaying the electronic program guide data to the viewer as a single column, the single column comprising at least one data slice of the plurality of data slices for one of the plurality of time periods; and

in response to a selection by the viewer, a step of expanding the single column to at least two columns comprising the plurality of data slices for the plurality of time periods.

45. A computer product for implementing, in a system that includes a processor and a display device on which television programming can be displayed, a method for displaying to a viewer an electronic program guide containing data representing broadcast programming, the displayed data capable of being varied based upon selections of the viewer, the computer programming product comprising:

a computer readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions for implementing the method, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform comprise;

a step of retrieving electronic program guide data from a data source, the electronic program guide data comprising a plurality of data slices representing data related to the broadcast programming for a plurality of time periods;

a step of displaying the electronic program guide data to the viewer as a single column, the single column comprising at least one data slice of the plurality of data slices for one of the plurality of time periods; and

in response to a selection by the viewer, a step of expanding the single column to at least two columns comprising the plurality of data slices for the plurality of time periods.

46. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and an input device, a method of providing and selecting from an electronic program guide on the display device, comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving electronic program guide data from a data source, the electronic program guide data representing data related to the broadcast programming for a plurality of time periods;

(b) displaying the electronic program guide data for a single time period to the viewer as a single column;

(c) receiving an electronic program guide selection signal specifying that the number of time periods displayed on the display device is to be changed; and

(d) in response to receiving the electronic program guide selection signal, changing the number of time periods and the number of columns displayed on the display device.