Program guide enhancements

• US 20020184629A1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starz Entertainment, LLC (Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SVOD LLC
• Inventors: Beyler, John C., Sie, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,566,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4318 by altering the content in the rendering process, e.g. blanking, blurring or masking an image region image enhancement or restoration in general G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739

Abstract

According to the invention, a method for formulating a program guide screen is disclosed. In various steps, program description information and promotional data is received. The promotional data comprises one or more of the following: a video clip, a video clip with audio accompaniment, an audio clip, an animation, an animation with audio accompaniment, a still image with audio accompaniment, a still image, a plurality of still images, and a plurality of still images with audio accompaniment. A predetermined program is associated with the promotional data and program description information. The guide screen is formulated with the promotional data and program description information.

Claims

1. A method for formulating a program guide screen, the method comprising steps of:

receiving program description information;

receiving promotional data, wherein the promotional data comprises one or more of the following;

a video clip,

a video clip with audio accompaniment,

an audio clip,

an animation,

an animation with audio accompaniment,

a still image with audio accompaniment,

a still image,

a plurality of still images, and

a plurality of still images with audio accompaniment;

associating a predetermined program with the promotional data and program description information; and

formulating the program guide screen using the promotional data and the program description information.

2. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the promotional data is visual content or visual and auditory content different from the predetermined program.

3. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the promotional data is chosen from a group consisting of:

a video clip and a video clip with audio accompaniment.

4. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the promotional data plays when selected.

5. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the promotional data and program description information is transported with the predetermined program.

6. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the promotional data is embedded in the predetermined program.

7. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the program description includes two or more of:

a title, a description, a program length, a start time for programs in the linear schedule, an actor, a content advisory rating, and a reviewers rating.

8. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving one of second promotional data and second program description information wherein one of the of second promotional data and second program description information is associated with the predetermined program.

9. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 8, wherein the promotional data and the program description information is presented to a user in a first program guide screen and the second promotional data and the second program description information is presented to the user in a second program guide screen.

10. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the promotional data is stored away from a headend and a content provider.

11. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the promotional data is stored at a user location.

12. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the program guide screen includes promotional data for a plurality of programs.

13. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the promotional data is visual content or visual and auditory content, and

the promotional data is different from a segment of the predetermined program.

14. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the promotional data and the program description information is sent with the predetermined program.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-implementable method for formulating the program guide screen of claim 1.

17. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 16, further comprising a step of associating a predetermined program with the promotional data and program description information.

18. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 16, wherein the promotional data comprises one or more of the following:

a video clip,

a video clip with audio accompaniment,

an audio clip,

an animation,

an animation with audio accompaniment,

a still image with audio accompaniment,

a still image,

a plurality of still images, and

a plurality of still images with audio accompaniment.

19. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the promotional data and the program description information is sent with the predetermined program.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-implementable method for formulating the program guide screen of claim 16.

22. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 17, wherein the promotional data comprises one or more of the following:

a video clip,

a video clip with audio accompaniment,

an audio clip,

an animation,

an animation with audio accompaniment,

a still image with audio accompaniment,

a still image,

a plurality of still images, and

a plurality of still images with audio accompaniment.

23. The method for formulating the program guide screen as recited in claim 17, wherein the receiving and storing steps are performed proximate to the user location.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-implementable method for formulating the program guide screen of claim 17.

16. A method for formulating a program guide screen, the method comprising steps of:

receiving program description information for a predetermined program at a user location;

receiving promotional data for the predetermined program at the user location, wherein;

the promotional data is visual content or visual and auditory content, and

the promotional data is different from a segment of the predetermined program;

storing the promotional data at the user location;

storing the program description at the user location; and

formulating the program guide screen using the promotional data and the program description information.

21. A method for formulating a program guide screen, the method comprising steps of:

receiving program description information for the predetermined program;

receiving promotional data for a predetermined program, wherein;

the promotional data is visual content or visual and auditory content, and

the promotional data is different from a segment of the predetermined program;

receiving the predetermined program, wherein at least one of the promotional data and the program description information is sent with the predetermined program;

storing the promotional data;

storing the program description;

storing the predetermined program; and

formulating the program guide screen using the promotional data and the program description information.