CLIENT-SERVER ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE
First Claim
1. A method for use in a client-server interactive television program guide system comprising:
- providing a user with an opportunity to define user preferences using an interactive television program guide client that is implemented on user television equipment, without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
providing the user preferences to a program guide server; and
providing program guide data to the program guide client according to the user preferences.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide data, schedules reminders, schedules program recordings, and parentally locks programs based on the expressions. Users'"'"' viewing histories may be tracked. The program guide server may analyze the viewing histories and generates viewing recommendations, targets advertising, and collects program ratings information based on the viewing histories.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for use in a client-server interactive television program guide system comprising:
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providing a user with an opportunity to define user preferences using an interactive television program guide client that is implemented on user television equipment, without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
providing the user preferences to a program guide server; and
providing program guide data to the program guide client according to the user preferences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for use in a client-server interactive television program guide system for scheduling reminders according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive television program guide client implemented on user television equipment without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
storing the expression on a program guide server;
processing the expression with the program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression; and
scheduling with the program guide server reminders for programs that satisfy the expression. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for use in a client-server interactive television program guide system for scheduling programs for recording according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive television program guide client implemented on user television equipment without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
storing the expression on a program guide server;
processing the expression with the program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression; and
scheduling with the program guide server the programs that satisfy the expression for recording. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for use in a client-server interactive television program guide system for parentally controlling programs according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive television program guide client implemented on user television equipment without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
storing the expression on a program guide server;
processing the expression with the program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression; and
locking with the program guide server programs that satisfy the expression. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for use in a client-server interactive television program guide system for tracking a user'"'"'s viewing history, comprising:
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tracking a user'"'"'s viewing history;
storing the user'"'"'s viewing history on a program guide server;
finding programs with the program guide server that are consistent with the user'"'"'s viewing history; and
indicating on user television equipment the programs found by the program guide server that are consistent with the user'"'"'s viewing history and that the user has not watched, with an interactive television program guide client implemented on the user television equipment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A client-server interactive television program guide system comprising:
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means for providing a user with an opportunity to define user preferences using an interactive television program guide client that is implemented on user television equipment, without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
means for providing the user preferences to a program guide server; and
means for providing program guide data from the program guide server to the program guide client according to the user preferences. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A client-server interactive television program guide system for scheduling reminders according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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means for providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive television program guide client implemented on user television equipment, without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
means for processing the expression with a program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression; and
means for scheduling with the program guide server reminders for programs that satisfy the expression. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A client-server interactive television program guide system for scheduling programs for recording according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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means for providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive television program guide client implemented on user television equipment, without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
means for processing the expression with a program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression; and
means for scheduling with the program guide server the programs that satisfy the expression for recording. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A client-server interactive television program guide system for parentally controlling programs according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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means for providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive television program guide client implemented on user television equipment, without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
means for processing the expression with a program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression; and
means for locking with the program guide server programs that satisfy the expression. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A client-server interactive television program guide system for tracking a user'"'"'s viewing history, comprising:
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means for tracking a user'"'"'s viewing history with a program guide server;
means for indicating on user television equipment programs that are consistent with the user'"'"'s viewing history and that the user has not watched, with an interactive television program guide client implemented on the user television equipment. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A client-server interactive television program guide system comprising:
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a program guide server;
user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide client is implemented, wherein the interactive television program guide client is programmed to provide a user with an opportunity to define user preferences without requiring the user to navigate the Internet; and
a communications path over which the user preferences are provided by the interactive television program guide client to the program guide server. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A client-server interactive television program guide system for scheduling reminders according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide client is implemented, wherein the program guide client is programmed to provide a user with an opportunity to define an expression without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
a communications path over which the expression is provided by the interactive television program guide client to a program guide server, wherein the program guide server is programmed to find programs that satisfy the expression and schedule reminders for programs that satisfy the expression. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A client-server interactive television program guide system for scheduling programs for recording according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide client is implemented, wherein the interactive television program guide client is programmed to provide a user with an opportunity to define an expression without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
a communications path over which the expression is provided by the interactive television program guide client to a program guide server, wherein the program guide server is programmed to find programs that satisfy the expression and schedule the programs that satisfy the expression for recording. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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50. A client-server interactive television program guide system for parentally controlling programs according to user defined expressions, comprising:
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user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide client is implemented, wherein the interactive television program guide client is programmed to provide a user with an opportunity to define an expression without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
a communications path over which the interactive television program guide client provides the expression to a program guide server, wherein the program guide server is programmed to find programs that satisfy the expression and lock programs that satisfy the expression. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. A client-server interactive television program guide system for tracking a user'"'"'s viewing history, comprising:
user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide client is implemented, wherein the interactive television program guide client is programmed to provide viewing history information to a program guide server over a communications path, wherein;
the program guide server is programmed to find programs based on the viewing history information and to indicate the programs to the interactive television program guide client over the communications path; and
the interactive television program guide client is further programmed to indicate on the user television equipment a subset of the programs wherein the subset of the programs are programs that the user has not watched. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56)
Specification