Method and system for displaying advertising, video, and program schedule listing

• US 20030196201A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Hunwick, Keith, Leftwich, James J., Schein, Steven M., King, Molly K., Alba, Theresa, Folker, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/406,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20030196201A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/063 Setting decision thresholds using feedback techniques only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 : for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• 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 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• 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 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 : for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• 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 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/854 : Content authoring
• 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 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 : Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

displaying a plurality of television schedule information items on the screen;

selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements; and

simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements is not dependent on a user'"'"'s selection of a displayed television schedule information item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the video of the television program is displayed in a picture-in-guide window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the video of the television program is a live broadcast of the television program.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the displayed advertisement to invoke a function.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the function is ordering one or more of an advertised product and an advertised service.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the function is one or more of scheduling an autotuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product, scheduling a recording of a television broadcast about an advertised product, and tuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the advertisement is about a television program.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the function is autotuning to the television program.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the function is scheduling a recording of the television program.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the advertisement is about a pay program.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the function is scheduling viewing of the pay program.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text, graphics, and video.

14. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

displaying at least one television schedule information item on the screen;

selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, the selection not directly determined by a user'"'"'s selection of a television schedule information item; and

simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the displayed least one television schedule information item include time and channel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the video of the television program is displayed in a picture-in-guide window.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the video of the television program is a live broadcast of the television program.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising activating the displayed advertisement to invoke a function.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the function is ordering one or more of an advertised product and an advertised service.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the function is one or more of scheduling an autotuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product, scheduling a recording of a television broadcast about an advertised product, and tuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the advertisement is about a television program.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the function is autotuning to the television program.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the function is scheduling a recording of the television program.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the advertisement is about a pay program.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the function is scheduling viewing of the pay program.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text, graphics, and video.

27. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

displaying a plurality of television schedule information items on the screen; and

simultaneously displaying an interactive advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the interactive advertisement is selected for display from a plurality of advertisements.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the selection of the displayed advertisement is not dependent on a user'"'"'s selection of a displayed television schedule information item.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the video of the television program is displayed in a picture-in-guide window.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the video of the television program is a live broadcast of the television program.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising activating the displayed advertisement to invoke a function.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the function is ordering one or more of an advertised product and an advertised service.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the function is one or more of scheduling an autotuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product, scheduling a recording of a television broadcast about an advertised product, and tuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the advertisement is about a television program.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the function is autotuning to the television program.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the function is scheduling a recording of the television program.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the advertisement is about a pay program.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the function is scheduling viewing of the pay program.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text, graphics, and video.

41. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a display that indicates the channel for at least some of the displayed television schedule information items; and

simultaneously displaying an advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen, wherein the displayed advertisement can be highlighted by a viewer.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the interactive advertisement is selected for display from a plurality of advertisements.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the selection of the displayed advertisement is not dependent on a user'"'"'s selection of a displayed television schedule information item.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the video of the television program is displayed in a picture-in-guide window.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the video of the television program is a live broadcast of the television program.

46. The method of claim 41, further comprising activating the displayed advertisement to invoke a function.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the function is ordering one or more of an advertised product and an advertised service.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the function is one or more of scheduling an autotuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product, scheduling a recording of a television broadcast about an advertised product, and tuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the advertisement is about a television program.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the function is autotuning to the television program.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the function is scheduling a recording of the television program.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the advertisement is about a pay program.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the function is scheduling viewing of the pay program.

54. The method of claim 41, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text, graphics, and video.

55. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a display that indicates the time and title for at least some of the displayed television schedule information items; and

simultaneously displaying an advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the interactive advertisement is selected for display from a plurality of advertisements.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the selection of the displayed advertisement is not dependent on a user'"'"'s selection of a displayed television schedule information item.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein the video of the television program is displayed in a picture-in-guide window.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein the video of the television program is a live broadcast of the television program.

60. The method of claim 55, further comprising activating the displayed advertisement to invoke a function.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the function is ordering one or more of an advertised product and an advertised service.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the function is one or more of scheduling an autotuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product, scheduling a recording of a television broadcast about an advertised product, and tuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the advertisement is about a television program.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the function is autotuning to the television program.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the function is scheduling a recording of the television program.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein the advertisement is about a pay program.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the function is scheduling viewing of the pay program.

68. The method of claim 55, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text, graphics, and video.

69. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

displaying an unobstructed video of the television program on the screen;

displaying one or more television schedule information items on the screen;

selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements; and

simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement with the displayed one or more television schedule information items and the unobstructed video of the television program on the screen.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements is not dependent on a user'"'"'s selection of a displayed television schedule information item.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the video of the television program is displayed in a picture-in-guide window.

72. The method of claim 69, wherein the video of the television program is a live broadcast of the television program.

73. The method of claim 69, further comprising activating the displayed advertisement to invoke a function.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the function is ordering one or more of an advertised product and an advertised service.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the function is one or more of scheduling an autotuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product, scheduling a recording of a television broadcast about an advertised product, and tuning to a television broadcast about an advertised product.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein the advertisement is about a television program.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the function is autotuning to the television program.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the function is scheduling a recording of the television program.

79. The method of claim 73, wherein the advertisement is about a pay program.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the function is scheduling viewing of the pay program.

81. The method of claim 69, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text, graphics, and video.

82. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

means for displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

means for displaying a plurality of television schedule information items on the screen;

means for selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements; and

means for simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen.

83. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

means for displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

means for displaying at least one television schedule information item on the screen;

means for selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, the selection not directly determined by a user'"'"'s selection of a television schedule information item; and

means for simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen.

84. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

means for displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

means for displaying a plurality of television schedule information items on the screen; and

means for simultaneously displaying an interactive advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen.

85. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

means for displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

means for displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a display that indicates the channel for at least some of the displayed television schedule information items; and

means for simultaneously displaying an advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen, wherein the displayed advertisement can be highlighted by a viewer.

86. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

means for displaying a video of the television program on the screen;

means for displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a display that indicates the time and title for at least some of the displayed television schedule information items; and

means for simultaneously displaying an advertisement with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items and the video of the television program on the screen.

87. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a television program on a screen, comprising:

means for displaying an unobstructed video of the television program on the screen;

means for displaying one or more television schedule information items on the screen;

means for selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements; and

means for simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement with the displayed one or more television schedule information items and the unobstructed video of the television program on the screen.