Locally-updated interactive program guide

• US 20040025179A1
• Filed: 08/02/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russ, Samuel H., Gaul, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) includes receiving from a user a request for an IPG, and providing the user with an IPG that includes listings that were received by a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) via a subscriber television network, as well as other listings that were not received by the DHCT via the subscriber television network.

Claims

1. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a first plurality of listings by the DHCT via a subscriber television network; and

providing a user with an IPG that includes the first plurality of listings in addition to a second plurality of listings that were not received by the DHCT via the subscriber television network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to providing the user with the IPG, receiving user input requesting the IPG.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of listings is determined, at least in part, based on a user identity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of listings have time characteristics that are described by respective time listings contained in the IPG.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of listings do not have time characteristics that are described by respective time listings contained in the IPG.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber television network is one of a cable television network or a satellite television network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of listings identify television presentations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT is a television set-top terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the IPG comprises a grid having plurality of time listings and a plurality of functionality listings.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of listings are received from a local device that is located at the customer premises.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second plurality of listings correspond to a functionality that is provided by at least one local device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one local device is at least one of a thermostat, an alarm clock, a home security system, a kitchen appliance, an audio player, a video player, a lamp, a light fixture, a television, a video cassette recorder (VCR), a digital video disc (DVD) player, and a home appliance.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the local device is a computer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the computer is one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a multi-function mobile telephone.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the functionality is one of an electronic calendar functionality, an e-mail functionality, or a video data provisioning functionality.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the functionality provides access to information stored on the computer.

17. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising steps of:

discovering the existence of a local device located at the customer premises;

requesting functionality information from the local device;

receiving the functionality information from the local device; and

providing a user with an IPG that includes the functionality information;

wherein the IPG further includes listings for television presentations that are to be received via a subscriber television network.

18. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a first plurality of listings by the DHCT via a subscriber television network;

receiving a second plurality of listings by the DHCT from a local device that is located at the customer premises, wherein the second plurality of listings correspond to a functionality that is provided by the local device; and

providing a user with an IPG that includes the first plurality of listings and the second plurality of listings.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

prior to providing the user with the IPG, receiving user input requesting the IPG.

20. The DHCT of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of listings by the DHCT from a plurality of local devices located at the customer premises.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the second plurality of listings is determined, at least in part, based on a user identity.

22. The DHCT of claim 18, wherein the local device is one of a computer, a thermostat, an alarm clock, a home security system, a kitchen appliance, an audio player, a video player, or a home appliance.

23. A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the DHCT comprising:

a first communications interface that receives a first plurality of listings via a subscriber television network;

logic configured to provide a user with an interactive program guide (IPG) that includes the first plurality of listings in addition to a second plurality of listings that were not received via the subscriber television network.

24. The DHCT of claim 23, wherein the second plurality of listings have time characteristics that are described by respective time listings contained in the IPG.

25. The DHCT of claim 23, wherein the subscriber television network is one of a cable television network or a satellite television network.

26. The DHCT of claim 23, wherein the first plurality of listings identify television presentations.

27. The DHCT of claim 23, wherein the DHCT is a television set-top terminal.

28. The DHCT of claim 23, wherein the IPG comprises a grid having a row of time listings and column of functionality listings.

29. The DHCT of claim 23, wherein the second plurality of listings are received from a local device that is located at the customer premises.

30. The DHCT of claim 29, wherein the second plurality of listings correspond to a functionality that is provided by the local device.

31. The DHCT of claim 30, wherein the local device is one of a thermostat, an alarm clock, a home security system, a kitchen appliance, an audio player, a video player, or a home appliance.

32. The DHCT of claim 30, wherein the local device is a computer.

33. The DHCT of claim 32, wherein the functionality is one of an electronic calendar functionality, an e-mail functionality, or a video data provisioning functionality.

34. A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the DHCT comprising:

a first communications interface that receives a first plurality of listings via a subscriber television network;

a second communications interface that receives a second plurality of listings from a local device located at the customer premises; and

logic configured to provide a user with an interactive program guide (IPG) that includes the first plurality of listings and the second plurality of listings.

35. The DHCT of claim 34, further comprising:

a third communications interface that receives a third plurality of listings from a local device located at the customer premises.

36. The DHCT of claim 34, wherein the local device is one of a computer, a thermostat, an alarm clock, a home security system, a kitchen appliance, an audio player, a video player, or a home appliance.

37. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG), the method comprising steps of:

receiving at a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) functionality information from a local device, wherein the DHCT and the local device are located at a customer premises, and wherein the functionality information is related to a functionality provided by the local device;

receiving from a user a request for an interactive program guide; and

providing the user with an interactive program guide that lists the functionality provided by the local device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the functionality provided by the local device is not provided via a television.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the local device is a computer.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the functionality is one of an electronic calendar functionality, an e-mail functionality, or a video data provisioning functionality.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the program guide also lists a television functionality that is capable of being provided by the DHCT.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the local device is one of a thermostat, an alarm clock, a home security system, a kitchen appliance, an audio player, a video player, or a home appliance.

43. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving user input requesting that a functionality instance be provided by the local device; and

responsive to receiving the user input, transmitting to the local device a message requesting that the functionality instance be provided.

44. A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the DHCT comprising:

a communications interface that receives functionality information from a local device located at the customer premises, wherein the functionality information is related to a functionality that is provided by the local device; and

logic configured to provide a user with a program guide that lists the functionality provided by the local device.

45. The DHCT of claim 44, wherein the functionality provided by the local device is not provided via a television.

46. The DHCT of claim 44, wherein the local device is a computer.

47. The DHCT of claim 46, wherein the functionality is one of an electronic calendar functionality, an e-mail functionality, or a video data provisioning functionality.

48. The DHCT of claim 44, wherein the program guide also lists a television functionality that is capable of being provided by the DHCT.

49. The DHCT of claim 44, wherein the local device is one of a thermostat, an alarm clock, a home security system, a kitchen appliance, an audio player, a video player, or a home appliance.

50. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising:

receiving a first plurality of listings by the DHCT via a subscriber television network;

receiving from a user a request for an IPG;

providing the user with an IPG that includes the first plurality of listings in addition to a second plurality of listings that were not received by the DHCT via the subscriber television network;

wherein the subscriber television network is one of a cable television network or a satellite television network;

wherein the first plurality of listings identify television presentations;

wherein the DHCT is a television set-top terminal;

wherein the IPG comprises a grid having plurality of time listings and a plurality of functionality listings;

wherein the second plurality of listings are received from a local device that is located at the customer premises;

wherein the second plurality of listings correspond to a functionality that is provided by the local device; and

wherein the local device is one of a computer, a thermostat, an alarm clock, a home security system, a kitchen appliance, an audio player, a video player, or a home appliance.