System and method for distinguishing between indentically titled programs

• US 20040073922A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steven Ray True
• Original Assignee: Steven Ray True
• Inventors: True, Steven Ray
• Application Number:
  US10/468,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073922A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/45
• 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 21/42204 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 21/4334 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 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 21/4622 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 21/47214 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 21/4782 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 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• 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 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for assisting a user in selecting a television program for viewing or recording comprising periodically receiving and storing electronic program guide information which includes titles and program descriptions for upcoming television programs; and displaying a list of television programs in a format which includes titles and corresponding program descriptions, so that television programs having the same title may be distinguished by the corresponding program descriptions.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a user in selecting a video program comprising:

periodically receiving and storing electronic program guide information which includes titles and program descriptions for upcoming programs;

displaying a list of video programs in a format which includes titles and corresponding program descriptions, so that video programs having the same title may be distinguished by the corresponding program descriptions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic program guide information comprises periodically updated records, wherein each record comprises a plurality of program identification data fields relating a program'"'"'s identification information to a corresponding data field, including program title and program description.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the user can select a program based on displayed titles as well as displayed corresponding program descriptions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the video programs present in the list are determined by performing a search of the electronic program guide using a selected search criterion.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of allowing the user to specify one of the following actions for a selected program from the list of video programs:

a) record the selected program, and b) view the selected program.

6. An apparatus for assisting a user in selecting a television program for viewing or recording comprising:

means for periodically obtaining and storing electronic program guide information comprising forthcoming television program titles and corresponding program descriptions;

a user interface comprising a display;

means for displaying a list of forthcoming television programs in a format which includes titles and corresponding program descriptions, so that television programs having the same title may be distinquished by the corresponding program descriptions; and

means for selecting for viewing or recording a television program from the displayed list.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electronic program guide information comprises periodically updated records, wherein each record comprises a plurality of program identification data fields relating a program'"'"'s identification information to a corresponding data field, including program title and program description.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the program'"'"'s identification information further includes at least one of program date, program time, and program channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the television programs present in the list are determined by at least one of the following:

a) performing a one-time search of the electronic program guide information according to user selected search criterion, b) performing a continuous search of the program guide information according to user selected search criterion, or c) selecting a user option in the interface to display programs that have particular program identification information such as time, channel, date, or theme.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor programmed to search the program guide information according to the user selected search criterion.