Program guide system

• US 20040083489A1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Soto, Jose, Bansal, Atul, Thomas, Evan C., Jensen, Jason R.
• Application Number:
  US10/463,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083489A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A system (10) for generating and modifying multiple unique program guides for one or more markets with respect to program content distributed in the markets via a telecommunications distribution network in accordance with a program schedule. The system includes a scheduling engine (24) for providing a first program guide for a first market and a second program guide for a second market. A user interface (22) is provided for inputting data with respect to updates for the first or the second program guide. A guide factory (28) then automatically updates or modifies the first program guides the second program guide, parameters of the system, and/or a configuration of the system in response to the user provided input data. In the illustrative application, the inventive system is used in connection with a direct broadcast satellite telecommunications network. In accordance with the invention the first and/or the second program guides may be easily split without recoding or reprogramming. A web server (33) is included to facilitate changes from a variety of remote locations.

Claims

1. A system for providing and modifying multiple unique program guides for one or more markets with respect to program content distributed in said markets via a telecommunications distribution network in accordance with a program schedule, said system comprising:

first means for providing a first program guide for a first market and a second program guide for a second market;

second means for inputting data with respect to updates for said first or said second program guide; and

third means for automatically updating or modifying said first program guide, said second program guide, parameters of said system, and/or a configuration of said system in response to said data.

2. The invention of claim 1 further including means for splitting said first and/or said second program guides.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications network includes means for transmitting direct broadcast wireless signals encoded in accordance with a DSS transport protocol.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first means includes a scheduling engine.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said scheduling engine includes a database.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second means includes a user interface.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said second means includes a systems parameters user interface.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said second means includes a configuration user interface.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein said second means includes an input data user interface.

10. The invention of claim 6 wherein said second means includes a monitor user interface.

11. The invention of claim 6 wherein said third means includes a configuration component coupled to said user interface.

12. The invention of claim 6 wherein said third means includes an input data component coupled to said user interface.

13. The invention of claim 6 wherein said third means includes a monitor component coupled to said user interface.

14. The invention of claim 6 wherein said third means includes a guide factory component.

15. The invention of claim 6 wherein said third means includes an uplink driver component.

16. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second means includes a web server.

17. A direct to home direct broadcast satellite network comprising:

a telecommunications network and

a system for providing and modifying multiple unique program guides for one or more markets with respect to program content distributed in said markets via said telecommunications network in accordance with a program schedule, said system comprising;

a scheduling engine;

a user interface coupled to said scheduling engine; and

a guide factory coupled to said scheduling engine.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein said telecommunications network transmits and receives direct broadcast wireless signals encoded in accordance with a DSS transport protocol.

19. The invention of claim 17 further including means for splitting said first and/or said second program guides.

20. The invention of claim 17 wherein said scheduling engine includes a database.

21. The invention of claim 17 wherein said user interface includes a systems parameters user interface.

22. The invention of claim 17 wherein said user interface includes a configuration user interface.

23. The invention of claim 17 wherein said user interface includes an input data user interface.

24. The invention of claim 17 wherein said user interface includes a monitor user interface.

25. The invention of claim 17 wherein said guide factory includes a configuration component coupled to said user interface.

26. The invention of claim 25 wherein said guide factory includes an input data component coupled to said user interface.

27. The invention of claim 25 wherein said guide factory includes a monitor component coupled to said user interface.

28. The invention of claim 25 wherein said guide factory includes an uplink driver component.

29. The invention of claim 17 further including a web server.

30. A direct to home direct broadcast satellite network comprising:

a telecommunications network and

a system for providing and modifying multiple unique program guides for one or more markets with respect to program content distributed in said markets via said telecommunications network in accordance with a program schedule, said system comprising;

a scheduling engine for providing a first program guide for a first market and a second program guide for a second market;

a user interface for inputting data with respect to updates for said first or said second program guide; and

a guide factory for automatically updating or modifying said first program guide, said second program guide, parameters of said system, and/or a configuration of said system in response to said data.

31. A method for providing and modifying multiple unique program guides for one or more markets with respect to program content distributed in said markets via a telecommunications distribution network in accordance with a program schedule, said system including the steps of:

providing a first program guide for a first market and a second program guide for a second market;

inputting data with respect to updates for said first or said second program guide; and

automatically updating or modifying said first program guide, said second program guide, parameters of said system, and/or a configuration of said system in response to said data.