Internet television program guide system

• US 20040128686A1
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Herrington, W. Benjamin, Regouby, Mark A., Demers, Timothy B., Allison, Donald W., Boyer, Franklin E., Williamson, Steven C., Hensley, Joanna L., Reddy, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US10/735,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128686A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• 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 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• 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 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• 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 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system.

Claims

1. An Internet television program guide system for providing web pages of information to a user at a multimedia system over an Internet communications link, comprising:

a computer system for providing television program listings; and

a web server for receiving the television program listings from the computer system, wherein the web server provides the program listings to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link when the user accesses the television program listings with the multimedia system.

2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the computer system further comprises means for providing multimedia material associated with the television program listings to the web server.

3. The system defined in claim 2 wherein the means for providing multimedia material comprises means for providing promotional video clips.

4. The system defined in claim 2 wherein the means for providing multimedia material comprises means for providing interview video segments.

5. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a go national option which the user selects to receive information based on national television listings.

6. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a go satellite option which the user selects to receive information based on television listings for satellite coverage.

7. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a go local option which the user selects to receive information based on local television listings.

8. The system defined in claim 7 further comprising means for selecting a locality for the local television listings.

9. The system defined in claim 8 wherein the means for selecting a locality comprises means for accepting a zip code from which the locality is determined.

10. The system defined in claim 8 wherein the means for selecting a locality comprises means for selecting a local region from a map.

11. The system defined in claim 8 further comprising means for presenting a pick again web page when television program listings are not available for the selected locality.

12. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for presenting web pages containing advertising images that the user selects.

13. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for presenting a web page having a record option for using the multimedia system to record a television program selected from the television program listings.

14. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for providing a program guide option; and

means for presenting a program guide menu web page when the user selects the program guide option.

15. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for providing a movie guide option; and

means for presenting a movie guide menu web page when the user selects the movie guide option.

16. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for providing a guide television channel option; and

means for tuning the multimedia system to a guide television channel when the user selects the guide option.

17. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for providing a direct tune option when a selected program is currently being broadcast; and

means for tuning the multimedia system to the television channel for the selected program when the user selects the direct tune option.

18. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a selectable option to arrange the television program listings by time.

19. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a selectable option to arrange the television program listings by channel.

20. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a selectable option to arrange the television program listings by category.

21. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for searching the television program listings.

22. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for searching the television program listings by title.

23. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for searching the television program listings by actor.

24. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for searching the television program listings by category.

25. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for searching the television program listings by description.

26. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for searching the television program listings by rating.

27. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying interview segments selected by the user.

28. The system defined in claim 27 further comprising means for providing an interview web page containing selectable interview images for interview segments that are available.

29. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying promotional media clips selected by the user.

30. The system defined in claim 29 further comprising means for providing a hot picks web page containing selectable hot picks images for promotional media clips that are available.

31. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a movie cruiser web page containing selectable pay-per-view channels and premium channels.

32. The system define in claim 31 further comprising means for providing a pay-per-view web page containing program listings for upcoming pay-per-view events for a pay-per-view channel selected by the user.

33. The system defined in claim 31 further comprising means for providing a premium services web page containing program listings for upcoming premium programs for a premium channel selected by the user.

34. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing an order web page.

35. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a customization web page.

36. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a program information web page.

37. The system defined in claim 36 wherein the program information web page is customized to reflect information for a television program selected by the user.

38. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the computer system comprises a media library.

39. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising a satellite transmission link between the computer system and the server.

40. The system defined in claim 1 wherein:

the Internet communications link comprises a telephone line; and

the web server provides the web pages to the multimedia system over the telephone line.

52. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of presenting web pages containing advertising images that the user selects.

53. The method defined in claim 52 further comprising the step of presenting a web page having a record option for using the multimedia system to record a television program selected from the television program listings.

41. A method for providing web pages of information to a user at a multimedia system over an Internet communications link using an Internet television program guide system having a computer system and a web server, the method comprising the steps of:

providing television program listings with the computer system;

receiving the television program listings from the computer system with the web server; and

providing the television program listings to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link with the web server, so that the user can access the television program listings.

42. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing multimedia material associated with the television program listings to the web server with the computer system.

43. The method defined in claim 42 wherein the step of providing multimedia material further comprises the step of providing promotional video clips to the web server with the computer system.

44. The method defined in claim 42 wherein the step of providing multimedia material further comprises the step of providing interview video segments to the web server with the computer system.

45. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a go national option which the user selects to receive information based on national television listings.

46. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a go satellite option which the user selects to receive information based on television listings for satellite coverage.

47. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a go local option which the user selects to receive information based on local television listings.

48. The method defined in claim 47 further comprising the step of selecting a locality for the local television listings.

49. The method defined in claim 48 wherein the step of selecting a locality comprises the step of accepting a zip code from which the locality is determined.

50. The method defined in claim 48 wherein the step of selecting a locality comprises the step of selecting a local region from a map.

51. The method defined in claim 48 further comprising the step of presenting a pick again web page when television program listings are not available for the selected locality.

54. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the steps of:

providing a program guide option; and

presenting a program guide menu web page when the user selects the program guide option.

55. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the steps of:

providing a movie guide option; and

presenting a movie guide menu web page when the user selects the movie guide option.

56. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the steps of:

providing a guide television channel option; and

tuning the multimedia system to a guide television channel when the user selects the guide option.

57. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the steps of:

providing a direct tune option when a selected program is currently being broadcast; and

tuning the multimedia system to the television channel for the selected program when the user selects the direct tune option.

58. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a selectable option to arrange the television program listings by time.

59. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a selectable option to arrange the television program listings by channel.

60. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a selectable option to arrange the television program listings by category.

61. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of searching the television program listings.

62. The method defined in claim 61 further comprising the step of searching the television program listings by title.

63. The method defined in claim 61 further comprising the step of searching the television program listings by actor.

64. The method defined in claim 61 further comprising the step of searching the television program listings by category.

65. The method defined in claim 61 further comprising the step of searching the television program listings by description.

66. The method defined in claim 61 further comprising the step of searching the television program listings by rating.

67. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of displaying interview segments selected by the user.

68. The method defined in claim 67 further comprising the step of providing an interview web page containing selectable interview images for interview segments that are available.

69. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of displaying promotional media clips selected by the user.

70. The method defined in claim 69 further comprising the step of providing a hot picks web page containing selectable hot picks images for promotional media clips that are available.

71. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a movie cruiser web page containing selectable pay-per-view channels and premium channels.

72. The method define in claim 71 further comprising the step of providing a pay-per-view web page containing program listings for upcoming pay-per-view events for a pay-per-view channel selected by the user.

73. The method defined in claim 71 further comprising the step of providing a premium services web page containing program listings for upcoming premium programs for a premium channel selected by the user.

74. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing an order web page.

75. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a customization web page.

76. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing a program information web page.

77. The method defined in claim 76 wherein the program information web page is customized to reflect information for a television program selected by the user.

78. The method defined in claim 41 further comprises the step of providing the television program listings to the web server with a media library.

79. The method defined in claim 41 further comprising the step of providing the television program listings to the web server with a satellite transmission link between the computer system and the web server.

80. The method defined in claim 41 wherein the Internet communications link comprises a telephone line, the method further comprising the step of providing web pages to the multimedia system over the telephone line.