Interactive television systems with digital video recording and adjustable reminders

• US 20040154040A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4343 Extraction or processing of packetized elementary streams [PES]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• 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

Abstract

An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming.

Claims

1. A method for using an interactive television application in an interactive television system in which television programs from network-based equipment are delivered to users at user equipment over communications paths, wherein the network-based equipment, the user equipment and the interactive television application are used to implement a video recorder that records television programming, the method comprising:

displaying an on-screen option on the user equipment of a given user that allows the user to set a reminder for a television program of interest, wherein the television program of interest has a scheduled broadcast time and wherein the on-screen option allows the user to set a reminder for the scheduled broadcast time or a later time at which the television program of interest is not scheduled to be broadcast;

displaying the reminder for the television program of interest on the user equipment; and

allowing the user to use the video recorder to play back a copy of the television program of interest from the video recorder on the display in response to the displayed reminder.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the interactive television system includes a server at a television distribution facility, the method further comprising displaying an on-screen option with the reminder that the user may select to direct the video recorder to play back the copy of the television program of interest from the server.

3. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

using the video recorder to retain copies of at least some of the television programs that are distributed to the user equipment through a given television distribution facility; and

determining retention times for the copies by using the interactive television application to collect information on the desirability of retaining program.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the video recorder retains copies of at least some of the television programs, the method further comprising displaying an on-screen option on the user equipment that provides the user with an opportunity to archive a copy of a given retained television program into a personal area on the network equipment or into a local personal video recorder on the user equipment.

5. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying an on-screen option with the reminder that provides the user with an opportunity to immediately watch the television program of interest.

6. The method defined in claim 5 further comprising using the interactive television application to tune the user equipment to a given television channel when the user selects the on-screen option that provides the user with an opportunity to immediately watch the television program of interest.

7. The method defined in claim 5 further comprising playing back the television program of interest using the video recorder when the user selects the on-screen option that provides the user with an opportunity to immediately watch the television program of interest.

8. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying an on-screen option with the reminder that provides the user with an opportunity to reschedule the reminder to a later time.

9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying an on-screen option with the reminder that provides the user with an opportunity to archive the television program of interest to a personal area on the network equipment or to a local personal video recorder on the user equipment.

10. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to direct the interactive television application to automatically save a copy of the television program of interest in a personal area on the network equipment or in a local personal video recorder on the user equipment if the user fails to watch that television program.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein saving the copy when the user fails to watch the television program comprises archiving a copy of the program that was previously stored on the network-based equipment or the user equipment.

12. The method defined in claim 10 wherein saving the copy when the user fails to watch the television program comprises recording a copy of the television program using the video recorder.

13. User equipment for use in an interactive television system in which an interactive television application is used in delivering television programs from network-based equipment to users at the user equipment over communications paths, wherein the network-based equipment, the user equipment and the interactive television application are used to implement a video recorder that records television programming, the user equipment for each user comprising:

control circuitry;

a user input interface for providing the user with an opportunity to provide user inputs to the control circuitry; and

a display for displaying the television programs, wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are configured to;

display an on-screen option on the display for the user that allows the user to set a reminder for a television program of interest, wherein the television program of interest has a scheduled broadcast time and wherein the on-screen option allows the user to set a reminder for the scheduled broadcast time or a later time at which the television program of interest is not scheduled to be broadcast;

display the reminder for the television program of interest on the display; and

allow the user to use the video recorder to play back a copy of the television program of interest from the video recorder on the display in response to the displayed reminder.

14. The user equipment defined in claim 13 wherein the interactive television system includes a server associated with a television distribution facility, wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to display an on-screen option with the reminder that the user may select to direct the video recorder to play back the copy of the television program of interest for the server.

15. The user equipment defined in claim 13, wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to use the video recorder to automatically retain copies of at least some of the television programs that are distributed to the user equipment through a given television distribution facility, and wherein retention times for the copies are based on information on the desirability of retaining programs that is collected using the interactive television application.

16. The user equipment defined in claim 13 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to display an on-screen option on the user equipment that provides the user with an opportunity to archive a copy of a given retained television program into a personal area on the network equipment or into a local personal video recorder on the user equipment.

17. The user equipment defined in claim 13 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to display an on-screen option with the reminder that provides the user with an opportunity to immediately watch the television program of interest.

18. The user equipment defined in claim 17 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to use the interactive television application to tune the user equipment to a given television channel when the user selects the on-screen option that provides the user with an opportunity to immediately watch the television program of interest.

19. The user equipment defined in claim 17 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to play back the television program of interest using the video recorder when the user selects the on-screen option that provides the user with an opportunity to immediately watch the television program of interest.

20. The user equipment defined in claim 13 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to display an on-screen option with the reminder that provides the user with an opportunity to reschedule the reminder to a later time.

21. The user equipment defined in claim 13 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to display an on-screen option with the reminder that provides the user with an opportunity to archive the television program of interest to a personal area on the network equipment or to a local personal video recorder on the user equipment.

22. The user equipment defined in claim 13 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to direct the interactive television application to automatically save a copy of the television program of interest in a personal area on the network equipment or in a local personal video recorder on the user equipment if the user fails to watch that television program.

23. The user equipment defined in claim 22 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to save the copy when the user fails to watch the television program by archiving a copy of the program-that was previously stored on the network-based equipment or the user equipment.

24. The user equipment defined in claim 22 wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are further configured to save the copy when the user fails to watch the television program by recording a copy of the television program using the video recorder.

25. A method of providing a television program of interest to a user of an interactive program guide comprising:

allowing the user to select the television program of interest using the interactive television program guide;

allowing the user to watch the television program of interest at its scheduled broadcast time; and

providing a recording of the television program of interest for the user'"'"'s later viewing if the viewer does not watch the television program of interest at its scheduled broadcast time.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

not providing the recording of the television program of interest for the user'"'"'s later viewing if the viewer does watch the television program of interest at its scheduled broadcast time.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of providing a recording of the television program comprises:

recording the television program of interest using a video recorder; and

allowing the user to view the recorded program at a later time.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of providing a recording of the television program further comprises:

allowing the user to set a reminder for viewing the program of interest at a later time.

29. A method of providing a plurality of users access to recordings of a plurality of television programs for different amounts of time comprising:

allowing an operator of a system providing the recordings to specify different retention criteria for different programs or groups of programs in the plurality of television programs;

automatically recording the plurality of television programs using the system; and

allowing the plurality of users of the system to play back any of the plurality of recorded programs for a period of time based on the retention criteria specified for the program or its groups.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the retention criteria is based on information collected about the different programs or groups of programs.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the collected information includes information selected from the group consisting of:

how often the different programs or groups of programs are recorded, how often the different programs or groups of programs are played back, and surveys of users.

32. A method of providing a plurality of users access to recordings of a plurality of television programs for different amounts of time comprising:

collecting popularity information for the programs or groups of the programs;

automatically recording the plurality of television programs using the system; and

allowing the plurality of users of the system to play back any of the plurality of recorded programs for a period of time based on the popularity information collected for the program or for its groups.