Television schedule system and method of operation for multiple program occurences

• US 20040163104A1
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Schein, Steven M., King, Molly K., Alba, Theresa A., Warden, David P., Russman, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,047,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/13
• 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 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

An improved television guide system. According to one embodiment of the invention, television guide information is provided that includes multiple occurrences of a single show. The guide system of the present invention allows the user to identify a show and, thereafter, identify when the identified show will be played again. Accordingly, the user may more easily select shows for viewing or recordation.

Claims

1. A television guide system for providing television program information for a viewer, the system comprising:

a memory storing viewer selection data and an electronic program database comprising a listing of a plurality of television programs telecast at particular times;

a display, coupled to the memory, for displaying at least a portion of the listing in a guide format;

an input for receiving viewer selection of a television program listing associated with a particular television program; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, display, and input, the processor including logic for;

storing the viewer selection of the television program listing in the memory; and

alerting the viewer when the particular television program becomes available from an alternate program source.