Multiple database, user-choice-compiled program and event guide

• US 20050138657A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Leftwich, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

An electronic programming guide generator utilizes filters to select only programming filtered to display in an electronic programming guide display.

Claims

1-4. -4. (canceled)

5. A method for managing program listings comprising:

storing available program listings in at least one database, wherein the program listings comprise a plurality of program/event entries;

selecting a first subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a first filter, wherein the first filter selects the first subset by comparing a predetermined list of program/event entries to the program listings;

generating an electronic program guide including the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries; and

displaying the electronic program guide.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

selecting a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a second filter, wherein the second filter selects the second subset by comparing a second predetermined list of program/event entries to the program listings; and

generating the electronic program guide including the first subset and the second subset of the plurality of program/event entries.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

selecting a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a second filter, wherein the first subset and the second subset both include at least one same program/event entry from the plurality of program/event entries; and

generating the electronic program guide including each same program/event entry included in both the first subset and said second subset.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

prior to selecting the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries, creating the first filter using the predetermined list of program/event entries in the at least one database.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising storing the program listings and the first filter in a consumer device from a source external to the consumer device.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the first filter is an editable filter.

11. A system for managing program listings comprising:

a memory configured to store;

a database of available program listings comprising a plurality of program/event entries, and

a first filter comprising a predetermined list of program/event entries;

a processor configured to;

select a first subset of programs of the plurality of program/event entries using the first filter by comparing the predetermined list of program/event entries to the program listings,

generate an electronic program guide including the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries; and

a display device configured to display the electronic program guide.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the memory is further configured to store a second filter comprising a second predetermined list of program/event entries; and

the processor is further configured to;

select a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using the second filter by comparing the predetermined list of program/event entries to the program listings, and

generate the electronic program guide including the first subset and the second subset of the plurality of program/event entries.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the memory is further configured to store a second filter comprising a second predetermined list of program/event entries; and

the processor is further configured to;

select a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using the second filter by comparing the predetermined list of program/event entries to the program listings, wherein the first subset and the second subset both include at least one same program/event entry from the plurality of program/event entries, and

generate the electronic program guide including each same program/event entry included in both the first subset and said second subset.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to selecting the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries, create the first filter using the predetermined list of program/event entries in the database.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising a consumer device configured to store the program listings and the first filter from a source external to the consumer device.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the first filter is an editable filter.

17. A system for managing program listings comprising:

means for storing available program listings in at least one database, wherein the program listings comprises a plurality of program/event entries;

means for selecting a first subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a first filter, wherein the first filter selects the first subset by comparing a predetermined list of program/event entries to the program listings;

means for generating an electronic program guide including the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries; and

means for displaying the electronic program guide.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for selecting a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a second filter, wherein the second filter selects the second subset by comparing a second predetermined list of program/event entries to the program listings; and

means for generating the electronic program guide including the first subset and the second subset of the plurality of program/event entries.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

means for selecting a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a second filter, wherein the first subset and the second subset both include at least one same program/event entry from the plurality of program/event entries; and

means for generating the electronic program guide including each same program/event entry included in both the first subset and said second subset.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

prior to the means for selecting the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries, means for creating the first filter using the predetermined list of program/event entries in the at least one database.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising means for storing the program listings and the first filter in a consumer device from a source external to the consumer device.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the first filter is an editable filter.