Server-centric customized interactive program guide in an interactive television environment
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), comprising:
- means for receiving selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG;
means for rendering one or more custom-IPG screens, at a head end, having included therein the set of selected channels;
means for receiving a request to view a custom-IPG screen on a particular channel;
means for overlaying the custom-IPG screen on a video sequence being provided on the particular channel to generate a modified video sequence having included therein the custom-IPG; and
means for providing the modified video sequence on the particular channel from the head end.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques to create, generate, and deliver customized interactive program guide (custom-IPG). In one embodiment, selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG are received. In response, one or more custom-IPG screens including the set of selected channels are rendered at a headend. Custom-IPG screens can be formed as subsets of the regular IPG screens, or as new screens. The rendered custom-IPG screens are provided from the head end to a set top terminal upon receiving a viewer request for the custom-IPG. Commands indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the custom-IPG screens may also be received, and the custom-IPG screens are re-rendered at the indicated location. Custom-IPG screens can be overlaid on a video sequence provided on a particular channel being viewed, used to carry regular program guide, or a channel independent of the channel used to carry regular programming and program guide.
239 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), comprising:
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means for receiving selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG;
means for rendering one or more custom-IPG screens, at a head end, having included therein the set of selected channels;
means for receiving a request to view a custom-IPG screen on a particular channel;
means for overlaying the custom-IPG screen on a video sequence being provided on the particular channel to generate a modified video sequence having included therein the custom-IPG; and
means for providing the modified video sequence on the particular channel from the head end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for creating a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), comprising:
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means for activating a program guide customization process;
means for receiving a pop-up menu provided to assist in the customization process;
means for receiving a pop-up menu provided to assist in the customization process;
means for selecting a channel on which to receive the custom-IPG;
means for means for selecting a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG; and
means for receiving on the selected channel a custom-IPG screen having included therein the set of selected channels, wherein the one or more custom-IPG screens are rendered at a head end. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for providing a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), comprising:
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receiving, at a video session manager, selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG, and receiving a selected channel on which to receive the custom-IPG;
rendering and encoding, at one or more encoders coupled to the video session manager, at least one custom-IPG screens having included therein the set of selected channels;
generating, at a transport multiplexer, a transport stream comprising the one or more encoded custom-IPG screens; and
generating, at a modulator coupled to the transport multiplexer, an output signal suitable for transmission on the selected channel, and wherein the one or more custom-IPG screens are provided on the output signal upon receiving a request for the custom-IPG.
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21. A method for providing a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG) at a set top terminal (STT), comprising
generating, at a demodulator of said STT, a transport stream from a modulated signal received from a head-end; -
processing, at a transport de-multiplexer, the transport stream to provide one or more encoded custom-IPG screens on a selected channel; and
decoding, at one or more video decoders, the one or more encoded custom-IPG screens to provide an output video sequence, and wherein the one or more custom-IPG screens are rendered at the head end and sent to the STT on the selected channel upon receiving a request for the custom-IPG.
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Specification