Features for use with advanced set-top applications on interactive television systems

• US 20050235319A1
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Herrington, W. Benjamin, Knee, Robert A., Carpenter, Kenneth F.
• Application Number:
  US09/733,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20050235319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47805 Electronic banking banking in general G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 : using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Advanced features for interactive television applications are described, including a back feature, a forward feature, a history feature, a go to feature, an extras feature, a reminder feature, a favorites feature, a parental control feature, and a search feature. Features may be inter-resource. Support for multiple data paths, Internet access, interactive services, and user profiles are also described.

Claims

1. A method for providing inter-resource features in an interactive television program guide system, wherein the interactive television program guide is implemented at least in part on user television equipment and supports at least one supported application running at least in part on the user television equipment, comprising:

receiving with the interactive television program guide a first indication to perform an inter-resource search feature for a first resource having a first type;

providing with the interactive television program guide the inter-resource search feature for the first resource;

receiving with the interactive television program guide a second indication to perform the inter-resource search feature for a second resource of a second type, wherein the first and second types are different; and

providing with the interactive television program guide the inter-resource search feature for the second resource.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

receiving the first indication comprises receiving the first indication from a supported application; and

receiving the second indication comprises receiving the second indication from a supported application.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

receiving the first indication comprises receiving the first indication from a user input device; and

receiving the second indication comprises receiving the second indication from a user input device.

5. The method defined in claim 1 comprising:

receiving with the interactive television program guide a first indication to go back to a previously accessed resource;

receiving with the interactive television program guide a second indication to go back to another previously accessed resource;

providing with the interactive television program guide the previously accessed resource in response to the first indication to go back to the previously accessed resource; and

providing with the interactive television program guide another previously accessed resource in response to the second indication to go back to another previously accessed resource.

6. The method defined in claim 5 further comprising:

receiving with the interactive television program guide an indication to go forward to the previously accessed resource; and

providing with the interactive television program guide the previously accessed resource in response to the indication to go forward to the previously accessed resource.

7. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a first indication to access an inter-resource history feature;

receiving a second indication to access the inter-resource history feature;

providing a history list of a plurality of resources that includes the first resource in response to the first indication to access the inter-resource history feature; and

providing the history list of a plurality of resources that includes the second resource in response to the second indication to access the inter-resource history feature.

8. The method defined in claim 7 further comprising:

receiving an indication of a particular resource of the history list; and

providing the resource in response to the indication.

9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication to schedule a reminder for the first resource;

providing a first reminder for the first resource;

receiving an indication to schedule a reminder for the second resource; and

providing a second reminder for the second resource.

10. The method defined in claim 9 wherein the first reminder for the first resource and the second reminder for the second resource are provided in a combined reminder list.

11. The method defined in claim 9 wherein:

providing the first reminder for the first resource comprises providing features in the first reminder based on the first type; and

providing the second reminder for the second resource comprises providing features in the second reminder based on the second type.

12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication to make the first resource a favorite resource;

receiving an indication to make the second resource a favorite resource;

including the first resource in a favorites list; and

including the second resource in the favorites list.

13. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising:

providing an opportunity to select a resource from the favorites list; and

providing the first resource in response to a selection of the first resource from the favorites list.

14. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication to set parental controls for the first resource;

providing access to the first resource in accordance with the parental controls for the first resource;

receiving an indication to set parental controls for the second resource; and

providing access to the second resource in accordance with the parental controls for the second resource.

15. The method defined in claim 14 further comprising:

receiving an indication to set general parental controls;

receiving the general parental controls; and

providing access to the first and second resources in accordance with the general parental controls.

16. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication to provide an extras display;

providing the extras display in response to the indication, wherein the extras display includes one or more inter-resource features;

receiving an indication for an inter-resource feature of the one or more inter-resource features; and

providing the indicated inter-resource feature of the one or more inter-resource features.

17. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

in response to receiving an indication to perform the inter-resource search feature,

receiving user search criteria;

searching one or more target resources according to the search criteria; and

providing the results of the search.

52. The method defined in claim 17 wherein receiving user search criteria and providing the results of the search comprise:

providing a user with an opportunity to enter one or more keywords from a search display; and

advancing a list of search results to display applications from at least one resource that match the one or more keywords.

3. (canceled)

18. An interactive television program guide system for providing inter-resource features, wherein the interactive television program guide is implemented at least in part on user television equipment and supports at least one supported application running at least in part on the user television equipment, comprising:

means for receiving with the interactive television program guide a first indication to perform an inter-resource search feature for a first resource having a first type;

means for providing with the interactive television program guide the inter-resource search feature for the first resource;

means for receiving with the interactive television program guide a second indication to perform the inter-resource search feature for a second resource of a second type, wherein the first and second types are different; and

means for providing with the interactive television program guide the inter-resource search feature for the second resource.

19. The system defined in claim 18 wherein:

the means for receiving the first indication comprises means for receiving the first indication from a supported application; and

the means for receiving the second indication comprises means for receiving the second indication from a supported application.

21. The system defined in claim 18 wherein:

the means for receiving the first indication comprises means for receiving the first indication from a user input device; and

the means for receiving the second indication comprises means for receiving the second indication from a user input device.

22. The system defined in claim 18 comprising:

means for receiving with the interactive television program guide a first indication to go back to a previously accessed resource;

means for receiving with the interactive television program guide a second indication to go back to another previously accessed resource;

means for providing with the interactive television program guide the previously accessed resource in response to the first indication to go back to the previously accessed resource; and

means for providing with the interactive television program guide the another previously accessed resource in response to the second indication to go back to the another previously accessed resource.

23. The system defined in claim 22 further comprising:

means for receiving with the interactive television program guide an indication to go forward to the previously accessed resource; and

means for providing with the interactive television program guide the previously accessed resource in response to the indication to go forward to the previously accessed resource.

24. The system defined in claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving a first indication to access an inter-resource history feature;

means for receiving a second indication to access the inter-resource history feature;

means for providing a history list of a plurality of resources that includes the first resource in response to the first indication to access the inter-resource history feature; and

means for providing the history list of a plurality of resources that includes the second resource in response to the second indication to access the inter-resource history feature.

25. The system defined in claim 24 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication of a particular resource of the history list; and

means for providing the resource in response to the indication.

26. The system defined in claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication to schedule a reminder for the first resource;

means for providing a first reminder for the first resource;

means for receiving an indication to schedule a reminder for the second resource; and

providing a second reminder for the second resource.

27. The system defined in claim 26 wherein the first reminder for the first resource and the second reminder for the second resource are provided in a combined reminder list.

28. The system defined in claim 26 wherein:

the means for providing the first reminder for the first resource comprises means for providing features in the first reminder based on the first type; and

the means for providing the second reminder for the second resource comprises means for providing features in the second reminder based on the second type.

29. The system defined in claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication to make the first resource a favorite resource;

means for receiving an indication to make the second resource a favorite resource;

means for including the first resource in a favorites list; and

means for including the second resource in the favorites list.

30. The system defined in claim 29 further comprising:

means for providing an opportunity to select a resource from the favorites list; and

means for providing the first resource in response to a selection of the first resource from the favorites list.

31. The system defined in claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication to set parental controls for the first resource;

means for providing access to the first resource in accordance with the parental controls for the first resource;

means for receiving an indication to set parental controls for the second resource; and

means for providing access to the second resource in accordance with the parental controls for the second resource.

32. The system defined in claim 31 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication to set general parental controls;

means for receiving the general parental controls; and

means for providing access to the first and second resources in accordance with the general parental controls.

33. The system defined in claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving an indication to provide an extras display;

means for providing the extras display in response to the indication, wherein the extras display includes one or more inter-resource features;

means for receiving an indication for an inter-resource feature of the one or more inter-resource features; and

means for providing the indicated inter-resource feature of the one or more inter-resource features.

34. The system defined in claim 18 further comprising:

in response to the means for receiving an indication to perform the inter-resource search feature,

means for receiving user search criteria;

means for searching one or more target resources according to the search criteria; and

means for providing the results of the search.

53. The system defined in claim 34 wherein the means for receiving user search criteria and the means for providing the results of the search comprise:

means for providing a user with an opportunity to enter one or more keywords from a search display; and

means for advancing a list of search results to display applications from at least one resource that match the one or more keywords.

20. (canceled)

35. An interactive television program guide system for providing inter-resource features comprising:

user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide and one or more supported applications are at least partially implemented, wherein the interactive television program guide is configured to;

receive a first indication to perform an inter-resource search feature for a first resource having a first type;

provide the inter-resource search feature for the first resource;

receive a second indication to perform the inter-resource search feature for a second resource of a second type, wherein the first and second types are different; and

provide the inter-resource search feature for the second resource.

36. The system defined in claim 35 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to:

receive the first indication from a supported application; and

receive the second indication from a supported application.

38. The system defined in claim 35 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to:

receive the first indication from a user input device; and

receive the second indication from a user input device.

39. The system defined in claim 35 wherein:

the interactive television program guide is further configured to;

receive a first indication to go back to a previously accessed resource;

receive a second indication to go back to another previously accessed resource;

provide the previously accessed resource in response to the first indication to go back to the previously accessed resource; and

provide the another previously accessed resource in response to the second indication to go back to the another previously accessed resource.

40. The system defined in claim 39 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to:

receive an indication to go forward to the previously accessed resource; and

provide the previously accessed resource in response to the indication to go forward to the previously accessed resource.

41. The system defined in claim 35 wherein:

the interactive television program guide is further configured to;

receive a first indication to access an inter-resource history feature;

receive a second indication to access the inter-resource history feature; and

provide a history list of a plurality of resources that includes the first resource and the second resource.

42. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to:

receive an indication of a particular resource of the history list; and

provide the resource in response to the indication.

43. The system defined in claim 35 wherein:

the interactive television program guide is further configured to;

receive an indication to schedule a reminder for the first resource;

provide a first reminder for the first resource;

receive an indication to schedule a reminder for the second resource; and

provide a second reminder for the second resource.

44. The system defined in claim 43 wherein the first reminder for the first resource and the second reminder for the second resource are provided in a combined reminder list.

45. The system defined in claim 43 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to:

provide features in the first reminder based on the first type; and

provide features in the second reminder based on the second type.

46. The system defined in claim 35 wherein:

the interactive television program guide is further configured to;

receive an indication to make the first resource a favorite resource;

receive an indication to make the second resource a favorite resource;

include the first resource in a favorites list; and

include the second resource in the favorites list.

47. The system defined in claim 46 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to provide an opportunity to select a resource from the favorites list and to provide the first resource in response to a selection of the first resource from the favorites list.

48. The system defined in claim 35 wherein:

the interactive television program guide is further configured to;

receive an indication to set parental controls for the first resource;

provide access to the first resource in accordance with the parental controls for the first resource;

receive an indication to set parental controls for the second resource; and

provide access to the second resource in accordance with the parental controls for the second resource.

49. The system defined in claim 48 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to:

receive an indication to set general parental controls;

receive the general parental controls; and

provide access to the first and second resources in accordance with the general parental controls.

50. The system defined in claim 35 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to:

receive an indication to provide an extras display;

provide the extras display in response to the indication, wherein the extras display includes one or more inter-resource features;

receive an indication for an inter-resource feature of the one or more inter-resource features; and

provide the indicated inter-resource feature of the one or more inter-resource features.

51. The system defined in claim 35 wherein the interactive television program guide is further configured to:

in response to receiving an indication to perform the inter-resource search feature,

receive user search criteria;

search one or more target resources according to the search criteria; and

provide the results of the search.

54. The system defined in claim 51 wherein the interactive television program guide configured to receive user search criteria and provide the results of the search is further configured to:

provide a user with an opportunity to enter one or more keywords from a search display; and

advance a list of search results to display applications from at least one resource that match the one or more keywords.

37. (canceled)