Interactive program information page and related methods

• US 20060026639A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Thomas H., Potrebic, Peter J., Lam, Waiman, Jule, Todd San, Schrader, Joseph Alton
• Application Number:
  US10/929,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026639A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/4532 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 21/47 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 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

Methods and systems that enable users to find and view programs are described. In at least some embodiments, an interactive program information page enables links to be created between local electronic program guide data that resides on the client device and data that resides remotely from the client device. In at least one embodiment, the interactive program information page enables a user to make selections which can both (1) execute remote queries of data that resides remotely using data returned from a local query of local electronic program guide data, and (2) execute local queries of local electronic program guide data using data returned from a remote query of the data that resides remotely.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting, via a client device, an electronic program guide that describes various programs;

presenting an interactive program information page associated with a particular program appearing in the electronic program guide, the interactive program information page comprising individual elements associated with the program;

receiving a user selection of one or more elements within the interactive program information page;

responsive to said receiving, accessing additional information pertaining to said one or more elements; and

displaying said additional information for the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one element comprises one or more people appearing in the program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the program, and wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to programs in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress appears.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the program, and wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to programs that are not in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress appears.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the program, and wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to programs in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress appear, and programs not in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress is to appear.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one element comprises a program genre.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one element comprises a program rating.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information that is related to the particular program.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information that is not related to the particular program.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing at least some additional information, from a remote content source, that is not related to the particular program.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing images associated with said one or more elements.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing images associated with said one or more elements, and wherein said act of accessing is performed at least locally on the client device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing images associated with said one or more elements, and wherein at least a portion of said act of accessing is performed using a remote content source.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising after said act of displaying, recording one or more programs associated with said additional information.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of accessing is performed at least locally on the client device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of accessing is performed using a remote content source.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said user selection of one or more elements defines a relationship between at least two elements, and said act of accessing additional information comprises accessing information associated with said relationship.

19. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 1.

20. A device embodying the one or more computer-readable media of claim 19.

21. A method comprising:

providing a client device having software code which enables links to be created between local electronic program guide data that resides on the client device and data that resides remotely from the client device; and

enabling a user, with said software code, to make selections which can both;

execute remote queries of said data that resides remotely using data returned from a local query of said local electronic program guide data, and

execute local queries of said local electronic program guide data using data returned from a remote query of said data that resides remotely.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising executing one or more of said remote or local query.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein topics of said queries can pertain to programs described in the electronic program guide.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein topics of said queries can pertain to movies described in the electronic program guide.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein topics of said queries can pertain to people referenced in the electronic program guide.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein topics of said queries can pertain to actors, actresses or directors referenced in the electronic program guide.

27. A method comprising:

presenting, via a client device, an electronic program guide that describes various movies;

presenting an interactive movie information page associated with a particular movie appearing in the electronic program guide, the interactive movie information page comprising individual elements associated with the movie;

receiving a user selection of one or more elements within the interactive movie information page;

responsive to said receiving, accessing additional information pertaining to said one or more elements; and

displaying said additional information for the user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the movie.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the movie, and wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to movies in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress appears.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the movie, and wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to movies that are not in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress appears.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the movie, and wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to movies in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress appear, and movies not in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress is to appear.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises an actor/actress in the movie, and wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to program in the electronic program guide in which the actor/actress appears

33. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises a director of the movie.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises a director of the movie, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to other movies directed by said director.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises a director of the movie, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to other movies directed by said director, wherein said other movies are in the electronic program guide.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises a director of the movie, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to other movies directed by said director, wherein said other movies are not in the electronic program guide.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises a director of the movie, and wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information pertaining to programs in the electronic program guide in which the director appears.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises a movie genre.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one element comprises a movie rating.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information that is related to the particular movie.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing additional information that is not related to the particular movie.

42. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing images associated with said one or more elements.

43. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing images associated with said one or more elements, wherein said act of accessing is performed at least locally on the client device.

44. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of accessing comprises accessing images associated with said one or more elements, wherein said act of accessing is performed relative to a remote content source.

45. The method of claim 27 further comprising after said act of displaying, recording one or more movies associated with said additional information.

46. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of accessing is performed at least locally on the client device.

47. The method of claim 27, wherein said act of accessing is performed relative to a remote content source.

48. The method of claim 27, wherein said user selection of one or more elements defines a relationship between at least two elements, and said act of accessing additional information comprises accessing information associated with said relationship.

49. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 27.

50. A device embodying the one or more computer-readable media of claim 49.