Systems and methods for providing approximated information in an interactive television program guide

• US 20060174270A1
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Westberg, Thomas E., Dudek, Glen
• Application Number:
  US11/050,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174270A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An interactive television program guide application on an interactive television system that determines approximated information using historical content is provided. The interactive television program guide application may retain and store interactive television program guide information. Using the available information, the interactive television program guide application may determine approximated information when information is not available or has not been received.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user with access to interactive television program guide application features when information is not available, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from the user to select an interactive television program guide feature;

determining whether information associated with the selected feature is available in response to receiving the indication;

determining approximated information for the selected feature when the information is not available, wherein the approximated information is based on historical content; and

providing the user with the selected feature having the approximated information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected feature comprises a television program listings information screen.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the approximated information with different display characteristics than the available information.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining the certainty of the determination of the approximated information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising permitting the user to edit the approximated information.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising alerting the user when information is available for the selected feature having the approximated information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising alerting the user when the selected feature having the approximated information is changed.

8. An interactive television system for providing a user with access to interactive television program guide application features when information is not available, said interactive television system comprising:

an interactive television program guide application implemented at least partially on said interactive television system, said interactive television program guide application configured to;

receive an indication from the user to select a feature;

determine whether the information associated with the selected feature is available in response to receiving the indication;

determine approximated information for the selected feature when the information is not available, wherein the approximated information is based on historical content; and

provide the user with the selected feature having the approximated information.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the selected feature comprises a television program listings information screen.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the interactive television program guide application is further configured to display the approximated information with different display characteristics than the available information.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the interactive television program guide application is further configured to determine the certainty of the determination of the approximated information.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the interactive television program guide application is further configured to permit the user to edit the approximated information.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the interactive television program guide application is further configured to alert the user when information is available for the selected feature having the approximated information.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the interactive television program guide application is further configured to alert the user when the selected feature having the approximated information is changed.

15. Machine-readable media for use in an interactive television system for providing a user with access to interactive television program guide application features when information is not available, wherein the media is encoded with machine-readable instructions for:

receiving an indication from the user to select a feature;

determining whether information associated with the selected feature is available in response to receiving the indication;

determining approximated information for the selected feature when the information is not available, wherein the approximated information is based on historical content; and

providing the user with the selected feature having the approximated information.

16. The machine-readable media of claim 15 wherein the selected feature comprises a television program listings information screen.

17. The machine-readable media of claim 15 further encoded with machine-readable instructions for display the approximated information with different display characteristics than the available information.

18. The machine-readable media of claim 15 further encoded with machine-readable instructions for determining the certainty of the determination of the approximated information.

19. The machine-readable media of claim 15 further encoded with machine-readable instructions for permitting the user to edit the approximated information.

20. The machine-readable media of claim 15 further encoded with machine-readable instructions for alerting the user when information is available for the selected feature having the approximated information.

21. The machine-readable media of claim 15 further encoded with machine-readable instructions for alerting the user when the selected feature having the approximated information is changed.