System and method for viewing a TV program guide on a mobile device background

• US 20080127257A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Organization Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Kvache, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/76 Arrangements characterised by transmission systems other than for broadcast, e.g. the Internet for broadcast H04H20/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; tracking of instant messages H04L51/234; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A system and methods for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) to a mobile device are disclosed. The system generally includes a network component which receives IPG data including program data, and a mobile device application component which receives program data from the network component and displays the program data on the mobile device. The methods may include providing a mobile IPG application to a mobile device, receiving IPG data including program data with a network component, transmitting the program data from the network component to the mobile device, and formatting the program data for the mobile device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a database manager operable to receive interactive program guide data, the interactive program guide data including program data;

a services interface in communication with the database manager; and

a mobile device application in selective communication with the services interface, the mobile device application operable to submit a query to the services interface;

wherein one of the services interface and the database manager transmits at least a subset of the program data to the mobile device application in response to the query, the mobile device application operable to format the at least a subset of the program data for the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two interactive program guide databases in communication with the database manager; and

a transaction coordinator in communication with the database manager and the at least two interactive program guide databases;

wherein the transaction coordinator selectively places a first one of the at least two databases in communication with the services interface while a second one of the at least two databases is receiving interactive program guide data.

3. The system of claim 1, further including the mobile device in communication with the services interface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile device application is supported by the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile device comprises one of a wireless telephone and a handheld computer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the query includes at least one of an available channel list, a channel schedule, a program detail, and a search string.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the search string includes one of at least a portion of a program title, at least a portion of an actor name, and a program category.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the database manager selectively downloads the interactive program guide data from a television listing data server.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a network component including at least one of the database manager and the web services interface.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device application is downloadable to the mobile device from the network component.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a telecommunications network, wherein the mobile device is in communication with at least one of the services interface and the database manager via the telecommunications network.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a set-top box in communication with an interactive program guide data server.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inactivity timer operable to deactivate a communication link between the mobile device and the services interface after a predetermined time period of inactivity.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user database in communication with the database manager, the user database including information associated with a user of the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the program data is decoupled from presentation logic data.

16. A method, comprising:

providing a mobile interactive program guide application to a mobile device;

receiving IPG data including program data with a network component;

transmitting the program data from the network component to the mobile device; and

formatting the program data for the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving an IPG data query from the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 17, the IPG data query including one of an available channel list, a channel schedule, a program detail, and a search string.

19. The method of claim 18, the search string including one of at least a portion of a program title, at least a portion of an actor name, and a program category.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the program data on the mobile device.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising selectively activating a communication link between the mobile device and a web services interface.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing at least one favorite query on the mobile device.

23. The method of claim 16, the program data decoupled from presentation logic data.

24. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for interactive program guide data from an interactive program guide application on a mobile device;

querying a database in response to the request for interactive program guide data;

receiving interactive program guide data including program data;

sending the program data to the mobile device; and

formatting the program data for the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 24, the request for interactive program guide data including one of an available channel list, a channel schedule, a program detail, and a search string.

26. The method of claim 25, the search string including one of at least a portion of a program title, at least a portion of an actor name, and a program category.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising displaying the program data on the mobile device.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising selectively activating a communication link between the mobile device and a web services interface.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising storing at least one favorite query on the mobile device.

30. The method of claim 24, the program data decoupled from presentation logic data.