METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE SERVICES

• US 20080168497A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mitchem, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/619,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168497A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/4312 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for implementing interactive electronic programming guide (EPG) services are provided. The method includes determining an activity relating to a program listed on an EPG and, upon determining that an advertisement exists for the program, retrieving the advertisement and instructing EPG software to insert the advertisement within an allotted advertisement space provided by the EPG software.

Claims

1. A method of providing interactive electronic programming guide (EPG) services, comprising:

determining an activity relating to a program listed on an EPG; and

upon determining that an advertisement exists for the program, retrieving the advertisement and instructing EPG software to insert the advertisement within an allotted advertisement space provided by the EPG software.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity includes at least one of:

highlighting the program;

selecting the program for viewing; and

recording the program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that an advertisement exists for the program includes at least one of:

identifying whether an advertisement is assigned to the advertisement space; and

identifying a candidate advertisement using profile information when no advertisement is assigned to the advertisement space.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the allotted advertisement space is embedded in content provided in at least one of a primary program panel and an EPG panel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to communicate content in the EPG software over a network; and

distributing the content to a network entity specified in the request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the advertisement is presented to a content viewing device that is Internet Protocol network-enabled and comprises at least one of a:

television;

personal computer;

personal digital assistant; and

cellular telephone.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to purchase an item provided in the advertisement; and

submitting the request to a billing component associated with the EPG software.

8. A system for providing interactive electronic programming guide (EPG) services, comprising:

a host system; and

an electronic programming guide (EPG) advertising application executing on the host system, the EPG advertising application implementing a method, comprising;

determining an activity relating to a program listed on an EPG; and

upon determining that an advertisement exists for the program, retrieving the advertisement and instructing EPG software to insert the advertisement within an allotted advertisement space provided by the EPG software.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the activity includes at least one of:

highlighting the program;

selecting the program for viewing; and

recording the program.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein determining that an advertisement exists for the program includes at least one of:

identifying whether an advertisement is assigned to the advertisement space; and

identifying a candidate advertisement using profile information when no advertisement is assigned to the advertisement space.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the allotted advertisement space is embedded in content provided in at least one of a primary program panel and an EPG panel.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the EPG advertising application further performs:

receiving a request to communicate content in the EPG software over a network; and

distributing the content to a network entity specified in the request.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the advertisement is presented to a content viewing device that is Internet Protocol network-enabled and comprises at least one of a:

television;

personal computer;

personal digital assistant; and

cellular telephone;

wherein the EPG advertising application further performs;

receiving a request to purchase an item provided in the advertisement; and

submitting the request to a billing component associated with the EPG software.

14. A computer program product for providing interactive electronic programming guide (EPG) services, the computer program product including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising:

determining an activity relating to a program listed on an EPG; and

upon determining that an advertisement exists for the program, retrieving the advertisement and instructing EPG software to insert the advertisement within an allotted advertisement space provided by the EPG software.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the activity includes at least one of:

highlighting the program;

selecting the program for viewing; and

recording the program.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein determining that an advertisement exists for the program includes at least one of:

identifying whether an advertisement is assigned to the advertisement space; and

identifying a candidate advertisement using profile information when no advertisement is assigned to the advertisement space.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the allotted advertisement space is embedded in content provided in at least one of a primary program panel and an EPG panel.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for implementing:

receiving a request to communicate content in the EPG software over a network; and

distributing the content to a network entity specified in the request.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the advertisement is presented to a content viewing device that is Internet Protocol network-enabled and comprises at least one of a:

television;

personal computer;

personal digital assistant; and

cellular telephone.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for implementing:

receiving a request to purchase an item provided in the advertisement; and

submitting the request to a billing component associated with the EPG software.