Interactive program guide systems and processes

• US 20080184321A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lemmons, Thomas R., Henshaw, Jerry D., Allison, Donald W., Marshall, Connie T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer'"'"'s television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for navigating in a program guide, the method comprising:

presenting the program guide to a user, the program guide including program listings that correspond to a first plurality of programs;

presenting a visual indicator simultaneously with the program guide, the visual indicator corresponding to a second plurality of programs that are of interest to a segment of the viewing population;

receiving a user selection of the visual indicator; and

in response to the user selection, presenting in the program guide program listings that correspond to the second plurality of programs.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second plurality of programs comprise a plurality of pay per view programs.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second plurality of programs comprise a plurality of popular movies.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the second plurality of programs comprise a plurality of broadcast programs.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein a data center determines the second plurality of programs.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein a headend telecasting center determines the second plurality of programs.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the user selection is through a key on a remote control unit.

9. A system for navigating in a program guide, the system comprising:

a remote control unit that receives user input from a user; and

a control unit;

that causes the program guide to be presented to a user, the program guide including program listings that correspond to a first plurality of programs;

that causes a visual indicator to be presented simultaneously with the program guide, the visual indicator corresponding to a second plurality of programs that are of interest to a segment of the viewing population;

that receives a user selection of the visual indicator; and

in response to the user selection, presents in the program guide program listings that correspond to the second plurality of programs.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second plurality of programs comprise a plurality of pay per view programs.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the second plurality of programs comprise a plurality of popular movies.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the second plurality of programs comprise a plurality of broadcast programs.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising a data center that determines the second plurality of programs.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising a headend telecasting center determines the second plurality of programs.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the user selection is made through a key on the remote control unit.