INTERNET TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM

• US 20080201740A1
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Herrington, W. Benjamin, Regouby, Mark A., Demers, Timothy B., Allison, Donald W., Boyer, Franklin E., Williamson, Steven C., Hensley, Joanna L., Reddy, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US12/111,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201740A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• 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 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system.

Claims

1-80. -80. (canceled)

81. An apparatus that provides broadcast television programs to a subscriber, comprising:

a set top terminal, comprising;

a receiver module to receive program data including the broadcast television programs,

an address for a scheduling web site and

a local authorization code, wherein the authorization code allows at least one of the broadcast television programs to be decrypted for viewing; and

an ethernet LAN connector to receive electronic program guide data from the scheduling web site and send a program selection to the scheduling web site;

the scheduling web site that receives the program selection and sends an authorization request to an order and authorization system, wherein the scheduling web site recognizes the subscriber and customizes the electronic program guide data for the subscriber;

the order and authorization system that receives the authorization request, including the program selection, from the scheduling web site and generates an authorization signal, the authorization signal providing the local authorization code; and

a billing system that receives the authorization signal and generates a billing record.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the order and authorization system and a broadcaster are colocated with the billing system.

83. The apparatus of claim 81, comprising a network controller that receives the authorization signal from the order and authorization system and generates the local authorization code.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the network controller comprises a network management CPU linked to the order and authorization system.

85. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the order and authorization system is capable of receiving the authorization request by either an upstream data transmission over a cable distribution network or by a telephone line.

86. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the receiver module comprises a means to communicate with the Internet.

87. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the scheduling web site is an Internet web site.

88. The apparatus of claim 81, comprising a set top terminal having the receiver module and the transmitter, and wherein the electronic program guide is customized according to subscriber specific data stored in the set top terminal.

89. A set top terminal, comprising:

a receiver module to receive program data from a broadcast cable television delivery network, wherein the program data includes a plurality of broadcast television programs, an address of a scheduling web site, and at least one authorization code to authorize access to at least one of the plurality of broadcast television programs; and

an ethernet LAN connector to receive electronic program guide data from the scheduling web site and send an order to the scheduling web site for the at least one of the plurality of broadcast television programs.

90. A method, comprising:

receiving program data from a broadcast cable television delivery network at a receiver module of a set top terminal, the program data including a plurality of broadcast television programs, an address of a scheduling web site, and at least one authorization code to authorize access to at least one of the plurality of broadcast television programs;

receiving electronic program guide data from the scheduling web site at an ethernet LAN connector of the set top terminal; and

sending an order to the scheduling web site from the ethernet LAN connector of the set top terminal for the at least one of the plurality of broadcast television programs.