Program guide system with video-on-demand browsing

• US 20080276275A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TV Guide Networks, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• 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 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and a program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program, and set a desired broadcast time for that program.

Claims

1-98. -98. (canceled)

99. An interactive television video-on-demand program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment having a main display screen comprising:

means for displaying a program guide display on the viewer television equipment that displays at least one video-on-demand program listing;

means for allowing a viewer to advance order a video-on-demand program represented by said video-on-demand program listing; and

means for allowing said viewer to input a start-time to display said video-on-demand program in response to receiving a request from said viewer to advance order said video-on-demand program, wherein the start-time is not a predetermined broadcast time.

100. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises means for allowing a viewer to select a start-time to watch said video-on-demand program.

101. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises means for allowing a viewer to select a start-time for said video-on-demand program by selecting said start-time from a list of start-times provided by said program guide.

102. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises means for allowing a viewer to select a start-time for said video-on-demand program by entering said start-time with a set of numeric input keys on a remote control.

103. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises means for storing at least a portion of said video-on-demand program in a home storage device when said viewer advance orders the video-on-demand program.

104. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises means for storing all of said video-on-demand program in a home storage device when said viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

105. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein said ordering means provides a purchase price for said video-on-demand program, the purchase price being dependent on whether said viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

106. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 105 wherein said purchase price is discounted when said video on demand program is advance ordered.

107. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises:

means selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

means for reminding said viewer of a selected start-time for said ordered video-on-demand program; and

means for automatically starting said ordered video-on-demand program at said selected start-time.

108. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises:

means for selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

means for reminding said viewer of a selected start-time for said ordered video-on-demand program; and

means for allowing the viewer to watch said ordered program immediately from said reminding means.

109. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises:

means selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

means for reminding said viewer of a selected start-time for said ordered video-on-demand program; and

means for allowing said viewer to acknowledge said start-time indicated by said reminding means and subsequently watch said ordered program at said selected start-time.

110. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises:

means for selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

means for reminding said viewer of a selected start-time for said ordered video-on-demand program; and

means for allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said new start-time.

111. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises:

means for selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

means for reminding said viewer of a selected start-time for said ordered video-on-demand program; and

means for allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time by selecting said new start-time from a list of start-times provided by said program guide, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said new start-time.

112. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises:

means for selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by the viewer;

means for reminding said viewer of a selected start-time for said ordered video-on-demand program; and

means for allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time by entering a viewer-defined start-time, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said viewer-defined start-time.

113. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 99 wherein the system further comprises:

means for selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

means for reminding said viewer of a selected start-time for said ordered video-on-demand program; and

means for allowing said viewer to cancel said ordered program indicated by said reminding means.

114. A method for providing an interactive television video-on-demand program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment having a main display screen comprising:

displaying a program guide display on the viewer television equipment that displays at least one video-on-demand program listing;

allowing a viewer to advance order a video-on-demand program represented by said video-on-demand program listing; and

allowing said viewer to input a start-time to display said video-on-demand program in response to receiving a request from said viewer to advance order said video-on-demand program, wherein the start-time is not a predetermined broadcast time.

115. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises allowing the viewer to select a start-time to watch said video-on-demand program.

116. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises allowing a viewer to select a start-time for said video-on-demand program by selecting said start-time from a list of start-times provided by said program guide.

117. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises allowing a viewer to select a start-time for said video-on-demand program by entering said start-time with a set of numeric input keys on a remote control.

118. The method defined in claim 114 wherein the program guide system further comprises a home storage device, said method further comprising storing at least a portion of said ordered video-on-demand program in said home storage device when said viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

119. The method defined in claim 114 wherein the program guide system further comprises a home storage device, said method further comprising storing all of said video-on-demand program in said local storage device when said viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

120. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises providing a purchase price for said video-on-demand program, said purchase price being dependent on whether said viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

121. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises providing a purchase price for said video-on-demand program, said purchase price being reduced when said viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

122. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

reminding a viewer of a start-time for said ordered program;

automatically starting said ordered video-on-demand program at said viewer selected start-time.

123. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

reminding the viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to watch said ordered program immediately from said reminding step.

124. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to acknowledge said start-time indicated by said reminding means and subsequently watch said ordered program at the selected start-time.

125. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by the viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said new start-time.

126. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time by selecting said new start-time from a list of start-times provided by said program guide, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said new start-time.

127. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

means for allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time by entering a viewer-defined start-time, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said viewer-defined start-time.

128. The method defined in claim 114 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for a video-on-demand program ordered by a viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to cancel said ordered program indicated by said reminding means.

129. Machine-readable media for use in an interactive television video-on-demand program guide system in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on viewer television equipment of a viewer, said viewer television equipment comprising an audio output and a video output, wherein said media is encoded with machine-readable instructions for performing the method comprising:

displaying a program guide display on the viewer television equipment that displays at least one video-on-demand program listing;

allowing the viewer to advance order a video-on-demand program represented by said video-on-demand program listing; and

allowing the viewer to input a start-time to display said video-on-demand program in response to receiving a request from the viewer to advance order said video-on-demand program, wherein the start-time is not a predetermined broadcast time.

130. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises allowing said viewer to select a start-time to watch said video-on-demand program.

131. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises allowing said viewer to select a start-time for said video-on-demand program by selecting said start-time from a list of start-times provided by said program guide.

132. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises allowing said viewer to select a start-time for said video-on-demand program by entering said start-time with a set of numeric input keys on a remote control.

133. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said program guide system further comprises a home storage device, said method further comprising storing at least a portion of said ordered video-on-demand program in said home storage device when the viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

134. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said program guide system further comprises a home storage device, said method further comprising storing all of said video-on-demand program in said home storage device when said viewer advance orders the video-on-demand program.

135. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises providing a purchase price for said video-on-demand program, said purchase price being dependent on whether said viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

136. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises providing a purchase price for said video-on-demand program, said purchase price being reduced when said viewer advance orders said video-on-demand program.

137. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for said video-on-demand program ordered by said viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program;

automatically starting said ordered video-on-demand program at said viewer selected start-time.

138. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for said video-on-demand program ordered by the viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to watch said ordered program immediately from said reminding step.

139. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for said video-on-demand program ordered by said viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to acknowledge said start-time indicated by said reminding means and subsequently watch said ordered program at the selected start-time.

140. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for said video-on-demand program ordered by the viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said new start-time.

141. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for said video-on-demand program ordered by said viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time by selecting said new start-time from a list of start-times provided by said program guide, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said new start-time.

142. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for said video-on-demand program ordered by the viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to change said start-time indicated by said reminding means to a new start-time by entering a viewer-defined start-time, said ordered video-on-demand program automatically starting at said viewer-defined start-time.

143. The machine-readable media defined in claim 129 wherein said ordering further comprises:

selecting a start-time for said video-on-demand program ordered by said viewer;

reminding said viewer of said start-time for said ordered program; and

allowing said viewer to cancel said ordered program indicated by said reminding means.