INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH ACCESS TO MULTIPLE DATA SETS

• US 20090172544A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Guy Y. K., Fung, Jerry T. F., Tsui, Mike H. P.
• Application Number:
  US11/967,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20090172544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/721
• 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 21/4312 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Systems and methods for an interactive media guidance application with access to multiple data sets are provided. One of the data sets may be selected to generate a media guidance application display screen. A data set may be selected based on the data source or data path from which the data set was received. A data set may also be selected based on a quality measure value associated with the data set. Portions of two or more data sets may also be merged to form a combined data set.

Claims

1. A method for providing data to generate an interactive media guidance application display on a device, the method comprising:

receiving a first set of interactive media guidance application data via a first data path;

receiving a second set of interactive media guidance application data via a second data path;

determining a first quality measure value for the first set of interactive media guidance application data;

determining a second quality measure value for the second set of interactive media guidance application data;

comparing the first quality measure value and the second quality measure value;

accessing one of the interactive media guidance application data sets based on the comparison; and

providing the accessed interactive media guidance application data set to generate a display within the interactive media guidance application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a low-bandwidth data path and the second set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a high-bandwidth data path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a broadcast path and the second set of interactive media guidance application data is received via an Internet path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of interactive media guidance application data is available only when the device is connected to the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is accessed whenever the second set of interactive media guidance application data is not available.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing further comprises determining time values for the first and the second sets of interactive media guidance application data and comparing the time values.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing further comprises accessing interactive media guidance application data from the interactive media guidance application data set with the highest quality measure value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a maximum quality measure value for the device and accessing an interactive media guidance application data set with a quality measure value that is less than the maximum quality measure value.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a user specified maximum quality measure value and accessing an interactive media guidance application data set with a quality measure value that is less than the user specified maximum quality measure value.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing further comprises determining a priority value for the first data path and the second data path and comparing the priority values.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the first set of interactive media guidance application data is interchangeable with the second set of interactive media guidance application data.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether a portion of the first set of interactive media guidance application data is interchangeable with a portion of the second set of interactive media guidance application data.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining a portion of the first set of interactive media guidance application data with a portion of the second set of interactive media guidance application data to form a combined set of interactive media guidance application data and accessing the combined set of interactive media guidance application data.

14. A system for providing data to generate an interactive media guidance application display, the system comprising:

user equipment on which a interactive media guidance application is implemented, wherein the media guidance application is configured to;

receive a first set of interactive media guidance application data via a first data path;

receive a second set of interactive media guidance application data via a second data path;

determine a first quality measure value for the first set of interactive media guidance application data;

determine a second quality measure value for the second set of interactive media guidance application data;

compare the first quality measure value and the second quality measure value;

access one of the interactive media guidance application data sets based on the comparison; and

provide the accessed interactive media guidance application data set to generate a display.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a low-bandwidth data path and the second set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a high-bandwidth data path.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a broadcast path and the second set of interactive media guidance application data is received via an Internet path.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the second set of interactive media guidance application data is available only when the device is connected to the Internet.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is accessed whenever the second set of interactive media guidance application data is not available.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the comparing further comprises determining time values for the first and the second sets of interactive media guidance application data and comparing the time values.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the accessing further comprises accessing interactive media guidance application data from the interactive media guidance application data set with the highest quality measure value.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the media guidance application is further configured to determine a maximum quality measure value for the device and access an interactive media guidance application data set with a quality measure value that is less than the maximum quality measure value.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the media guidance application is further configured to determine a user specified maximum quality measure value and access an interactive media guidance application data set with a quality measure value that is less than the user specified maximum quality measure value.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the comparing further comprises determining a priority value for the first data path and the second data path and comparing the priority values.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the media guidance application is further configured to determine whether the first set of interactive media guidance application data is interchangeable with the second set of interactive media guidance application data.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the media guidance application is further configured to determine whether a portion of the first set of interactive media guidance application data is interchangeable with a portion of the second set of interactive media guidance application data.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the media guidance application is further configured to combine a portion of the first set of interactive media guidance application data with a portion of the second set of interactive media guidance application data to form a combined set of interactive media guidance application data and access the combined set of interactive media guidance application data.

27. A system for providing data to generate an interactive media guidance application display on a device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a first set of interactive media guidance application data via a first data path;

means for receiving a second set of interactive media guidance application data via a second data path;

means for determining a first quality measure value for the first set of interactive media guidance application data;

means for determining a second quality measure value for the second set of interactive media guidance application data;

means for comparing the first quality measure value and the second quality measure value;

means for accessing one of the interactive media guidance application data sets based on the comparison; and

means for providing the accessed interactive media guidance application data set to generate a display within the interactive media guidance application.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a low-bandwidth data path and the second set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a high-bandwidth data path.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is received via a broadcast path and the second set of interactive media guidance application data is received via an Internet path.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the second set of interactive media guidance application data is available only when the device is connected to the Internet.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the first set of interactive media guidance application data is accessed whenever the second set of interactive media guidance application data is not available.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for comparing further comprises means for determining time values for the first and the second sets of interactive media guidance application data and means for comparing the time values.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for accessing further comprises means for accessing interactive media guidance application data from the interactive media guidance application data set with a highest quality measure value.

34. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for determining a maximum quality measure value for the device and means for accessing an interactive media guidance application data set with a quality measure value that is less than the maximum quality measure value.

35. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for determining a user specified maximum quality measure value and means for accessing an interactive media guidance application data set with a quality measure value that is less than the user specified maximum quality measure value.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for comparing further comprises means for determining a priority value for the first data path and the second data path and means for comparing the priority values.

37. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for determining whether the first set of interactive media guidance application data is interchangeable with the second set of interactive media guidance application data.

38. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for determining whether a portion of the first set of interactive media guidance application data is interchangeable with a portion of the second set of interactive media guidance application data.

39. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for combining a portion of the first set of interactive media guidance application data with a portion of the second set of interactive media guidance application data to form a combined set of interactive media guidance application data and means for accessing the combined set of interactive media guidance application data.

40. A method for displaying interchangeable data sets within an interactive media guidance application on a device, the method comprising:

accessing a first set of the data to be displayed within an interactive media guidance application display, the first set of data having a first quality measure value;

determining the availability of a second set of data, the second set of data having a second quality measure and being interchangeable with the first set of data;

comparing the first quality measure and the second quality measure; and

displaying the second set of data within the interactive media guidance application display if the second quality measure value is higher than the first quality measure value.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first set of data is received from a low-bandwidth data stream and the second set of data is received from a high-bandwidth data stream.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the first set of data is received from a broadcast server and the second set of data is received from an Internet server.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the second set of data is available only when the device is connected to the Internet.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising determining time values for the first and second sets of data and wherein the second set of data is displayed only when the time value of the second set of data is approximately equal to or newer than the time value of the first set of data.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising determining a maximum quality value for the device and wherein the second set of data is displayed only if the second quality measure value is less than the maximum quality measure value.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprising determining a maximum user specified quality measure value and wherein the second set of data is displayed only if the second quality measure value is less than the maximum user specified quality measure value.

47. The method of claim 40, wherein the first set of data consists of text-only data and the second set of data consists of graphics and text data.

48. The method of claim 40, wherein the first set of data consists of graphics and text data and the second set of data consists of graphics, text, and video data.

49. A system for displaying interchangeable data sets within an interactive media guidance application, the system comprising:

user equipment on which an interactive media guidance application is implemented, wherein the interactive media guidance application is configured to;

access a first set of the data to be displayed within an interactive media guidance application display, the first set of data having a first quality measure value;

determine the availability of a second set of data, the second set of data having a second quality measure and being interchangeable with the first set of data; and

compare the first quality measure and the second quality measure; and

a display screen that displays the second set of data within the interactive media guidance application display if the second quality measure value is higher than the first quality measure value.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the first set of data is received from a low-bandwidth data stream and the second set of data is received from a high-bandwidth data stream.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the first set of data is received from a broadcast server and the second set of data is received from an Internet server.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the second set of data is available only when the device is connected to the Internet.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the guidance application is further configured to determine time values for the first and second sets of data and wherein the second set of data is displayed only when the time value of the second set of data is approximately equal to or newer than the time value of the first set of data.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the guidance application is further configured to determine a maximum quality value for the device and wherein the second set of data is displayed only if the second quality measure value is less than the maximum quality measure value.

55. The system of claim 49, wherein the guidance application is further configured to determine a maximum user specified quality measure value and wherein the second set of data is displayed only if the second quality measure value is less than the maximum user specified quality measure value.

56. The system of claim 49, wherein the first set of data consists of text-only data and the second set of data consists of graphics and text data.

57. The system of claim 49, wherein the first set of data consists of graphics and text data and the second set of data consists of graphics, text, and video data.

58. A system for displaying interchangeable data sets within an interactive media guidance application on a device, the system comprising:

means for accessing a first set of the data to be displayed within an interactive media guidance application display, the first set of data having a first quality measure value;

means for determining the availability of a second set of data, the second set of data having a second quality measure and being interchangeable with the first set of data;

means for comparing the first quality measure and the second quality measure; and

means for displaying the second set of data within the interactive media guidance application display if the second quality measure value is higher than the first quality measure value.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the first set of data is received from a low-bandwidth data stream and the second set of data is received from a high-bandwidth data stream.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the first set of data is received from a broadcast server and the second set of data is received from an Internet server.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the second set of data is available only when the device is connected to the Internet.

62. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for determining time values for the first and second sets of data and wherein the second set of data is displayed only when the time value of the second set of data is approximately equal to or newer than the time value of the first set of data.

63. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for determining a maximum quality value for the device and wherein the second set of data is displayed only if the second quality measure value is less than the maximum quality measure value.

64. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for determining a maximum user specified quality measure value and wherein the second set of data is displayed only if the second quality measure value is less than the maximum user specified quality measure value.

65. The system of claim 58, wherein the first set of data consists of text-only data and the second set of data consists of graphics and text data.

66. The system of claim 58, wherein the first set of data consists of graphics and text data and the second set of data consists of graphics, text, and video data.