Integrating data on program popularity into an on-screen program guide
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a provider system including a source of a plurality of video programs, program guide information associated with the plurality of video programs, and a popularity information system storing programming popularity information associated with the plurality of video programs, the provider system configured to transmit the plurality of video programs and the program guide information over an access network connected to the provider system; and
a subscriber computing device connected to the provider system via the access network, wherein said subscriber computing device is configured to receive at least one video program of the plurality of video programs and the program guide information over the access network, display selection criteria for selecting a subset of the programming popularity information, receive the subset of the programming popularity information over the access network, and provide a signal to a display device that includes at least the subset of the programming popularity information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A subscriber to a digital cable or satellite TV service generally has available to them an on-screen program guide. The program guide lists programming (e.g., TV shows) that are available to the subscriber for a certain upcoming time period, typically two weeks. The programming guide may sort the listings by channel and time, areas of interest, age appropriateness and/or MPAA or TV rating, free or additional cost, etc. In the embodiments of the present invention, the programming guide includes an ability to make a selection to see which TV shows are currently (or typically) most watched. In one embodiment, this information is presented as a simple “top 10” list by displaying the actual number of television sets having a set top box with an integrated internet protocol (IP) channel that are tuned to that program. In other embodiments, other web-based services (e.g., Nielsen Ratings) are accessed to determine the popularity of television shows. Results may be provided audibly and/or graphically on a subscriber'"'"'s television display.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a provider system including a source of a plurality of video programs, program guide information associated with the plurality of video programs, and a popularity information system storing programming popularity information associated with the plurality of video programs, the provider system configured to transmit the plurality of video programs and the program guide information over an access network connected to the provider system; and a subscriber computing device connected to the provider system via the access network, wherein said subscriber computing device is configured to receive at least one video program of the plurality of video programs and the program guide information over the access network, display selection criteria for selecting a subset of the programming popularity information, receive the subset of the programming popularity information over the access network, and provide a signal to a display device that includes at least the subset of the programming popularity information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a network interface to an access network, the network interface configured to receive at least one video program of a plurality of video programs available over the access network and receive program guide information associated with the plurality of video programs over the access network; an output interface to a display device, the output interface configured to provide a video signal to the display device; and a processing system connected to the network interface and the output interface, the processing system configured to receive and store the program guide information, provide the program guide information to the output interface for inclusion in the video signal to said display device, display selection criteria on the display device for selecting a subset of programming popularity information, receive a first request for the subset of the programming popularity information associated with the plurality of video programs, provide a second request indicating the requested subset of the programming popularity information to the network interface for transmission over the access network, receive the requested subset of the programming popularity information from the network interface in response to the second request, and provide the requested subset of the programming popularity information to the output interface for inclusion in the video signal to said display device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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providing a plurality of video programs for transmission over an access network; receiving programming popularity information associated with the plurality of video programs; providing program guide information over the access network, the program guide information associated with the plurality of video programs; displaying selection criteria for selecting a selected amount of programming popularity information; receiving an indication to provide the selected amount of the programming popularity information based on the selection criteria over the access network to a computing device; determining the selected amount of the programming popularity information; and providing the selected amount of the programming popularity information over the access network to the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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providing an interactive program guide containing program guide information for a plurality of video programs available over an access network to a display device for viewing by a user; displaying selection criteria for selecting a portion of the programming popularity information; receiving a first request for programming popularity information associated with at least one of the plurality of video programs; transmitting a second request over the access network, the second request indicating the requested programming popularity information; receiving the programming popularity information; determining the selected portion of the programming popularity information using the selection criteria; and providing the selected portion of the programming popularity information to the display device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 22)
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21. (canceled)
Specification