METHODS, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS, AND HARDWARE PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE AND INSTANT MESSAGING CONVERGENCE

• US 20100083182A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daigle, Brian K., Liu, Jerry C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,707,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/843
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• 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 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

Interactive program guide (IPG) and instant messaging (IM) convergence is provided by displaying an IPG that includes one or more IM icons. In response to detection of a user clicking on an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons or hovering over an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons, a pull-down menu is displayed that includes one or more IM options or a new screen is displayed that includes one or more instant messaging options. The pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all IM users that are watching a program in a particular geographic location. Alternatively or additionally, the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all buddies for the user that are watching a program listed in the IPG.

Claims

1. A method for providing interactive program guide (IPG) and instant messaging (IM) convergence, the method comprising:

displaying an IPG that includes one or more IM icons; and

responsive to detection of selection of an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons, displaying a pull-down menu that includes one or more IM options or displaying a new screen that includes one or more IM options.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all IM users that are watching a program in a particular geographic location.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the geographic location comprises a city, a county, a state, or a country.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all buddies for the user that are watching a program listed in the IPG.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen provides an option to add a program listed on the IPG to an IM community of the user or add the user to a group for the program, thereby enabling the user to communicate with one or more other members of the group.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to a user clicking on an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons or hovering over the icon, allowing the user to chat with other IM users that have watched the program, recorded the program, or selected the program for a reminder or for future recording;

wherein the program occurs in the past or in the future.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to a user selecting a program from the IPG to view its expanded description, displaying an IM icon; and

activating a link that provides IM convergence in response to detection of the user clicking on or hovering over the IM icon.

8. A computer program product for providing interactive program guide (IPG) and instant messaging (IM) convergence, the computer program product including a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:

displaying an IPG that includes one or more IM icons; and

responsive to detection of a selection of an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons, displaying a pull-down menu that includes one or more IM options or displaying a new screen that includes one or more IM options.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all IM users that are watching a program in a particular geographic location.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the geographic location comprises a city, a county, a state, or a country.

11. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all buddies for the user that are watching a program listed in the IPG.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen provides an option to add a program listed on the IPG to an IM community of the user or add the user to a group for the program, thereby enabling the user to communicate with one or more other members of the group.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions, responsive to a user clicking on an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons or hovering over the icon, for allowing the user to chat with other IM users that have watched the program, recorded the program, or selected the program for a reminder or for future recording;

wherein the program occurs in the past or in the future.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions, responsive to a user selecting a program from the IPG to view its expanded description, for displaying an IM icon;

and for activating a link that provides IM convergence in response to detection of the user clicking on or hovering over the IM icon.

15. A hardware product for providing interactive program guide (IPG) and instant messaging (IM) convergence, the hardware product including a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:

displaying an IPG that includes one or more IM icons; and

responsive to detection of a selection of an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons, displaying a pull-down menu that includes one or more IM options or displaying a new screen that includes one or more IM options.

16. The hardware product of claim 15 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all IM users that are watching a program in a particular geographic location, and wherein the geographic location comprises a city, a county, a state, or a country.

17. The hardware product of claim 15 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all buddies for the user that are watching a program listed in the IPG.

18. The hardware product of claim 15 wherein the pull-down menu or new screen provides an option to add a program listed on the IPG to an IM community of the user or add the user to a group for the program, thereby enabling the user to communicate with one or more other members of the group.

19. The hardware product of claim 15 wherein, responsive to a user clicking on an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons or hovering over the icon, allowing the user to chat with other IM users that have watched the program, recorded the program, or selected the program for a reminder or for future recording;

and wherein the program occurs in the past or in the future.

20. The hardware product of claim 15 wherein, responsive to a user selecting a program from the IPG to view its expanded description, displaying an IM icon;

and activating a link that provides IM convergence in response to detection of the user clicking on or hovering over the IM icon.