INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH OPERATOR SHOWCASE

• US 20100154001A1
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Knudson, Edward B., Davis, Bruce L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,591,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/44
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment such as a set-top box. The program guide provides an operator showcase in the form of one or more operator showcase television listings screens, each of which contains a set of television listings information. The sets of television listings information are generated by querying a database of television listings data in a database in the set-top box. Each database query is based on content criteria previously selected by the cable system operator or other service provider. The service provider is also able to define the format with which the television listings information is displayed in the television listings screens. A title and logos may also be selected by the service provider for each screen. The operator showcase television listings screens may therefore by customized and branded by the service provider. The user may access multiple operator showcase television listings screens using a centralized operator showcase menu.

Claims

1. A method of presenting program listings information, the method comprising:

receiving, at user equipment, a listing of one or more customized display screens from a service provider, wherein each of the one or more customized display screens is associated with content criteria received from the service provider, and wherein each of the content criteria identifies programs that the service provider wishes to promote;

displaying, at the user equipment, the listing of customized display screens;

receiving a user selection of a customized display screen;

in response to receiving the user selection of the customized display screen, searching a database of program listings information for programs that are associated with the content criteria associated with the selected customized display screen to generate a list of programs for the selected customized display screen; and

promoting the programs that the service provider wishes to promote by presenting the list of programs on a display corresponding to the selected customized display screen.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a format for presenting the program listings information is selected by the service provider.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein titles presented on the display are selected by the service provider.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein logos presented on the display are selected by the service provider.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a promotional video barker with the program listings information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to select an item in the presented display.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the user with an opportunity to highlight a selected item in the presented display; and

providing the user with an opportunity to display additional information on the selected item.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the user with an opportunity to highlight a selected item in the presented display; and

providing the user with an opportunity to purchase the selected item.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the content criteria is pay programming.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the content criteria is packages.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the content criteria is channels.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the content criteria is programs.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the content criteria is sports programming.

2. (canceled)

15-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A system for presenting program listings information, the system comprising user television equipment configured to:

receive a listing of one or more customized display screens from a service provider, wherein each of the one or more customized display screens is associated with content criteria received from the service provider, and wherein each of the content criteria identifies programs that the service provider wishes to promote;

display the listing of customized display screens;

receive a user selection of a customized display screen;

search, in response to receiving the user selection of the customized display screen, a database of program listings information for programs that are associated with the content criteria associated with the selected customized display screen to generate a list of programs for the selected customized display screen; and

promote the programs that the service provider wishes to promote by presenting the list of programs on a display corresponding to the selected customized display screen.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein a format for presenting the program listings information is selected by the service provider.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein titles presented on the display are selected by the service provider.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein logos presented on the display are selected by the service provider.

34. The system of claim 29 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to display a promotional video barker with the program listings information.

35. The system of claim 29 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to select an item in the presented display.

36. The system of claim 29 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to highlight a selected item in the presented display; and

provide the user with an opportunity to display additional information on the selected item.

37. The system of claim 29 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to highlight a selected item in the presented display; and

provide the user with an opportunity to purchase the selected item.

38. The system of claim 29 wherein one of the content criteria is pay programming.

39. The system of claim 29 wherein one of the content criteria is packages.

40. The system of claim 29 wherein one of the content criteria is channels.

41. The system of claim 29 wherein one of the content criteria is programs.

42. The system of claim 29 wherein one of the content criteria is sports programming.

30. (canceled)

43-56. -56. (canceled)