ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH BLACKOUT FEATURES

• US 20110067067A1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,839,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• 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 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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
• 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 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71

Abstract

An interactive television program guide for supporting programming blackouts is provided. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may unschedule the reminding and recording of blacked-out programs that have been scheduled by a user for reminding or recording. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may prevent a user from scheduling blacked-out programs for reminding and recording. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may prevent a user from ordering blacked-out pay-per-view programs. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may provide blackout information in information displays. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may provide replacement media for blacked-out programs.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method for supporting programming blackouts in a media guide, comprising:

receiving, from a user input, an indication of a blacked-out program; and

in response to receiving the indication, providing at least one replacement media selection to a user equipment for the blacked-out program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one replacement media selection is provided to the user equipment device via the Internet.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one replacement media selection is provided to the user equipment device from a website.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the user equipment is a set-top box.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the user equipment is a personal computer.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one replacement media selection is provided to the user equipment in real time.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the user equipment provides audio in response to the user input.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one replacement media selection is an audio selection.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one replacement media selection comprises a display of blackout type.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one replacement media selection comprises an indication of a different showing for the blacked-out program.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one replacement media selection comprises a description of the blacked-out program.

13. A system for supporting programming blackouts in a media guide, comprising:

user equipment with control circuitry configured to;

receive, from a user input, an indication of a blacked-out program; and

in response to receiving the indication, provide at least one replacement media selection to a user equipment for the blacked-out program.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one replacement media selection is provided to the user equipment device via the Internet.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one replacement media selection is provided to the user equipment device from a website.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is a set-top box.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is a personal computer.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment provides audio in response to the user input.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one replacement media selection comprises a display of blackout type.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one replacement media selection comprises an indication of a different showing for the blacked-out program.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one replacement media selection comprises a description of the blacked-out program.