Television schedule system and method of operation for multiple program occurrences

• US 5,801,787 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Schein, Steven M., King, Molly K., Alba, Theresa A., Warden, David P., Russman, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US08/665,216
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 348/563, 348/564, 348/569, 348/600, 348/906, 348/589
• US Class Current: 725/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

An improved television guide system. According to one embodiment of the invention, television guide information is provided that includes multiple occurrences of a single show. The guide system of the present invention allows the user to identify a show and, thereafter, identify when the identified show will be played again. Accordingly, the user may more easily select shows for viewing or recordation.

Claims

1. A method of generating television guide information for a viewer comprising the steps of:

inputting schedule guide information into a guide system, said schedule guide information is input from multiple television signal sources;

merging the guide information from said multiple television signal sources;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information; and

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said show is a movie and said identified other times comprise repeated presentations of the movie.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said show is a particular segment of a series show.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said multiple television signal sources comprise sources selected from the group consisting of a DBS source, a cable source, an antenna source, and a computer network source.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of moving a satellite dish to a selected satellite source.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of merging is performed at a central broadcast location.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said user identifies said other times via a remote controller, said remote controller controlling a system coordinator, said system coordinator controlling a television via infrared signals.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of identifying generates a list of shows from a present time when said identified particular show is at a future time.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of filtering said schedule information by theme, wherein said particular show is identified from said filtered schedule information.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said method is performed in a personal computer.

16. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing said user with information regarding said particular show over an internet network.

4. A method of generating television guide information for a viewer comprising the steps of:

inputting schedule guide information into a guide system;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information;

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown; and

recording said particular show at one of said other times.

6. A method of generating television guide information for a viewer comprising the steps of:

inputting schedule guide information into a guide system;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information;

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown;

receiving the user input to record said particular show at one of said other times; and

controlling a video recording device to record said particular show at said one of said other times.

9. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of controlling a video recording device comprises the step of controlling said video recording device via infrared control signals.

12. A method of generating television guide information for a viewer comprising the steps of:

inputting schedule guide information into a guide system;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information;

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown;

receiving the user input to specify a particular one of said other times; and

reminding said user when said particular one of said other times arises.

15. A method of generating television guide information for a viewer comprising the steps of:

inputting schedule guide information into a guide system;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information;

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown; and

identifying the availability of said particular show in videotape form.

17. Software on a computer readable medium for performing the steps of inputting schedule guide information into a guide system, wherein said schedule guide information is input from multiple television signal sources;

merging the schedule guide information from said multiple television signal sources;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information; and

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown;

.

18. Software as recited in claim 17 wherein said show is a movie and said identified other times comprise repeated presentations of the movie.

19. Software as recited in claim 17 wherein said show is a particular segment of a series show.

21. Software as recited in claim 17 wherein said multiple television signal sources comprise sources selected from the group consisting of a DBS source, a cable source, an antenna source, and a computer network source.

23. Software as recited in claim 17 further performing the step of moving a satellite dish to a selected satellite source.

24. Software as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of merging is performed at a central broadcast location.

26. Software as recited in claim 17 wherein said user identifies said other times via a remote controller, said remote controller controlling a system coordinator, said system coordinator controlling a television via infrared signals.

27. Software as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of identifying generates a list of shows from a present time when said identified particular show is at a future time.

29. Software as recited in claim 17 further performing the step of filtering said schedule information by theme, wherein said particular show is identified from said filtered schedule information.

20. Software on a computer readable medium for performing the steps of inputting schedule guide information into a guide system;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information;

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown; and

recording said particular show at one of said other times.

22. Software on a computer readable medium for performing the steps of:

inputting schedule guide information into a guide system;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information;

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown;

receiving the user input to record said particular show at one of said other times; and

controlling a video recording device to record said particular show at said one of said other times.

25. Software as recited in claim 22 wherein said step of controlling a video recording device comprises the step of controlling said video recording device via infrared control signals.

28. Software on a computer readable medium for performing the steps of inputting schedule guide information into a guide system;

receiving user input to identify a particular show in said schedule guide information;

identifying for said user other times when said particular show will be shown;

receiving the user input to specify a particular one of said other times; and

reminding said user when said particular one of said other times arises.