Method and apparatus for managing multiple outside video service providers
First Claim
1. A method for presenting program information to a display device from a plurality of different outside delivery services, each of the delivery services providing a respective plurality of channels, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a signal from each of the plurality of different outside delivery services, each of the signals providing respectively different program information relating to the respective plurality of channels of the delivery service;
storing the received program information signals;
integrating, according to a predetermined classification, the respective program information signals relating to each respective plurality of channels into a merged database;
generating a display with the program information presented in the predetermined classification; and
displaying the display with the program information on a television.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for receiving, organizing and presenting program information to a display device in a home from at least two outside sources such as CATV, telephone companies (TELCOs) and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) is disclosed. A distribution network is established within the home using, for example, a consumer electronics bus (CEBus). First, a plurality of signals each from a different outside source and each being associated with information for constructing a program information database for the respective source are received. Next, the separate streams of program information for each outside source are integrated into a single merged database, entries of which can be accessed as a function of user supplied criteria. Additionally, information may be appended to each record of the entries in the separate streams of program information which indicate source and/or cost, and, finally, the information contained in the merged database is presented via the CEBus to a user for viewing and function selection.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for presenting program information to a display device from a plurality of different outside delivery services, each of the delivery services providing a respective plurality of channels, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signal from each of the plurality of different outside delivery services, each of the signals providing respectively different program information relating to the respective plurality of channels of the delivery service; storing the received program information signals; integrating, according to a predetermined classification, the respective program information signals relating to each respective plurality of channels into a merged database; generating a display with the program information presented in the predetermined classification; and displaying the display with the program information on a television. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 20)
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9. An apparatus for presenting program information to a display device from a plurality of different outside delivery services, each of the outside delivery services providing a plurality of channels, comprising:
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means for receiving a signal from each of the plurality of different outside delivery services, each of the signals providing respectively different program information relating to the respective plurality of channels of the delivery service; merged database means for storing information; means for storing the respective program information relating to the respective pluralities of channels in the merged database means; means for arranging the stored program information in a predetermined order; means for generating a display with the program information presented in the predetermined order; and means for displaying the display with the program information on a television. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21)
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19. A method for presenting program information to a display device from at least two different outside delivery services, each of the different outside delivery services having a plurality of channels, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving respectively different program information for the at least two outside delivery services relating to the respective pluralities of channels carried by the outside delivery services; storing the received program information in a merged database; indexing, in a predetermined order, the respective program information relating to the respective pluralities of channels in the merged database; and generating a display with the program information presented in the predetermined order; and displaying the display with the program information on a television.
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22. A method for presenting program information to a display device from a plurality of different outside delivery services, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving signals from each of the plurality of different outside delivery services, each of the signals providing respectively different program information; decoding the received signals to extract the respective program information, wherein the signals for the respective outside delivery services have respectively different formatting; storing the respective decoded program information; adding, to the respective program information, an indication of the respective outside delivery service; sorting, in a predetermined order, the respective program information in a merged database; and displaying, program entries contained in the merged database to a user for viewing.
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Specification