Adjustable program guide display system

• US 6,064,376 A
• Filed: 03/13/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Crane, Charles Kevin, Thompson, John Garrett, Berezowski, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Reuben M.
• Application Number:
  US08/816,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 348/20, 348/445, 348/555, 348/556, 348/561, 348/563, 348/581, 348/906, 345/121, 345/327, 345/328, 345/342
• US Class Current: 725/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics

Abstract

A television program guide system is provided in which the relative sizes of the promotional information and program listings regions can be adjusted in real time to provide different display formats. The size of the promotional information region can be increased to accommodate normal aspect ratio videos that are larger than a quarter screen. The size of the promotional information region can be reduced when a logo or similar small graphic is to be displayed in the promotional information region. Transition between different configurations can be instantaneous or can take place gradually over a period of time. Transitions can be controlled and can be synchronized with the content of the promotional information region.

Claims

1. A system for providing promotional information and television program listings to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen divided into a promotional information region in which the promotional information is displayed and a television program listings region in which the television program listings are displayed, comprising:

a main facility for providing the promotional information and a global video stream of promotional videos included in the promotional information; and

a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to an associated plurality of the viewer television units, each of the plurality of television distribution facilities simultaneously receiving the global video stream in parallel, receiving television program listings data for the television program listings, and providing a video signal over a given channel so that the promotional information and the included global video stream of promotional videos are displayed on the viewer television units associated with that television distribution facility in the promotional information region and the program listings are displayed on the viewer television units associated with that television distribution facility in the program listings region, wherein each of the television distribution facilities simultaneously provides its video signal to its associated viewer television units over its given channel, wherein each of the television distribution facilities simultaneously adjusts the relative sizes of the promotional information region and the program listings region in parallel in real time as the global video stream of promotional videos is being provided by the main facility to the television distribution facilities and displayed on the viewer television units.

3. The system defined in claim 1 wherein each television distribution facility provides the promotional videos from the global video stream to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region.

4. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the global video stream contains video advertisements, each television distribution facility providing the video advertisements to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region, the size of the promotional information region being adjusted by the means for adjusting to accommodate the video advertisement.

5. The system defined in claim 4 wherein when the video advertisement is being displayed the size of the promotional information region is sufficient to accommodate a normal aspect ratio video larger than a quarter screen.

6. The system defined in claim 1 wherein local promotional information is provided to each television distribution facility, each television distribution facility providing the local promotional information to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region, the size of each promotional information region being adjusted by the means for adjusting to accommodate the local promotional information.

7. The system defined in claim 6 wherein:

the local promotional information is a local video advertisement; and

the size of the promotional information region is sufficient to accommodate a normal aspect ratio video larger than a quarter screen when the local video advertisement is being displayed.

8. The system defined in claim 6 wherein:

the local promotional information is a logo; and

the size of the promotional information region is less than a half screen when the logo is being displayed.

9. The system defined in claim 1 wherein each adjustment to the relative size of the promotional information region and program listings region is accompanied by a transition, the system further comprising means for controlling the speed of the transitions.

10. The system defined in claim 1 wherein adjustments to the relative sizes of the promotional information region and program listings region are synchronized with the movement of content in the promotional information region.

11. The system defined in claim 10 wherein the adjustments and content are synchronized by real time control commands in a video control stream provided to each television distribution facility.

12. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the relative sizes of the promotional information region and program listings region so that a full screen of promotional information is displayed.

13. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting adjusts the relative sizes of the promotional information region and program listings region so that a full screen of program listings is displayed.

14. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the television program listings region contains scrolling television program listings.

2. A system for providing promotional information and television program listings to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen divided into a promotional information region in which the promotional information is displayed and a television program listings region in which the television program listings are displayed, comprising:

a main facility for providing the promotional information and a global video control stream that contains size adjustment commands; and

a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to an associated plurality of the viewer television units, each of the plurality of television distribution facilities receiving the promotional information, simultaneously receiving the global video stream in parallel, receiving television program listings data for the television program listings, and providing a video signal over a given channel in which the promotional information is displayed in the promotional information region and the program listings are displayed in the program listings region, wherein;

each of the television distribution facilities simultaneously provides its video signal to its associated viewer television units over its given channel;

the television distribution facilities each simultaneously receive the video control stream containing the size adjustment commands in parallel; and

each television distribution facility simultaneously adjusts the relative sizes of the promotional information region and the program listings region in its video signal in parallel based on the size adjustment commands when the size adjustment commands are provided by the main facility.

15. A method for providing promotional information and television program listings to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen divided into a promotional information region in which the promotional information is displayed and a television program listings region in which the television program listings are displayed, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the promotional information and a global video stream of promotional videos included in the promotional information from a main facility to a plurality of television distribution facilities, each of the plurality of television distribution facilities being connected to an associated plurality of the viewer television units;

receiving television program listings data for the television program listings at each of the plurality of television distribution facilities; and

providing a video signal over a given channel so that the promotional information and the included global stream of promotional videos are displayed on the viewer television units associated with that television distribution facility in the promotional information region and the program listings are displayed on the viewer television units associated with that television distribution facility in the program listings region wherein each of the television distribution facilities simultaneously provides its video signal to its associated viewer television units over its given channel, wherein each of the television distribution facilities simultaneously adjusts the relative sizes of the promotional information region and the program listings region in parallel in real time as the global video stream of promotional videos is being provided by the main facility to the television distribution facilities and displayed on the viewer television unit.

17. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising the step of using each television distribution facility to provide the promotional videos from the global video stream to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region.

18. The method defined in claim 15 wherein the global video stream contains video advertisements, the method further comprising the steps of:

using each television distribution facility to provide the video advertisements to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region; and

adjusting the size of each promotional information region to accommodate the video advertisement.

19. The method defined in claim 18 wherein when the video advertisement is being displayed the size of the promotional information region is sufficient to accommodate a normal aspect ratio video larger than a quarter screen.

20. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

providing local promotional information to one of the television distribution facilities;

using that television distribution facility to provide the local promotional information to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region; and

adjusting the size of each promotional information region to accommodate the local promotional information.

21. The method defined in claim 20 wherein:

the local promotional information is a local video advertisement; and

the size of the promotional information region is sufficient to accommodate a normal aspect ratio video larger than a quarter screen when the local video advertisement is being displayed.

22. The method defined in claim 20 wherein:

the local promotional information is a logo; and

the size of the promotional information region is less than a half screen when the logo is being displayed.

23. The method defined in claim 15 wherein each adjustment of the relative sizes of the promotional information region and program listings region is accompanied by a transition, the method further comprising the step of controlling the speed of the transitions.

24. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising the step of synchronizing the movement of content in the promotional information region with adjustments to the relative sizes of the promotional information region and program listings region.

25. The method defined in claim 24 wherein the step of synchronizing further comprises the step of providing real time control commands in a video control stream to each television distribution facility to synchronize the movement of content with the adjustments.

26. The method defined in claim 15 wherein the step of adjusting further comprises the step of adjusting the relative sizes of the promotional information region and program listings region so that a full screen of promotional information is displayed.

27. The method defined in claim 15 wherein the step of adjusting further comprises the step of adjusting the relative sizes of the promotional information region and program listings region so that a full screen of program listings is displayed.

28. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising the step of scrolling the television program listings in the television program listings region.

16. A method for providing promotional information and television program listings to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen divided into a promotional information region in which the promotional information is displayed and a television program listings region in which the television program listings are displayed, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the promotional information, and simultaneously providing a global video control stream that contains size adjustment commands in parallel, from a main facility to a plurality of television distribution facilities, each of the plurality of television distribution facilities being connected to an associated plurality of the viewer television units;

receiving television program listings data for the television program listings at each of the plurality of television distribution facilities;

providing a video signal over a given channel in which the promotional information is displayed in the promotional information region and the program listings are displayed in the program listings region;

at each of the plurality of television distribution facilities, simultaneously providing the video signal to the associated viewer television units; and

simultaneously adjusting the relative sizes of the promotional information region and the program listings region in the video signal to the associated viewer television units in parallel based on the size adjustment commands when the size adjustment commands are provided by the main facility.

29. A system for providing promotional information and television program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen divided into a promotional information region in which the promotional information is displayed and a television program listings region in which the television program listings are displayed, comprising:

a main facility for providing the promotional information and a global video stream of promotional videos included in the promotional information; and

a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to an associated plurality of the viewer television units, each television distribution facility receiving the global video stream, receiving television program listings data for the television program listings, and providing a video signal over the given channel in which the promotional information and the included global video stream of promotional videos are displayed in the promotional information region and the program listings are displayed in the program listings region, wherein the relative sizes of the promotional information region and the program listings region are adjusted by the television distribution facility without changing at least some of the program listings in the program listings region.

30. A method for providing promotional information and television program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen divided into a promotional information region in which the promotional information is displayed and a television program listings region in which the television program listings are displayed, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the promotional information and a global video stream of promotional videos included in the promotional information from a main facility to a plurality of television distribution facilities, each television distribution facility being connected to an associated plurality of the viewer television units;

receiving television program listings data for the television program listings at each television distribution facility; and

providing a video signal over the given channel in which the promotional information and the included global stream of promotional videos are displayed in the promotional information region and the program listings are displayed in the program listings region, wherein the relative sizes of the promotional information region and the program listings region are adjusted by the television distribution facility without changing at least some of the program listings in the program listings region.