Television schedule system with enhanced features

• US 6,078,348 A
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Sean A., Warden, David, Blake, Todd, Metzger, Donald, Schein, Steven M., Chang, Gordon, Klosterman, Brian L., Milnes, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lintz, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, UYEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/876,468
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 348/10, 348/906, 348/1, 348/2, 348/5, 348/6, 348/460, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 455/6.1
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/26266 for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/47214 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for displaying movie listings. The system has enhanced recording capabilities, including extending recording time, automatically rescheduling recording, and the like. Finally, the system has features which simplify the setup and installation procedures.

Claims

1. A television schedule system comprising:

a data input for receiving data;

a memory for storing the received data, the received data including a database of television schedule information, including titles of television shows;

a user input device for receiving commands;

a television monitor; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the user input device, and the television monitor, the processor being programmed to utilize the database to display on the television monitor a portion of the television schedule information, including titles, to highlight on the monitor responsive to the user input device the title of a show on a particular channel; and

to display on the television monitor the title of the next show on the particular channel, in addition to the highlighted title; and

wherein the monitor displays the title of the next show on the particular channel in an information pop-up every time the highlighted show is about to conclude.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the monitor displays in the information pop-up the number of minutes remaining in the show on a particular channel highlighted on the monitor.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the monitor displays in the information pop-up the number of minutes before the next show on a particular channel will be on.

4. A television schedule system comprising:

a data input for receiving data;

a memory for storing the received data, the received data including a database of television schedule information, including titles of television shows;

a user input device for receiving commands;

a television monitor;

a processor coupled to the memory, the user input device, and the television monitor, the processor being programmed to utilize the database to display on the television monitor a portion of the television schedule information, including titles, to highlight on the monitor responsive to the user input device the title of a show on a particular channel; and

to display on the television monitor the title of the next show on the particular channel, in addition to the highlighted title; and

wherein the processor is programmed to sort alphabetically titles of television shows and the alphabetical sorting is performed in the background without interfering with the displaying of a show on the television monitor.