Systems and methods for continually updating and retrieving interactive video information

• US 6,357,046 B1
• Filed: 06/23/1998
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, John R., Trivelpiece, Craig E., Trivelpiece, Steve E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/103,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5445, 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/906, 348/9, 348/722, 348/180, 348/563, 348/460, 348/461, 348/467, 348/468, 348/473, 348/426, 348/477, 348/428, 348/429, 348/552, 348/553, 348/564, 348/567, 348/520, 348/406, 455/4.1, 455/5.1, 455/4.2, 455/6.3, 455/6.1, 455/3.2, 455/6.2, 725/48, 725/44, 725/39, 725/50, 725/51, 725/52, 725/139, 725/140, 725/40
• US Class Current: 725/139
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

An interactive video system transmits a composite digital information signal consisting of a winnowed generic information signal and a local information signal manipulated to produce an output signal including both data code and object code. This output signal is formatted and transmitted via modulator cards at the system head end to decoders located at the individual users'"'"' television sets. Each card uses a dynamic gate array having a configuration sequence determined by a resident configuration EPROM which can be changed in the field. Data is fed to the configured array under the control of a control data EPROM also resident in the modulator card. A transmission modulator in the modulator card receives the data from the dynamic gate array for transmission via any selected medium to the user'"'"'s location.

Claims

1. A video information system comprising:

a headend that receives information resource data, that transmits said information resource data, and that transmits operating software; and

a decoder that receives said information resource data, that receives said operating software, that executes said operating software to process said information resource data, that generates a program guide display in a grid format of said information resource data, that receives a first user input and causes said program guide display to change said information resource data displayed in one axis of said grid format when said first user input is received, and that receives a second user input and causes said program guide display to change said information resource data displayed in another axis of said grid format when said second user input is received.

2. A video information system comprising:

a headend that receives information resource data, that modifies said information resource data to form modified information resource data, and that transmits operating software; and

a decoder that receives said modified information resource data, that receives said operating software, that executes said software to process said modified information resource data, that generates a program guide display in a grid format of said modified information resource data, that receives a first user input and causes said program guide display to change said modified information resource data displayed in one axis of said grid format when said first user input is received, and that receives a second user input and causes said program guide display to change said modified information resource data displayed in another axis of said grid format when said second user input is received.

3. A video guide system comprising:

a headend that receives national television schedule data, that contains local television schedule data, that contains decoder operating software, and that transmits said national television schedule data, said local television schedule data, and said decoder operating software; and

a decoder that receives said national television schedule data, said local television schedule data, and said decoder operating software from said headend, that executes said decoder operating software to display said national television schedule data and said local television schedule data, that generates a program guide display in a grid format of said national television schedule data and said local television schedule data, that receives a first user input and causes said program guide display to change said national television schedule data and said local television schedule data displayed in one axis of said grid format when said first user input is received, and that receives a second user input and causes said program guide display to change said national television schedule data and said local television schedule data displayed in another axis of said grid format when said second user input is received.

4. A method of processing video information, comprising:

transmitting information resource data to a headend;

transmiting said information resource data from said headend to a decoder;

downloading operating software from said headend to said decoder;

executing said operating software to process said information resource data;

generating a program guide display of said information resource data in a grid format; and

transmitting a first user input to said decoder to cause said program guide display to change said information resource data displayed in a first axis of said grid format in response to said first user input being received by said decoder.

5. A method of processing video information as claimed in claim 4 further comprising transmitting a second user input to said decoder to cause said program guide display to change said information resource data displayed in a second axis of said grid format in response to said second user input being received by said decoder.

6. A method of processing video information, comprising:

transmitting information resource data to a headend;

modifying said information resource data;

transmiting said modified information resource data from said headend to a decoder;

downloading operating software from said headend to said decoder;

executing said operating software to process said modified information resource data;

generating a program guide display of said modified information resource data in a grid format; and

transmitting a first user input to said decoder to cause said program guide display to change said modified information resource data displayed in a first axis of said grid format in response to said first user input being received by said decoder.

7. A method of processing video information as claimed in claim 6 further comprising transmitting a second user input to said decoder to cause said program guide display to change said modified information resource data displayed in a second axis of said grid format in response to said second user input being received by said decoder.

8. A method of processing video information, comprising:

receiving national television schedule data at a headend;

adding local television schedule data to said national television schedule data to form composite television schedule data;

transmitting said composite television schedule data from said headend to a decoder;

downloading operating software from said headend to said decoder;

executing said operating software to display said composite television schedule data;

generating a program guide display of said composite television schedule data in a grid format; and

transmitting a first user input to said decoder to cause said program guide display to change said composite television schedule data displayed in a first axis of said grid format in response to said first user input being received by said decoder.

9. A method of processing video information as claimed in claim 8 further comprising transmitting a second user input to said decoder to cause said program guide display to change said composite television schedule data displayed in a second axis of said grid format in response to said second user input being received by said decoder.