Program guide system for recording television programs

• US 6,442,332 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Knudson, Edward B., Davis, Bruce L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCCIO, VINCENT F
• Application Number:
  US09/654,982
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.591, 386/83, 386/94-95, 380/201, 380/203, 725/25, 725/27-28, 725/30, 725/39, 725/31, 725/141-142, 725/153, 348/906
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/45 Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.

Claims

1. An interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

means for receiving the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

means for selecting a program for recording from the interactive television program guide;

means for determining whether the selected program is copy protected; and

means for displaying a message informing a user that the selected program may not be recorded upon determining that the selected program is copy protected.

2. An interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

communication circuitry configured to receive the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

display circuitry configured to display the interactive television program guide; and

control circuitry configured to (1) provide a user with an opportunity to select a program for recording from the interactive television program guide, (2) determine whether the selected program is copy protected, and (3) direct the display circuitry to display a message informing the user that the selected program may not be recorded upon determining that the selected program is copy protected.

3. A method for using an interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

receiving the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

selecting a program for recording from the interactive television program guide;

determining whether the selected program is copy protected; and

displaying a message informing a user that the selected program may not be recorded upon determining that the selected program is copy protected.

4. An interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

means for receiving the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

means for selecting a program for recording or for viewing from the interactive television program guide;

means for receiving the selected program with copy protection;

means for offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

means for (a) removing the copy protection from the selected program, (b) providing the selected program without copy protection, and (c) directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

means for offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

means for providing the selected program with copy protection at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

5. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 4 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

6. An interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

tuner, communication, and display circuitry configured to (1) receive the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide and (2) display the interactive television program guide; and

control circuitry configured to (1) provide a user with an opportunity to select a program for recording or for viewing from the interactive television program guide, (2) direct the tuner, communication, and display circuitry to display a message offering the user the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording, (3) receive the selected program with copy protection, (4) direct the tuner, communication, and display circuitry to (a) remove the copy protection from the selected program, (b) provide the selected program without copy protection, and (c) direct the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection, (5) direct the tuner, communication, and display circuitry to display a message offering the user the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing, and (6) direct the tuner, communication, and display circuitry to provide the selected program with copy protection at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

7. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 6 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

8. A method for using an interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

receiving the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

selecting a program for recording or for viewing from the interactive television program guide;

receiving the selected program with copy protection;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

removing the copy protection from the selected program, providing the selected program without copy protection, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

providing the selected program with copy protection at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

9. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

10. A computer readable medium having computer logic recorded thereon for:

receiving the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

selecting a program for recording from the interactive television program guide;

determining whether the selected program is copy protected; and

displaying a message informing a user that the selected program may not be recorded upon determining that the selected program is copy protected.

11. A computer readable medium having computer logic recorded thereon for:

receiving the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

selecting a program for recording or for viewing from the interactive television program guide;

receiving the selected program with copy protection;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

removing the copy protection from the selected program, providing the selected program without copy protection, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

providing the selected program with copy protection at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 further comprising having computer program logic recorded thereon for offering the program wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.