Program guide with a current-time bar

• US 6,782,550 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minerva Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minerva Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Cao, Yousheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): NALEVANKO, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/596,326
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 725/37-43, 725/56, 725/46, 725/47
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• 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 21/47 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Improved approaches for configuration, management and operation of a media delivery system are disclosed. The media delivery system centrally manages and stores media content and also controls the delivery of media content to subscribers. According to one embodiment, a method for providing a program guide to subscribers of the media delivery system is disclosed. The media delivery system delivers programs to the subscribers in accordance with the program guide. The program guide can be customized for subscribers. The customization can be implemented in a variety of ways. One example of customization is to provide the program guide with a time bar.

Claims

1. A method for providing a program guide to subscribers of a media delivery system that delivers programs to the subscribers in accordance with the program guide, said method comprising:

receiving a program guide;

modifying the program guide to include only a current time bar that is superimposed only and directly on programs currently being broadcasted to the subscribers, wherein the programs currently being broadcasted are cached in a temporary space for later retrieval by one of subscribers; and

delivering the modified program guide to at least one of the subscribers.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the current time bar is indicated in a color different from the rest of the program guide.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein, upon receiving the modified program guide, at least one client machine associated with the at least one of the subscribers operates to display the modified program guide.

4. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein said method further comprises:

receiving customization parameters associated with the at least one of the subscribers; and

customizing the modified program guide based on the customization parameters, and

wherein said delivering operates to deliver the modified program guide to the at least one of the subscribers after said customizing.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein upon receiving the modified program guide, at least one client machine associated with the at least one of the subscribers operates to display the modified program guide.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the time bar is a current time bar that indicates the programs currently being broadcasted to the subscribers.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the current time bar is in a color different from the rest of the program guide.

8. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said customization operates to alter the modified program guide such that it reorders program channels in the program guide in accordance with the customization parameters.

9. A method for displaying a program guide, the program guide providing broadcast information for a plurality of programs, said method comprising:

receiving a program guide;

obtaining a current local time;

placing only a current time bar in the program guide, the current time bar referencing a time period including the current local time and superimposed only and directly on those of the programs being currently broadcast; and

wherein, when the program guide is displayed on a display screen, the current time bar is highlighted differently from the rest of the program guide being displayed so that a viewer sees immediately what programs are being currently broadcast.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the program guide is received in a client machine from a media delivery center remotely located with respect to the client machine.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the client machine is selected from a group consisting of a TV set, a desktop computer, a set-top box, and a portable computing device.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said obtaining of the current local time comprises detecting the current local time running in the client machine.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the program guide is stored in a memory space of the client machine and can be displayed whenever a request for the program guide is received from a user of the client machine.

14. A method for providing a program guide to subscribers of a media delivery system that delivers programs to the subscribers in accordance with the program guide, said method comprising:

receiving a program guide;

receiving customization parameters associated with at least one of the subscribers;

customizing the program guide based on the customization parameters;

obtaining a current local time;

placing only a current time bar in the customized program guide, the current time bar referencing a time period including the current local time and superimposed directly on those of the programs being currently broadcast; and

delivering the customized program guide to the at least one of the subscribers.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said customization operates to alter the program guide such that it reorders program channels in the program guide in accordance with the customization parameters.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the customization parameters are obtained from at least one subscriber account respectively associated with the at least one of the subscribers.