System and method for generating video taping reminders

• US 6,792,197 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Helmstetter, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONUAKU, CHRISTOPHER O
• Application Number:
  US09/456,132
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/83, 386/95, 386/96, 386/52, 725/39, 725/58, 725/109, 725/43, 725/104, 725/60, 725/47, 725/37, 725/116, 725/44, 725/42, 725/36, 725/45, 725/46, 360/72.2
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/309 Table of contents
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• 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 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• 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 21/4882 : 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 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• 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

Electronic Guide products give the user the ability to videotape selected programs. Once a program has successfully been taped a message is displayed, reminding the viewer that they have taped it. (E.g. “You taped Xxxxx; have you watched it yet?”) Information comprising information that shows are taped, the particular shows taped and viewer profiles allow advertisements targeted to the viewer who typically records a given type of programming to be presented. In an embodiment the display of the reminders is made conditional upon acceptance of advertising (for example, based on a piece of data transmitted along with other data related to that show), and can be sold to the broadcasters who transmitted the show. This information is marketed as a peculiarly well-targeted ad for the show, causing it to continue to produce value for the broadcaster after the broadcast is complete. Broadcasters, in turn, may offer the reminders to major advertisers as they sell commercial air time during the show, as a premium feature of the air time. The advertisement may be sent over channels comprising the video blanking interval, the Internet or on another channel.

Claims

1. A process for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made comprising:

displaying a schedule of programming listed in an electronic program guide (EPG) including a program displayed in the schedule of the EPG designated for recording;

programming a video recorder to record the selected program;

recording the program;

determining if a video recording reminder has been assigned to the program;

activating the video recording reminder if the reminder has been assigned to the program for indicating a user that the selected program has been recorded; and

automatically triggering display of the video recording reminder in response to a pre-determined event.

2. The process for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made of claim 1, further comprising generating a recording library to be displayed with the reminder that a video recording has been made.

3. The process for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made of claim 1, further comprising generating a PIP display in response to the display of the reminder.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the video recording reminder includes an advertisement.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the advertisement is associated with the recorded program.

6. The process of claim 4, wherein the advertisement is selected based on viewer profile information.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the video recording reminder includes a picture-in-picture (PIP) display.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the PIP display displays a portion of the recorded program.

9. The process of claim 7, wherein the PIP display displays an advertisement.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined event is passage of a predefined amount of time since the recording of the program.

11. A device for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made comprising:

an electronic program guide having a listing of subject matter suitable for video recording and capable of displaying reminders that a video recording has been made;

a memory for storing the listing of subject matter suitable for video recording and a set of associated indicators that are selectively applied to generate a reminder that the video recording has been made;

a decoder for receiving the listing of subject matter suitable for video recording and the set of associated reminders;

a micro controller for coordinating the reception of the listing of subject matter suitable for recording and set of indicators and their storage into the memory;

a video recorder capable of being programmed under control of the EPG; and

means for automatically triggering display of the video recording reminder in response to a pre-determined event.

12. The device for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made of claim 11, in which the EPG transmits viewer profile data to a service provider.

13. The device for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made of claim 11, in which the viewer profile data is used to transmit an advertisement associated with a reminder.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the predetermined event is passage of a predefined amount of time since the recording of the program.

15. A device for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made comprising:

a means for generating an electronic program guide;

a means for storing a schedule of programs and associating with each one an independently transmitted reminder capable of initiating generation of a display to remind a viewer that a program has been recorded;

a means for receiving the schedule of programs and the reminder;

a micro controller means for coordinating the recording of the program and the display to remind the viewer that recording has taken place; and

a means for recording the program.

16. A device for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made of claim 15, in which the means for receiving a schedule of programs utilizes a video blanking interval of a video signal.

17. A device for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made of claim 15, in which the independently transmitted reminder comprises a packet of data sent in a video blanking interval.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the predetermined event is passage of a predefined amount of time since the recording of the program.

19. A television system for generating a reminder that a video recording has been made, comprising:

means for receiving a user selection of a television program;

means for controlling a video recorder for recording the selected television program;

means for determining whether a video recording reminder should be activated for the selected television program for indicating to a viewer that the selected television program has been recorded; and

means for automatically triggering display of the video recording reminder, the display of the video recording reminder being overlaid on a portion of a current television program.

20. The television system of claim 19, wherein the video recording reminder includes an advertisement.

21. The television system of claim 20, wherein the advertisement is associated with the recorded program.

22. The television system of claim 20, wherein the advertisement is selected based on viewer profile information.

23. The television system of claim 19, wherein the video recording reminder includes a picture-in-picture (PIP) display.

24. The television system of claim 23, wherein the PIP display displays a portion of the recorded program.

25. The television system of claim 23, wherein the PIP display displays an advertisement.