Server-centric customized interactive program guide in an interactive television environment

• US 6,904,610 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sedna Patent Services LLC
• Inventors: Edmonds, Jeremy S., Gordon, Donald F., Bayrakeri, Sadik, Ludvig, Edward A., Comito, John P., Gershtein, Eugene, Yocom, Harold P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BELIVEAU, SCOTT E
• Application Number:
  US09/605,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 725 44- 47, 725/51
• US Class Current: 725/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/577 Motion compensation with bidirectional frame interpolation, i.e. using B-pictures
• 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 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• 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 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Techniques to create, generate, and deliver customized interactive program guide (custom-IPG). In one method, selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG are received. In response, one or more custom-IPG screens having included therein the set of selected channels are rendered at a head end. The custom-IPG screens can be formed as subsets of the regular IPG screens, or as new screens. The rendered custom-IPG screens are provided from the head end to a set top terminal upon receiving a viewer request for the custom-IPG. Command indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the custom-IPG screens may also be received. In this case, the custom-IPG screens are re-rendered at the indicated location. The custom-IPG screens can be overlaid on a video sequence provided on a particular channel, which can be the channel currently being viewed, the channel used to carry regular program guide, or a channel that is independent of the channels used to carry regular programming and program guide. For example, either the custom or regular IPG can be provided on the program guide channel, depending on the viewer'"'"'s selection.

Claims

1. A method for providing a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), the method comprising:

receiving selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG;

rendering one or more custom-IPG screens, at a head end, having included therein the set of selected channels;

receiving a request to view a custom-IPG screen on a particular channel;

overlaying the custom-IPG screen on a video sequence being provided on the particular channel to generate a modified video sequence having included therein the custom-IPG; and

providing the modified video sequence on the particular channel from the head end.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the one or more custom-IPG screens;

re-rendering the one or more custom-IPG screens at the particular location indicated by the received command; and

providing the one or more re-rendered custom-IPG screens from the head end.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the custom-IPG is provided concurrent with at least a portion of the video sequence being played on the particular channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular channel is a channel currently being viewed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular channel is a channel used to carry regular program guide (regular IPG).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to turn off the custom-IPG; and

providing the video sequence on the particular channel without the custom-IPG.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the custom-IPG is provided on a channel that is independent of channels used to carry regular programming and program guide.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request indicating a selection for either the custom-IPG or a regular IPG on a particular channel; and

depending on the received request, providing either the custom-IPG or the regular IPG on the particular channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more custom-IPG screens is formed as a subset of a regular IPG screen.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the custom-IPG is rendered and stored at the head end.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the custom-IPG is stored as part of a profile for a particular viewer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the custom-IPG is dynamically modified and re-rendered at the head end.

13. A method for creating 8 custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), the method comprising:

activating a program guide customization process;

receiving a pop-up menu provided to assist in the customization process;

selecting a channel on which to receive the custom-IPG;

selecting a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG; and

receiving on the selected channel a custom-IPG screen having included therein the set of selected channels, wherein the one or more custom-IPG screens are rendered at a head end.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

indicating a particular arrangement for the selected channels, and

wherein the rendered custom-IPG screen has the selected channels in the indicated arrangement.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the activating is achieved by highlighting a particular object provided on a regular IPG screen.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the activating is achieved by a key depression on a remote control unit.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the popup menu is generated at a head end.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the popup menu is overlaid on a current screen being viewed.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting is achieved by highlighting objects rendered in the pop-up menu.

20. A system for providing a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), comprising:

a video session manager operative to receive selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom IPG and to receive a selected channel on which to receive the custom-IPG;

at least one video encoder operatively coupled to the video session manager and configured to render and encode one or more custom-IPG screens having included therein the set of selected channels;

a transport multiplexer coupled to the video encoder and operative to receive the one or more encoded custom-IPG screens and generate a transport stream; and

a modulator coupled to the transport multiplexer and operative to receive the transport stream and generate an output signal suitable for transmission on the selected channel, and

wherein the one or more custom-IPG screens are provided on the output signal upon receiving a request for the custom-IPG.

21. A set top terminal (STT) for providing a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), comprising

a demodulator operative to receive a modulated signal and generate A transport stream;

a transport de-multiplexer coupled to the demodulator and operative to receive and process the transport stream to provide one or more encoded custom-IPG screens on a selected channel; and

at least one video decoder coupled to the transport de-multiplexer and operative to receive and decode the one or more encoded custom-IPG screens to provide an output video sequence, and

wherein the one or more custom-IPG screens are rendered at a head end and sent to the STT on the selected channel upon receiving a request for the custom IPG.