Electronic program guide with graphic program listings

• US 6,938,208 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Reichardt, M. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax, Steve
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/754,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/719, 715/720, 715/721, 715/722, 345/716, 345/719, 345/721, 725/39, 725/42
• US Class Current: 715/719
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• 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 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics

Abstract

Electronic program guides in which program listings may be graphically presented and in which sponsors and celebrities of those programs may be identified are provided. The electronic programs guides may be passive television program guides, interactive television program guides, and/or on-line television program guides. Television show text information, logos and/or trademarks, celebrity images, affiliation indicators, and advertisements may be present in the program listings to enhance the electronic program guides.

Claims

1. A method of presenting an electronic program guide, comprising:

receiving program guide data; and

presenting the program guide data as program listings for a plurality of television programs, wherein the title or name of at least one of the plurality of television programs is graphically branded to emulate the title or name of the television program as it appears in a broadcast.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the television programs comprises a logo that corresponds to the television program being displayed in the program listings.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the television programs comprises a celebrity image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the television programs comprises an affiliation indicator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a network affiliate.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a sports team affiliate.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a corporate affiliate.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies an event affiliate.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a guide affiliate.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a sponsor.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting text information in at least one of the program listings.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an informational icon in at least one of the program listings.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an information tray with the program listings.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting a legend in the information tray.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting weather information in the information tray.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting news information in the information tray.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting an advertising element in the information tray.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the television programs as buttons.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a guide provider logo and presenting channel indicators which are similar in style to the guide provider logo.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an advertisement within the program listings.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the advertisement includes a logo for a television program.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the advertisement includes a celebrity image.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the advertisement includes an affiliation indicator.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a promotion within the program listings.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the promotion includes a logo for a television program.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the promotion includes a celebrity image.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the promotion includes an affiliation indicator.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic program guide is a passive television program guide.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic program guide is an interactive television program guide.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic program guide is an online television program guide.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the program listing are organized in a grid.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the program listings are organized in a list.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the program listings are selectable.

34. A system for presenting an electronic program guide, comprising:

program guide provider equipment that transmits program guide data; and

program guide display equipment that receives the program guide data and presents the program guide data as program listings for a plurality of television programs, wherein the title or name of at least one of the plurality of television programs is graphically branded to emulate the title or name of the television program as it appears in a broadcast.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein at least one of the television programs comprises a logo that corresponds to the television program being displayed in the program listings.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein at least one of the television programs comprises a celebrity image.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein at least one of the television programs comprises an affiliation indicator.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a network affiliate.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a sports team affiliate.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a corporate affiliate.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies an event affiliate.

42. The system of claim 37, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a guide affiliate.

43. The system of claim 37, wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a sponsor.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the program guide display equipment presents text information in at least one of the program listings.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the program guide display equipment presents an informational icon in at least one of the program listings.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein the program guide display equipment presents an information tray with the program listings.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the program guide display equipment presents a legend in the information tray.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the program guide display equipment presents weather information in the information tray.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the program guide display equipment presents news information in the information tray.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein the program guide display equipment presents an advertising element in the information tray.

51. The system of claim 34, wherein the program guide display equipment presents the program listings as buttons.

52. The system of claim 34, wherein the program guide display equipment displays a guide provider logo and presents channel indicators which are similar in style to the guide provider logo.

53. The system of claim 34, wherein the program guide display equipment displays an advertisement within the program listings.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the advertisement includes a logo for a television program.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the advertisement includes a celebrity image.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the advertisement includes an affiliation indicator.

57. The system of claim 34, wherein the program guide display equipment displays a promotion within the program listings.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the promotion includes a logo for a television program.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the promotion includes a celebrity image.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the promotion includes an affiliation indicator.

61. The system of claim 34, wherein the electronic program guide is a passive television program guide.

62. The system of claim 34, wherein the electronic program guide is an interactive television program guide.

63. The system of claim 34, wherein the electronic program guide is an online television program guide.

64. The system of claim 34, wherein the program listings are organized in a grid.

65. The system of claim 34, wherein the program listings are organized in a list.

66. The system of claim 34, wherein the program listings are selectable.