Sports channel

• US 7,366,546 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Curtis, Keith, Grossman, Joel K., VanderSpek, Paul J., Wang, Yingli, Tan, Albert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US10/857,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20050266793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/3.01, 455/550, 455/412, 340/7.52
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/86 Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42213 for facilitating data entry
• 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a sports channel that includes sports content to a user on a mobile device. Sports content associated with the sports channel is automatically delivered and stored on a mobile electronic device for access by a user. Using the device, users can quickly access the sports information they are interested in without having to type in information to specifically download the content to the device. The sports channel is directed at providing a quicker and less cumbersome way of accessing sports information as compared to having to access a web site or a telephone service. Several different modes for categorically displaying different types of sports information is provided. Some example modes include: a games mode; a standings mode; and a news mode.

Claims

1. A method for receiving, displaying and interacting with sports channel content associated with a sports channel on a mobile electronic device, comprising:

receiving the sports channel content encoded on a communication signal that is broadcast to many electronic devices;

wherein the sports channel content is received as records;

storing a portion of the sports channel content on the electronic device;

wherein storing the portion of the sports channel content includes storing pre-game content for at least one day prior to an event;

removing the pre-game information when the event starts;

storing live event information during the event; and

storing post-game information after the event is completed;

associating the sports channel content with a sports channel application on the electronic device;

decoding the received records using the sports channel application;

wherein decoding the received records includes associating an index value with an expanded name when one of the records is encoded as an index;

wherein the expanded name is displayed on a display when selected;

setting a current view associated with the sports channel; and

displaying the current view on the display of the electronic device;

wherein displaying the current view includes displaying a graphic and sports content that relates to the current view.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the current view further comprises setting the current view to at least one of:

a list of sporting events;

a list of standings; and

a list of news stories on the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the current view associated with the sports channel, further comprises selecting a mode associated with the sports channel, wherein the mode is selected from at least one of:

a games mode;

a standings mode; and

a news mode.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising setting the current view to:

a list of sporting events when the sports mode is selected;

standings information when the standings mode is selected; and

a list of sports stories when the news mode is selected.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving an input indicating a selection associated with one of the modes;

and in response to the selection setting the current view.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining when a sporting event is selected;

and in response to the sporting event being selected showing details associated with the sporting event.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein showing details associated with the sporting event further comprises showing a current score and time of the sporting event.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving updates to the sports channel content during a sporting event.

9. The method of claim 1, further adjusting the current view based on user preferences.

10. An apparatus for receiving, navigating, and displaying sports content that is associated with a sports channel, comprising:

a data store;

a communication connection configured to receive a communication signal including the sports content that is directed to a plurality of mobile electronic devices and store the sports content in the data store;

wherein storing the sports content includes storing pre-game content for at least one day prior to a sporting event;

removing the pre-game information when the sporting event starts;

storing live event information for the sporting event during the event; and

storing post-game information for the sporting event after the event is completed;

wherein the sports content is received as records;

a display;

a user interface that includes a selector; and

an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the user interface, the data store, the communication connection, and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to;

decode the received records;

wherein decoding the received records includes associating an index value with an expanded name when one of the records is encoded as an index;

wherein the expanded name is displayed on the display when selected;

select a current view from at least one of the set of views including;

a game view;

a standings view; and

a news view; and

display the current view on the display;

wherein displaying the current view includes displaying a graphic and sports content that relates to the current view.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is further configured to select a details view associated with the current view in response to the selector.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the game view includes statistics relating to a sporting event selected by a user.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is further configured to activate a sporting events list in response to the interface selection device when a game mode is active, wherein the game list is organized as a list of sporting events, and wherein the selector is configured for selecting one of the sporting events in the list.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is further configured to activate a news story list in response to the interface selection device when a news mode is active, wherein the news story list is organized as a list of stories, and wherein the selector is configured for selecting one of the stories in the list.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the electronic system is further configured to automatically receive the communication signal including the sports content that includes updates to a current sporting event.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising adjusting the sports content received by the device based on user preferences.

17. A system for providing and interacting with sports content associated with a sports channel, comprising:

a data collector configured to collect the sports content associated with the sports channel

a broadcast device configured to transmit a communication signal including the sports content to a plurality of mobile electronic devices at the same time;

a mobile electronic device, having;

a data store;

a communication connection configured to receive the communication signal and store the sports content in the data store;

wherein the sports content is received as records;

a display;

a user interface that includes a selector; and

an electronic system that is arranged to interact with the communication connection, the user interface, the data store and the display, wherein the electronic system is configured to;

store a portion of the sports content on the electronic device;

wherein storing the portion of the sports content includes storing pre-game content for a current sporting event at least one day prior to the current sporting event;

removing the pre-game information when the current sporting event starts;

storing live event information during the current sporting event; and

storing post-game information after the current sporting event is completed;

decode the received records;

wherein decoding the received records includes associating an index value with an expanded name when one of the records is encoded as an index;

wherein the expanded name is displayed on the display when selected;

select a current view associated with the sports channel;

change the current view in response to the selector; and

display the current view on the display, wherein displaying the current view includes displaying a graphic and sports content that relates to the current view.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sports content includes at least one of the following:

current sporting events;

standings; and

sports news.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic system is further configured to a detailed view associated with at least one of:

a selected sporting event, a selected team, and a selected player.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the broadcast device is configured to broadcast an FM communication signal.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a server configured to receive user preferences associated with users receiving the sports channel;

wherein the user preferences include preferences related to at least one of the following;

sports teams and players.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the broadcast device is further configured to send at least one ID associated with a team name as part of a configuration message.