Program guide system with real-time data sources
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for using an interactive television program guide system in which real-time data is provided using at least one source of real-time data and in which an interactive television program guide is implemented at least partially on user television equipment of a user, wherein the program guide maintains a database, comprising the steps of:
- receiving program listings data with the program guide for use in the interactive television program guide;
storing the program listings data in the database maintained by the interactive television program guide;
displaying the program listings data on the user television equipment;
receiving the real-time data from the source of real-time data with the interactive television program guide; and
storing the real-time data received by the program guide in the database maintained by the program guide in which the program listings data is stored.
17 Assignments
Litigations
5 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times. When data has expired it may be removed from the database.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for using an interactive television program guide system in which real-time data is provided using at least one source of real-time data and in which an interactive television program guide is implemented at least partially on user television equipment of a user, wherein the program guide maintains a database, comprising the steps of:
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receiving program listings data with the program guide for use in the interactive television program guide; storing the program listings data in the database maintained by the interactive television program guide; displaying the program listings data on the user television equipment; receiving the real-time data from the source of real-time data with the interactive television program guide; and storing the real-time data received by the program guide in the database maintained by the program guide in which the program listings data is stored. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for using an interactive television program guide system having at least one television distribution facility and in which at least one source of real-time data provides real-time data, a main facility separate from the source of real-time data provides program listings data, and an interactive television program guide is implemented at least partially on user television equipment of a user, wherein the real-time data and the program listings data are provided to the television distribution facility, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving the program listings data with the interactive television program guide; providing program listings data with the source of real-time data as part of the real-time data; receiving both the real-time data and the program listings data provided as part of the real-time data from the source of real-time data with the interactive television program guide; and displaying the program listings data provided as part of the real-time data from the source of real-time data with the interactive television program guide. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for using an interactive television program guide system in which real-time data is provided using at least one source of real-time data and in which an interactive television program guide is implemented at least partially on user television equipment of a user, wherein the program guide maintains a database, comprising:
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receiving program listings data with the program guide for use in the interactive television program guide; storing the program listings data in the database maintained by the interactive television program guide; displaying the program listings data on the user television equipment; receiving the real-time data from the source of real-time data with the interactive television program guide; and storing the real-time data received by the program guide for subsequent access by the program guide after the real-time data is no longer being received from the source of real-time data with the interactive television program guide. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification