Electronic television program guide schedule system and method

• US 7,398,541 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, Bruce, Backer, George, Bennington, Gerald E, Cooper, Bill, Green, Shawn, Rogers, Rosetta, Spell, David, Morris, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/346,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 348/569, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565, 725 39- 43
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43 Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• 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 21/47214 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• 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 21/84 : 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 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for displaying promotional information on a display on which program listings information is displayed. In some embodiments, the promotional information and the program listings information may be displayed simultaneously with video for a given television channel. In some embodiments, the program listings information may be program listings information for the given television channel. In some embodiments, the program listings information may be program listings information for channels other than the given television channel. In some embodiments, the promotional information may contain text. In some embodiments, the promotional information may contain graphics. Systems and methods are also provided for displaying for a user video that is accompanied by audio on a display on which program listings are displayed.

Claims

1. A method for using an interactive television application to display promotional information for a user on a display on which video for a given television channel is displayed, comprising:

responsive to a user input, displaying promotional information comprising a promotional video and program listings information simultaneously with the video for the given television channel using the interactive television application, wherein the program listings information comprises a title of a program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying promotional information and program listings information comprises displaying an overlay on top of the video for the given television channel, wherein the overlay includes the promotional information and the program listings information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the program listings information comprises program listings information for a single channel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing text.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing graphics.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a logo for a service provider.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the user may change the given television channel for which video is displayed using a remote control; and

displaying the program listings information comprises displaying program listings information for the given television channel simultaneously with the video for the given television channel as the user changes channels.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a substantial portion of the video for the given television channel is displayed on the display simultaneously with the promotional information and the program listings information.

9. A system for using an interactive television application to display promotional information for a user on a display on which video for a given television channel is displayed, comprising:

means for displaying promotional information comprising a promotional video and program listings information simultaneously with the video for the given television channel in response to a user input using the interactive television application, wherein the program listings information comprises a title of a program.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for displaying promotional information and program listings information comprises means for displaying an overlay on top of the video for the given television channel, wherein the overlay includes the promotional information and the program listings information.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the program listings information comprises program listings information for a single channel.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing text.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing graphics.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising displaying a logo for a service provider.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the user may change the given television channel for which video is displayed using a remote control; and

the means for displaying the program listings information comprises means for displaying program listings information for the given television channel simultaneously with the video for the given television channel as the user changes channels.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

34. The system of claim 9 wherein at least a substantial portion of the video for the given television channel is displayed on the display simultaneously with the promotional information and the program listings information.

17. A system for using an interactive television application to display promotional information for a user on a display on which video for a given television channel is displayed, comprising:

a display device; and

control circuitry configured to direct the display device to display promotional information comprising a promotional video and program listings information simultaneously with the video for the given television channel in response to a user input using the interactive television application, wherein the program listings information comprises a title of a program.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control circuitry configured to direct the display device to display promotional information and program listings information comprises control circuitry configured to direct the display device to display an overlay on top of the video for the given television channel, wherein the overlay includes the promotional information and the program listings information.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the program listings information comprises program listings information for a single channel.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing text.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing graphics.

22. The system of claim 17 further comprising displaying a logo for a service provider.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the user may change the given television channel for which video is displayed using a remote control; and

the control circuitry configured to direct the display device to display the program listings information comprises control circuitry configured to direct the display device to display program listings information for the given television channel simultaneously with the video for the given television channel as the user changes channels.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

35. The system of claim 17 wherein at least a substantial portion of the video for the given television channel is displayed on the display simultaneously with the promotional information and the program listings information.

25. Data storage medium for an interactive television system that displays promotional information for a user on a display on which video for a given television channel is displayed, the data storage medium comprising program logic recorded thereon for:

responsive to a user input, displaying promotional information comprising a promotional video and program listings information simultaneously with the video for the given television channel using an interactive television application, wherein the program listings information comprises a title of a program.

26. The data storage medium of claim 25 wherein displaying promotional information and program listings information comprises displaying an overlay on top of the video for the given television channel, wherein the overlay includes the promotional information and the program listings information.

27. The data storage medium of claim 25 wherein the program listings information comprises program listings information for a single channel.

28. The data storage medium of claim 25 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing text.

29. The data storage medium of claim 25 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing graphics.

30. The data storage medium of claim 25 further comprising displaying a logo for a service provider.

31. The data storage medium of claim 25 wherein:

the user may change the given television channel for which video is displayed using a remote control; and

displaying the program listings information comprises displaying program listings information for the given television channel simultaneously with the video for the given television channel as the user changes channels.

32. The data storage medium of claim 25 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

36. The data storage medium of claim 25 wherein at least a substantial portion of the video for the given television channel is displayed on the display simultaneously with the promotional information and the program listings information.

37. A method for using an interactive television application to display promotional information for a user on a display on which program listings information is displayed, comprising:

responsive to a user input, displaying program listings information comprising a title of a program using the interactive television application, wherein the user can use a remote control to navigate to and select the program listings information; and

displaying promotional information comprising a promotional video simultaneously with the program listings information using the interactive television application.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the program listings information comprises program listings information for a single channel.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing text.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing graphics.

41. The method of claim 37 further comprising displaying a logo for a service provider.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

61. The method of claim 37 wherein the program listings information indicates a channel of each of a plurality of television programs.

62. The method of claim 37 wherein the program listings information comprises a plurality of program listings.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein displaying promotional information comprises displaying promotional information independent of user navigation through the plurality of program listings.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein displaying the program listings information comprises displaying the plurality of program listings information in a single column.

43. A system for using an interactive television application to display promotional information for a user on a display on which program listings information is displayed, comprising:

means for displaying program listings information comprising a title of a program in response to a user input using the interactive television application, wherein the user can use a remote control to navigate to and select the program listings information; and

means for displaying promotional information comprising a promotional video simultaneously with the program listings information using the interactive television application.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the program listings information comprises program listings information for a single channel.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing text.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing graphics.

47. The system of claim 43 further comprising displaying a logo for a service provider.

48. The system of claim 43 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

65. The system of claim 43 wherein the program listings information indicates a channel of each of a plurality of television programs.

66. The system of claim 43 wherein the program listings information comprises a plurality of program listings.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the means for displaying the promotional information comprises means for displaying the promotional information independent of user navigation through the plurality of program listings.

68. The system of claim 66 wherein the means for displaying the program listings information comprises means for displaying the plurality of program listings in a single column.

49. A system for using an interactive television application to display promotional information for a user on a display on which program listings information is displayed, comprising:

a remote control;

a display device; and

control circuitry configured to;

direct the display device to display program listings information comprising a title of a program in response to a user input using the interactive television application, wherein the user can use the remote control to navigate to and select the program listings information; and

direct the display device to display promotional information comprising a promotional video simultaneously with the program listings information using the interactive television application.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the program listings information comprises program listings information for a single channel.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing text.

52. The system of claim 49 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing graphics.

53. The system of claim 49 further comprising displaying a logo for a service provider.

54. The system of claim 49 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

69. The system of claim 49 wherein the program listings information indicates a channel of each of a plurality of television programs.

70. The system of claim 49 wherein the program listings information comprises a plurality of program listings.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein the promotional information is displayed independent of user navigation through the plurality of program listings.

72. The system of claim 70 wherein the plurality of program listings are displayed in a single column.

55. Data storage medium for an interactive television system that displays promotional information for a user on a display on which program listings information is displayed, the data storage medium comprising program logic recorded thereon for:

responsive to a user input, displaying program listings information comprising a title of a program using an interactive television application, wherein the user can use a remote control to navigate to and select the program listings information; and

displaying promotional information comprising promotional information simultaneously with the program listings information using the interactive television application.

56. The data storage medium of claim 55 wherein the program listings information comprises program listings information for a single channel.

57. The data storage medium of claim 55 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing text.

58. The data storage medium of claim 55 wherein the promotional information comprises promotional information containing graphics.

59. The data storage medium of claim 55 further comprising displaying a logo for a service provider.

60. The data storage medium of claim 55 wherein the interactive television application is an interactive television program guide.

73. The data storage medium of claim 55 wherein the program listings information indicates a channel of each of a plurality of television programs.

74. The data storage medium of claim 55 wherein the program listings information comprises a plurality of program listings.

75. The data storage medium of claim 74 wherein displaying promotional information comprises displaying promotional information independent of user navigation through the plurality of program listings.

76. The data storage medium of claim 74 wherein displaying the program listings information comprises displaying the plurality of program listings information in a single column.