Integrated content guide for interactive selection of content and services on personal computer systems with multiple sources and multiple media presentation

• US 7,418,672 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Exaflop LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lawson, Richard J., Belmont, Brian V., Stautner, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US10/628,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 715/501.1, 715716-723, 715/733, 715/762, 715/765, 715/810, 715/825, 715/835, 715/840, 715/854, 715/855, 715/962, 715/500.1, 715/764, 715/846, 707/1, 707/10, 707/100, 707/104.1, 725 37- 40, 725/42, 725/48, 725/51, 725 59- 61, 725/64
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A integrated content guide for multiple sources is provided with hyper-text type links to allow for the selection of various programs. The hyper-text links are provided for a transmitted and then stored digital bit stream. This allows for the embedding within the content guide what could be additional commercial information. The embedding may also be as to additional information for other related television or radio shows or the like. Information can be additional television shows, related information or activities on on-line services or automatic telephone ordering of products or services being displayed.

Claims

1. A method for delivering content selection information to be displayed as a content selection guide, the method comprising the acts of:

providing content selection information from a plurality of content sources to a user, the content selection information comprising descriptive information associated with the content available from the plurality of content sources, the content selection information being adapted to be displayed within a plurality of selectable guide cells;

defining an action to be associated with content selection information that is to be displayed in at least one of the selectable guide cells; and

defining an indicator within the at least one of the selectable guide cells, the indicator corresponding to the action, to allow the user to initiate the action by selecting the indicator.

2. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising defining an icon to correspond to and represent the indicator.

3. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising defining a format for the plurality of selectable guide cells, the format being selectable based on a user input.

4. The method set forth in claim 3, comprising defining the format to be selectable from among a plurality of predetermined formats.

5. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising defining the action to comprise executing an application on a computer system.

6. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising providing updated content selection information.

7. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising defining the action to comprise displaying an advertisement.

8. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising defining the action to comprise making a purchase.

9. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising adapting the content selection information to be displayed on a computer system.

10. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising storing the content selection information in a database on a computer system.

11. The method set forth in claim 1, comprising delivering the content selection information to a user via a wireless communication channel.

12. A system for delivering content selection information to be displayed as a content selection guide, the system comprising:

means for providing content selection information from a plurality of content sources to a user, the content selection information being adapted to be displayed within a plurality of selectable guide cells;

means for associating an action with content selection information that is to be displayed in at least one of the selectable guide cells; and

means for providing an indicator within the at least one of the selectable guide cells, the indicator corresponding to the action, to allow the user to initiate the action by selecting the indicator.

13. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein an icon is defined to correspond to and represent the indicator.

14. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein a format is defined for the plurality of selectable guide cells, the format being selectable based on a user input.

15. The system set forth in claim 14, wherein the format is defined to be selectable from among a plurality of predetermined formats.

16. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein the action is defined to comprise executing an application on a computer system.

17. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein updated content selection information is provided.

18. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein the action is defined to comprise displaying an advertisement.

19. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein the action is defined to comprise making a purchase.

20. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein the content selection information is adapted to be displayed on a computer system.

21. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein the content selection information is adapted to be stored in a database on a computer system.

22. The system set forth in claim 12, comprising means for delivering the content selection information to a user via a wireless communication channel.

23. A mass storage device, comprising:

a software application stored on the mass storage device, the software application being adapted to;

provide content selection information from a plurality of content sources to be displayed as a content selection guide to a user, the content selection information comprising descriptive information associated with the content available from the plurality of content sources, the content selection information being adapted to be displayed within a plurality of selectable guide cells;

define an action to be associated with content selection information that is to be displayed in at least one of the selectable guide cells; and

define an indicator within the at least one of the selectable guide cells, the indicator corresponding to the action, to allow the user to initiate the action by selecting the indicator.

24. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein an icon is defined to correspond to and represent the indicator.

25. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein a format is defined for the plurality of selectable guide cells, the format being selectable based on a user input.

26. The mass storage device set forth in claim 25, wherein the format is defined to be selectable from among a plurality of predetermined formats.

27. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein the action is defined to comprise executing an application on a computer system.

28. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein the program is adapted to provide updated content selection information.

29. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein the action is defined to comprise displaying an advertisement.

30. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein the action is defined to comprise making a purchase.

31. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein the content selection information is adapted to be displayed on a computer system.

32. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein the content selection information is adapted to be stored in a database on a computer system.

33. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23, wherein the program is adapted to deliver the content selection information to a user via a wireless communication channel.