Method and system for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide

• US 7,493,641 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Schein, Steven, Klosterman, Brian Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Beliveau; Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ingvoldstad; Bennett
• Application Number:
  US10/401,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 725 39- 55
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/47214 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 21/4725 using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots details of information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• 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 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• 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 21/84 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 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 : for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• 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

A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.

Claims

1. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a scrollable program schedule region of a display that indicates the time and channel for at least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items, wherein the displayed television schedule information items are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row having a vertical height;

selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, wherein the advertisement is other than a television schedule information item and promotes something other than the displayed television schedule information items;

simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement in a program information region adjacent to the scrollable program schedule region, wherein the selected advertisement has substantially the same height as the vertical height of the each row; and

in response to receiving a user input, navigating a cursor from the scrollable program schedule region to the program information region in which the advertisement is displayed, wherein the cursor is displayed around the entire program information region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed advertisement is interactive.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text and graphics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed advertisement is related to one or more of a product and a service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

highlighting a row of displayed television program listings with a cursor;

displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen; and

displaying a description corresponding to the highlighted row of television program listings in a second area of the screen.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

highlighting the displayed advertisement with a cursor; and

displaying information relating to the highlighted advertisement in a second area of the screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed advertisement has substantially the same horizontal width of each of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed advertisement has substantially the same vertical height of each of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of user selection of any of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

11. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a scrollable program schedule region of a display that indicates the time and channel for at least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items wherein the displayed television schedule information items are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row having a horizontal length;

selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, wherein the advertisement is other than a television schedule information item and promotes something other than the displayed television schedule information items;

simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement in a program information region adjacent to the scrollable program schedule region, wherein the selected advertisement has substantially the same length as the horizontal length of the each row; and

in response to receiving a user input, navigating a cursor from the scrollable program schedule region to the program information region in which the advertisement is displayed, wherein the cursor is displayed around the entire program information region.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed advertisement is interactive.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text and graphics.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed advertisement is related to one or more of a product and a service.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

highlighting a row of displayed television program listings with a cursor;

displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen; and

displaying a description corresponding to the highlighted row of television program listings in a second area of the screen.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

highlighting the displayed advertisement with a cursor; and

displaying information relating to the highlighted advertisement in a second area of the screen.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed advertisement has substantially the same horizontal width of each of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed advertisement has substantially the same vertical height of each of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of user selection of any of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

21. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a scrollable program schedule region of a display that indicates the time and channel for at least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items, wherein the displayed television schedule information items are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row having a vertical height;

selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, wherein the advertisement is other than a television schedule information item and promotes something other than the displayed television schedule information items;

simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement adjacent to the scrollable program schedule region, wherein the selected advertisement has a height less than twice the vertical height of the each row; and

in response to receiving a user input, navigating a cursor from the scrollable program schedule region to the program information region in which the advertisement is displayed, wherein the cursor is displayed around the entire program information region.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed advertisement is interactive.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text and graphics.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed advertisement is related to one or more of a product and a service.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

highlighting a row of displayed television program listings with a cursor;

displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen; and

displaying a description corresponding to the highlighted row of television program listings in a second area of the screen.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

highlighting the displayed advertisement with a cursor; and

displaying information relating to the highlighted advertisement in a second area of the screen.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed advertisement has substantially the same horizontal width of each of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed advertisement has substantially the same vertical height of each of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of user selection of any of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

31. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a scrollable program schedule region of a display that indicates the time and channel for at least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items, wherein the displayed television schedule information items are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row having a vertical height;

means for selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, wherein the advertisement is other than a television schedule information item and promotes something other than the displayed television schedule information items;

means for simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement in a program information region adjacent to the scrollable program schedule region, wherein the selected advertisement has substantially the same height as the vertical height of the each row; and

means for navigating, in response to receiving a user input, a cursor from the scrollable program schedule region to the program information region in which the advertisement is displayed, wherein the cursor is displayed around the entire program information region.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of user selection of any of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

34. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a scrollable program schedule region of a display that indicates the time and channel for at least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items, wherein the displayed television schedule information items are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row having a horizontal length;

means for selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, wherein the advertisement is other than a television schedule information item and promotes something other than the displayed television schedule information items;

means for simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement in a program information region adjacent to the scrollable program schedule region, wherein the selected advertisement has substantially the same length as the horizontal length of the each row; and

means for navigating, in response to receiving a user input, a cursor from the scrollable program schedule region to the program information region in which the advertisement is displayed, wherein the cursor is displayed around the entire program information region.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of user selection of any of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

37. A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a scrollable program schedule region of a display that indicates the time and channel for at least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items, wherein the displayed television schedule information items are arranged in a plurality of rows, each row having a vertical height;

means for selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, wherein the advertisement is other than a television schedule information item and promotes something other than the displayed television schedule information items;

means for simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement in a program information region adjacent to the scrollable program schedule region, wherein the selected advertisement has a height less than twice the vertical height of the each row; and

means for navigating, in response to receiving a user input, a cursor from the scrollable program schedule region to the program information region in which the advertisement is displayed, wherein the cursor is displayed around the entire program information region.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the displayed advertisement is independent of user selection of any of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.