Interactive program guide with continuous data stream and client-server data supplementation

• US 7,694,319 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Hassell, Joel G., Thomas, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce; Jason P
• Application Number:
  US09/332,625
• Time in Patent Office: 3,952 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32- 36, 725/40, 725/42, 725/50, 725/136
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/237 Communication with additional data server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/472 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 21/47211 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 21/482 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
• 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 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment obtains program guide data from two data delivery mechanisms. Current program guide data is obtained from a continuous data stream. Other program guide data (which may include the current program guide data) is obtained by the program guide from a program guide server.

The continuous data stream may also include program and program grouping identifiers. The program guide may perform real-time actions associated with programs identified in the continuous data stream.

Claims

1. An interactive television program guide system in which program guide data is provided and wherein the program guide data includes unique identifiers associated with television programs, the system comprising:

a continuous data stream processor configured to select a particular unique identifier associated with a particular television program for inclusion in a continuous data stream, wherein the particular television program belongs to a program grouping;

distribution equipment configured to distribute the particular unique identifier to user television equipment in the continuous data stream only when the particular television program is currently being broadcasted; and

an interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment configured to;

monitor the continuous data stream for the presence of the particular unique identifier, wherein the presence of the particular unique identifier indicates when the particular television program is being currently broadcasted;

perform a real-time action associated with the particular television program when the particular unique identifier is detected in the continuous data stream, wherein the real-time action comprises an action selected from the group consisting of authorizing the viewing of the particular television program, wherein the program is a pay-per-view program, and displaying a program reminder for the particular program;

prefetch current program guide data from the continuous data stream when the real-time action is performed; and

perform an action associated with at least one other television program belonging to the program grouping when the particular unique identifier is detected in the continuous data stream.

2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein:

the real-time action further comprises recording the particular television program.

3. The system defined in claim 1 wherein:

the real-time action further comprises locking the particular television program and prompting a user for a control code.

4. The system defined in claim 1 wherein

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier.

5. The system defined in claim 1 wherein:

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier; and

the real-time action further comprises recording the particular television program.

6. The system defined in claim 1 wherein:

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier; and

the real-time action further comprises locking the particular television program and prompting a user for a control code.

7. An interactive television program guide system in which program guide data is provided to an interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment and wherein the program guide data includes unique identifiers associated with television programs, the system comprising:

means for selecting a particular unique identifier associated with a particular television program for inclusion in a continuous data stream, wherein the particular television program belongs to a program grouping;

means for distributing the particular unique identifier to the user television equipment in the continuous data stream only when the particular television program is being currently broadcasted;

means for monitoring the continuous data stream for the presence of the particular unique identifier, wherein the presence of the particular unique identifier indicates when the particular television program is being currently broadcasted;

means for performing a real-time action associated with the particular television program when the particular unique identifier is detected in the continuous data stream, wherein the real-time action comprises an action selected from the group consisting of authorizing the viewing of the particular television program, wherein the program is a pay-per-view program, and displaying a program reminder for the particular television program;

means for prefetching current program guide data from the continuous data stream when the real-time action is performed; and

means for performing an action associated with at least one other television program belonging to the program grouping when the particular unique identifier is detected in the continuous data stream.

8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein:

the means for performing a real-time action further comprises means for recording the particular television program.

9. The system defined in claim 7 wherein:

the means for performing a real-time action further comprises means for locking the particular television program and prompting the user for a control code.

10. The system defined in claim 7 wherein:

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier.

11. The system defined in claim 7 wherein:

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier; and

the means for performing a real-time action further comprises means for recording the particular television program.

12. The system defined in claim 7 wherein:

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier; and

the means for performing-a real-time action further comprises means for locking the particular television program and prompting the user for a control code.

13. A method in an interactive television program guide system in which program guide data is provided to an interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment and wherein the program guide data includes unique identifiers associated with television programs, the method comprising:

selecting a particular unique identifier associated with a particular television program for inclusion in a continuous data stream, wherein the particular television program belongs to a program grouping;

distributing the particular unique identifier to the user television equipment in the continuous data stream only when the particular television program is being currently broadcasted;

monitoring the continuous data stream for the presence of the particular unique identifier, wherein the presence of the particular unique identifier indicates when the particular television program is being currently broadcasted;

performing a real-time action associated with the particular television program when the particular unique identifier is detected in the continuous data stream, wherein the real-time action comprises an action selected from the group consisting of authorizing the viewing of the particular television program, wherein the program is a pay-per-view program, and displaying a program reminder for the particular television program;

using the interactive television program guide to prefetch current program guide data from the continuous data stream when the real-time action is performed; and

performing an action associated with at least one other television program belonging to the program grouping when the particular unique identifier is detected in the continuous data stream.

14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein:

the real-time action further comprises recording the particular television program.

15. The method defined in claim 13 wherein:

the real-time action further comprises locking the particular television program and prompting a user for a control code.

16. The method defined in claim 13 wherein:

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier.

17. The method defined in claim 13 wherein:

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier;

the real-time action further comprises recording the particular television program.

18. The method defined in claim 13 wherein:

one or more of the unique identifiers is a program grouping identifier; and

the real-time action further comprises locking the particular television program and prompting a user for a control code.