Information system

• US 7,797,712 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• 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): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US12/164,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20080271071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 725 40- 43, 725/44, 725/46, 725/47, 725/52
• US Class Current: 725/43
• 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 of displaying information in an interactive electronic program guide (IPG) comprising:

displaying a plurality of television program listings, wherein each television program listing corresponds to a television program;

providing a cursor;

providing an interactive information region;

displaying information personalized to a user in the interactive information region;

receiving a first input from the user confirming receipt of the personalized information;

displaying, responsive to the first input, advertisement information in the interactive information region in place of the personalized information, wherein the displayed advertisement information corresponds to a first television program;

positioning the cursor over the interactive information region and receiving a second input from the user selecting the interactive advertisement information region over which the cursor is positioned; and

displaying, responsive to the second input, further information about the first television program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information personalized to the user includes information about an account of the user or emergency information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first input from the user further comprises receiving a selection of an icon to clear the personalized information.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying, responsive to the second input, a tune option that allows the user to tune to the first television program and a record option that allows the user to record the first television program.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to schedule an autotuning to the first television program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the advertisement information further comprises displaying advertisement information about a pay-per-view program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the advertisement information further comprises displaying advertisement information about a merchandise.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the advertisement information further comprises displaying advertisement information promoting a website.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising accessing the website and displaying data from the website.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the advertisement information further comprises displaying a video clip about the first television program.

11. A system for displaying information in an interactive electronic program guide (IPG) comprising:

a display screen; and

control circuitry configured to;

display on the display screen a plurality of television program listings, wherein each television program listing corresponds to a television program;

provide an interactive information region;

display on the display screen information personalized to a user in the interactive information region; and

receive a first input from the user confirming receipt of the personalized information;

display on the display screen, responsive to the first input, advertisement information in the interactive information region in place of the personalized information, wherein the displayed advertisement information corresponds to a first television program;

position the cursor over the interactive information region and receiving a second input from the user selecting the interactive advertisement information region over which the cursor is positioned; and

display on the display screen, responsive to the second input, further information about the first television program.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the information personalized to the user includes information about an account of the user or emergency information.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive, as the first user input, a selection of an icon to clear the personalized information.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display on the display screen, responsive to the second input, a tune option that allows the user to tune to the first television program and a record option that allows the user to record the first television program.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, allow the user to schedule an autotuning to the first television program.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display on the display screen, advertisement information about a pay-per-view program.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the displaying the advertisement information further comprises displaying advertisement information about a merchandise.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display on the display screen advertisement information in the interactive information region promoting a website.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to access the website and display on the display screen data from the website.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display on the display screen a video clip about the first television program.