Program guide system with video-on-demand browsing

• US 7,827,582 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US11/894,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 41, 725/86, 725/87, 725/93, 725/95, 725/97
• US Class Current: 725/93
• 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 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 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 21/4622 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and a program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program, and set a desired broadcast time for that program.

Claims

1. A method for using an interactive television program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment having a main display screen, the method comprising:

displaying a program on the main display screen;

allowing a viewer to invoke a partial screen program guide display including a first program listing, wherein the first listing is related to a regularly broadcast program;

allowing the viewer to invoke display of a second program listing within the partial screen program guide, wherein the second listing is related to a video-on-demand program;

indicating that a program related to at least one program listing displayed in the partial screen program guide is available on-demand;

allowing the viewer to select the program indicated to be available on-demand; and

allowing the viewer to place an order for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the display of the second program listing replaces the first program listing with the second program listing within the partial screen program guide.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first program listing and the second program listing are displayed simultaneously within the partial screen program guide.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided with the first program listing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided with the second program listing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one program listing displayed in the partial screen program guide is organized by available categories.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing the viewer to browse through the available categories in the partial screen program guide display.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying at least one video-on-demand program listing in the partial screen program guide related to the browsed available categories.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the viewer with more detailed information about the program indicated to be available on-demand when the viewer presses a control key.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a video clip preview of the program indicated to be available on-demand.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the order is placed for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand while the video clip preview is simultaneously provided.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the video clip preview is provided in a partial screen video window while the partial screen program guide is displayed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the video clip preview is provided in a partial screen video window while the program is displayed.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising requiring the viewer to enter a parental control code when the order is placed for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an order confirmation display screen in response to the order being placed.

16. An interactive television program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment, the system comprising:

a display configured to display a program on a main display screen;

the viewer television equipment configured to;

allow a viewer to invoke a partial screen program guide to display on the display, wherein the partial screen program guide includes a first program listing, wherein the first listing is related to a regularly broadcast program;

allow the viewer to invoke display of a second program listing within the partial screen program guide, wherein the second listing is related to a video-on-demand program;

indicate that a program related to at least one program listing displayed in the partial screen program guide is available on-demand;

allow the viewer to select the program indicated to be available on-demand; and

allow the viewer to place an order for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein invoking the display of the second program listing replaces the first program listing with the second program listing within the partial screen program guide.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first program listing and the second program listing are displayed simultaneously within the partial screen program guide.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the indication is provided with the first program listing.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the indication is provided with the second program listing.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one program listing displayed in the partial screen program guide is organized by available categories.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to allow the viewer to browse through the available categories in the partial screen program guide display.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to display at least one video-on-demand program listing in the partial screen program guide related to the browsed available categories.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to provide the viewer with more detailed information about the program indicated to be available on-demand when the viewer presses a control key.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to provide a video clip preview of the program indicated to be available on-demand.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the order is placed for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand while the video clip preview is simultaneously provided.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the video clip preview is provided in a partial screen video window while the partial screen program guide is displayed.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the video clip preview is provided in a partial screen video window while the program is displayed.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to require the viewer to enter a parental control code when the order is placed for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand.

30. The system of claim 16, wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to display an order confirmation display screen in response to the order being placed.