On-screen program guide with interactive programming recommendations
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a provider system including a source of a plurality of video programs, program guide information associated with the plurality of video programs,a recommended programming information system storing recommended programming information associated with the plurality of video programs, the provider system configured to transmit the plurality of video programs and the program guide information over an access network connected to the provider system; and
a subscriber computing device connected to the provider system via the access network, wherein said computing device is configured toreceive at least one video program of the plurality of video programs and the program guide information over the access network,receive the recommended programming information over the access network, the recommended programming information including a plurality of trusted sources and a plurality of recommendation indicators, each recommendation indicator being associated with at least one of the plurality of trusted sources and pertaining to at least one of the plurality of video programs,maintain a history of subscriber actions, the history including subscriber requests for recommended programming information from at least one of the plurality of trusted sources, andprovide a signal to a display device that includes the program guide information, wherein the displayed program guide information includes a list of at least two of the plurality of trusted sources, and for each listed trusted source the displayed program guide further includes a list of video programs indicated as being recommended by the listed trusted source based on at least one of the plurality of recommendation indicators, the list of at least two of the plurality of trusted sources being arranged according to the history of subscriber actions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A subscriber to a video service generally has available to them an on-screen program guide. The program guide lists programming (e.g., TV shows) that are available to the subscriber for a certain upcoming time period. The programming guide may sort the listings by channel and time, areas of interest, age appropriateness and/or MPAA or TV rating, free or additional cost, etc. In an embodiment, the programming guide includes an ability to make a selection to see which TV shows are recommended by reviewers. Such reviewers may be individuals or panels or institutions to which some credibility may be attached—a trusted source. After selecting a reviewer, the subscriber is made aware of the programs recommended by the selected reviewer.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a provider system including a source of a plurality of video programs, program guide information associated with the plurality of video programs, a recommended programming information system storing recommended programming information associated with the plurality of video programs, the provider system configured to transmit the plurality of video programs and the program guide information over an access network connected to the provider system; and a subscriber computing device connected to the provider system via the access network, wherein said computing device is configured to receive at least one video program of the plurality of video programs and the program guide information over the access network, receive the recommended programming information over the access network, the recommended programming information including a plurality of trusted sources and a plurality of recommendation indicators, each recommendation indicator being associated with at least one of the plurality of trusted sources and pertaining to at least one of the plurality of video programs, maintain a history of subscriber actions, the history including subscriber requests for recommended programming information from at least one of the plurality of trusted sources, and provide a signal to a display device that includes the program guide information, wherein the displayed program guide information includes a list of at least two of the plurality of trusted sources, and for each listed trusted source the displayed program guide further includes a list of video programs indicated as being recommended by the listed trusted source based on at least one of the plurality of recommendation indicators, the list of at least two of the plurality of trusted sources being arranged according to the history of subscriber actions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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9. A system, comprising:
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a network interface to an access network, the network interface configured to receive at least one video program of a plurality of video programs available over the access network and receive program guide information associated with the plurality of video programs over the access network, an output interface to a display device, the network interface configured to provide a video signal to the display device; a processing system connected to the network interface and the output interface, the processing system configured to receive and store the program guide information, receive a first request for recommended programming information associated with the plurality of video programs, the recommended programming information including a plurality of trusted sources and a plurality of recommendation indicators, each recommendation indicator being associated with at least one of the plurality of trusted sources and pertaining to at least one of the plurality of video programs, provide a second request indicating the requested recommended programming information to the network interface for transmission over the access network, receive the requested recommended programming information from the network interface in response to the second request, maintain a history of subscriber actions, the history including subscriber requests for recommended programming information from at least one of the plurality of trusted sources, and provide the program guide information to the output interface for inclusion in the video signal to said display device, wherein the displayed program guide information includes a list of at least two of the plurality of trusted sources, and for each listed trusted source further including a list of video programs that the listed trusted source recommends based on at least one of the plurality of recommendation indicators, the list of at least two of the plurality of trusted sources being arranged according to the history of subscriber actions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23)
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15. A method comprising:
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providing a plurality of video programs for transmission over an access network; receiving recommended programming information associated with a subset of the plurality of video programs, the recommended programming information including a plurality of trusted sources and a plurality of recommendation indicators, each recommendation indicator being associated with at least one of the plurality of trusted sources and pertaining to at least one of the plurality of video programs; providing program guide information over the access network, the program guide information associated with the plurality of video programs; receiving an indication to provide a selected amount of the recommended programming information over the access network to a computing device; determining the selected amount of the recommended programming information; providing the selected amount of the recommended programming information over the access network to the computing device; maintaining a history of subscriber actions, the history including subscriber requests for the recommended programming information from at least one of the plurality of trusted sources; providing the program guide information to a display device, wherein the displayed program guide information includes a list of at least two of the plurality of trusted sources, and for each listed trusted source further including a list of video programs that the listed trusted source recommends based on at least one of the plurality of recommendation indicators; and arranging the list of at least two of the plurality of trusted sources according to the history of subscriber actions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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providing a user interface containing program guide information for a plurality of video programs over an access network to a display device for viewing by a user; listing a plurality of trusted sources in the user interface, and for each listed trusted source further including a list of video programs that the listed trusted source recommends; maintaining a history of subscriber actions, the history including subscriber requests for the recommended programming information from at least one of the plurality of trusted sources; arranging the listing of the plurality of trusted sources in the user interface according to the history of subscriber actions; receiving a first request for recommended programming information, the first request including an indication of a video program recommended by at least one of the plurality of trusted sources; transmitting a second request over the access network, the second request indicating the requested recommended programming information; and providing the recommended programming information to the display device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27)
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Specification