Program guide system with video-on-demand browsing

• US 8,161,514 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• 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:
  US12/879,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 725/87, 725/91, 725/93, 725/95, 725/97
• US Class Current: 725/87
• 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 providing video-on-demand program information, the method comprising:

receiving video-on-demand program information at user equipment, wherein the video-on-demand program information includes information regarding a video-on-demand program;

displaying the video-on-demand program information on the user equipment;

generating an indicator uniquely associated with the video-on-demand program, wherein the indicator indicates that a video clip preview is available for the video-on-demand program;

receiving a request to display the video clip preview;

retrieving, upon receiving the request, the video clip preview from a server;

displaying a user-selectable video window; and

displaying, the retrieved video clip preview in the user-selectable video window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user can change the size of the user-selectable video window.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user can change the size of the user-selectable video window to a full screen window.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user can change the size of the user-selectable video window to a partial screen window.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the partial screen window is a partial screen overlay.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator that indicates that the video clip preview is available is displayed with the video-on-demand program information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying detailed information regarding the video-on-demand program in a detailed information screen, wherein the indicator that indicates the video clip preview is available is displayed in the detailed information screen.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an ordering option after the video clip preview is displayed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an order for the video-on-demand program associated with the video clip preview.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

immediately delivering the ordered video-on-demand program.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

partially downloading the ordered video-on-demand program into local memory.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the video-on-demand program information is organized with other video-on-demand program information according to available categories.

13. A system for providing video-on-demand program information, the system comprising:

user equipment configured to;

receive video-on-demand program information, wherein the video-on-demand program information includes information regarding a video-on-demand program;

display the received video-on-demand program information;

generate an indicator uniquely associated with the video-on-demand program, wherein the indicator indicates that a video clip preview is available for the video-on-demand program;

receive a request to display the video clip preview;

retrieve, upon receiving the request, the video clip preview from a server;

display a user-selectable video window; and

display, the retrieved video clip preview in the user-selectable video window.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a user can change the size of the user-selectable video window.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user can change the size of the user-selectable video window to a full screen window.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the user can change the size of the user-selectable video window to a partial screen window.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the partial screen window is a partial screen overlay.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the indicator that indicates that the video clip preview is available is displayed provided with the video-on-demand program information.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

display detailed information regarding the video-on-demand program in a detailed information screen, wherein the indicator that indicates the video clip preview is available is displayed in the detailed information screen.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

display an ordering option after the video clip preview is displayed.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

receive an order for the video-on-demand program associated with the video clip preview.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

immediately deliver the ordered video-on-demand program.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

partially download the ordered video-on-demand program into local memory.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the video-on-demand program information is organized with other video-on-demand program information according to available categories.