Method and system for displaying advertising, video, and program schedule listing

• US 8,181,200 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Leftwich, James J., Folker, David M., Hunwick, Keith, Alba, Theresa, King, Molly K., Schein, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US11/894,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61, 709217-231
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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: H04L 25/063 Setting decision thresholds using feedback techniques only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• 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 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• 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 21/47211 : 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 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 : Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• 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 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 : for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• 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 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 : specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• 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 21/854 : Content authoring
• 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 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 : Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• 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

Abstract

A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Claims

1. A method of displaying program items, the method comprising:

receiving, with user equipment, a first user input, the first user input designating a user specified program as a favorite;

receiving, with the user equipment, a second user input, the second user input comprising at least one criterion identifying why the user specified program has been designated as a favorite;

determining one or more additional programs that match the at least one criterion; and

displaying a program item for each of the one or more additional programs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion comprises one or more of a particular actor, a particular actress, a particular genre, and a particular director.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

displaying a plurality of criteria, including the at least one criterion, and wherein receiving the second user input comprises receiving a user selection of one of the displayed plurality of criteria.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the plurality of criteria comprises:

providing at least one media category;

receiving a user selection of the at least one media category; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the at least one media category, presenting one or more criteria associated with the program that are in the at least one media category.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the media category is performers, and wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one actor or actress involved in the program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a displayed program item is marked to indicate that a corresponding program from the one or more additional programs matches the at least one criterion.

7. A method of customizing a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving, with user equipment, a first user input, the first user input designating a user specified program as a favorite;

receiving, with the user equipment, a second user input, the second user input comprising at least one criterion identifying why the program user specified has been designated as a favorite;

determining one or more additional programs that match the at least one criterion; and

customizing the user interface based on the one or more additional programs.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein customizing the user interface comprises displaying a program listing for each of the one or more additional programs in a favorites list screen.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein customizing the user interface comprises marking a program listing corresponding to a program from the one or more additional programs.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a third user input, the third user input comprising at least one additional criterion identifying why the program has been designated as a favorite.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

storing program information for each of a plurality of programs in a database, wherein the plurality of programs includes the one or more additional programs, and wherein determining the one or more additional programs comprises searching the database for a program having program information associated with the at least one criterion.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

periodically monitoring for new programs that are associated with the at least one criterion, and customizing the user interface based on the new programs.

13. A system for displaying program items, the system comprising a display device, a user input device, and processing circuitry configured to:

receive a first user input, the first user input designating a user specified program as a favorite;

receive a second user input, the second user input comprising at least one criterion identifying why the user specified program has been designated as a favorite;

determine one or more additional programs that match the at least one criterion; and

display a program item for each of the one or more additional programs.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one criterion comprises one or more of a particular actor, a particular actress, a particular genre, and a particular director.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to display a plurality of criteria, the plurality of criteria including the at least one criterion, and wherein receiving the second user input comprises receiving, from the user input device, a selection of the at least one criterion from the plurality of criteria.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to display at least one media category;

receive from the user input device a user selection of the at least one media category; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the at least one media category, present one or more criteria associated with the program that are in the at least one media category.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the media category is performers, and wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one actor or actress involved in the program.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to mark a displayed program item to indicate that a corresponding program from the one or more additional programs matches the at least one criterion.

19. A system for customizing a user interface, the system comprising a display device, a user input device, and processing circuitry configured to:

receive a first user input, the first user input designating a user specified program as a favorite;

receive a second user input, the second user input comprising at least one criterion identifying why the user specified program has been designated as a favorite;

determine one or more additional programs that match the at least one criterion; and

customize the user interface based on the one or more additional programs.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to display program listings corresponding to the one or more additional programs in a favorites list screen.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to mark a program listing corresponding to a program from the one or more additional programs, and display the marked program listing on the display device.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive a third user input, the third user input comprising at least one additional criterion identifying why the program has been designated as a favorite.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

store program information for each of a plurality of programs in a database;

search the database for at least one program having program information associated with the at least one criterion; and

customize the user interface based on the at least one program.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

periodically monitor for new programs that are associated with the at least one criterion, and customize the user interface based on the new programs.