Program guide system for recording television programs

• US 8,189,996 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D, Knudson, Edward B, Thomas, William L, Davis, Bruce L
• Primary Examiner(s): ATALA, JAMIE JO
• Application Number:
  US10/627,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,232 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/48, 386/83, 386/92, 386/94, 386/124, 386 95- 96, 386125-126, 348/363, 348/906, 725/25, 725/27, 725/28, 725/30, 725/38, 725/39, 725/55, 725/61, 725/141, 725/142, 725/153
• US Class Current: 386/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/4334 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 21/45 Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4753 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 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.

Claims

1. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

means for displaying the interactive television program guide;

means for providing a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive program guide;

means for receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility;

means for offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

means for, at the user equipment, (a) removing the copy protection from the selected program, (b) providing the selected program without copy protection, and (c) directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

means for offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

means for providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

2. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

3. A method for using an interactive program guide system using user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

displaying the interactive television program guide;

providing a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide;

receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

removing using the user equipment the copy protection from the selected program, providing the selected program without copy protection, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

5. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

communications circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

display circuitry configured to display the interactive television program guide;

circuitry configured to receive a program with copy protection from a television distribution facility;

circuitry implemented in the user equipment configured to remove copy protection from received programs; and

control circuitry configured to (1) provide a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide, (2) direct the display circuitry to display a message offering the user the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording, (3) direct the tuner circuitry to tune to the selected program with copy protection, (4) direct the circuitry to remove the copy protection from the selected program and provide the selected program without copy protection and a video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection, (5) direct the display circuitry to display a message offering the user the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing, and (6) direct the tuner circuitry to provide the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

6. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 5 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

7. A machine-readable medium for implementing an interactive television program guide comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

providing a first opportunity for a user to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide;

receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

removing using the user equipment the copy protection from the selected program, providing the selected program without copy protection, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

8. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 7 further having machine program logic recorded thereon for offering the program wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.