Method and system for adaptive electronic programming guide

• US 8,336,069 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Kamen, Yakov, Shirman, Leon Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Application Number:
  US09/691,792
• Time in Patent Office: 4,444 Days
• Field of Search: 725/37, 725/39, 725/43, 725/44, 725/45, 725/47, 725/52, 715/744, 715/745, 715/746, 715/747
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• 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 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• 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

Abstract

This invention provides a television schedule system and process that allows an electronic programming guide designer to add a capability to change program listing appearance adaptively, based on a signal from a user or broadcaster.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a broadcast receiving device, electronic programming guide data from a broadcast source;

receiving, at the broadcast receiving device, a user request to modify an electronic programming guide configured to display the electronic programming guide data;

receiving, at the broadcast receiving device, one or more presentation criteria for making the user requested modification from the broadcast source;

determining, at the broadcast receiving device, at least one of the one or more presentation criteria corresponds to the user request; and

in response to determining that at least one of the one or more presentation criteria corresponds to the user request, modifying the electronic programming guide using the at least one of the one or more presentation criteria to display an electronic programming guide in accordance with the user request and temporarily changing an object within the electronic programming guide without modifying the layout of the electronic programming guide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification request includes a selection of a predefined display layout from a database storing a plurality of predefined display layouts.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast receiving device comprises a set-top box.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic programming guide comprises a three-dimensionally arranged set of surfaces textured by pre-processed broadcast program scheduling data.

5. One or more computer readable media storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving electronic programming guide data from a broadcast source;

receiving a user request to modify an electronic programming guide configured to display the electronic programming guide data;

receiving, from the broadcast source, one or more presentation criteria for making the user requested modification;

determining at least one of the one or more presentation criteria corresponds to the user request; and

in response to determining that at least one of the one or more presentation criteria corresponds to the user request, modifying the electronic programming guide using the at least one of the one or more presentation criteria to display an electronic programming guide in accordance with the user request and temporarily changing an object within the electronic programming guide without modifying the layout of the electronic programming guide.

6. The one or more computer readable media of claim 5, wherein the user requested change corresponds to a selection of a predefined display layout from a database storing a plurality of predefined display layouts.

7. The one or more computer readable media of claim 5, wherein the user request includes a change in a position of at least a portion of the electronic programming guide.

8. The one or more computer readable media of claim 5, wherein receiving a user request includes detection of a sound or a gesture.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving electronic programming guide data from a broadcast source;

receiving a user request to modify an electronic programming guide configured to display the electronic programming guide data;

receiving, from the broadcast source, one or more presentation criteria for making the user requested modification;

determining at least one of the one or more presentation criteria corresponds to the user request; and

in response to determining that at least one of the one or more presentation criteria corresponds to the user request, modifying the electronic programming guide using the at least one of the one or more presentation criteria to display an electronic programming guide in accordance with the user request and temporarily changing an object within the electronic programming guide without modifying the layout of the electronic programming guide.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the user requested change corresponds to a selection of a predefined display layout from a database storing a plurality of predefined display layouts.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the user request includes a change in a position of at least a portion of the electronic programming guide.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein receiving a user request includes detection of a sound or a gesture.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the user request includes rearranging the position of at least a portion of the electronic programming guide data within the electronic programming guide.