Interactive program guide systems and processes

• US 8,392,948 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lemmons, Thomas R., Allison, Donald W., Henshaw, Jerry D., Marshall, Connie T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepard, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWLIN, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US11/894,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 56
• US Class Current: 725/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4821 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 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer'"'"'s television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

Claims

1. A method for navigating in a program guide, the method comprising:

presenting, via a control unit, the program guide to a user, the program guide displaying a portion of a grid of a plurality of programs, wherein the displayed portion includes a first plurality of listings in the horizontal direction;

adjusting the displayed portion of the grid in response to user selection of one or more navigation elements, each navigation element enabling one of horizontal and vertical navigation;

presenting, via the control unit, a visual indicator simultaneously with the program guide, the visual indicator displayed while the displayed portion of the grid is adjusted in response to user selection of the one or more navigation elements, and the visual indicator corresponding to a predetermined portion of the grid;

receiving, via the control unit, a user selection of the visual indicator; and

in response to the user selection, adjusting the displayed portion of the grid both horizontally and vertically to display the predetermined portion of the grid, wherein the predetermined portion includes a second plurality of listings in the horizontal direction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid comprise a plurality of pay per view programs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid comprise a plurality of popular movies.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid comprise a plurality of broadcast programs.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a data center determines the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a headend telecasting center determines the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation elements include one or more keys on a remote control unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion of the grid includes a plurality of channels in a main channel line-up and spans a time period including the current time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator does not move within the display as the user navigates within the grid using the navigation elements.

10. A system for navigating in a program guide, the system comprising:

a remote control unit that receives user input from a user; and

a control unit;

that causes the program guide to be presented to a user, the program guide displaying a portion of a grid of a plurality of programs, wherein the displayed portion includes a first plurality of listings in the horizontal direction;

that causes the program guide to adjust the displayed portion of the grid in response to user selection of one or more navigation elements, each navigation element enabling one of horizontal and vertical navigation;

that causes a visual indicator to be presented simultaneously with the program guide, the visual indicator displayed while the displayed portion of the grid is adjusted in response to user selection of the one or more navigation elements, and the visual indicator corresponding to a predetermined portion of the grid;

that receives a user selection of the visual indicator; and

that, in response to the user selection, adjusts the displayed portion of the grid both horizontally and vertically to display the predetermined portion of the grid, wherein the predetermined portion includes a second plurality of listings in the horizontal direction.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid comprise a plurality of pay per view programs.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid comprise a plurality of popular movies.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid comprise a plurality of broadcast programs.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising a data center that determines the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising a headend telecasting center determines the programs included in the predetermined portion of the grid.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the navigation elements include one or more keys on a remote control unit.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined portion of the grid includes a plurality of channels in a main channel line-up and spans a time period including the current time.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the visual indicator does not move within the display as the user navigates within the grid using the navigation elements.