Server-centric customized interactive program guide in an interactive television environment
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a video session manager located at a server and configured to receive selections comprising;
a set of channels to be identified in a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), anda customized layout of the custom-IPG, wherein the customized layout comprises an arrangement of the set of channels in a particular layout;
one or more encoders configured to encode the custom-IPG identifying the set of channels; and
a modulator configured to generate an output signal comprising the custom-IPG for transmission on a communication channel, wherein;
the video session manager is configured to receive a request for controlling which of the custom-IPG or a regular IPG is provided on the communication channel; and
the modulator is configured to alternate between providing the custom-IPG and the regular IPG on the communication channel each time the request is received.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques to create, generate, and deliver customized interactive program guide (custom-IPG). In one embodiment, selections indicative of a set of channels to be included in the custom-IPG are received. In response, one or more custom-IPG screens including the set of selected channels are rendered at a headend. Custom-IPG screens can be formed as subsets of the regular IPG screens, or as new screens. The rendered custom-IPG screens are provided from the head end to a set top terminal upon receiving a viewer request for the custom-IPG. Commands indicative of a particular location at which to overlay the custom-IPG screens may also be received, and the custom-IPG screens are re-rendered at the indicated location. Custom-IPG screens can be overlaid on a video sequence provided on a particular channel being viewed, used to carry regular program guide, or a channel independent of the channel used to carry regular programming and program guide.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a video session manager located at a server and configured to receive selections comprising; a set of channels to be identified in a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), and a customized layout of the custom-IPG, wherein the customized layout comprises an arrangement of the set of channels in a particular layout; one or more encoders configured to encode the custom-IPG identifying the set of channels; and a modulator configured to generate an output signal comprising the custom-IPG for transmission on a communication channel, wherein; the video session manager is configured to receive a request for controlling which of the custom-IPG or a regular IPG is provided on the communication channel; and the modulator is configured to alternate between providing the custom-IPG and the regular IPG on the communication channel each time the request is received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus at least to; activate a program guide customization process; present a menu comprising functions provided to assist in the customization process and a set of objects that can be manipulated to create and modify a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG); receive a first selection of a set of channels to be identified in the custom-IPG; receive a second selection for a customized layout of the custom-IPG, wherein the customized layout comprises an arrangement of the set of channels in a particular layout; and dynamically transmit the first selection of the set of channels to be identified in the custom-IPG to a server; receive, on a communication channel, the custom-IPG identifying the set of channels; and communicate a request for controlling the server to alternate between the custom-IPG or a regular IPG being provided on the communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20)
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17. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a server, a first selection indicative of a set of channels to be identified in a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG); receiving, by the server, a second selection of a customized layout of the custom-IPG, wherein the customized layout comprises an arrangement of the set of channels in a particular layout; generating, by the server, the custom-IPG identifying the set of channels; subsequent to receiving a first request for the custom-IPG, dynamically overlaying, by the server, the custom-IPG on a video sequence to generate a dynamically modified video sequence; providing the dynamically modified video sequence on a communication channel; and receiving a second request for alternating between which of the custom-IPG or a regular IPG is provided on the communication channel.
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18. A memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus at least to:
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activate a program guide customization process; receive a menu comprising functions provided to assist in the customization process, and a set of objects that can be manipulated to create and modify a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG); receive a first selection of a set of channels to be identified in the custom-IPG; receive a second selection of a customized layout of the custom-IPG; dynamically transmit the second selection of the customized layout of the custom-IPG and the first selection of the set of channels to be identified in the custom-IPG to a server; dynamically receive, on a communication channel, the custom-IPG identifying the set of channels; and communicate a request for controlling the server to alternate between the custom-IPG or a regular IPG being provided on the communication channel.
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21. A method comprising:
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receiving selections at a video session manager located at one or more servers, the selections comprising; a set of channels to be identified in a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG), and a customized layout of the custom-IPG, wherein the customized layout comprises an arrangement of the set of channels in a particular layout; encoding, at the one or more servers, the custom-IPG identifying the set of channels; and generating, at the one or more servers, an output signal comprising the custom-IPG for transmission on a communication channel; receiving, at the one or more servers, a request for controlling which of the custom-IPG or a regular IPG is provided on the communication channel; and alternating between providing, from the one or more servers, the custom-IPG and the regular IPG on the communication channel each time the request is received.
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22. A method comprising:
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activating, at a computing device, a program guide customization process; presenting, by the computing device, a menu comprising functions provided to assist in the customization process and a set of objects that can be manipulated to create and modify a custom interactive program guide (custom-IPG); receiving, at the computing device, a first selection of a set of channels to be identified in the custom-IPG; receiving, at the computing device, a second selection for a customized layout of the custom-IPG, wherein the customized layout comprises an arrangement of the set of channels in a particular layout; and transmitting, dynamically from the computing device, the first selection of the set of channels to be identified in the custom-IPG to a server; receiving, at the computing device over a communication channel, the custom-IPG identifying the set of channels; and communicating, from the computing device, a request for controlling the server to alternate between the custom-IPG or a regular IPG being provided on the communication channel.
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Specification