Interactive television program guide with remote access

• US 8,584,172 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Hassell, Joel G., Lemmons, Thomas R., Berezowski, David M., Knee, Robert A., McCoy, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US13/275,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20120036533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/83, 725/58, 725/78, 725 90- 91, 725131-133, 725139-141, 725151-153, 725/115
• US Class Current: 725/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/47214 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• 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 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• 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 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc.

Claims

1. A method for accessing video programs over an Internet link, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of video programs with electronic user equipment, wherein the electronic user equipment outputs to a first electronic display device, and wherein the electronic user equipment and the first electronic display device are located at a first same location within a user home;

receiving by the electronic user equipment, over the Internet link from processing circuitry, a communication indicative of a video program selected by a user, wherein the processing circuitry;

outputs to a second electronic display device which is different from the first electronic display device, wherein the processing circuitry and the second electronic display device are located at a second same location remote from the first same location;

generates a display of a screen of a guide, wherein the screen of the guide comprises a plurality of interactive video program listings that identifies the plurality of video programs, wherein the display is generated based on guide information from the electronic user equipment and received by the processing circuitry over the Internet link;

receives the user selection of the video program, wherein the user selects the video program by selecting an interactive video program listing that is displayed, by the guide, on the second electronic display device; and

generates the communication based on the user selection of the interactive video program listing that is displayed, by the guide, on the second electronic display device;

accessing the video program with the electronic user equipment in response to receiving the communication by at least one of tuning to a channel of the video program with the electronic user equipment and retrieving the video program previously selected by the user for recording; and

transmitting, from the electronic user equipment, the selected video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic user equipment is first electronic user equipment, and wherein second electronic user equipment comprises the processing circuitry, further comprising generating for display the interactive video program listing using the second electronic user equipment for the video program selected by the user.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user request from the processing circuitry to view a different video program;

in response to receiving the user request, accessing the different video program with the electronic user equipment; and

transmitting, from the electronic user equipment, the different video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

receiving the user request to view a different video program comprises receiving a user request to view a different video program on a different channel;

accessing the different video program with the electronic user equipment comprises accessing the different video program on the different channel; and

transmitting, from the electronic user equipment, the different video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry comprises transmitting the video of the different channel to the processing circuitry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a remote access device comprises the processing circuitry, and wherein the guide is a remote access interactive program guide implemented on the remote access device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a local interactive program guide is implemented on the electronic user equipment.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating for display, at the processing circuitry, at least one on-screen option for controlling the electronic user equipment over the Internet link.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one on-screen option comprises at least one of changing the selected channel, controlling volume, and recorded video program playback options.

9. A system for accessing video programs over an Internet link, the system comprising:

processing circuitry that;

outputs to a first electronic display device, wherein electronic user equipment outputs to a second electronic display device, wherein the electronic user equipment and the second electronic display device are located at a first same location within a user home, and wherein the processing circuitry and the first electronic display device are located within a second same location remote from the first same location;

generates a display of a screen of a guide, wherein the screen of the guide comprises a plurality of interactive video program listings that identifies a plurality of video programs, wherein the display is generated based on guide information from the electronic user equipment and received by the processing circuitry over the Internet link;

receives a user selection of a video program, wherein the user selects the video program by selecting an interactive video program listing that is displayed, by the guide, on the first electronic display device; and

generates a communication, based on the user selection of the interactive video program listing that is displayed, by the guide, on the first electronic display device, the communication being indicative of the video program selected by the user, wherein the communication is received, over the Internet link from the processing circuitry, by the electronic user equipment, wherein the electronic user equipment;

receives a plurality of video programs;

accesses the video program in response to receiving the communication by at least one of tuning to a channel of the video program with the electronic user equipment and retrieving the video program previously selected by the user for recording; and

transmits the selected video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic user equipment is first electronic user equipment, and wherein second electronic user equipment comprises the processing circuitry, wherein the second electronic user equipment generates for display the interactive video program listing for the video program selected by the user.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the processing circuitry receives a user request to view a different video program; and

the electronic user equipment;

accesses the different video program in response to receiving the user request; and

transmits the different video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the user request to view a different video program comprises a user request to view a different video program on a different channel; and

the electronic user equipment;

accesses the different video program on the different channel; and

transmits the video of the different channel to the processing circuitry.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein a remote access device comprises the processing circuitry, and wherein the guide is a remote access interactive program guide implemented on the remote access device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein a local interactive program guide is implemented on the electronic user equipment.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further operative to generate for display at least one on-screen option for controlling the electronic user equipment over the Internet link.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one on-screen option comprises at least one of changing the selected channel, controlling volume, and recorded video program playback options.

17. A method for accessing video programs over an Internet link, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of video programs with electronic user equipment that outputs to a first electronic display device, the electronic user equipment and the first electronic display device being located at a first same location within a user home;

receiving by the electronic user equipment, over the Internet link from processing circuitry, a communication indicative of a video program selected by a user, wherein the processing circuitry;

outputs to a second electronic display device, wherein the processing circuitry and the second electronic display device are located at a second same location remote from the first same location;

generates a display of a graphical user interface screen, wherein the graphical user interface screen comprises a plurality of interactive video program listings that identifies the plurality of video programs, wherein the display is generated based on guide information from the electronic user equipment and received by the processing circuitry over the Internet link;

receives the user selection of the video program, wherein the user selects the video program by selecting an interactive video program listing that is displayed, by the graphical user interface screen, on the second electronic display device; and

generates the communication based on the user selection of the interactive video program listing that is displayed, by the graphical user interface screen, on the second electronic display device;

accessing the video program with the electronic user equipment in response to receiving the communication by at least one of tuning to a channel of the video program with the electronic user equipment and retrieving the video program previously selected by the user for recording; and

transmitting, from the electronic user equipment, the selected video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic user equipment is first electronic user equipment, and wherein second electronic user equipment comprises the processing circuitry, further comprising generating for display the interactive video program listing using the second electronic user equipment for the video program selected by the user.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a user request from the processing circuitry to view a different video program;

in response to receiving the user request, tuning to the different video program with the electronic user equipment; and

transmitting, from the electronic user equipment, the different video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

receiving the user request to view a different video program comprises receiving a user request to view a different video program on a different channel;

tuning to the different video program with the electronic user equipment comprises tuning to the different video program on the different channel; and

transmitting, from the electronic user equipment, the different video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry comprises transmitting the video of the different channel to the processing circuitry.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein a remote access device comprises the processing circuitry, and wherein the graphical user interface screen is generated using a remote access interactive program guide implemented on the remote access device.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising generating for display, at the processing circuitry, at least one on-screen option for controlling the electronic user equipment over the Internet link.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one on-screen option comprises at least one of changing the selected channel, controlling volume, and recorded video program playback options.

24. A system for accessing video programs over an Internet link, the system comprising processing circuitry that:

outputs to a first electronic display device, wherein electronic user equipment outputs to a second electronic display device, wherein the electronic user equipment and the second electronic display device are located at a first same location within a user home, and wherein the processing circuitry and the first electronic display device are located within a second same location remote from the first same location;

generates a display of a graphical user interface screen, wherein the graphical user interface screen comprises a plurality of interactive video program listings that identifies a plurality of video programs, wherein the display is generated based on guide information from the electronic user equipment and received by the processing circuitry over the Internet link;

receives a user selection of a video program, wherein the user selects the video program by selecting an interactive video program listing that is displayed, by the graphical user interface screen, on the first electronic display device; and

generates a communication, based on the user selection of the interactive video program listing that is displayed, by the graphical user interface screen, on the first electronic display device, the communication being indicative of the video program selected by the user, wherein the communication is received, over the Internet link from the processing circuitry, by the electronic user equipment, wherein the electronic user equipment;

receives a plurality of video programs;

accesses the video program in response to receiving the communication by at least one of tuning to a channel of the video program with the electronic user equipment and retrieving the video program previously selected by the user for recording; and

transmits, from the electronic user equipment, the selected video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the electronic user equipment is first electronic user equipment, wherein second electronic user equipment comprises the processing circuitry, and wherein the second electronic user equipment generates for display the interactive video program listing for the video program selected by the user.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the processing circuitry receives a user request to view a different video program; and

the electronic user equipment;

tunes to the different video program in response to receiving the user request; and

transmits the different video program over the Internet link to the processing circuitry.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein:

the user request to view a different video program comprises a user request to view a different video program on a different channel; and

the electronic user equipment;

tunes to the different video program on the different channel; and

transmits the video of the different channel to the processing circuitry.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein a remote access device comprises the processing circuitry, and wherein the graphical user interface screen is generated using a remote access interactive program guide implemented on the remote access device.

29. The system of claim 24 further comprising generating for display, at the processing circuitry, at least one on-screen option for controlling the electronic user equipment over the Internet link.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the at least one on-screen option comprises at least one of changing the selected channel, controlling volume, and recorded video program playback options.