Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with remote product ordering

• US 8,732,765 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D, Davis, Bruce, Knudson, Edward B, Miller, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): IDOWU, OLUGBENGA O
• Application Number:
  US10/390,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,085 Days
• Field of Search: 725/60, 725/40, 725/42
• US Class Current: 725/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• 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 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• 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 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The television program schedule information is displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information and displays a portion of the program schedule information on the receiver. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information, wherein the product or service is associated with the program, such as a program transcript or videocassette. The viewer utilizes the remote control apparatus to generate a first command for displaying information on the receiver describing the product or service, and a second command for placing an order for the product or service. The data processor receives the user control commands and in response to the first command causes the video display generator to display information describing the product or service and in response to the second command generates an order for the product or service.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a user to order products, comprising:

generating for display a plurality of program listings for scheduled television programming in response to a user input received from an input device;

determining that a product other than electronically-delivered video is available to be ordered for a given one of the plurality of program listings;

generating a display that includes an indicator and the plurality of program listings in response to the determination that a product other than electronically-delivered video is available to be ordered, wherein the indicator is associated with the given program listing; and

allowing the user to order the product using the input device.

2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising generating a user product request in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.

3. The method defined in claim 2 further comprising including the product information in the user product request to identify the ordered product.

4. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising generating for display additional information describing the product in response to a user indication that the user would like to order a product.

5. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising generating for display information on available payment methods for purchasing the product.

6. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to select a desired payment method for purchasing the product.

7. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to purchase the product using a credit card.

8. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to enter a credit card number for use in purchasing the product.

9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to select a credit card to use in ordering the product from a list.

10. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising generating for display information on available shipping methods for shipping the product.

11. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to select a desired shipping method for shipping the product.

12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

generating for display information on a plurality of different available shipping methods for shipping the product; and

generating for display different price information for each shipping method.

13. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising, in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product, determining the product the user would like to purchase.

14. The method defined in claim 13 further comprising time and channel stamping the order, wherein the determination is made using the time and channel stamp.

15. The method defined in claim 13 wherein the determination is made by a microcontroller.

16. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the information displayed indicating that the product is available is a visual indicator and wherein a microcontroller is responsive to commands from a remote control having a key labeled with the same visual indicator, the method further comprising allowing the user to order the product using the remote control key labeled with the visual indicator.

17. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

allowing the user to highlight a program listing for which an associated product is available; and

allowing the user to order the associated product by pressing a remote control key while the program listing is highlighted.

18. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to confirm an order for the product.

19. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising generating for display a screen that allows the user to enter address information that is used when ordering the product.

20. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising extracting the user'"'"'s address from a program services billing system.

80. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the product is music related to the associated program listing.

81. The method defined in claim 80 wherein the music is a movie soundtrack.

82. The method defined in claim 80 wherein the music is a CD.

92. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising receiving a user input and, in response to receiving the user input, generating for display television programming corresponding to the given one of the program listings.

93. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising receiving a user input and, in response to receiving the user input, generating for display an order screen for the product.

100. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator indicates that more than one product associated with the given program listing is available.

21. A system for allowing a user to order products, comprising:

means for generating for display a plurality of program listings for scheduled television programming in response to a user input received from an input device;

means for determining that a product other than electronically-delivered video is available to be ordered for a given one of the plurality of program listings;

means for generating a display that includes an indicator and the plurality of program listings in response to the determination that a product other than electronically-delivered video is available to be ordered, wherein the indicator is associated with the given program listing; and

means for allowing the user to order the product using the input device.

22. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for generating a user product request in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.

23. The system defined in claim 22 further comprising means for including the product information in the user product request to identify the ordered product.

24. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for generating for display additional information describing the product in response to a user indication that the user would like to order a product.

25. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for generating for display information on available payment methods for purchasing the product.

26. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for allowing the user to select a desired payment method for purchasing the product.

27. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for allowing the user to purchase the product using a credit card.

28. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for allowing the user to enter a credit card number for use in purchasing the product.

29. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for allowing the user to select a credit card to use in ordering the product from a list.

30. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for generating for display information on available shipping methods for shipping the product.

31. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for allowing the user to select a desired shipping method for shipping the product.

32. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising:

means for generating for display information on a plurality of different available shipping methods for shipping the product; and

means for generating for display different price information for each shipping method.

33. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for determining the product the user would like to purchase in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.

34. The system defined in claim 33 further comprising:

means for time and channel stamping the order; and

means for using the time and channel stamp to determine the product the user would like to purchase.

35. The system defined in claim 33 further comprising means for determining the product the user would like to order using a microcontroller.

36. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising:

means for generating for display the information indicating that the product is available as a visual indicator;

means for using a microcontroller to respond to commands from a remote control having a key labeled with the same visual; and

means for allowing the user to order the product using the remote control key labeled with the visual indicator.

37. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising:

means for allowing the user to highlight a program listing for which an associated product is available; and

means for allowing the user to order the associated product by pressing a remote control key while the program listing is highlighted.

38. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for allowing the user to confirm an order for the product.

39. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for generating for display a screen that allows the user to enter address information that is used when ordering the product.

40. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for extracting the user'"'"'s address from a program services billing system.

83. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the product is music related to the associated program listing.

84. The system defined in claim 83 wherein the music is a movie soundtrack.

85. The system defined in claim 83 wherein the music is a CD.

94. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for receiving a user input and, in response to receiving the user input, generating for display television programming corresponding to the given one of the program listings.

95. The system defined in claim 21 further comprising means for receiving a user input and, in response to receiving the user input, generating for display an order screen for the product.

41. A system for allowing a user to order products, the system comprising user television equipment configured to:

generate for display a plurality of program listings for scheduled television programming in response to a user input received from an input device;

determine that a product other than electronically-delivered video is available to be ordered for a given one of the plurality of program listings;

generate a display that includes an indicator and the plurality of program listings in response to the determination that a product other than electronically-delivered video is available to be ordered, wherein the indicator is associated with the given program listing; and

allow the user to order the product using the input device.

42. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to generate a user product request in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.

43. The system defined in claim 42 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to include the product information in the user product request to identify the ordered product.

44. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to generate for display additional information describing the product in response to a user indication that the user would like to order a product.

45. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to generate for display information on available payment methods for purchasing the product.

46. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to allow the user to select a desired payment method for purchasing the product.

47. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to allow the user to purchase the product using a credit card.

48. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to allow the user to enter a credit card number for use in purchasing the product.

49. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to allow the user to select a credit card to use in ordering the product from a list.

50. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to generate for display information on available shipping methods for shipping the product.

51. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to allow the user to select a desired shipping method for shipping the product.

52. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to:

generate for display information on a plurality of different available shipping methods for shipping the product; and

generate for display different price information for each shipping method.

53. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to determine the product the user would like to purchase in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.

54. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to:

time and channel stamp the order; and

include the time and channel stamp in a user product request.

55. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the user television equipment comprises a microcontroller that is configured to make the determination.

56. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to:

generate for display the information indicating that the product is available as a visual indicator;

use a microcontroller to respond to commands from a remote control having a key labeled with the visual indicator; and

allow the user to order the product using the remote control key labeled with the visual indicator.

57. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to:

allow the user to highlight a program listing for which an associated product is available; and

allow the user to order the associated product by pressing a remote control key while the program listing is highlighted.

58. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to allow the user to confirm an order for the product.

59. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to generate for display a screen that allows the user to enter address information that is used when ordering the product.

60. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is coupled to a product ordering system configured to extract the user'"'"'s address from a program services billing system.

86. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the product is music related to the associated program listing.

87. The system defined in claim 86 wherein the music is a movie soundtrack.

88. The system defined in claim 86 wherein the music is a CD.

96. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to receive a user input and, in response to receiving the user input, generate for display television programming corresponding to the given one of the program listings.

97. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the user television equipment is further configured to receive a user input and, in response to receiving the user input, generate for display an order screen for the product.

61. Non-transitory computer-readable medium for an interactive system, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program logic recorded thereon for:

generating for display a plurality of program listings for scheduled television programming in response to a user input received from an input device;

determining that a product other than electronically-delivered video is available to be ordered for a given one of the plurality of program listings;

generating a display that includes an indicator and the plurality of program listings in response to the determination that a product other than electronically-delivered video is available to be ordered, wherein the indicator is associated with the given program listing; and

allowing the user to order the product using the input device.

62. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for generating a user product request in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.

63. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 62 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for including the product information in the user product request to identify the ordered product.

64. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for generating for display additional information describing the product in response to a user indication that the user would like to order a product.

65. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for generating for display information on available payment methods for purchasing the product.

66. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to select a desired payment method for purchasing the product.

67. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to purchase the product using a credit card.

68. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to enter a credit card number for use in purchasing the product.

69. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to select a credit card to use in ordering the product from a list.

70. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for generating for display information on available shipping methods for shipping the product.

71. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to select a desired shipping method for shipping the product.

72. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for:

generating for display information on a plurality of different available shipping methods for shipping the product; and

generating for display different price information for each shipping method.

73. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for determining the product the user would like to purchase in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.

74. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 73 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for time and channel stamping the order, wherein the determination is made using the time and channel stamp.

75. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 wherein the information displayed indicating that the product is available is a visual indicator and wherein the machine-readable media further comprises program logic recorded thereon that is responsive to commands from a remote control having a key labeled with the same visual indicator, the machine-readable media further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to order the product using the remote control key labeled with the visual indicator.

76. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for:

allowing the user to highlight a program listing for which an associated product is available; and

allowing the user to order the associated product by pressing a remote control key while the program listing is highlighted.

77. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to confirm an order for the product.

78. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for generating for display a screen that allows the user to enter address information that is used when ordering the product.

79. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for extracting the user'"'"'s address from a program services billing system.

89. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 wherein the product is music related to the associated program listing.

90. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 89 wherein the music is a movie soundtrack.

91. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 89 wherein the music is a CD.

98. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for receiving a user input and, in response to receiving the user input, generate for display television programming corresponding to the given one of the program listings.

99. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 61 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for receiving a user input and, in response to receiving the user input, generating for display an order screen for the product.