Television system with downloadable features

• US 8,793,738 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Klosterman, Brian Lee, Milnes, Kenneth Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/335,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,226 Days
• Field of Search: 725/132, 725/140, 725/152, 725/60, 725 37- 40, 725/47, 725/50
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• 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 7/0888 : Subscription systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is directed to providing downloadable features, and more particularly to providing these features to identified receiving locations (50) in a television system (10). Features may be desired by the manufacturer for correcting software defects, updating software, or meeting compatibility requirements. Features may also be ordered by consumers who respond to solicitation advertisements (130) for those features. The data related to the features is compiled and sent from a main location (20) to multiple receiving locations (46, 48 and 50). The data is then stored in a memory (58) in the identified receiving locations (50), and software is used to install or operate the stored feature.

Claims

1. A method for providing an upgradeable user equipment, comprising:

receiving program guide software that includes data related to program listings;

processing the program guide software to generate a display of the program guide that includes at least one of the program listings;

receiving information identifying a list of features that are not currently implemented in the program guide software;

responsive to receiving the information, automatically generating for display an indication of the identified list of features that are not currently implemented in the program guide software;

receiving a user selection of at least one feature of the identified list of features; and

modifying the program guide software with additional program guide software associated with the at least one feature selected by a user to implement the at least one feature selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional program guide software is downloaded from a distribution location in response to the user selection of the at least one feature.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing information regarding the at least one feature to the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information regarding the at least one feature is displayed in the form of an advertisement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the advertisement includes on-screen prompts which enable a user to interactively order the feature.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the information regarding the at least one feature is provided to a plurality of users.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature is at least one of picture-in-picture enhancements, channel identification in a picture-in-picture screen, the display of graphic network logos and icons with channel identification, extended data service enhancements, stock quotation services, virtual channel services, news services, weather services, and sports score services.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selects the at least one feature by ordering the feature via a telephone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information identifying a list of features that are not currently implemented in the program guide software further comprises:

receiving an additional indication from an external source of at least one additional feature of the list of features that is not currently implemented in the program guide software; and

in response to receiving the additional indication, automatically displaying the additional indication.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the identified list of features is displayed after data is stored for at least two features that are not currently implemented in the program guide software.

11. An upgradeable user equipment, comprising a processor configured to:

receive a program guide software that includes data related to program listings from a distribution location;

process the program guide software to generate a display of the program guide that includes at least one of the program listings;

receive information identifying a list of features that are not currently implemented in the program guide software;

responsive to receiving the information, automatically generate for display an indication of the identified list of features that are not currently implemented in the program guide software;

receive a user selection of at least one feature of the identified list of features; and

modify the program guide software with additional program guide software associated with the at least one feature selected by a user to implement the at least one feature selected by the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the additional program guide software is downloaded from a distribution location in response to the user selection of the at least one feature.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to display information regarding the at least one feature to the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the information regarding the at least one feature is displayed in the form of an advertisement.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the advertisement includes on-screen prompts which enable a user to interactively order the feature.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the information regarding the at least one feature is provided to a single user or to a plurality of users.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one feature is at least one of picture-in-picture enhancements, channel identification in a picture-in-picture screen, a display of graphic network logos and icons with channel identification, extended data service enhancements, stock quotation services, virtual channel services, news services, weather services, and sports score services.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the user selects the feature by ordering the feature via a telephone.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the indication of the identified list of features is displayed after data is stored for at least two features that are not currently implemented in the program guide software.