Matrix code-based user interface

• US 9,148,686 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Gerhards, Keith, Minnick, Dan J., Kilaru, Kranti
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US12/973,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20120155838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for presenting a matrix code may include receiving, at a content receiver, a signal carrying identifying data relating to a remotely accessible program, generating, at a content receiver, a matrix code from the identifying data relating to the remotely accessible program, transmitting the matrix code as part of a content presentation to a presentation device for display, and receiving the remotely accessible program in response to a user capture of the matrix code. A method for remotely controlling a set top box and a method for setting a recording time on a set top box are also described. A method of preparing a program guide may include gathering program information, generating matrix codes for each program including program data, and associating the matrix codes with respective programs.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a matrix code for expressing an interest in a remotely accessible program comprising:

receiving, at a content receiver, a signal carrying matrix code data associated with a matrix code stored to the content receiver and relating to the remotely accessible program;

generating, at the content receiver, a modified matrix code from the matrix code stored to the content receiver and the matrix code data associated with the matrix code stored to the content receiver;

transmitting the modified matrix code as part of a content presentation to a presentation device for display, wherein the modified matrix code is displayed as a component of an electronic programming guide that lists multiple television channels and program data for each of the multiple television channels including program titles, program descriptive information, and date and time of scheduled airing of programs, and that provides access to the modified matrix code in addition to matrix codes for other remotely accessible programs; and

receiving the remotely accessible program in response to a user capture of the modified matrix code relating to the remotely accessible program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified matrix code further includes advertisement data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the advertisement data includes additional information about an advertised program.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the additional information includes a movie trailer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the additional information includes an Internet link to a movie producer'"'"'s website.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying data includes a movie title.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying data further includes user information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying data further includes instructions for communicating the identifying data to a television service provider.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the instructions include executable code for automatically preparing a text message including the identifying data and sending the text message to the provider.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the instructions include a method of preparing an e-mail including the identifying data and sending the e-mail to the provider.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the instructions include a method of accessing an Internet web interface of the provider and entering the identifying data into the interface.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically receiving at the content receiver a signal carrying identifying data relating to programs other than the remotely accessible programs; and

generating matrix codes each relating to a particular program other than the remotely accessible program for display as a component of the electronic programming guide.