Interactive television program guide system having multiple devices within a household

• US 9,237,369 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Lemmons, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Jonathan V
• Application Number:
  US11/894,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,067 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/47815 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• 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 21/84 : 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 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

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. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other 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. The operation of applications such as web browser applications, home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated.

Claims

1. A method for viewing a program, the method comprising:

generating a display of a video associated with a program at a first equipment device coupled to a second equipment device, wherein the video generated for display at the first equipment device is transmitted concurrently to a plurality of equipment devices while the video is generated for display at the first equipment device;

transmitting, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, an identification of the program, from the first equipment device to the second equipment device, while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to;

receive the identification of the program from the first equipment device;

receive, independently of the first equipment device, a user input that requests to view the identified program using the second equipment device; and

generate a display of the video associated with the program in response to receiving the user input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification identifies the first equipment device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an instruction from the second equipment device to change the video associated with the program generated for display by the first equipment device; and

changing the video associated with the program generated for display by the first equipment device in response to receiving the instruction.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein changing further comprises tuning the first equipment device away from the channel of the program.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein changing further comprises turning off the first equipment device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the second equipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device; and

generating a display of the video associated with the program in response to determining that the second equipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving authorization information from the second equipment device;

verifying the authorization information; and

generating a display of the video associated with the program in response to verifying the authorization information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the authorization information comprises a password.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a first interactive program guide implemented on the first equipment device transmits the identification of the program to a second interactive program guide implemented on the second equipment device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the first equipment device, a communication from the second equipment device requesting identification of the program generated for display on the first equipment device, and

transmitting the identification of the program, from the first equipment device to the second equipment device, in response to receiving the communication.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second equipment device generates a display of the identification of the program received from the first equipment device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein an interactive program guide implemented on the second equipment device generates a display of the received identification as an overlay over another program currently being viewed using the second equipment device.

13. A method for identifying a program generated for display on another equipment device, the method comprising:

generating a display of a video associated with a program at a first equipment device coupled to a second equipment device, wherein the video generated for display at the first equipment device is transmitted concurrently to a plurality of equipment devices while the video is generated for display at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to;

receive, independently of the first equipment device, a user input that requests to identify the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device;

cause the first equipment device to transmit, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device, identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device to the second equipment device; and

generate a display of the identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device on the second equipment device in response to receiving the identification information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second equipment device is further configured to generate the display of identification information by generating a display of at least one of the channel, title, and rating of the video associated with the program generated for display.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an instruction from the second equipment device to change the video associated with the program generated for display by the first equipment device; and

changing the video associated with the program generated for display by the first equipment device in response to receiving the instruction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein changing further comprises tuning the first equipment device away from the channel of the program.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein changing further comprises turning off the first equipment device.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether the second equipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device,

wherein the display of the identification information is generated in response to determining that the second equipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving authorization information from the second equipment device; and

verifying the authorization information, wherein the display of the identification information is generated in response to verifying the authorization information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the authorization information comprises a password.

21. A system for viewing a program, the system comprising:

a first equipment device configured to;

generate, at the first equipment device, a display of a video associated with a program, wherein the first equipment device is coupled to a second equipment device, wherein the video generated for display at the first equipment device is transmitted concurrently to a plurality of equipment devices while the video is generated for display at the first equipment device; and

transmit, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, an identification of the program to the second equipment device while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to;

receive, independently of the first equipment device, a user input that requests to view the identified program on the second equipment device; and

generate a display of the video associated with the program in response to receiving the user input.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the second equipment device is further configured to provide an indication that the first equipment device is generating a display of the video associated with the program.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the indication identifies the first equipment device.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the first equipment device is further configured to:

receive an instruction from the second equipment device to change the video associated with the program generated for display by the first equipment device; and

change the video associated with the program generated for display by the first equipment device in response to receiving the instruction.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second equipment device is further configured to instruct a tuner to tune the first equipment device away from the channel of the program.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the second equipment device is further configured to turn off the first equipment device.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the first equipment device is further configured to:

determine whether the second equipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device; and

authorize the second equipment device to generate a display of the video associated with the program in response to determining that the second equipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first equipment device is further configured to:

receive authorization information from the second equipment device;

verify the authorization information; and

authorize the second equipment device to generate a display of the video associated with the program in response to verifying the authorization information.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the authorization information comprises a password.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein a first interactive program guide implemented on the first equipment device transmits the identification of the program to a second interactive program guide implemented on the second equipment device.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the first equipment device is further configured to:

receive a communication from the second equipment device requesting identification of the program generated for display on the first equipment device, and

transmit the identification of the program in response to receiving the communication.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the second equipment device is further configured to generate a display of the identification of the program received from the first equipment device.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein an interactive program guide implemented on the second equipment device generates a display of the received identification as an overlay over another program currently being viewed using the second equipment device.

34. A system for identifying a program generated for display on another equipment device, the system comprising:

a first equipment device configured to;

generate a display of a video associated with a program, wherein the first equipment device is coupled to a second equipment device, wherein the video generated for display at the first equipment device is transmitted concurrently to a plurality of equipment devices while the video is generated for display at the first equipment device;

receive a request to identify the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device from the second equipment device, wherein the second equipment device receives a user input that requests to identify the program independently of the first equipment device; and

responsive to receiving the request to identify the program from the second equipment device, transmit, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, to the second equipment device, while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device, identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to generate a display of the identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device in response to receiving the identification information.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the identification information further comprises at least one of the channel, title, and rating of the video associated with the program generated for display.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the first equipment device is further configured to:

receive an instruction from the second equipment device to change the video associated with the program generated for display by the first equipment device; and

change the video associated with the program generated for display by the first equipment device in response to receiving the instruction.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the second equipment device is further configured to instruct a tuner to tune the first equipment device away from the channel of the program.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the second equipment device is further configured to turn off the first equipment device.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein:

the first equipment device is further configured to determine whether the second equipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device; and

the second equipment device is further configured to generate the display of the identification information in response to the first equipment device determining that the second equipment device is authorized to monitor the first equipment device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein:

the first equipment device is further configured to;

receive authorization information from the second equipment device; and

verify the authorization information; and

the second equipment device is further configured to generate the display of the identification information in response to the first equipment device verifying the authorization information.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the authorization information comprises a password.

42. A method for viewing a program, the method comprising:

generating a display of a video associated with a program at a first equipment device coupled to a second equipment device;

transmitting, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, an identification of the program, from the first equipment device to the second equipment device, while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to;

receive the identification of the program from the first equipment device;

receive, independently of the first equipment device, a user input that requests to view the identified program using the second equipment device; and

generate a display of the video associated with the program in response to receiving the user input, wherein the first equipment device is located in a home, and wherein the identification of the program is received by the second equipment device at a remote location not in the home.

43. A system for viewing a program, the system comprising:

a first equipment device configured to;

generate, at the first equipment device, a display of a video associated with a program, wherein the first equipment device is coupled to a second equipment device; and

transmit, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, an identification of the program to the second equipment device while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device;

wherein the second equipment device is configured to;

receive, independently of the first equipment device, a user input that requests to view the identified program on the second equipment device; and

generate a display of the video associated with the program in response to receiving the user input, wherein the first equipment device is located in a home, and wherein the identification of the program is received by the second equipment device at a remote location not in the home.

44. A method for identifying a program generated for display on another equipment device, the method comprising:

generating a display of a video associated with a program at a first equipment device coupled to a second equipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to;

receive, independently of the first equipment device, a user input that requests to identify the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device;

receive from the first equipment device, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device, identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device with the second equipment device; and

generate a display of the identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device on the second equipment device in response to receiving the identification information, wherein the first equipment device is located in a home, and wherein the identification is transmitted responsive to the first equipment device receiving a request to transmit the identification from a remote location not in the home.

45. A system for identifying a program generated for display on another equipment device, the system comprising:

a first equipment device configured to;

generate a display of a video associated with a program, wherein the first equipment device is coupled to a second equipment device;

receive a request to identify the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device from the second equipment device, wherein the second equipment device receives a user input that requests to identify the program independently of the first equipment device; and

transmit, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, to the second equipment device, while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device, identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to generate a display of the identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device in response to receiving the identification information, wherein the first equipment device is located in a home, and wherein the identification is transmitted responsive to the first equipment device receiving a request to transmit the identification from a remote location not in the home.

46. A method comprising:

generating, at a first equipment device, a display of a video associated with a program, wherein the first equipment device is coupled to a second equipment device, wherein the video generated for display at the first equipment device is transmitted concurrently to a plurality of equipment devices while the video is generated for display at the first equipment device;

receiving, at the first equipment device from a second equipment device, a request to identify the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device receives a user input that requests to identify the program independently of the first equipment device; and

responsive to receiving the request to identify the program from the second equipment device, transmitting to the second equipment device, independently of receiving user input at the first equipment device, while the video associated with the program is generated for display at the first equipment device, identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device, wherein the second equipment device is configured to generate a display of the identification information for the program corresponding to the video generated for display at the first equipment device in response to receiving the identification information.