Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access

• US 9,319,735 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Knee, Robert Alan, Favia, Anthony R., Davis, Bruce, Miller, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peng, Fred
• Application Number:
  US10/357,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,827 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 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 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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 access to both stored television program schedule information and data feeds containing status information for live programs such as sporting events. The system includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs and data feeds containing status information for certain of the programs, and a video display generator for generating a display signal simultaneously comprising information from both the stored schedule information and the received data feed. The system is further provided with user control means such as a remote controller for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto so as to control the content of the display signal. The display signal may be displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. In addition, the program schedule system of the present invention utilizes category-specific user interfaces providing access to multiple services including television programs, received data feeds, home shopping services, and video games as well as the stored program schedule information.

Claims

1. A method for correlating promotional information received from a data feed populated with Internet data and a plurality of program listings stored in a local storage device for simultaneous display, the method comprising:

storing user preferences, at least one of the plurality of program listings, and an identifier associated with the at least one of the plurality of program listings in the local storage device;

receiving the data feed populated with Internet data comprising the promotional information and the identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with the promotional information;

searching, using the identifier, the received data feed for the promotional information;

retrieving the at least one of the plurality of program listings from the local storage device;

causing the plurality of program listings to be displayed in a first region of a display; and

causing the promotional information to be displayed in a second region of the display simultaneously with the plurality of program listings displayed in the first region of the display, wherein the promotional information is selectable by the user, and wherein the promotional information is selected based on the stored user preferences.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the displayed promotional information comprises text.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the displayed promotional information comprises graphics.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the display is vertically adjacent to the second region of the display.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first region appears vertically above the second region of the display.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second region is in the shape of a bar.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the width of the first region and the width of the second region are substantially the same.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotional information is related to television programming.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotional information is related to a product.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the promotional information is related to a plurality of products.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising ordering the product in response to receiving a user selection of the promotional information.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing additional information associated with the promotional information to be displayed in response to receiving a user selection of the promotional information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring user interactions with an interactive program guide; and

wherein the user preferences are determined based on the monitored user interactions.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of program listings are selected based on the user preferences, and wherein the promotional information and the at least one program listing are associated with a particular subject matter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of program listings is retrieved from a first source, and wherein the promotional information is retrieved from a second source.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of program listings uniquely identifies a program corresponding to the at least one program listing.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of program listings is selectable by the user.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, in response to a user selection of one of the plurality of program listings, accessing a program corresponding to the one program listing.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional information uniquely identifies an item.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the promoted item is not a program corresponding to any one of the plurality of program listings.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising, in response to a user selection of the promotional information, accessing the promoted item.

22. A system for correlating promotional information received from a data feed populated with Internet data and a plurality of program listings stored in a local storage device for simultaneous display, the system comprising:

means for storing user preferences, at least one of the plurality of program listings, and an identifier associated with the at least one of the plurality of program listings in the local storage device;

means for receiving the data feed populated with Internet data comprising the promotional information and the identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with the promotional information;

means for searching using the identifier, the received data feed for the promotional information;

means for retrieving the at least one of the plurality of program listings from the local storage device;

means for causing the plurality of program listings to be displayed in a first region of a display; and

means for causing the promotional information to be displayed in a second region of the display simultaneously with the plurality of program listings displayed in the first region of the display, wherein the promotional information is selectable by the user, and wherein the promotional information is selected based on the stored user preferences.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the displayed promotional information comprises text.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the displayed promotional information comprises graphics.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the first region of the display is vertically adjacent to the second region of the display.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the first region appears vertically above the second region of the display.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the second region is in the shape of a bar.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein the width of the first region and the width of the second region are substantially the same.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the promotional information is related to television programming.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the promotional information is related to a product.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the promotional information is related to a plurality of products.

32. The system of claim 30 further comprising means for ordering the product in response to a user selection of the promotional information.

33. The system of claim 22 further comprising means for causing additional information associated with the promotional information to be displayed in response to a user selection of the promotional information.

34. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for monitoring user interactions with an interactive program guide; and

wherein the user preferences are determined based on the monitored user interactions.

35. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of program listings are selected based on the user preferences, and wherein the promotional information and the at least one program listing are associated with a particular subject matter.

36. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of program listings is retrieved from a first source, and wherein the promotional information is retrieved from a second source.

37. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of program listings uniquely identifies a program corresponding to the at least one program listing.

38. The system of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of program listings is selectable by the user.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising means for accessing, in response to a user selection of one of the plurality of program listings, a program corresponding to the one program listing.

40. The system of claim 22, wherein the promotional information uniquely identifies an item.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the promoted item is not a program corresponding to any one of the plurality of program listings.

42. The system of claim 40, further comprising means for accessing, in response to a user selection of the promotional information, the promoted item.

43. A system for correlating promotional information received from a data feed populated with Internet data and a plurality of program listings stored in a local storage device for simultaneous display, the system comprising:

the local storage device;

control circuitry configured to;

store user preferences, at least one of the plurality of program listings, and an identifier associated with the at least one of the plurality of program listings in the local storage device;

receive the data feed populated with Internet data comprising the promotional information and the identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with the promotional information;

search, using the identifier, the received data feed for the promotional information;

retrieve the at least one of the plurality of program listings from the local storage device;

cause the plurality of program listings to be displayed in a first region of a display; and

cause the promotional information to be displayed in a second region of the display simultaneously with the plurality of program listings displayed in the first region of the display, wherein the promotional information is selectable by the user, and wherein the promotional information is selected based on the stored user preferences.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the displayed promotional information comprises text.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein the displayed promotional information comprises graphics.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein the first region of the display is vertically adjacent to the second region of the display.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the first region of the display is vertically above the second region of the display.

48. The system of claim 43 wherein the second region is in the shape of a bar.

49. The system of claim 43 wherein the width of the first region and the width of the second region are substantially the same.

50. The system of claim 43 wherein the promotional information is related to television programming.

51. The system of claim 43 wherein the promotional information is related to a product.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the promotional information is related to a plurality of products.

53. The system of claim 51 wherein the control circuitry is configured to order the product in response to receiving a user selection of the promotional information.

54. The system of claim 43 wherein the control circuitry is configured to direct the display device to display additional information associated with the promotional information in response to receiving a user selection of the promotional information.

55. The system of claim 43, wherein:

the control circuitry is further configured to monitor user interactions with an interactive program guide; and

the user preferences are determined based on the monitored user interactions.

56. The system of claim 43, wherein the plurality of program listings is selected based on the user preferences, and wherein the promotional information and the plurality of program listings are associated with a particular subject matter.

57. The system of claim 43, wherein at least one of the plurality of program listings is retrieved from a first source, and wherein the promotional information is retrieved from a second source.

58. The system of claim 43, wherein at least one of the plurality of program listings uniquely identifies a program corresponding to the at least one program listing.

59. The system of claim 43, wherein each of the plurality of program listings is selectable by the user.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to a user selection of one of the plurality of program listings, access a program corresponding to the one program listing.

61. The system of claim 43, wherein the promotional information uniquely identifies an item.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the promoted item is not a program corresponding to any one of the plurality of program listings.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to a user selection of the promotional information, access the promoted item.

64. A non-transitory data storage medium for correlating promotional information received from a data feed populated with Internet data and a plurality of program listings stored in a local storage device for simultaneous display, the data storage medium comprising program logic recorded thereon for:

storing user preferences, at least one of the plurality of program listings, and an identifier associated with the at least one of the plurality of program listings in the local storage device;

receiving the data feed populated with Internet data comprising the promotional information and the identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with the promotional information;

searching using the identifier, the received data feed for the promotional information;

retrieving the at least one of the plurality of program listings from the local storage device;

causing the plurality of program listings to be displayed in a first region of a display; and

causing the promotional information to be displayed in a second region of the display simultaneously with the plurality of program listings displayed in the first region of the display, wherein the promotional information is selectable by the user, and wherein the promotional information is selected based on the stored user preferences.

65. The data storage medium of claim 64 wherein the displayed promotional information comprises text.

66. The data storage medium of claim 64 wherein the displayed promotional information comprises graphics.

67. The data storage medium of claim 64 wherein the first region of the display is vertically adjacent to the second region of the display.

68. The data storage medium of claim 67 wherein the first region appears vertically above the second region of the display.

69. The data storage medium of claim 64 wherein the second region is in the shape of a bar.

70. The data storage medium of claim 64 wherein the width of the first region and the width of the second region are substantially the same.

71. The data storage medium of claim 64 wherein the promotional information is related to television programming.

72. The data storage medium of claim 64 wherein the promotional information is related to a product.

73. The data storage medium of claim 72 wherein the promotional information is related to a plurality of products.

74. The data storage medium of claim 72 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for ordering the product in response to receiving a user selection of the promotional information.

75. The data storage medium of claim 64 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for causing additional information associated with the promotional information to be displayed in response to receiving a user selection of the promotional information.

76. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 64, further comprising program logic recorded thereon for:

monitoring user interactions with an interactive program guide; and

wherein the user preferences are determined based on the monitored user interactions.

77. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 64, wherein the plurality of program listings are selected based on the user preferences, and wherein the promotional information and the at least one program listing are associated with a particular subject matter.

78. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 64, wherein at least one of the plurality of program listings is retrieved from a first source, and wherein the promotional information is retrieved from a second source.

79. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 64, wherein at least one of the plurality of program listings uniquely identifies a program corresponding to the at least one program listing.

80. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 64, wherein each of the plurality of program listings is selectable by the user.

81. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 80, further comprising program logic recorded thereon for accessing, in response to a user selection of one of the plurality of program listings, a program corresponding to the one program listing.

82. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 64, wherein the promotional information uniquely identifies an item.

83. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 82, wherein the promoted item is not a program corresponding to any one of the plurality of program listings.

84. The non-transitory data storage medium of claim 82, further comprising program logic recorded thereon for accessing, in response to a user selection of the promotional information, the promoted item.