Television control interface with electronic guide

• US 9,681,174 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Alba, Theresa A., Folker, David, Hunwick, Keith W., Johnson, Kenneth D., Casement, Marcia A., De Stein, William
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US15/186,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61, 709217-231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/045 Self-contained testing apparatus
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• 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 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/643 Hue control means, e.g. flesh tone control

Abstract

An on-screen menu method and system for controlling the functions of integrated electronic devices and a television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day and an interconnected series of menus to control the features of the integrated electronic devices. An input device allows the viewer to move a pointer over different interactive areas of the guide and the function performed when the area is activated is displayed in a contextual help window. Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with the guide.

Claims

1. A method for navigating media asset information, the method comprising:

receiving media asset identifier information via a communications interface;

storing the media asset identifier information in a database stored in a memory;

generating for display an interactive time bar comprising a first interactive time indicator icon and a second interactive time indicator icon of a series of interactive time indicator icons, wherein the first interactive time indicator icon is associated with a first time interval, and wherein the second interactive time indicator icon is associated with a second time interval that does not overlap the first time interval;

receiving, from a user input interface, a first user input comprising a selection of the first interactive time indicator icon associated with the first time interval;

based on receiving the first user input;

retrieving data representing the first time interval associated with the first interactive time indicator icon;

identifying, based on the retrieved data representing the first time interval, a first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval from the media asset identifier information stored in the database stored in the memory;

retrieving the identified first plurality of media asset identifiers from the database stored in the memory;

generating for display the retrieved first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval;

receiving, from the user input interface, a second user input comprising a selection of the second interactive time indicator icon associated with the second time interval;

based on receiving the second user input;

retrieving data representing the second time interval associated with the second interactive time indicator icon;

identifying, based on the retrieved data representing the second time interval, a second plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the second time interval from the media asset identifier information stored in the database stored in the memory;

retrieving the identified second plurality of media asset identifiers from the database stored in the memory; and

generating for display the retrieved second plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the second time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving the first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval, further comprises:

issuing a query to the database for media asset entries associated with the first time interval.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a common horizontal axis within the interactive time bar; and

generating for display the series of interactive time indicators along the identified common horizontal axis within the interactive time bar.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the media asset identifier information from the communications interface comprising at least one of a telephone interface, a satellite interface, and a cable interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the media asset identifier information further comprises:

decrypting information received via the communications interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the media asset identifier information as a series of schedule information packets.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving, based on receiving the first user input, the first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval associated with a current time from the media asset identifier information stored in the database stored in the memory.

8. A system for navigating media asset information, the system comprising:

a memory configured to store a database of media asset identifier information;

a user input interface configured to receive inputs comprising selections of interactive time indicator icons; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive media asset identifier information via a communications interface;

store the media asset identifier information in the database stored in the memory;

generate for display an interactive time bar comprising a first interactive time indicator icon and a second interactive time indicator icon of a series of interactive time indicator icons, wherein the first interactive time indicator icon is associated with a first time interval, and wherein the second interactive time indicator icon is associated with a second time interval that does not overlap the first time interval;

receive, from the user input interface, a first user input comprising a selection of the first interactive time indicator icon associated with the first time interval;

based on receiving the first user input;

retrieve data representing the first time interval associated with the first interactive time indicator icon;

identify, based on the retrieved data representing the first time interval, a first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval from the media asset identifier information stored in the database stored in the memory;

retrieve the identified first plurality of media asset identifiers from the database stored in the memory;

generate for display the retrieved first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval;

receive, from the user input interface, a second user input comprising a selection of the second interactive time indicator icon associated with the second time interval;

based on receiving the second user input;

retrieving data representing the second time interval associated with the second interactive time indicator icon;

identifying, based on the retrieved data representing the second time interval, a second plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the second time interval from the media asset identifier information stored in the database stored in the memory;

retrieve the identified second plurality of media asset identifiers from the database stored in the memory; and

generate for display the retrieved second plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the second time interval.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

retrieve the first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval by issuing a query to the database for media asset entries associated with the first time interval.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

identify a common horizontal axis within the interactive time bar; and

generate for display the series of interactive time indicators along the identified common horizontal axis within the interactive time bar.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive the media asset identifier information from the communications interface, comprising at least one of a telephone interface, a satellite interface, and a cable interface.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive the media asset identifier information by decrypting information received via the communications interface.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive the media asset identifier information as a series of schedule information packets.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

retrieve, based on receiving the first user input, the first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval associated with a current time from the media asset identifier information stored in the database stored in the memory.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions recorded thereon comprising:

an instruction for receiving media asset identifier information via a communications interface;

an instruction for storing the media asset identifier information in a database stored in a memory;

an instruction for generating for display an interactive time bar comprising a first interactive time indicator icon and a second interactive time indicator icon of a series of interactive time indicator icons, wherein the first interactive time indicator icon is associated with a first time interval, and wherein the second interactive time indicator icon is associated with a second time interval that does not overlap the first time interval;

an instruction for receiving a first user input from a user input interface, comprising a selection of the first interactive time indicator icon associated with the first time interval;

an instruction for retrieving, based on receiving the first user input, data representing the first time interval associated with the first interactive time indicator icon;

an instruction for identifying, based on receiving the first user input and based on the retrieved data representing the second time interval, a first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval from the media asset identifier information stored in the database stored in the memory;

an instruction for retrieving, based on receiving the first user input, the identified first plurality of media asset identifiers from the database stored in the memory;

an instruction for generating for display, based on receiving the first user input, the retrieved first plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the first time interval;

an instruction for receiving from the user input interface, a second user input comprising a selection of the second interactive time indicator icon associated with the second time interval;

an instruction for retrieving, based on receiving the second user input, data representing the second time interval associated with the second interactive time indicator icon;

an instruction for identifying, based on the retrieved data representing the second time interval and based on receiving the second user input, a second plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the second time interval from the media asset identifier information stored in the database stored in the memory;

an instruction for retrieving, based on receiving the second user input, the identified second plurality of media asset identifiers from the memory; and

an instruction for generating for display, based on receiving the second user input, the retrieved second plurality of media asset identifiers associated with the second time interval.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

an instruction for issuing a query to the database for media asset entries associated with the first time interval.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

an instruction for identifying a common horizontal axis within the interactive time bar; and

an instruction for generating for display the series of interactive time indicators along the identified common horizontal axis within the interactive time bar.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

an instruction for receiving the media asset identifier information from the communications interface, comprising at least one of a telephone interface, a satellite interface, and a cable interface.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

an instruction for decrypting information received via the communications interface.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

an instruction for receiving the media asset identifier information as a series of schedule information packet.