Video on demand methods and systems

• US 20050044568A1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mighdoll, Lee S., Goldman, Phillip Y., Bruck, Timo, White, Christopher M.
• Application Number:
  US10/952,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers'"'"' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.

Claims

1. A method of providing an interactive game guide on an electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying a time based guide of scheduled interactive games; and

the time based guide listing at least a title and time for at least one scheduled interactive game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the time based guide lists at least one single player game.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the time based guide lists at least one multiplayer game.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the listed multiplayer game involves a community of players who are participating in the game.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the community of players play together at a listed time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the time based guide lists information about a game tournament including a sponsor awarding a prize.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the information about the game tournament further indicates that the prize will be awarded to a high-score.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the information about the game tournament further indicates that the game tournament is for a multiplayer game.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the information about the game tournament further indicates that the high score is based on a single gaming session.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the information about the game tournament further indicates that the high score is based on a given period.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein a multiplayer game requires local execution of a software applet.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the software applet is downloaded locally as it becomes necessary.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the software applet is downloaded.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the software applet is downloaded locally just in advance of a time listed for a multiplayer game.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the software applet is downloaded in anticipation of likely use.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein the electronic device provides an interactive games channel selectable from among multiple entertainment programming channels available on the device, and further comprising;

receiving a request to play a single player game;

playing the requested single player game; and

in response to a request to change channels,

interrupting play of the single player game, and

saving the state of the interrupted single player game.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising upon receiving an indication of a return to the interrupted single player game, displaying the interrupted single player game from a saved state.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device receives a composite signal transmitted from a neighborhood head-end, and plural channels arrive on the composite signal.

19. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the time based guide is arranged topically according to multiplayer games and single player games.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein the time based listing is displayed when an interactive games channel is selected in the electronic programming guide.

21. A system for providing entertainment, the system comprising:

a display;

a digital processor;

digital memory;

at least one network connection; and

digital processor executable instructions for performing a method comprising,

displaying a time based guide of scheduled interactive games, and

the time based guide listing at least a title and time for at least one scheduled interactive game.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the time based guide is arranged topically according to multiplayer games and single player games.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the games requires a community of players who play together at the listed time.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the digital processor executable instructions further comprise instructions for displaying information about awarding prizes for a game tournament.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein prizes are awarded to high-scores based on a given period.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein a multiplayer game listed in the time based guide requires local execution of a software applet and wherein the digital processor executable instructions further comprise instructions for downloading the software applet.

27. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

displaying a time based guide of scheduled interactive games; and

the time based guide listing at least a title and time for at least one scheduled interactive game.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 further comprising executable instructions for displaying the time based guide further comprising a list of at least one single player game.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28 further comprising executable instructions for:

receiving a request to play the single player game;

playing the requested single player game; and

in response to a pause request,

interrupting play of the single player game, and

saving the state of the interrupted single player game.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29 further comprising executable instructions for receiving an indication of a request to continue play of the paused single player game, and for playing the interrupted single player game from a saved state.

31. A method of presenting entertainment comprising:

displaying an electronic programming guide with plural listings including broadcast programming and interactive games; and

displaying a time based listing including at least one interactive game.