Television schedule system and method of operation for multiple program occurrences

• US 6,341,374 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Schein, Steven M., King, Molly K., Alba, Theresa A., Warden, David P., Russman, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/841,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5445, H04/N.550, 348/563, 348/564, 348/569, 348/600, 348/906, 348/589, 725/43, 725/45, 725/49, 725/53, 725/58, 725/141, 725/39, 725/40, 725/48
• US Class Current: 725/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

An improved television guide system. According to one embodiment of the invention, television guide information is provided that includes multiple occurrences of a single show. The guide system of the present invention allows the user to identify a show and, thereafter, identify when the identified show will be played again. Accordingly, the user may more easily select shows for viewing or recordation.

Claims

1. A method for providing television program information for a viewer comprising the steps of:

displaying a television schedule guide including a listing of a plurality of television programs telecast at particular times;

receiving viewer selection of a television program listing associated with a particular television program;

storing the viewer selection of the television program listing; and

alerting the viewer when an instance of the particular television program is added to the television schedule guide.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of switching an input of a television unit to a television signal carrying the particular television program represented by the instance added to the television schedule guide.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording the particular television program represented by the instance added to the television schedule guide.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of alerting comprises the step of displaying information about the particular television program represented by the instance added to the television schedule guide.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information includes a time and television signal source delivering the particular television program represented by the instance added to the television schedule guide.

6. A television guide system for providing television program information for a viewer, the system comprising:

a memory storing viewer selection data and an electronic program database comprising a listing of a plurality of television programs telecast at particular times;

a display, coupled to the memory, for displaying at least a portion of the listing in a guide format;

an input for receiving viewer selection of a television program listing associated with a particular television program; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, display, and input, the processor including logic for;

storing the viewer selection of the television program listing in the memory; and

alerting the viewer when an instance of the particular television program is added to the electronic program database.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor further includes logic for switching an input of a television unit to a television signal carrying the particular television program represented by the instance added to the television schedule guide.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor further includes logic for recording the particular television program represented by the instance added to the television schedule guide.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the logic for alerting comprises logic for displaying information about the particular television program represented by the instance added to the television schedule guide.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information includes a time and television signal source delivering the particular television program represented by the instance added to the television schedule guide.