Electronic television program guide schedule system and method

• US 6,396,546 B1
• Filed: 07/13/1998
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael, Alten, Jerry, Davis, Bruce, Youman, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/114,644
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 348/563,564,565,566,567,568,569,570,732,906,731,734,6,7,10,12,13 725/39,40,41,42,43
• US Class Current: 348/569
• 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 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• 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 21/4532 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 21/472 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 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• 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 21/4755 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 21/482 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 21/84 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 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• 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 7/17318 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 which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information from the memory and displays a portion of the program schedule information in overlaying relationship with a television program appearing on a television channel in at least one mode of operation of the television programming guide. The data processor controls the video display generator with video control commands, issued in response to the user control commands, to display program schedule information for any chosen one of the plurality of television programs in overlaying relationship with at least one television program then appearing on any chosen one of the plurality of channels on the television receiver.

Claims

1. A method for use in an electronic program guide system and for providing a user with an interactive promotional display for television programs, comprising:

displaying at least one program listing in a first portion of a screen;

providing a user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access an interactive promotional display for at least one of the at least one program listing; and

displaying the interactive promotional display in a second portion of the screen for the at least one of the at least one program listing while the at least one program listing is displayed in the first portion of the screen.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing a user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access an interactive promotional display for at least one of the at least one program listing comprises:

displaying an icon indicating that an interactive promotional display is available for at least one program listing; and

providing the user with an opportunity to select the at least one program listing for which the icon is displayed.

3. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing a user with an opportunity to enter information into the interactive promotional display.

4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein:

displaying the interactive promotional display comprises displaying pay-per-view ordering information; and

providing a user with an opportunity to enter information into the interactive promotional display comprises providing a user with an opportunity to enter a purchase code.

5. An electronic program guide system in which users are provided with an interactive promotional display for television programs, comprising:

means for displaying at least one program listing in a first portion of a screen;

means for providing a user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access an interactive promotional display for at least one of the at least one program listing; and

means for displaying the interactive promotional display in a second portion of the screen while the at least one program listing is displayed in the first portion of the screen.

6. The system defined in claim 5 wherein the means for providing a user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access an interactive promotional display for at least one of the at least one program listing comprises:

means for displaying an icon indicating that an interactive promotional display is available for at least one program listing; and

means for providing the user with an opportunity to select the at least one program listing for which the icon is displayed.

7. The system defined in claim 5 further comprising means for providing a user with an opportunity to enter information into the interactive promotional display.

8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein:

the means for displaying the interactive promotional display comprises means for displaying pay-per-view ordering information; and

the means for providing a user with an opportunity to enter information into the interactive promotional display comprises means for providing a user with an opportunity to enter a purchase code.

9. An electronic program guide system in which users are provided with an interactive promotional display for television programs, comprising:

a video display generator;

a remote controller; and

a microcontroller programmed to (1) provide a user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access an interactive promotional display for at least one of the at least one program listing with the remote controller, and (2) direct the video display generator to simultaneously display at least one program listing in a first portion of a screen, and the interactive promotional display in a second portion of the screen.

10. The system defined in claim 9 wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display an icon indicating that an interactive promotional display is available for at least one program listing, and (2) provide the user with an opportunity to select the at least one program listing for which the icon is displayed with the remote controller.

11. The system defined in claim 9 wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to provide a user with an opportunity to enter information into the interactive promotional display with the remote controller.

12. The system defined in claim 9 wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display pay-per-view ordering information, and (2) provide a user with an opportunity to enter a purchase code with the remote controller.

13. A method for use in an electronic program guide system comprising:

receiving program listings and promotional information;

displaying at least one of the program listings;

providing a user with an opportunity to indicate a program listing for which promotional information associated with the listing is to be displayed; and

displaying the promotional information associated with an indicated program listing in an interactive display simultaneously with the indicated program listing.

14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein providing a user with an opportunity to indicate a program listing for which promotional information associated with the listing is to be displayed comprises:

displaying an icon indicating that a program listing has associated promotional information; and

providing a user with an opportunity to select the program listing that has associated promotional information.

15. The method defined in claim 13 wherein:

at least one program listing is a pay-per-view program listing;

the pay-per-view program listing has associated promotional information including pay-per-view ordering information; and

the method further comprises;

providing a user with an opportunity to order the pay-per-view program; and

ordering the pay-per-view program.

16. An electronic program guide system comprising:

means for receiving program listings and promotional information;

means for displaying at least one of the program listings;

means for providing a user with an opportunity to indicate a program listing for which promotional information associated with the listing is to be displayed; and

means for displaying the promotional information associated with an indicated program listing in an interactive display simultaneously with the indicated program listing.

17. The system defined in claim 16 wherein the means for providing a user with an opportunity to indicate a program listing for which promotional information associated with the listing is to be displayed comprises:

means for displaying an icon indicating that a program listing has associated promotional information; and

means for providing a user with an opportunity to select the program listing that has associated promotional information.

18. The system defined in claim 16 wherein:

at least one program listing is a pay-per-view program listing;

the pay-per-view program listing has associated promotional information including pay-per-view ordering information; and

the system further comprises;

means for providing a user with an opportunity to order the pay-per-view program; and

means for ordering the pay-per-view program.

19. An electronic program guide system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive program listings and additional programming information;

a video display generator;

a remote controller; and

a microcontroller programmed to (1) provide a user with an opportunity to indicate a program listing for which promotional information associated with the listing is to be displayed, using the remote controller, and (2) direct the video display generator to display the promotional information associated with an indicated program listing in an interactive display simultaneously with the indicated program listing.

20. The system defined in claim 19 wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display an icon indicating that a program listing has associated promotional information, and (2) provide a user with an opportunity to select the program listing that has associated promotional information.

21. The system defined in claim 19 wherein:

at least one program listing is a pay-per-view program listing;

the pay-per-view program listing has associated promotional information including pay-per-view ordering information; and

the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) provide a user with an opportunity to order the pay-per-view program with the remote controller, and (2) order the pay-per-view program.

22. A method for use in an electronic program guide system and for providing a user with an interactive promotional display for television programs, comprising:

displaying a plurality of program listings for a plurality of programs in a first portion of a screen;

displaying an interactive promotional display in a second portion of the screen while at least a portion of the plurality of program listings is displayed in the first portion of the screen; and

allowing the user to interact with the interactive promotional display.

23. The method defined in claim 22 further comprising:

displaying an icon indicating that an interactive promotional display is available for at least one program listing of the plurality of program listings;

allowing the user to select the at least one program listing for which the icon is displayed; and

wherein displaying an interactive promotional display in a second portion of the screen while at least a portion of the plurality of program listings is displayed in the first portion of the screen comprises displaying an interactive promotional display for the selected at least one program listing in a second portion of the screen while at least a portion of the plurality of program listings is displayed in the first portion of the screen.

24. The method defined in claim 22 wherein allowing the user to interact with the interactive promotional display comprises allowing the user to enter information into the interactive promotional display.

25. The method defined in claim 24 wherein:

displaying the interactive promotional display comprises displaying pay-per-view ordering information; and

allowing the user to enter information into the interactive promotional display comprises providing a user with an opportunity to enter a purchase code.

26. An electronic program guide system for providing a user with an interactive promotional display for television programs, comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of program listings for a plurality of programs in a first portion of a screen;

means for displaying an interactive promotional display in a second portion of the screen while at least a portion of the plurality of program listings is displayed in the first portion of the screen; and

means for allowing the user to interact with the interactive promotional display.

27. The system defined in claim 26 further comprising:

means for displaying an icon indicating that an interactive promotional display is available for at least one program listing of the plurality of program listings;

means for allowing the user to select the at least one program listing for which the icon is displayed; and

wherein the means for displaying an interactive promotional display in a second portion of the screen while at least a portion of the plurality of program listings is displayed in the first portion of the screen comprises means for displaying an interactive promotional display for the selected at least one program listing in a second portion of the screen while at least a portion of the plurality of program listings is displayed in the first portion of the screen.

28. The system defined in claim 26 wherein the means for allowing the user to interact with the interactive promotional display comprises means for allowing the user to enter information into the interactive promotional display.

29. The system defined in claim 28 wherein:

the means for displaying the interactive promotional display comprises means for displaying pay-per-view ordering information; and

the means for allowing the user to enter information into the interactive promotional display comprises means for providing a user with an opportunity to enter a purchase code.

30. An electronic program guide system for providing a user with an interactive promotional display for television programs, comprising:

a video display generator;

a remote controller; and

a microcontroller programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display a plurality of program listings for a plurality of programs in a first portion of a screen, (2) direct the video display generator to display an interactive promotional display in a second portion of the screen while at least a portion of the plurality of program listings is displayed in the first portion of the screen, and (3) allow the user to interact with the interactive promotional display using the remote controller.

31. The system defined in claim 30 wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display an icon indicating that an interactive promotional display is available for at least one program listing of the plurality of program listings, (2) allow the user to select the at least one program listing for which the icon is displayed using the remote controller, and (3) direct the video display generator to display an interactive promotional display for the selected at least one program listing in a second portion of the screen while at least a portion of the plurality of program listings is displayed in the first portion of the screen.

32. The system defined in claim 30 wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to allow the user to enter information into the interactive promotional display using the remote controller.

33. The system defined in claim 32 wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display pay-per-view ordering information in the interactive promotional display, and (2) provide a user with an opportunity to enter a purchase code into the interactive promotional display using the remote controller.