Program guide system with user designated color coding

• US 6,481,011 B1
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prevue Networks Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lemmons, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/234,155
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39-55, 348/906, 348/569
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4755 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 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may inform a program guide of the user'"'"'s interests. Information on the user'"'"'s interests may be stored in a preference profile. There may be more than one preference profile, each for a different user. Each preference profile contains a number of preference attributes (program titles, genres, viewing times, channels, actors, etc.). A color is associated with each preference attribute. The user is thus able to view the program listing and quickly identify programs of interest by the associated colors in the display.

Claims

1. An interactive television program guide system implemented on user equipment of a user, comprising:

means for providing an option with the interactive television program guide for a user to select a plurality of preference attributes that are indicative of the user'"'"'s television programming interests;

means for providing an option for the user to select one of at least several colors for each of the plurality of selected preference attributes; and

means for displaying a list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and the selected colors.

2. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises means for providing an option of selecting a program series as a preference attribute.

3. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises means for providing an option of selecting a given airing of a program as a preference attribute.

4. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing the given airing of the program selected as a preference attribute to expire after the program has been aired.

5. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises means for providing an option of selecting a given actor or actress as a preference attribute.

6. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises means for providing an option of selecting a genre of programming as a preference attribute.

7. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises means for providing an option of selecting at least one rating as a preference attribute.

8. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises means for providing an option of selecting a type of channel as a preference attribute.

9. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises means for providing an option of selecting a given topic as a preference attribute.

10. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises means for providing an option of selecting a word in a program description as a preference attribute.

11. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein each one of the selected preference attributes and the respective one of the selected colors are associated as a display criterion, and further comprising:

means for providing an option of creating a preference profile with which the display criteria are associated.

12. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 11 further comprising:

means for allowing the user to highlight a given program listing,

wherein the means for providing the option of creating a preference profile further comprises means for providing an option of creating the preference profile based on program information of the highlighted program listing.

13. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 12 wherein the program information comprises a title of the highlighted program listing and the means for providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the highlighted program listing further comprises means for providing an option of selecting the title of the highlighted program listing as a preference attribute.

14. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 12 wherein the program information comprises a genre of the highlighted program listing and the means for providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the highlighted program listing further comprises means for providing an option of selecting the genre of the highlighted program listing as a preference attribute.

15. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 12 wherein the program information comprises a channel of the highlighted program listing and the means for providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the highlighted program listing further comprises means for providing an option of selecting the channel of the highlighted program listing as a preference attribute.

16. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 12 wherein the program information comprises a rating of the highlighted program listing and the means for providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the highlighted program listing further comprises means for providing an option of selecting the rating of the highlighted program listing as a preference attribute.

17. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 11 further comprising:

means for allowing the user to tune to a selected program,

wherein the means for providing the option of creating a preference profile further comprises means for creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program.

18. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 17 wherein the program information comprises a title of the selected program and the means for providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program further comprises means for providing an option of selecting the title of the selected program as a preference attribute.

19. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 17 wherein the program information comprises a genre of the selected program and the means for providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program further comprises means for providing an option of selecting the genre of the selected program as a preference attribute.

20. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 17 wherein the program information comprises a channel of the selected program and the means for providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program further comprises means for providing an option of selecting the channel of the selected program as a preference attribute.

21. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 17 wherein the program information comprises a rating of the selected program and the means for providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program further comprises means for providing an option of selecting the rating of the selected program as a preference attribute.

22. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing a profiles display with which the user may modify a preference profile with which the selected preference attributes and the selected colors are associated.

23. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing an option of deselecting at least one of the selected preference attributes.

24. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 11 wherein there are multiple profiles, the system further comprising means for providing an option of selecting which of the profiles to make active.

25. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 24 wherein at least two of the preference profiles are active and wherein the means for displaying displays the list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and selected colors in the two preference profiles, the system further comprising:

means for indicating which of the programs in the list of programming satisfy which of the preference profiles.

26. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 25 wherein the means for indicating comprises means for displaying the associated colors that satisfy one of the two profiles in one location in the list and the associated colors that satisfy the other of the two profiles in another location in the list.

27. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 26 wherein the means for indicating comprises means for displaying the associated colors that satisfy one of the two profiles using one pattern and the associated colors that satisfy the other of the two profiles using another pattern.

28. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 26 wherein the means for indicating comprises means for displaying the associated colors that satisfy one of the two profiles using one icon and the programs that satisfy the other of the two profiles using another icon.

29. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 24 wherein the means for displaying the list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and selected colors further comprises means for displaying the list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and selected colors associated with the multiple profiles.

30. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 24 further comprising means for providing an option for creating a master preference profile.

31. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 30 wherein the means for displaying a list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and the selected colors further comprises means for displaying the list of programs based on the selected preference attributes and the selected colors of the master profile.

32. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1, wherein the user equipment is user personal computer equipment.

33. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1, wherein the user equipment is user television equipment.

34. A interactive television program guide system implemented on user equipment of a user, comprising:

means for providing an option for a user to select a plurality of preference attributes that are indicative of the user'"'"'s television programming interests;

means for providing an option for the user to associate one of at least several colors with each of the plurality of selected preference attributes; and

means for displaying a list of programming such that a program having at least one of the selected preference attributes is displayed in the associated color of that preference attribute.

35. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 34 wherein the means for displaying the list of programming further comprises means for providing an option of specifying a maximum number of associated colors for any one of the programs.

36. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 35 further comprising means for providing an option of specifying a sort order for each of the selected preference attributes.

37. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 36 wherein the means for providing an option of specifying a maximum number of associated colors further comprises means for displaying the associated colors according to the sort order for each of the selected preference attributes.

38. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 34, wherein the user equipment is user personal computer equipment.

39. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 34, wherein the user equipment is user television equipment.

40. A method for using an interactive television program guide system in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user equipment of a user, comprising:

providing an option for a user to select a plurality of preference attributes that are indicative of the user'"'"'s television programming interests;

providing an option for the user to select one of at least several colors for each of the plurality of selected preference attributes; and

displaying a list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and the selected colors.

41. The method defined in claim 40 wherein the step of providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes further comprises providing an option of selecting a program series as a preference attribute.

42. The method defined in claim 40 wherein the step of providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes further comprises providing an option of selecting a given airing of a program as a preference attribute.

43. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising:

allowing the given airing of the program selected as a preference attribute to expire after the program has been aired.

44. The method defined in claim 40 wherein the step of providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises providing an option of selecting a given actor or actress as a preference attribute.

45. The method defined in claim 40 wherein the step of providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises providing an option of selecting a genre of programming as a preference attribute.

46. The method defined in claim 40 wherein the step of providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises providing an option of selecting at least one rating as a preference attribute.

47. The method defined in claim 40 wherein the step of providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises providing an option of selecting a type of channel as a preference attribute.

48. The method defined in claim 40 wherein the step of providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises providing an option of selecting a given topic as a preference attribute.

49. The method defined in claim 40 wherein the step of providing the option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes comprises providing an option of selecting a word in a program description as a preference attribute.

50. The method defined in claim 40 wherein each one of the selected preference attributes and the respective one of the selected colors are associated as a display criterion, and further comprising:

providing an option of creating a preference profile with which the display criteria are associated.

51. The method defined in claim 50 further comprising:

allowing the user to highlight a given program listing,

wherein the step of providing an option of creating a preference profile further comprises providing an option of creating the preference profile based on program information of the highlighted program listing.

52. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the program information comprises a title of the highlighted program listing and the step of providing an option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the highlighted program listing comprises providing an option of selecting the title of the highlighted program listing as a preference attribute.

53. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the program information comprises a genre of the highlighted program listing and the step of providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the highlighted program listing comprises providing an option of selecting the genre of the highlighted program listing as a preference attribute.

54. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the program information comprises a channel of the highlighted program listing and the step of providing an option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the highlighted program listing comprises providing an option of selecting the channel of the highlighted program listing as a preference attribute.

55. The method defined in claim 51 wherein the program information comprises a rating of the highlighted program listing and the step of providing an option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the highlighted program listing further comprises providing an option of selecting the rating of the highlighted program listing as a preference attribute.

56. The method defined in claim 50 further comprising:

allowing the user to tune to a selected program,

wherein the step of providing the option of creating the preference profile further comprises creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program.

57. The method defined in claim 56 wherein the program information comprises a title of the selected program and the step of providing the option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program further comprises providing an option of selecting the title of the selected program as a preference attribute.

58. The method defined in claim 56 wherein the program information comprises a genre of the selected program and the step of providing an option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program further comprises providing an option of selecting the genre of the selected program as a preference attribute.

59. The method defined in claim 56 wherein the program information comprises a channel of the selected program and the step of providing an option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program further comprises providing an option of selecting the channel of the selected program as a preference attribute.

60. The method defined in claim 56 wherein the program information comprises a rating of the selected program and the step of providing an option of creating the preference profile based on the program information of the selected program further comprises providing an option of selecting the rating of the selected program as a preference attribute.

61. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising:

providing a profiles display with which the user may modify a preference profile with which the selected preference attributes and the selected colors are associated.

62. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising:

providing an option of deselecting at least one of the selected preference attributes.

63. The method defined in claim 50 wherein there are multiple profiles, the system further comprising:

providing an option of selecting which of the profiles to make active.

64. The method defined in claim 63 wherein at least two of the preference profiles are active and wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying the list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and selected colors in the two preference profiles, the system further comprising:

indicating which of the programs in the list of programming satisfy which of the preference profiles.

65. The method defined in claim 64 wherein the step of indicating comprises displaying the associated colors that satisfy one of the two profiles in one location in the list and the associated colors that satisfy the other of the two profiles in another location in the list.

66. The method defined in claim 65 wherein the step of indicating comprises displaying the associated colors that satisfy one of the two profiles using one pattern and the associated colors that satisfy the other of the two profiles using another pattern.

67. The method defined in claim 65 wherein the step of indicating comprises displaying the associated colors that satisfy one of the two profiles using one icon and the programs that satisfy the other of the two profiles using another icon.

68. The method defined in claim 63 wherein the step of displaying the list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and selected colors further comprises displaying the list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and selected colors associated with the multiple profiles.

69. The method defined in claim 63 further comprising:

providing an option for creating a master preference profile.

70. The method defined in claim 69 wherein the step of displaying a list of programming based on the selected preference attributes and the selected colors comprises displaying the list of programs based on the selected preference attributes and the selected colors of the master profile.

71. A method for using an interactive television program guide system in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user equipment of a user, comprising:

providing an option for a user to select a plurality of preference attributes that are indicative of the user'"'"'s television programming interests;

providing an option for the user to associate one of at least several colors with each of the plurality of selected preference attributes; and

displaying a list of programming such that a program having at least one of the selected preference attributes is displayed in the associated color of that preference attribute.

72. The method defined in claim 71 wherein the step of displaying the list of programming comprises providing an option of specifying a maximum number of associated colors for any one of the programs.

73. The method defined in claim 72, further comprising:

providing an option of specifying a sort order for each of the selected preference attributes.

74. The method defined in claim 73 wherein the step of providing an option of specifying the maximum number of associated colors further comprises displaying the associated colors according to the sort order for each of the selected preference attributes.