Client-server electronic program guide
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for use in a client-server interactive program guide system for scheduling reminders according to user defined expressions and providing a customized viewing experience to a user based on programs having scheduled reminders, comprising:
- providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive program guide client implemented on user equipment without requiring the user to navigate the Internet;
storing the expression on a program guide server;
processing the expression with the program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression;
scheduling with the program guide server reminders for programs that satisfy the expression;
determining at least one program criteria associated with the programs that satisfy the expression;
determining a set of programs for which reminders have not yet been scheduled; and
applying the at least one associated program criteria to the set of programs for which reminders have not yet been scheduled to generate at least one personal viewing recommendation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide data, schedules reminders, schedules program recordings, and parentally locks programs based on the expressions. Users'"'"' viewing histories may be tracked. The program guide server may analyze the viewing histories and generates viewing recommendations, targets advertising, and collects program ratings information based on the viewing histories.
375 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for use in a client-server interactive program guide system for scheduling reminders according to user defined expressions and providing a customized viewing experience to a user based on programs having scheduled reminders, comprising:
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providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive program guide client implemented on user equipment without requiring the user to navigate the Internet; storing the expression on a program guide server; processing the expression with the program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression; scheduling with the program guide server reminders for programs that satisfy the expression; determining at least one program criteria associated with the programs that satisfy the expression; determining a set of programs for which reminders have not yet been scheduled; and applying the at least one associated program criteria to the set of programs for which reminders have not yet been scheduled to generate at least one personal viewing recommendation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 21, 22)
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4. A method for use in a client-server interactive program guide system for scheduling programs for recording according to user defined expressions and providing a customized viewing experience to a user based on the scheduled programs, comprising:
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providing a user with an opportunity to define an expression with an interactive program guide client implemented on user equipment without requiring the user to navigate the Internet; storing the expression on a program guide server; processing the expression with the program guide server to find programs that satisfy the expression; scheduling with the program guide server the programs that satisfy the expression for recording; determining at least one program criteria associated with the programs that satisfy the expression; determining a set of programs not yet scheduled for recording; and applying the at least one associated program criteria to the set of programs not yet scheduled for recording to generate at least one personal viewing recommendation. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 23, 24)
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7. A client-server interactive program guide system for scheduling reminders according to user defined expressions and providing a customized viewing experience to a user based on programs having scheduled reminders, comprising:
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user equipment on which an interactive program guide client is implemented, wherein the program guide client is programmed to provide a user with an opportunity to define an expression without requiring the user to navigate the Internet; a communications path over which the expression is provided by the interactive program guide client to a program guide server, wherein the program guide server is programmed to find programs that satisfy the expression, to schedule reminders for programs that satisfy the expression, to determine at least one program criteria associated with the programs that satisfy the expression, to determine a set of programs for which reminders have not yet been scheduled, and to apply the at least one program criteria to the set of programs for which reminders have not yet been scheduled to generate at least one personal viewing recommendation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A client-server interactive program guide system for scheduling programs for recording according to user defined expressions and providing a customized viewing experience to a user based on the scheduled programs, comprising:
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user equipment on which an interactive program guide client is implemented, wherein the interactive program guide client is programmed to provide a user with an opportunity to define an expression without requiring the user to navigate the Internet; a communications path over which the expression is provided by the interactive program guide client to a program guide server, wherein the program guide server is programmed to find programs that satisfy the expression, and to schedule the programs that satisfy the expression for recording, to determine at least one program criteria associated with the programs that satisfy the expression, to determine a set of programs not yet scheduled for recording, and to apply the at least one program criteria to the set of programs not yet scheduled for recording to generate at least one personal viewing recommendation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for use in an interactive program guide system for providing a customized viewing experience to a user, comprising:
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generating a viewing history database comprising program listings and associated program criteria; determining at least one of the associated program criteria from the viewing history database that meets a user preference profile; determining from a program listing database a set of programs not yet watched; applying the at least one of the associated program criteria to the set of programs not yet watched to generate at least one personal viewing recommendation; and providing the personal viewing recommendation to a user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An interactive program guide system for providing a customized viewing experience to a user, comprising:
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user equipment on which an interactive program guide client is implemented, wherein the interactive program guide client is operative to provide the user with an opportunity to create a user preference profile; a communications path over which the user preference profile is provided by the interactive program guide client to a program guide server, wherein the program guide server comprises; a first database comprising program listings and associated program criteria based on the user'"'"'s viewing history at the interactive program guide client, a second database comprising program listings available from the program guide server, and processing circuitry operative (1) to determine at least one of the associated program criteria from the first database that meets the user preference profile, (2) to determine from the second database a set of programs not yet watched by the user at the interactive program guide client, (3) to apply the at least one of the associated program criteria to the set of programs not yet watched to generate at least one personal viewing recommendation, and (4) to provide the personal viewing recommendation to the user at the interactive program guide client over the communications path. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification