Interactive electronic program guide for use with television delivery system

• US 7,363,645 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sedna Patent Services LLC
• Inventors: Hendricks, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHELEHEDA, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US09/964,890
• Time in Patent Office: 2,398 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/40, 348/385.1, 348/159
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/10 Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/86 Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/22 per use
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/96 CATV systems for accessing the Internet H04H60/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/97 : using uplink of the CATV systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 : Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 : comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 : comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 : Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 : being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 : Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 : Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 : Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 : Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 : Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• 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 21/26208 : the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 : for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 : Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 : for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 : characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 : for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 : Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 : OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• 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 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• 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 21/64307 : ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 : involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 : for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 : for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 : for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 : Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• 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 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

An interactive electronic program guide is disclosed for use with a television delivery system. The guide is generated by a set top terminal that receives a television signal from an operations center and extracts from the signal individual programs for display on a television screen associated with the terminal. The guide is used to select programs and interactive features for display on the screen. The guide includes a plurality of interconnected menus having display information. The guide also includes a cursor controlled by the user input device for sequencing through the menus and selecting a menu item. The menus include an introductory menu displayed when the guide is started, a main menu that allows access to program submenus and interactive submenus, and during program menus. The during program menus include both overlay menus that are displayed during a program and hidden menus that are not displayed. The interactive features of the guide include a logo displayed during a program indicating that interactive features are available for the program. Upon user selection, a menu of the interactive features is displayed during the program as an overlay window. Interactive features include, for example, additional information related to the program, quizzes, facts, etc. Upon selection of an interactive feature, the feature is displayed in a menu during the program.

Claims

1. An interactive electronic program guide for display on a television for use with a television delivery system comprising a set top terminal, the guide comprising:

a home menu;

a plurality of major menus displayed as menu options on the home menu;

a plurality of sub-menus displayed as menu options on the plurality of major menus;

a plurality of during programming menus enacted after selection of a program;

a mask to mask portions of a digitally compressed video, wherein the digitally compressed video comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video clips sent simultaneously on a single channel using split screen video techniques and a first graphic representing the mask is stored in a first graphics file in a memory of the set top terminal, wherein the first graphic is adjusted to cover undesired portions of the digitally compressed video; and

a cursor highlight overlay to indicate a position of a cursor on at least one of the menus, wherein the cursor highlight overlay is movable in response to pressing of cursor movement buttons by a user, and wherein a second graphic representing the cursor highlight overlay is stored in a second graphics file in the memory of the set top terminal,

wherein the cursor highlight overlay is displayed over the at least one of the menus which is displayed over the mask.

2. The guide of claim 1, further comprising:

an introductory menu that is displayed upon beginning use of the guide,

wherein at least one of the menus of the guide comprises video, graphics and text demultiplexed from a signal received over the television delivery system, and wherein at least one of the of menus of the guide comprises a version of the demultiplexed video which is scaled and repositioned.

3. The guide of claim 2, wherein the guide is controlled by a set top terminal, and wherein the introductory menu automatically appears on the television screen when the set top terminal is turned on;

and

wherein the guide further comprises;

a channels query menu for querying a user to determine a plurality of the user'"'"'s favorite channels;

a programs query menu for querying a user to determine a plurality of the user'"'"'s favorite programs;

at least one favorite channels menu displaying at least some of the plurality of favorite channels; and

at least one favorite programs menu displaying at least some of the plurality of favorite programs.

4. The guide of claim 2, wherein introductory menu displays information or messages from a television delivery system operations center that provides programming.

5. The guide of claim 4, wherein the information or messages are directed to a particular subscriber.

6. The guide of claim 4, wherein the information or messages are directed to a group of subscribers.

7. The guide of claim 1, wherein the during program menus comprise hidden menus and program overlay menus.

8. An interactive menu system for display on a television in conjunction with television programming and a set top terminal, the menu system comprising:

a logo that is displayed on a television during a program having one or more interactive features;

a plurality of menus including an overlay menu that is displayed during the program, the overlay menu including the interactive features;

a mask to mask portions of a digitally compressed video, wherein the digitally compressed video comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video clips sent simultaneously on a single channel using split screen video techniques and a first graphic representing the mask is stored in a first graphics file in a memory of the set top terminal, wherein the first graphic is adjusted to cover undesired portions of the digitally compressed video; and

a cursor highlight overlay to indicate a position of a cursor on at least one of the menus, wherein the cursor highlight overlay is movable in response to pressing of cursor movement buttons by a user, and wherein a second graphic representing the cursor highlight overlay is stored in a second graphics file in the memory of the set top terminal,

wherein the cursor highlight overlay is displayed over the at least one of the menus which is displayed over the mask, and

wherein the logo indicates to a user that the interactive features are available for the program, and wherein the overlay menu is displayed in response to a signal received from a user input.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the overlay menu includes menu options for a plurality of interactive features.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the overlay menu further includes a menu option to return to the program without the interactive features.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a cursor that indicates one of the menu options, wherein the cursor is controlled by the user input.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the interactive features include quizzes, facts, or products, related to the program.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of interactive submenus for use with the interactive features, which submenus are displayed in response to a selection of the menu options, the selection being received from the user input.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the submenus are displayed in a video window in a scaled-down program video format.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the program and one or more of the submenus are displayed on the television at the same time.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the logo is displayed as an overlay menu.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the logo is displayed by a set top terminal associated with the television, and wherein the set top terminal determines whether there, is data or information about the program to be displayed as the one or more interactive features and displays the logo if there is data or information.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the set top terminal generates an overlay menu including the logo.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the overlay menu is generated by a set top converter using data received during a vertical blanking interval.

20. The system of claim 8, wherein the logo is displayed in a corner of a screen of the television periodically for a specified duration.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the logo is displayed for fifteen seconds during a plurality often-minute segments of the program.

22. An interactive electronic program guide for controlling display of content on a television associated with a set top terminal, the guide comprising:

a plurality of interactive menus, each corresponding to a level of interactivity and having one or more interactive menu items for selection;

a main menu having one or more main menu items for selection, which main menu items correspond to the interactive menus;

a mask to mask portions of a digitally compressed video, wherein the digitally compressed video comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video clips sent simultaneously on a single channel using split screen video techniques and a first graphic representing the mask is stored in a first graphics file in a memory of the set top terminal, wherein the first graphic is adjusted to cover undesired portions of the video; and

a cursor highlight overlay to indicate a position of a cursor on at least one of the menus, wherein the cursor highlight overlay is movable in response to pressing of cursor movement buttons by a user, and wherein a second graphic representing the cursor highlight overlay is stored in a second graphics file in the memory of the set top terminal,

wherein the cursor highlight overlay is displayed over the at least one of the menus which is displayed over the mask, and

wherein the menus are navigated using a user input, and wherein the main menu items and the interactive menu items are responsive to selection signals received from the user input.

23. A set top terminal for generating an interactive electronic program guide for display on a television connected to the set top terminal, the terminal comprising:

means for retrieving information about a subscriber;

means for receiving a television signal;

means for extracting individual programs from the television signal;

means for storing a first graphics file and a second graphics file;

means for generating an electronic program guide for controlling display of content on a television screen, the guide comprising;

a plurality of interactive menus, each corresponding to a level of interactivity and having one or more interactive menu items for selection;

a main menu having one or more main menu items for selection, which main menu items correspond to the interactive menus, wherein the menus are navigated using a user input, and wherein the main menu items and the interactive menu items are responsive to selection signals received from the user input;

a mask to mask portions of a digitally compressed video, wherein the digitally compressed video comprising a plurality of digitally compressed video clips sent simultaneously on a single channel using split screen video techniques and a first graphic representing the mask is stored in the first graphics file, wherein the first graphic is adjusted to cover undesired portions of the digitally compressed video; and

a cursor highlight overlay to indicate a position of a cursor on at least one of the menus, wherein the cursor highlight overlay is movable in response to pressing of cursor movement buttons by a user, and wherein a second graphic representing the cursor highlight overlay is stored in the second graphics file,

wherein the cursor highlight overlay is displayed over the at least one of the menus which is displayed over the mask; and

means for receiving the selection signals from the user input.