Interactive program guide with selectable updating

• US 7,870,584 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russ, Samuel H., Gaul, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US12/352,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 725 47- 49, 725/133, 725/14, 725/153
• US Class Current: 725/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 21/4821 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) includes receiving from a user a request for an IPG, and providing the user with an IPG that includes listings that were received by a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) via a subscriber television network, as well as other listings that were not received by the DHCT via the subscriber television network.

Claims

1. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a plurality of listings of a first type via a subscriber television network;

receiving data related to at least one local device capable of communicating with the DHCT;

providing a user with an IPG, the IPG including a first IPG menu screen that includes the plurality of listings of the first type and at least one listing of a second type corresponding to the data related to the at least one local device, wherein the plurality of listings of the first type and the at least one listing of the second type are displayed as elements in an IPG grid;

providing, within the IPG, a user selectable option on the first IPG menu screen for a user to access a second IPG menu screen, the second IPG menu screen including at least one designation associated with the at least one local device, wherein the second IPG menu screen enables the user to select the at least one designation to be provided to a user on the first IPG menu screen;

receiving user input requesting that a functionality instance be provided by the at least one local device, wherein the functionality instance is displayed in the second IPG menu screen and wherein the functionality instance describes an action the local device is capable of performing; and

responsive to receiving the user input, transmitting to the at least one local device a message requesting that the functionality instance be provided.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to receiving data related to a plurality of local devices capable of communicating with the DHCT, the second IPG menu screen includes a plurality of designations associated with the plurality of local devices, wherein the second IPG menu screen enables the user to select a plurality of designations to be accessible to the user through the first IPG menu screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the IPG grid is configured to display a plurality of time entries responsive to a user highlighting one of the listings of the plurality of listings of the first type.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the IPG grid is further configured to omit display of time entries responsive to the user highlighting the at least one listing of the second type.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user selection screen, the user selection screen configured to enable the user to select an IPG configuration based on user identity.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a Personal Identification Number (PIN) screen, the PIN screen configured to receive user input related to a PIN.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising responsive to receiving a user'"'"'s PIN, accessing a database to confirm the user'"'"'s identity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber television network includes at least one of the following:

a cable television network or a satellite television network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of listings of the first type identify television presentations.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT includes a television set-top terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one local device includes at least one of the following:

a thermostat, an alarm clock, and a home security system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one local device includes a computer device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer device is one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a multi-function mobile telephone.

14. A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the DHCT comprising:

a communications interface that receives functionality information from at least one local device, wherein the functionality information is related to a functionality of the at least one local device;

logic configured to provide an Interactive Program Guide (IPG) that includes a first IPG menu screen including;

at least one television program listing; and

at least one listing related to the at least one local device;

logic configured to provide a user selectable option to access a second IPG menu screen, the second IPG menu screen including;

at least one functionality listing related to the at least one local device; and

at least one user selectable option for displaying at least one of the functionality listings from the second IPG menu screen in the first IPG menu screen;

logic configured to receive user input requesting that a functionality instance be provided by the at least one local device, wherein the functionality instance is displayed in the second IPG menu screen and wherein the functionality instance describes an action the local device is capable of performing; and

logic configured to transmit to the at least one local device a message requesting that the functionality instance be provided responsive to receiving the user input.

15. The DHCT of claim 14, wherein the at least one local device includes at least one of the following:

a thermostat, an alarm clock, and a home security system.

16. The DHCT of claim 14, wherein the functionality provided by the at least one local device is provided other than via a video monitor.

17. The DHCT of claim 14, wherein the at least one local device includes a computer device.

18. The DHCT of claim 14, wherein the program guide also lists a television functionality that is capable of being provided by the DHCT.

19. A method of providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a set top terminal (STT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of television presentation listings via a subscriber television network;

receiving data related to at least one local device;

storing the data related to the at least one local device in a database;

creating a functionality listing related to the data related to the at least one local device;

providing the user with an IPG that includes a first IPG menu screen, the first IPG menu screen including at least a portion of the television presentation listings in addition to at least one local device listing, the at least one local device listing including data relating to the at least one local device, the first IPG menu screen further including at least one user selectable option to provide a second IPG menu screen;

receiving first user input requesting display of the second IPG menu screen, the second IPG menu screen including at least one functionality listing related to the at least one local device, and at least one user selectable option of displaying, in the first IPG menu page, any number of functionality listings;

providing the user with the second IPG menu screen, wherein the subscriber television network is one of a cable television network or a satellite television network, wherein the at least one local device is at least one of the following;

a thermostat, an alarm clock, and a home security system;

receiving second user input requesting that a functionality instance be provided by the at least one local device, wherein the functionality instance is displayed in the second IPG menu screen and wherein the functionality instance describes an action the local device is capable of performing; and

responsive to receiving the second user input, transmitting to the at least one local device a message requesting that the functionality instance be provided.