Electronic program guide using markup language

• US 8,010,979 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TV Guide Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Zaring, Jon C, Lemmons, Thomas R
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost; Dwayne D
• Assistant Examiner(s): STERNBANE, LAURENCE J
• Application Number:
  US11/432,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,938 Days
• Field of Search: 725 39- 61, 725136-153, 715/760
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• 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 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80

Abstract

An interactive television program guide is provided. Program guide display elements are arranged and styled using markup language documents. These markup language documents may also indicate and select program guide functions. The program guide interprets the markup language documents and generates the display screens and program guide functionality without user intervention. The program guide may also be updated by supplying new markup language documents that modify display screens and program guide functionality. The markup language documents may be supplied by a main facility or a television distribution facility.

Claims

1. A method for allowing an operator to update a functionality characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the method comprising:

allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment;

updating the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and

generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the program guide display screen comprises a display element that executes the updated functionality characteristic of the program guide in response to user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes a plurality of television program listings displayed on the display screen to change in response to a user input.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from being displayed on a portion of the screen having a first size to a portion of the screen having a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from an arrangement by channel to an arrangement by theme.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from displaying the listings in the form of a grid to a list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes, in response to user input, the program guide to display a program listings information screen, start a recording, set a favorite channel, or set a reminder.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document.

9. A system for allowing an operator to update a functionality characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the system comprising:

an operator server for remotely supplying a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; and

a client processor for i) updating the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document, and ii) for generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the program guide display screen comprises a display element that executes the updated functionality characteristic of the program guide in response to user input.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes a plurality of television program listings displayed on the display screen to change in response to a user input.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from being displayed on a portion of the screen having a first size to a portion of the screen having a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from an arrangement by channel to an arrangement by theme.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from displaying the listings in the form of a grid to a list.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes, in response to user input, the program guide to display a program listings information screen, start a recording, set a favorite channel, or set a reminder.

16. The system defined in claim 9 wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program codes embodied therein for performing interactive television program guide operations, the non-transitory computer readable medium program codes performing functions comprising:

allowing an operator to update a functionality characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment;

allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment;

updating the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and

generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the program guide display screen comprises a display element that executes the updated functionality characteristic of the program guide in response to user input.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes a plurality of television program listings displayed on the display screen to change in response to a user input.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from being displayed on a portion of the screen having a first size to a portion of the screen having a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from an arrangement by channel to an arrangement by theme.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from displaying the listings in the form of a grid to a list.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes, in response to user input, the program guide to display a program listings information screen, start a recording, set a favorite channel, or set a reminder.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium defined in claim 17 wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document.

25. A method for updating aspects of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the method comprising:

receiving a markup language document at the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment;

updating an aspect of the interactive television program guide based on the received markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and

generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the receiving comprises:

allowing an operator to remotely supply the markup language document; and

the markup language document being received without intervention by the user.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise display characteristics of the program guide.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise functionality characteristics of the program guide.

30. A system for updating aspects of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving a markup language document at the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; and

a processor for i) updating an aspect of the interactive television program guide based on the received markup language document using the interactive television program guide, and ii) for generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising a communication link for allowing an operator to remotely supply the markup language document, the markup language document being received without intervention by the user.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise display characteristics of the program guide.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise functionality characteristics of the program guide.

35. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program codes embodied therein for performing interactive television program guide operations, the non-transitory computer readable medium program codes performing functions comprising:

updating aspects of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment;

receiving a markup language document at the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment;

updating an aspect of the interactive television program guide based on the received markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and

generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the receiving comprises:

allowing an operator to remotely supply the markup language document; and

the markup language document being received without intervention by the user.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise display characteristics of the program guide.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35 wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise functionality characteristics of the program guide.

40. A method for allowing an operator to update a characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the method comprising:

allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment;

updating the characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and

generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.