Multiple database, user-choice-compiled program and event guide

• US 8,132,206 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Leftwich, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Application Number:
  US12/411,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20090260036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 39, 725 45- 47, 725/52
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• 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 21/4622 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

An electronic programming guide generator utilizes filters to select only programming filtered to display in an electronic programming guide display.

Claims

1. A method for displaying program listings, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of program listings, wherein each of the program listings comprises a unique identifier and title;

receiving a filter that includes at least one identifier which is associated one-to-one with a program listing, wherein the filter is generated at a remote server;

retrieving, for each of the at least one identifier included in the received filter, the stored program listing with the unique identifier that corresponds one-to-one with the at least one identifier included in the received filter; and

providing a display that includes the title of each program listing retrieved.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering with the remote server to receive the filter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a list of filters available for receiving.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter is received in accordance with a schedule set by the remote server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter further includes the program listing associated one-to-one with an identifier included in the received filter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the filter includes a list of identifiers, each associated one-to-one with a program listing.

7. A system for displaying program listings, the system comprising:

a memory for storing a plurality of program listings, wherein each of the program listings comprises a unique identifier and title;

a receiver for receiving a filter that includes at least one identifier which is associated one-to-one with a program listing, wherein the filter is generated at a remote server; and

control circuitry configured to;

retrieve, from the memory, for each of the at least one identifier included in the received filter, the program listing with the unique identifier that corresponds one-to-one with the at least one identifier included in the received filter; and

display, on a display screen, the title of each program listing retrieved.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to register with the remote server to receive the filter.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display, on the display screen, a list of filters available for receiving.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the filter is received in accordance with a schedule set by the remote server.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the filter further includes the program listing associated one-to-one with an identifier included in the received filter.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the filter further includes a list of identifiers, each associated with a program listing.

13. A method for managing program listings comprising:

storing a plurality of identifiers that are each associated one-to-one with each of a plurality of program listings;

receiving a filter comprising a set of filter entries, wherein the set of filter entries is predetermined and each of the filter entries is associated one-to-one with a program listing and associated one-to-one with a stored identifier;

comparing the plurality of identifiers with the set of filter entries to form a set of identifiers, wherein the set of identifiers includes at least one of the plurality of identifiers that is associated one-to-one with a filter entry; and

displaying, in an electronic program guide, the program listings associated with each of the identifiers in the set.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising registering with a remote server to receive a filter.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying, in an electronic program guide, a list of filters available for receiving.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein a program listing includes at least one of a title and a source.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the filter further includes the program listing associated one-to-one with an identifier included in the received filter.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the filter is generated at a remote server.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the filter is received in accordance with a schedule set by the remote server.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the filter further includes a list of identifiers, each associated with a program listing.

21. A system for managing program listings, the system comprising:

a memory for storing a plurality of identifiers that are each associated one-to-one with each of a plurality of program listings;

a receiver for receiving a filter comprising a set of filter entries, wherein the set of filter entries is predetermined and each of the filter entries is associated one-to-one with a program listing and associated one-to-one with a stored identifier; and

control circuitry configured to;

compare the plurality of identifiers, stored in the memory, with the set of filter entries, received by the receiver, to form a set of identifiers, wherein the set of identifiers includes at least one of the plurality of identifiers that is associated one-to-one with a filter entry; and

display, on a display screen, the program listings associated with each of the identifiers in the set.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to register with a remote server to receive a filter.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display, on the display screen, a list of filters available for receiving.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein a program listing includes at least one of a title and a source.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the filter further includes the program listing associated one-to-one with an identifier included in the received filter.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the filter is generated at a remote server.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the filter is received in accordance with a schedule set by the remote server.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the filter further includes a list of identifiers, each associated with a program listing.