Interactive television program guide with remote access

• US 8,578,423 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Hassell, Joel G., Lemmons, Thomas R., Berezowski, David M., Knee, Robert A., McCoy, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US11/894,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/58, 725/78, 725/104, 725/115, 725/133, 725141-142, 725109-110, 725/153, 386/238, 386291-299, 386/323
• US Class Current: 725/53
• 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 21/42204 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4751 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 21/4755 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 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• 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 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• 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 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 : involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• 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

Abstract

An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions.

Claims

1. A method for purchasing content, comprising:

generating, by a first user equipment device, a display of an interactive content guide comprising a plurality of content listings, wherein the display is generated based on content guide information from a second user equipment device and received by the first user equipment device via a communications path that includes the Internet;

receiving, at the first user equipment device, a first user input requesting purchase of the content from a user by selecting a content listing being presented by the interactive content guide on a first display device;

receiving, at the first user equipment device, a second user input comprising data that identifies the second user equipment device for consumption of the content requested to be purchased;

sending, in response to receiving the first user input and the second user input, from the first user equipment device a communication to the second user equipment device via the communications path based on the first user input and the second user input wherein;

the first user input comprises data associated with the content listing of the content requested to be purchased;

the first user equipment device outputs to the first display device and the second user equipment device outputs to a second display device, the second display device is different from the first display device;

the content requested to be purchased is directed to the second user equipment device for consumption by the user based on the first and the second user inputs; and

the second user equipment device and the second display are located within a first same location within a user home and the first user equipment device and the first display are within a second same location remote from the first same location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content requested to be purchased is a pay-per-view program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first user input further comprises:

receiving authorization information permitting the purchasing of the content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the content requested to be purchased from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input is received based on a displayed option, and wherein the receiving further comprises:

displaying listings of user equipment devices operative to receive the content, wherein the listings comprise a listing associated with the second user equipment device; and

receiving a user selection of the listing associated with the second user equipment device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an identification of a plurality of user equipment devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second user equipment devices are coupled to each other over a network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second user equipment device communicates with the first user equipment device over an Internet link.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device are associated with a single user.

10. A method for providing content available for purchasing to a selected device, comprising:

enabling, using control circuitry, access on a second user equipment device to the content available for purchasing that is selected with a first user equipment device, wherein the first user equipment device;

generates a display of an interactive content guide comprising a plurality of content listings, wherein the display is generated based on content guide information from the second user equipment device and received by the first user equipment device via a communications path that includes the Internet;

receives a first user input requesting purchase of the content from a user by selecting a content listing being presented by the interactive content guide on a first display device;

receives a second user input comprising data that identifies the second user equipment device for access to the content requested to be purchased;

sends, in response to receiving the first user input and the second user input, a communication to the second user equipment device via the communications path based on the first user input and the second user input, and wherein;

the first user input comprises data associated with the content listing of the content requested to be purchased;

the first user equipment device outputs to the first display device and the second user television equipment device outputs to a second display device, the second display device is different from the first display device;

the second user equipment device and the second display are located within a first same location within a user home and the first user equipment device and the first display are within a second same location remote from the first same location; and

access to the content requested to be purchased is enabled on the second user equipment device based on the first and the second user inputs.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first user equipment device:

receives authorization information permitting the purchasing of the content.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the content requested to be purchased is a pay-per-view program.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected content requested to be purchased is transmitted from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device.

14. A system for purchasing content, comprising:

a first user equipment device comprising a processor, wherein the first user equipment device outputs to a first display device, wherein the processor;

generates a display of an interactive content guide comprising a plurality of content listings, wherein the display is generated based on content guide information from a second user equipment device and received by the first user equipment device via a communications path that includes the Internet;

receives a first user input requesting purchase of the content from a user by selecting a content listing being presented by the interactive content guide on the first display device;

receives a second user input comprising data that identifies the second user equipment device for consumption of the content requested to be purchased;

sends, in response to receiving the first user input and the second user input, a communication to the second user equipment device via the communications path based on the first user input and the second user input, wherein;

the first user input comprises data associated with the content listing of the content requested to be purchased;

the second user equipment device outputs to a second display device different from the first display device;

the second user equipment device and the second display are located within a first same location within a user home and the first user equipment device and the first display are within a second same location remote from the first same location; and

the content requested to be purchased is directed to the second user equipment device for consumption by the user based on the first and the second user inputs.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the content requested to be purchased is a pay-per-view program.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor:

receives authorization information permitting the purchasing of the content.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor provides the content requested to be purchased from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor:

directs a display processor to display listings of user equipment devices operative to receive the content, wherein the listings comprise a listing associated with the second user equipment device; and

receives a user selection of the listing associated with the second user equipment device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor receives an identification of a plurality of user equipment devices.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the first and second user equipment devices are coupled to each other over a network.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device are associated with a single user.

22. A system for providing content available for purchasing to a selected device, comprising:

control circuitry that enables access, on a second user equipment device, to the content available for purchasing that is selected with a first user equipment device, wherein the first user equipment device;

outputs to a first display device;

generates a display of an interactive content guide comprising a plurality of content listings, wherein the display is generated based on content guide information from the second user equipment device and received by the first user equipment device via a communications path that includes the Internet;

receives a first user input requesting purchase of the content from a user by selecting a content listing being presented by the interactive content guide on the first display device;

receives a second user input comprising data that identifies the second user equipment device for access to the content requested to be purchased; and

sends, in response to receiving the first user input and the second user input, a communication to the second user equipment device via the communications path based on the first user input and the second user input, and wherein;

the first user input comprises data associated with the content listing of the content requested to be purchased;

the second user equipment device outputs to a second display device different from the first display device;

the second user equipment device and the second display are located within a first same location within a user home and the first user equipment device and the first display are within a second same location remote from the first same location; and

access to the content requested to be purchased is enabled on the second user equipment device based on the first and the second user inputs access.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first user equipment device:

receives authorization information permitting the purchasing of the program.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the content requested to be purchased is a pay-per-view program.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the selected content requested to be purchased is transmitted from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device.

26. A method for purchasing content using a first user equipment device, the method comprising:

accessing, with a second user equipment device, the content requested to be purchased, wherein the first user equipment device;

generates a display of an interactive content guide comprising a plurality of content listings, wherein the display is generated based on content guide information from the second user equipment device and received by the first user equipment device via a communications path that includes the Internet;

receives a first user input requesting purchase of the content from a user by selecting a content listing being presented by the interactive content guide on a first display device;

receives a second user input comprising data that identifies the second user equipment device for access to the content requested to be purchased;

sends, in response to receiving the first user input and the second user input, a communication to the second user equipment device via the communications path based on the first user input and the second user input, and wherein;

the first user input comprises data associated with the content listing of the content requested to be purchased;

the first user equipment device outputs to the first display device and the second user equipment device outputs to a second display device, the second display device is different from the first display device; and

the second user equipment device and the second display are located within a first same location within a user home and the first user equipment device and the first display are within a second same location remote from the first same location.

27. A system for purchasing content using a first user equipment device that outputs to a first display device, the system comprising:

a second user equipment device comprising a processor, wherein the second user equipment device outputs to a second display device, wherein the processor;

accesses the content requested to be purchased, wherein the first user equipment device;

generates a display of an interactive content guide comprising a plurality of content listings, wherein the display is generated based on content guide information from the second user equipment device and received by the first user equipment device via a communications path that includes the Internet;

receives a first user input requesting purchase of the content from a user by selecting a content listing being presented by the interactive content guide on the first display device;

receives a second user input comprising data that identifies the second user equipment device for access to the content requested to be purchased;

sends, in response to receiving the first user input and the second user input, a communication to the second user equipment device via the communications path based on the first user input and the second user input, and wherein;

the first user input comprises data associated with the content listing of the content requested to be purchased;

the second display device is different from the first display device; and

the second user equipment device and the second display are located within a first same location within a user home and the first user equipment device and the first display are within a second same location remote from the first same location.