System and method for using television schedule information

• US 9,402,102 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Schein, Steven M., Leftwich, James J., Folker, David M., Hunwick, Keith W., Alba, Theresa A., King, Molly K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Mike
• Application Number:
  US14/580,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20150201241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/063 Setting decision thresholds using feedback techniques only
• 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 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• 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 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/47815 : 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 21/482 : 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 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 : for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• 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 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 : specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• 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 21/854 : Content authoring
• 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 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 : Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• 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

Abstract

A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

user input circuitry; and

control circuitry configured to;

generate for simultaneous display;

a first area comprising a plurality of selectable media asset identifiers;

a second area comprising a video corresponding to a first media asset;

a third area comprising a video, wherein the video initially corresponds to a second media asset that (1) is different from the first media asset and (2) corresponds to a first media asset identifier of the plurality of selectable media asset identifiers, and wherein the video of the second media asset changes when the user indicates interest in a second media asset identifier of the plurality of selectable media asset identifiers; and

a fourth area comprising an exit icon;

receive a user selection corresponding to the second area and the third area, wherein, when the user selection corresponds to the second area, sound corresponding to the second area is caused to be emitted, and wherein, when the user selection corresponds to the third area, sound corresponding to the third area is caused to be emitted; and

in response to receiving a user selection of the exit icon, generate for display a currently-selected media asset in place of the simultaneously displayed first area, second area, third area, and fourth area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user input circuitry is configured to activate and deactivate the first area, the second area, and the third area.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first area includes additional information for each media asset identifier of the plurality of selectable media asset identifiers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a message area for displaying a message to a user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first area includes a matrix of cells, each cell containing information associated with a media asset identifier and a length that is proportional to a duration of the media asset.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a database storing information associated with each media asset identifier of the plurality of selectable media asset identifiers, wherein the database includes a plurality of criteria and the each media asset identifier is associated with a criterion of the plurality of criteria.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to search the database to match media asset identifiers with a selected criterion.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically generate for display the matched media asset identifiers.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first media asset is a recently watched media asset.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the user input circuitry is further configured to activate the message area to obtain more information associated with the message.

11. A method comprising:

generating for simultaneous display;

a first area comprising a plurality of selectable media asset identifiers;

a second area comprising a video corresponding to a first media asset;

a third area comprising a video, wherein the video initially corresponds to a second media asset that (1) is different from the first media asset and (2) corresponds to a first media asset identifier of the plurality of selectable media asset identifiers, and wherein the video of the second media asset changes when the user indicates interest in a second media asset identifier of the plurality of selectable media asset identifiers; and

a fourth area comprising an exit icon;

receiving a user selection corresponding to the second area and the third area, wherein, when the user selection corresponds to the second area, sound corresponding to the second area is caused to be emitted, and wherein, when the user selection corresponds to the third area, sound corresponding to the third area is caused to be emitted; and

in response to receiving a user selection of the exit icon, generating for display a currently-selected media asset in place of the simultaneously displayed first area, second area, third area, and fourth area.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating and deactivating the first area, the second area, and the third area.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first area includes additional information for each media asset identifier of the plurality of selectable media asset identifiers.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating for display a message area for displaying a message to a user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first area includes a matrix of cells, each cell containing information associated with a media asset identifier and a length that is proportional to a duration of the media asset.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing information associated with each media asset identifier of the plurality of selectable media asset identifiers in a database, wherein the database includes a plurality of criteria and the each media asset identifier is associated with a criterion of the plurality of criteria.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first media asset is a recently watched media asset.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising activating the message area to obtain more information associated with the message.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising searching the database to match media asset identifiers with a selected criterion.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising automatically generating for display the matched media asset identifiers.