US20020124255A1 - Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities - Google Patents

Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20020124255A1
US20020124255A1 US09/731,115 US73111500A US2002124255A1 US 20020124255 A1 US20020124255 A1 US 20020124255A1 US 73111500 A US73111500 A US 73111500A US 2002124255 A1 US2002124255 A1 US 2002124255A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
interactive
advertisement
passive
interactive application
providing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US09/731,115
Inventor
M. Scott Reichardt
W. Benjamin Herrington
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Adeia Guides Inc
Original Assignee
United Video Properties Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by United Video Properties Inc filed Critical United Video Properties Inc
Priority to US09/731,115 priority Critical patent/US20020124255A1/en
Assigned to UNITED VIDEO PROPERITES, INC. reassignment UNITED VIDEO PROPERITES, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HERRINGTON, W. BENJAMIN, REICHARDT, M. SCOTT
Publication of US20020124255A1 publication Critical patent/US20020124255A1/en
Priority to US10/285,870 priority patent/US20030056219A1/en
Priority to US10/618,154 priority patent/US20040107437A1/en
Assigned to JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. reassignment JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC., INDEX SYSTEMS INC, MACROVISION CORPORATION, ODS PROPERTIES, INC., STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC, UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Priority to US12/775,974 priority patent/US20100223640A1/en
Priority to US12/775,967 priority patent/US20100223639A1/en
Assigned to ODS PROPERTIES, INC., UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., INDEX SYSTEMS INC., ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC, APTIV DIGITAL, INC., TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC, TV GUIDE, INC., ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.), ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.), ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION), ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED) reassignment ODS PROPERTIES, INC. RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
Priority to US13/290,449 priority patent/US9118958B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/431Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • H04N21/4312Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
    • H04N21/4316Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241Advertisements
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241Advertisements
    • G06Q30/0277Online advertisement
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/06Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • G06Q30/0601Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/426Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/431Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • H04N21/4312Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
    • H04N21/4314Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4622Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/478Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/482End-user interface for program selection
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications
    • H04N21/482End-user interface for program selection
    • H04N21/4821End-user interface for program selection using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/16Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Definitions

  • This invention relates to passive and interactive advertising and merchandising systems and methods and, more particularly, television products for performing the same.
  • Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Viewers have traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to determine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. More recently, passive and interactive electronic television program guides have been developed that allow television program information to be displayed on a viewer's television. Promotional channels such as barker channels have also been developed that advertise various premium channel and pay-per-view promotions.
  • Passive electronic television program guides typically provide a scrolling or paging list of program listings on a dedicated television channel.
  • the TV Guide Channel is a passive program guide in which viewers are presented with promotional videos or trailers in one portion of the screen and program listings in another.
  • Interactive television program guides are typically implemented on set-top boxes and allow users to navigate through television program listings using a remote control.
  • various groups of television program listings are displayed in predefined or user-selected categories.
  • Program listings are typically displayed in a grid or table.
  • Some interactive guides are client-server based and some others are on-line.
  • program guide data is typically provided to the set-top in response to requests from the guide that are processed by a server at a cable system head-end.
  • on-line guides users may access a web site with their personal computer or Internet enabled set-top box to obtain program listings and other program related information.
  • a hybrid guide is the hybrid passive/interactive television program guide.
  • a hybrid guide may be based on a passive guide channel containing a listings portion over which an interactive guide portion has been overlaid.
  • barker channels are typically promotional channels that display full screen promotions of pay-per-view programs.
  • a barker channel may overlay price, ordering, event code, and time information over such promotions and even instruct the user on how to order the promoted pay-per-view program.
  • Such systems have been limited in their abilities to integrate sponsorship, advertising, and merchandising opportunities among passive video products such as barker channels, passive guides, and interactive guides.
  • passive programming such as, for example, television programming, pay-per-view programming, commercials, one or more passive video products (e.g., barker channels, passive program guides, or other video products), or any other suitable passive program, and an interactive television program guide, or other interactive software
  • the interactive guide, or other interactive software e.g., a web browser, operating system software, home shopping application, or any other suitable type of software any of which may sometimes be referred to herein as “interactive applications”
  • a main facility may provide data from a data source to any number of distribution facilities (e.g., cable system headends, broadcast distribution facilities, a satellite distribution facilities, or any other suitable distribution facilities).
  • distribution facilities e.g., cable system headends, broadcast distribution facilities, a satellite distribution facilities, or any other suitable distribution facilities.
  • the data transmitted by the main facility to the distribution facilities may include data suitable for the interactive application.
  • the data may include television programming data (e.g., titles, channels, content information, rating information, advertising information, or any other information associated with television programming), and may also include other data for additional services other than television program listings (e.g., weather information, associated Internet web links, computer software, video clips, non-television advertisements etc.). Any suitable combination of programming data and other data may sometimes be referred to herein as “program guide data.”
  • television programming data e.g., titles, channels, content information, rating information, advertising information, or any other information associated with television programming
  • other data for additional services other than television program listings e.g., weather information, associated Internet web links, computer software, video clips, non-television advertisements etc.
  • the main facility may also provide one or more videos for passive video products to the distribution facilities.
  • the videos may be transmitted in real-time by the main facility to the distribution facilities for real-time distribution to user television equipment of any number of viewers.
  • the main facility may transmit videos to the distribution facilities where the videos may be stored.
  • the distribution facilities may later distribute the videos to the user television equipment of any number of viewers in real-time.
  • This approach may be referred to as a “store-and-forward” video distribution scheme. If desired, a combination of the two approaches may be used.
  • passive guide videos may be provided on storage media (e.g., laser disks, digital versatile discs (DVDs), etc.), that are provided to the distribution facilities via the mail.
  • the distribution facilities may generate and distribute passive video product display screens, such as passive electronic program guide display screens or barker channel display screens, over dedicated television channels.
  • Passive guide channel display screens may contain, for example, television programming data (e.g., program listings), other data, videos, or any suitable combination thereof.
  • the distribution facilities may distribute the program guide data for use by an interactive program guide.
  • the interactive program guide may run wholly on a user's television equipment or partially on the television equipment and partially on a program guide server.
  • Program sponsorship and interactive advertising between one or more passive video products, or other television programming may be integrated with interactive advertising within an interactive application such as, for example, interactive television program guide or any other interactive software (e.g., a web browser, operating system software, or any other suitable type of software).
  • the interactive application may include, for example, one or more graphic advertisements.
  • the graphic advertisements may promote any suitable product or service, including, but not limited to, passive programming.
  • the system may display an interactive advertisement indicating the promotion and, if applicable, its sponsor.
  • the system may tune the viewer's equipment to the passive video product or other channel.
  • passive video products or other television programming may be branded (i.e., have an ad inserted from a source of products or services).
  • the system may provide the interactive content with an advertisement for the advertiser associated with the brand.
  • the interactive application may be programmed to display a linked interactive advertisement using any suitable synchronization approach.
  • program guide data may include a schedule (i.e., a timing synch) that indicates to the interactive guide scheduled times for linked interactive advertisements.
  • a passive video product may include, for example, a flag in its header (e.g., in its vertical blanking interval (VBI)) that alerts the interactive guide (or other hardware or software running in the user's equipment) to find and retrieve interactive content for a particular advertiser.
  • VBI vertical blanking interval
  • this communications-based synchronization approach may be combined with the aforementioned timing-based synchronization approach.
  • interactive graphics may be downloaded to the interactive guide at the same time (or substantially the same time) as the promotions are provided to distribution facilities.
  • time blocks may be sold for time on two products—a passive video product and an interactive program guide.
  • time blocks may be sold for time on a regular television channel and an interactive program guide.
  • Conventional television programming or passive video product promotions may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase features.
  • the purchasing features may be provided by an interactive guide, or may be provided by non-program guide software.
  • a passive video product segment, promotion, or conventional television program may promote or otherwise include information about particular products or services.
  • an alert icon may be overlaid onto a video signal associated with the segment, promotion, or program to alert a user that interactive content is available.
  • a point-of-purchase window may be displayed in which purchase information for the product or service may be displayed.
  • purchase information for the product or service may be displayed.
  • a full-screen display of the passive video product or conventional program may be redisplayed.
  • a user may be provided with an opportunity to order other merchandise from, for example, a TV Guide Store.
  • Advertiser sponsorship may also be combined with interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment.
  • an icon may be overlaid on a viewed screen that alerts the user to additional information concerning, for example, the subject of the feature or segment.
  • interactive content such as, for example, a point-of-purchase window, may be displayed.
  • the products or services offered in the point-of-purchase window may be from the sponsor of the segment or feature, from a featured source, or from any other source.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 2 a - 2 e show illustrative arrangements for the interactive application equipment of FIG. 1 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is an illustrative schematic block diagram of the user television equipment of FIGS. 2 a - 2 d in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions of the illustrative user television equipment of FIG. 3 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is an illustrative interactive television program guide main menu screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is an illustrative passive guide display screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is an illustrative hybrid guide display screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is an illustrative information screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 9 a - 9 d show illustrative display screens for combining program sponsorship and interactive advertising in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 10 a - 10 f show illustrative display screens for combining conventional television programming with interactive impulse-purchase features in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 11 a - 11 c show illustrative display screens for combining advertiser sponsorship with interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing selectable options within interactive applications that allow users to access passive video products in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 is an illustrative flowchart of steps involved in providing advertisements for passive programming from interactive applications in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 14 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements for advertisers during passive programming and from within interactive applications in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements for advertisers within interactive applications based on branded passive programming in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 An illustrative system 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1.
  • system 10 is described herein as providing an interactive television program guide.
  • system 10 may be any suitable system for providing passive programming and interactive applications.
  • data sources 14 may provide data for, for example, home shopping applications, operating system software, or any other application.
  • main facility 12 may provide program guide or other application data from data source 14 within main facility 12 to application equipment 17 via communications link 18 .
  • program guide data sources 14 may also be located at facilities separate from main facility 12 , such as at local information services 15 , and may provide data to main facility 12 for localization and distribution.
  • Data sources 14 may be any suitable computer or computer based system for obtaining data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically via a computer network or other connection, or via storage media) and for putting the data into electronic form for distribution by main facility 12 .
  • Link 18 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link.
  • one or more data sources 14 may provide data for both a passive and an interactive guide. Alternatively, data may be provided by one or more separate data sources 14 for each guide.
  • Local information service 15 may be any suitable facility for obtaining data particular to a localized region and for providing the data to main facility 12 over communications link 41 .
  • Local information service 15 may be, for example, a local weather station that measures weather data, a local newspaper that obtains local high school and college sporting information, or any other suitable provider of information.
  • Local information service 15 may be a local business with a computer for providing main facility 12 with, for example, local ski reports, fishing conditions, menus, etc., or any other suitable provider of information.
  • Link 41 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link.
  • the program guide data transmitted by main facility 12 to application equipment 17 may include television programming data (e.g., program identifiers, times, channels, titles, and descriptions) and other data for services other than television program listings (e.g., help text, pay-per-view information, weather information, sports information, music channel information, associated Internet web links, associated software, etc.).
  • television programming data e.g., program identifiers, times, channels, titles, and descriptions
  • other data for services other than television program listings e.g., help text, pay-per-view information, weather information, sports information, music channel information, associated Internet web links, associated software, etc.
  • There are preferably numerous pieces or installations of application equipment 17 although only one is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid over-complicating FIG. 1.
  • Program guide data may be transmitted by main facility 12 to application equipment 17 using any suitable approach.
  • Data files may, for example, be encapsulated as objects and transmitted using a suitable Internet based addressing scheme and protocol stack (e.g., a stack which uses the user datagram protocol (UDP) and Internet protocol (IP)).
  • UDP user datagram protocol
  • IP Internet protocol
  • Main facility 12 may also provide videos for passive video products to application equipment 17 .
  • Videos for the passive video products may be transmitted in real-time by main facility 12 to application equipment 17 for real-time distribution to the user television equipment of any number of users.
  • main facility 12 may transmit or otherwise provide (e.g., on portable storage media) videos to application equipment 17 for storage. Portions of application equipment 17 may later distribute the videos to user television equipment of any number of users in real-time.
  • This approach may be referred to as a “store-and-forward” video distribution scheme. If desired, a combination of the two approaches may be used.
  • Systems in which videos are both distributed directly in real-time and stored-and-forwarded in real-time are described, for example, in Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser.
  • Main facility 12 may distribute videos in real-time or for store-and-forwarding by portions of application equipment 17 using any suitable approach.
  • main facility 12 may schedule videos for distribution according to a promotional philosophy.
  • promotional philosophies are selection algorithms that attempt to maximize the effectiveness of promotions by selecting promotions for distribution during times in which expected audiences will view the promotions.
  • An operator at main facility 12 may, for example, generate one or more promotional philosophy templates that are used by main facility 12 to generate a national playlist of promotional events.
  • the promotional philosophy templates and national playlist may be provided to application equipment 17 as part of the program guide data.
  • equipment at application equipment 17 may generate a local playlist of promotional events according to the promotional philosophy templates. If the promotional events scheduled by the national playlist are unavailable or undesirable to the application equipment 17 , the local playlist may schedule alternative videos instead of the undesirable ones scheduled by the national playlist.
  • the application equipment 17 may generate program guide display screens with the nationally selected or alternative videos and program guide data according to the local playlist. The display screens are distributed to viewers for viewing on their televisions.
  • the videos supplied by main facility 12 may include promotional videos such as short videos (i.e., videos less than three minutes in length), video trailers promoting a television program, or the like.
  • the videos may be supplied by video source 11 .
  • Video source 11 may be based, for example, on a library of video clips stored on a video juke box (a multiple-compact disc or digital video disc storage system) or any other suitable combination of hardware and software for storing such videos. Videos may be provided in any suitable format.
  • video signals may be provided in an analog signal format using the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) signal format or in a digital signal format such as a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format.
  • NTSC National Television Standards Committee
  • MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group
  • data source 14 and video source 11 may be combined into a single information source.
  • This information source may provide program guide data, videos, or any suitable combination thereof.
  • the data provided by such an information source may be used by application equipment 17 to provide a passive guide, an interactive guide, or both.
  • the videos may be used for whole screen or partial screen displays.
  • Program guide or other application data and videos may be transmitted by transmission system 24 to application equipment 17 via link 18 .
  • Transmission system 24 may include any equipment suitable for encoding the program guide data and videos and providing the encoded data and videos to transmitter 111 .
  • Transmitter 111 is preferably a digital satellite uplink transmitter, but may be any suitable analog, digital, radio frequency, optical, microwave, terrestrial, or other type of transmitter.
  • Transmission system 24 may encode the data as, for example, component object model (COM) objects that are transmitted using an Internet based addressing scheme and Internet based transport and network protocols such as the user datagram protocol (UDP) and the Internet protocol (IP).
  • COM component object model
  • UDP user datagram protocol
  • IP Internet protocol
  • An interactive television program guide or other interactive software (e.g., a web browser, operating system software, or any other suitable software) is implemented on application equipment 17 .
  • Various architectures for interactive television program guide systems and various interactive guide features are described, for example, in above-mentioned Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999.
  • Five illustrative arrangements for application equipment 17 are shown in FIGS. 2 a - 2 e .
  • application equipment 17 may include user television equipment 22 and equipment located at distribution facility 16 .
  • the interactive television program guide or other software may run totally on user television equipment 22 as shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 c , or may run partially on user television equipment 22 and partially on distribution facility 16 using a suitable client-server or distributed processing approach as shown in FIGS. 2 b and 2 d.
  • distribution facility 16 may be any suitable distribution facility (e.g., a cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite distribution facility, or any other suitable type of distribution facility). As illustrated in FIGS. 2 a - 2 d , distribution facility 16 may have reception system 23 for receiving videos, data, or a suitable combination thereof from transmitter 111 using receiver 27 .
  • Receiver 27 is preferably a digital satellite downlink receiver, but may be any suitable analog, digital, radio-frequency, optical, microwave, terrestrial, or other type of receiver.
  • Distribution facility 16 may have screen generator 117 for generating passive video product display screens containing videos and data.
  • Screen generator 117 may be implemented using any suitable hardware, software, or combination thereof.
  • Screen generator 117 may be, for example, a Windows NT process running on a personal computer with a Pentium II microprocessor.
  • Screen generator 117 may use an object-oriented approach to generate video product display screens.
  • the use of COM objects may allow changes to be made to the format and functionality of some of the features of system 10 without requiring changes to other system components.
  • Such an approach may allow one main facility 12 to provide and manage a number of different passive guides and other video products from a central location.
  • Screen generators that may be used to create video product display screens using an object-oriented approach are described, for example, in Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,539, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • Distribution equipment 21 may distribute passive video product display screens on a dedicated channel and, if desired, television programming on multiple analog or digital channels, to multiple users via communications paths 20 .
  • Distribution equipment 21 may include, for example, a cable headend modulator, and any other or additional equipment suitable for transmitting television programming and passive guide display screens over communications paths 20 .
  • distribution equipment 21 may include suitable hardware and software for delivering videos in real-time or substantially real-time via the Internet (e.g., using the M-bone). If desired, television programming and video products may be provided over separate communications paths.
  • Distribution equipment 21 of FIGS. 2 a - 2 d may also include suitable hardware for providing program guide or other application data to user television equipment 22 over communications path 20 .
  • Distribution equipment 21 may include, for example, suitable transmission hardware for distributing program guide data on a television channel sideband, in the vertical blanking interval of a television channel, using an in-band digital signal, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data transmission technique.
  • the data may, for example, be provided over a phone line when communications path 20 include separate paths for data and television signals.
  • Communications path 20 may be any communications path or paths suitable for distributing program guide or other application data.
  • Communications path 20 may include, for example, a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a data-over-cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) link, a digital subscriber line (DSL) link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link.
  • Communications path 20 may allow distribution facility 16 to distribute television programming to user television equipment 22 . There are typically multiple pieces of user television equipment 22 and multiple associated communications paths 20 , although only one piece of user television equipment 22 and communications path 20 are shown in FIGS. 2 a - 2 d to avoid over complicating the figures. If desired, television programming may be provided over separate communications paths (not shown).
  • FIG. 2 b shows an illustrative arrangement for application equipment 17 in a client-server based or distributed interactive program guide system.
  • distribution equipment 21 may include application server 25 .
  • Application server 25 may be any suitable software, hardware, or combination thereof for providing a client-server based program guide.
  • Application server 25 may, for example, run a suitable database engine (e.g., SQL Server by Microsoft) and provide program guide data, passive guide characteristics, or any suitable combination thereof, in response to queries generated by a program guide client implemented on user television equipment 22 .
  • application server 25 may poll the program guide client and provide data when necessary.
  • application server 25 may be located at main facility 12 or some other location (not shown).
  • a program guide or other application client running on user television equipment 22 may retrieve program guide data, passive guide characteristics, or any suitable combination thereof, from application server 25 using any suitable client-server based approach.
  • the program guide client may, for example, pass SQL requests as messages to application server 25 .
  • the program guide or other application may invoke remote procedures that reside on application server 25 using one or more remote procedure calls.
  • Application server 25 may execute SQL statements for such invoked remote procedures.
  • client objects executed by the program guide may communicate with server objects executed by application server 25 using, for example, an object request broker (ORB). This may involve using, for example, Microsoft's Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) approach.
  • DCOM Distributed Component Object Model
  • program guide display pages may be generated at distribution facility 16 using a graphics engine or video production equipment.
  • the display pages are then encoded into an MPEG or other suitable digital format for distribution.
  • the program guide display pages may be decoded by a thin program guide client running on user television equipment 22 to produce program guide display screens seen by the user.
  • Client-server based program guides of this type are described, for example, in Marshall et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,501, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • the program guide or other application client may communicate with application server 25 over communications path 20 using any suitable network and transport layer protocols, if desired.
  • a protocol stack may be used which includes, for example, Sequenced Packet Exchange/Internetwork Packet Exchange (SPX/IPX) layers, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) layers, AppleTalk Transaction Protocol/Datagram Delivery Protocol (ATP/DDP) layers, or any other suitable network and transport layer protocols.
  • SPX/IPX Sequenced Packet Exchange/Internetwork Packet Exchange
  • TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
  • ATP/DDP AppleTalk Transaction Protocol/Datagram Delivery Protocol
  • DOCSIS may also be used.
  • a suitable client-server based approach may also be used for providing non-program guide software, if desired.
  • FIGS. 2 c and 2 d show illustrative Internet based systems for providing an interactive television program guide or other interactive application.
  • Distribution facility 16 may, for example, include Internet service system 61 .
  • Internet service system 61 may use any suitable combination of hardware and software capable of obtaining or providing program guide or other application data, passive guide characteristics, or any suitable combination thereof, for or to the guide using an Internet based approach (e.g., the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)). If desired, Internet service system 61 may be located at a facility that is separate from distribution facility 16 .
  • HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
  • Internet service system 61 may provide program guide or other application data, to user television equipment 22 via the Internet, or via distribution equipment 21 using any suitable Internet-based approach (e.g., using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) type link).
  • HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
  • FTP File Transfer Protocol
  • TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
  • application server 25 may obtain program guide or other application data from Internet service system 61 .
  • the data may be provided by main facility 12 to distribution facility 16 via the Internet and Internet service system 61 .
  • the program guide data may be distributed by distribution equipment 21 to the guide using any suitable distribution scheme.
  • distribution equipment 21 may include suitable hardware (not shown) on which a first portion or version of the interactive television program guide or other software may be implemented.
  • a second portion or version of the program guide or other software may be implemented on user television equipment 22 .
  • the two versions or portions of the interactive program guide or other software may communicate using any suitable peer-to-peer communications scheme (e.g., messaging, remote procedure calls, etc.) and perform interactive program guide or other functions distributively between distribution facility 16 and user television equipment 22 .
  • FIG. 2 e Another suitable arrangement in which an on-line program guide or other software may be implemented on application equipment 17 is shown in FIG. 2 e .
  • On-line program guide systems are described, for example, in Boyer et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/938,028, filed Sep. 18, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • the user may have personal computer (PC) 231 on which a program guide client or web browser is implemented.
  • PC personal computer
  • Internet service system 235 may use any suitable combination of computer hardware and software capable of providing an on-line program guide or other server application or web site.
  • FIG. 3 An illustrative arrangement for user television equipment 22 is shown in FIG. 3.
  • user television equipment 22 may receive video signals and data from distribution facility 16 or application server 25 at input 26 .
  • a viewer may tune set-top box 28 to a desired television channel.
  • the signal for that television channel may then be provided at video output 30 .
  • the signal supplied at output 30 may be a radio-frequency (RF) signal on a predefined channel (e.g., channel 3 or 4), an analog demodulated video signal, a digital signal provided to television 36 on an appropriate digital bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard, (not shown)), or any other suitable output.
  • RF radio-frequency
  • the video signal at output 30 is received by optional secondary storage device 32 .
  • the interactive television program guide or other software may run on set-top box 28 , on television 36 (if television 36 has suitable processing circuitry and memory), on a suitable analog or digital receiver connected to television 36 , or on digital storage device 31 if digital storage device 31 has suitable processing circuitry and memory.
  • the interactive television program guide or other software may also run cooperatively on a suitable combination of these devices.
  • Interactive television application systems in which a cooperative interactive television program guide application runs on multiple devices are described, for example, in Ellis U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/186,598, filed Nov. 5, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • Secondary storage device 32 can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device or player (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled by set-top box 28 using control path 34 . If secondary storage device 32 is a videocassette recorder, for example, a typical control path 34 involves the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to an infrared receiver in the videocassette recorder that normally accepts commands from a remote control such as remote control 40 . Remote control 40 may be used to control set-top box 28 , secondary storage device 32 , and television 36 .
  • a typical control path 34 involves the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to an infrared receiver in the videocassette recorder that normally accepts commands from a remote control such as remote control 40 .
  • Remote control 40 may be used to control set-top box 28 , secondary storage device 32 , and television 36 .
  • Digital storage device 31 may be a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device.
  • Digital storage device 31 may be a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device.
  • Interactive television program guide systems that have digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/157,256, filed Sep. 17, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • Digital storage device 31 can be contained in set-top box 28 or it can be an external device connected to set-top box 28 via an output port and appropriate interface. Digital storage device 31 may, for example, be contained in a local media server. If necessary, processing circuitry in set-top box 28 formats the received video, audio and data signals into a digital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard or the Moving Joint Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG) standard. The resulting data is streamed to digital storage device 31 via an appropriate bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard), and is stored on digital storage device 31 . In another suitable approach, an MPEG-2 data stream or series of files may be received from distribution equipment 21 (FIGS. 2 a - 2 d ) and stored.
  • MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group
  • MJPEG Moving Joint Photographic Experts Group
  • Television 36 receives video signals from secondary storage device 32 via communications path 38 .
  • the video signals on communications path 38 may be generated by secondary storage device 32 when playing back a prerecorded storage medium (e.g., a videocassette or a recordable digital video disc), may be generated by digital storage device 31 when playing back a pre-recorded digital medium, may be passed through from set-top box 28 , may be provided directly to television 36 from set-top box 28 if secondary storage device 32 is not included in user television equipment 22 , or may be received directly by television from input 26 when, for example, set-top box 28 is not included in user television equipment 22 .
  • the video signals provided to television 36 correspond to a desired channel to which a viewer has tuned set-top box 28 .
  • Set-top box 28 may have memory 44 .
  • Memory 44 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing instructions, data, or a suitable combination thereof for use by the program guide or other application.
  • set-top box 28 may have communications device 37 for communicating directly with application server 25 (FIG. 2 d ) or Internet service system 61 (FIG. 2 d ) over communications path 20 (FIG. 2 d ).
  • Communications device 37 may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable communications device.
  • Television 36 may also have such a suitable communications device if desired.
  • user television equipment 22 may communicate with Internet service system 61 (FIG. 2 d ) via distribution equipment 21 (FIG. 2 d ) using our comments path 20 or another suitable communication path.
  • FIG. 4 A more generalized embodiment of user television equipment 22 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4.
  • program guide data from distribution facility 16 is received by control circuitry 42 of user television equipment 22 .
  • the functions of control circuitry 42 may be provided in set-top box 28 . Alternatively, these functions may be integrated into an advanced television receiver, personal computer television (PC/TV), personal computer 231 or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such arrangements may be used.
  • PC/TV personal computer television
  • personal computer 231 personal computer 231
  • User television equipment 22 may also have secondary storage device 47 and digital storage device 49 for recording programming.
  • Secondary storage device 47 may be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.).
  • Program recording and other features may be controlled by control circuitry 42 .
  • Digital storage device 49 may be, for example, a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device.
  • Memory 63 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing instructions, data, or a suitable combination thereof for use by control circuitry 42 .
  • RAM random access memory
  • ROM read only memory
  • flash memory a hard disk drive
  • control circuitry 42 a combination of such devices, etc.
  • User television equipment 22 may also have communications device 51 for communicating with distribution equipment 21 (FIG. 2 a ), application server 25 (FIG. 2 b ), or Internet service system 61 (FIGS. 2 c - 2 d ) via communications path 20 .
  • Communications device 51 may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable communications device.
  • modem e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem
  • network interface card e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.
  • a user may control the operation of user television equipment 22 with user input device 46 .
  • User input device 46 may be a pointing device, wireless remote control, keyboard, touch-pad, voice recognition system, or any other suitable user input device.
  • control circuitry 42 to display a desired television channel on display device 45 .
  • Display device 45 may be any suitable television, monitor, or other suitable display device.
  • a user may instruct the program guide or other software implemented on application equipment 17 to generate a main menu or other desired display screen for display on display device 45 .
  • FIG. 5 a main menu screen 100 is shown.
  • Main menu screen 100 may be accessed by pressing a “guide” key on remote control 40 .
  • screen 100 may include menu 102 of selectable program guide features 106 .
  • program guide features 106 may be organized according to feature type. In menu 102 , for example, program guide features 106 have been organized into three columns.
  • the interactive television program guide may generate a display screen for a particular program guide feature when a user selects that feature from menu 102 with, for example, highlight region 120 .
  • Main menu screen 100 may include one or more selectable advertisements 108 .
  • Selectable advertisements 108 may, for example, include text and graphics advertising pay-per-view programs or other programs, channels, or products.
  • the program guide may display information (e.g., pay-per-view information) or take other actions related to the content of the advertisement. Pure text advertisements may be presented, if desired, as illustrated by selectable advertisement banner 110 .
  • Main menu screen 100 may also include other screen elements.
  • the brand of the program guide product may be indicated, for example, using a product brand logo graphic such as product brand logo graphic 112 .
  • the identity of the television service provider may be presented, for example, using a service provider logo graphic such as service provider logo graphic 114 .
  • the logos may be included in the program guide data allowing for on-the-fly configurability of the display screens.
  • Video window 501 may include video from a currently tuned channel.
  • the user may access a passive video product from an interactive guide or other software.
  • the interactive guide or other software may include one or more branded screen elements, such as illustrative branded menu feature 505 , to provide the user with an opportunity to access a passive video product.
  • the user is provided with an opportunity to access the TV Guide Channel, a passive guide, directly from menu 102 .
  • the interactive guide or other software may tune the user's equipment (e.g., television 36 or personal computer 231 ) to the channel on which the passive guide is carried.
  • FIG. 6 shows an illustrative passive guide display screen 601 .
  • Display screen 601 includes a half-screen video display area 607 , a half-screen listings area 603 , and separator bar 605 .
  • Separator bar 605 may display the current time and indicate the time slots for which listings are displayed.
  • the program listings may scroll continuously or page periodically to display program listings for additional channels.
  • Program listings may be displayed in subsets according to one or more organization criteria and sorted in various ways.
  • Passive guide display screen 601 is only illustrative of one suitable passive video product.
  • Passive video product display screens may include any suitable combination of videos, listings, text, graphics and other content.
  • passive video products may include a near-full-screen video of a promoted program, plus a small text area with ordering details for the promoted program (e.g., a barker channel).
  • they may include a quarter-screen video, accompanied by quarter screen text with ordering or viewing instructions, and a half-screen of scrolling program listings.
  • program listings area 603 may be replaced or overlaid with interactive program listings to provide the user with a hybrid passive/interactive television program guide.
  • the hybrid guide may be generated by the interactive guide using any suitable technique to overlay program listings display areas, text display areas, graphic display areas, video display areas, or interactive feature areas onto the passive guide display screen, or to otherwise replace passive guide content.
  • Interactive feature areas may include any suitable interactive program guide feature and may replace or supplement a passive feature of the passive guide.
  • the interactive guide may also generate the hybrid guide immediately when a user tunes to the passive guide channel.
  • Hybrid passive/interactive television program guides are described, for example, in Reynolds et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,391, filed Sep. 21, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. An illustrative hybrid passive/interactive program guide is shown in FIG. 7.
  • the interactive guide may, for example, overlay a passive listings display area (e.g., program listings area 603 of FIG. 6) with an interactive listings area in response to a user indicating a desire to select a program listing by, for example, pressing an arrow key on remote control 40 .
  • the interactive guide may determine the first program listing displayed and may display the interactive listings starting with that first program listing.
  • the interactive guide may determine the current time slot and channel that are being displayed by the passive guide based, for example, on passive guide characteristics (e.g., currently displayed screen components, size and location of screen components, current listings, etc.). Systems in which passive guide characteristics are used to synchronize passive and interactive program listings are described, for example, in above-mentioned Reynolds et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,391, filed Sep. 21, 1999.
  • the interactive guide may determine the type of listings displayed (e.g., whether they are movie listings, spots listings, etc.), and display interactive listings for the same type.
  • the interactive guide may indicate to a user that a hybrid guide is active by, for example, displaying a highlight region.
  • FIG. 7 shows an illustrative hybrid guide having interactive grid 701 and highlight region 151 .
  • the operation of grid 701 may be similar to full-screen television listings displays as described, for example, in above-mentioned Knudsen et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999.
  • the user may position highlight region 151 by entering appropriate commands with user input device 46 . For example, if user input device 46 has a keypad, the user can position highlight region 151 using “up,” “down,” “left,” and “right” using, for example, cursor keys on user input device 46 .
  • a touch sensitive screen, trackball, voice commands, or other suitable device may be used to move highlight region 151 or to select program listings without the use of highlight region 151 .
  • the user may speak the title of a television program listing into a voice request recognition system which will issue an appropriate command or request to the interactive guide. Any other suitable approach may also be used.
  • the guide may display interactive listings for additional channels (e.g., when the user positions highlight region 151 up or down), or for additional time slots (e.g., when the user positions highlight region 151 left or right).
  • the user may indicate a desire to access additional information for a program by, for example, pressing an info key on remote control 40 .
  • the interactive guide may display an additional information screen for the currently highlighted program listing.
  • FIG. 8 shows illustrative information screen 801 .
  • Information screen 801 may include, for example, an area 805 that displays the title, channel, rating, and air time of the program.
  • Information screen 801 may also include other information, such as a description of the program, in window 803 .
  • Video window 811 may display the currently tuned channel. When the user accesses information screen 801 from a hybrid guide or from the passive video product, video window 811 may display the passive video product.
  • Information screen 801 may also provide selectable features 807 for providing users with access to other interactive guide features.
  • the system may integrate program sponsorship and interactive advertising between conventional programming or one or more video products and interactive software such as an interactive television program guide.
  • the interactive television program guide or other software may include, for example, one or more graphic advertisements, such as selectable graphics 108 (FIG. 5). Selectable graphics 108 may promote any suitable product or service.
  • selectable graphics 108 may promote any suitable product or service.
  • the interactive guide or other software may display an interactive advertisement indicating the promotion and, if applicable, its sponsor.
  • the interactive guide may tune the user's equipment to the passive video product or other channel.
  • the interactive guide may be programmed to display a linked interactive advertisement using any suitable approach.
  • the program guide data may include a schedule (i.e., a timing synch) that indicates to the interactive guide scheduled times for linked interactive advertisements.
  • a passive video product may include, for example, a flag in its header (e.g., in its vertical blanking interval (VBI)) that alerts the interactive guide (or other hardware or software running in the user's equipment) to find and retrieve interactive content for a particular advertiser.
  • VBI vertical blanking interval
  • this communications-based synchronization approach may be combined with the aforementioned timing-based synchronization approach.
  • interactive graphics may be downloaded to an interactive guide at the same time (or substantially the same time) that the promotions are provided to distribution facilities within the system.
  • Such an approach may provide the system provider or some other interested entity with an opportunity to collect advertisement revenues for time blocks across multiple platforms.
  • time blocks may be sold for time on two products—a passive video product and an interactive program guide.
  • the interactive guide may be provided with playlists that schedule the passive guide promotions, and with passive guide characteristics.
  • Passive guide characteristics include information that indicates what content is displayed by the passive video product, as well as how the content is being displayed.
  • Screen generator 117 may track passive guide characteristics such as the currently displayed screen components of the passive video product display screen (e.g., videos, program listings grid, etc.), the size and location of the components, the listings that are being displayed, the period with which listings are paged or the speed with which listings are scrolled, which program segment is currently active in the video portion of the passive video product, the content of the videos (e.g., programs or products that are promoted by a video), the channel and call letters of the passive video product, a source identifier or other identifier of the passive video product, or any other suitable information.
  • passive guide characteristics such as the currently displayed screen components of the passive video product display screen (e.g., videos, program listings grid, etc.), the size and location of the components, the listings that are being displayed, the period with which listings are paged or the speed with which listings are scrolled, which program segment is currently active in the video portion of the passive video product, the content of the videos (e.g., programs or products that are promoted by a video), the channel and call
  • the passive video product characteristics may be provided to distribution equipment 21 or application server 25 for use by the interactive television program guide.
  • the passive video product characteristics may be provided to the guide or a guide client periodically, continuously, on-demand, or with any other suitable frequency based on the system architecture underlying the guide.
  • FIGS. 9 a - 9 d illustrates how combining program sponsorship and interactive advertising between a passive guide and an interactive television program guide may be performed.
  • selectable advertisement graphic 108 of main menu screen 100 includes an advertisement for Faith Hill on Insider.
  • the segment is sponsored by Miller Lite. This graphic is displayed in the interactive guide when the passive guide provides the sponsored segment.
  • the interactive guide may tune the user's television or personal computer to the passive guide channel, where the sponsor identifier may appear on the video (FIG. 9 b ). In this example, the identifier may appear at the beginning of the segment.
  • the segment may then air (FIG.
  • selectable advertisement graphic 108 may be provided by non-program guide software (e.g., a web browser, computer operating system, etc.).
  • the purchasing features may be provided by an interactive guide or by non-program guide software.
  • a passive video product segment or promotion (or a conventional television program) may promote or otherwise include information about particular products or services.
  • the interactive guide may overlay an alert icon onto the video signal to alert the user that interactive content is available.
  • the interactive guide or other software may determine that there is related interactive content using any suitable approach.
  • the programming may, for example, include a suitable header in its vertical blanking interval (VBI).
  • VBI vertical blanking interval
  • the interactive software may be provided with characteristics of the programming and, if applicable, a playlist for the channel. Any other suitable approach may be used.
  • an interactive guide or other software may display a point-of-purchase window in which purchase information for the product or service is displayed.
  • the guide or other software may return to full-screen display of the passive video product or conventional program.
  • the user may be provided with an opportunity to order other merchandise from, for example, a TV Guide Store.
  • a passive video product channel includes a TV Music News segment.
  • interactive content related to the content of the segment may be available.
  • the interactive software may display an icon, such as alert icon 1000 .
  • the interactive software may display an interactive window.
  • the additional information may be available merchandise (the Star Profile CD), and a point-of-purchase window 1010 may be displayed (FIG. 10 d ).
  • the passive programming may be resized (as shown), and additional advertisements or other graphics may be displayed.
  • the user may return to full-screen video if the user does not want to order the original product or any additional products. If the user indicates a desire to order the product by, for example, selecting “Yes”, the interactive software may prompt the user to add the product to a shopping cart (e.g., by selecting “No” in FIG. 10 e ). If desired, a suitable one-click ordering approach may be used. If the user wants to order additional products (e.g., by selecting “Yes” in FIG. 10 e ), the interactive software may provide the user with access to a virtual store. The store may be provided via the Internet, a private network, programmed into the interactive software, or provided using any other suitable approach. FIG. 10 f shows an illustrative virtual store display screen 1030 .
  • the store may display related items for sale (e.g., other CDs by 'N Sync, other CDs by similar artists, other CDs, for the same record label, etc.) that the user may select and purchase.
  • the store may also provide options that the user may select to view other available products.
  • the system may combine advertiser sponsorship with interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment.
  • a passive video product feature or segment is sponsored by a particular sponsor
  • the system may overlay an icon that alerts the user to additional information concerning, for example, the subject of the feature or segment.
  • the system may display interactive content such as, for example, a point-of-purchase window.
  • the products or services offered in the point-of-purchase window may be from the sponsor of the segment or feature, from a featured source, or from some other source.
  • FIGS. 11 a - 11 c illustrates how advertiser sponsorship may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment.
  • a passive video product segment may be sponsored, for example, by DiGiorno and feature an interview with Papa John's Pizza (FIG. 11 a ).
  • interactive software may display an alert icon 1100 (FIG. 11 b ).
  • alert icon 1100 the interactive software may display the interactive content.
  • the interactive content may be a recipe for Papa John's Pizza (FIG. 11 c ).
  • Point-of-purchase window 1120 may be displayed to allow the user to order products associated with the interactive content, in this example, ingredients for the recipe.
  • Window 1120 may include an advertisement for the provider of the ingredients, in this example, Peapod Grocery Delivery Service. This approach may provide for a three-way sale of advertisements. DiGiorno, Papa John's, and Pea Pod may each advertise in connection with impulse-purchase fulfillment. Moreover, as in this example, the advertisers may be selected to be complimentary to one another and may interact synergistically, thereby enhancing the advertising value of the individual advertisements.
  • integrating conventional television advertising or sponsorship, interactive advertising, and impulse-purchase fulfillment may be performed using Intent-based technologies.
  • Conventional television programing and passive video products may be augmented or otherwise coordinated with an interactive guide or other software using markup language documents, such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) documents.
  • markup language documents such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) documents.
  • FIGS. 12 - 15 are flowcharts of illustrative steps involved in providing features of one embodiment of the present invention.
  • the steps shown in FIGS. 12 - 15 may be performed in any suitable order, some may be deleted, and others added.
  • Some of the steps shown in FIGS. 12 - 15 involve providing users with opportunities to interact with the system, performing various processes, or providing various displays. These and other steps may be performed by, for example, a client application that is programmed to generate or download screens suitable to provide such opportunities, an Internet browser that downloads suitable pages to provide such opportunities, peer applications, or using any other suitable approach.
  • processing for these operations may be performed by a client, a server, or distributed among peer applications, depending on the chosen system implementation and the processing requirements of such operations.
  • on-line arrangements such processing may be performed by user television equipment 22 , personal computer 231 , or Internet service systems 61 and 235 , depending on, for example, the processing and storage capabilities of user television equipment 22 or personal computer 231 , the chosen implementation for the interactive applications, the processing requirements of such operations, or other factors.
  • the steps shown in FIGS. 12 - 15 will describe the steps shown in FIGS. 12 - 15 as being performed by “the system,” which is intended to include any suitable system, such as, for example, any non-on-line or on-line arrangement suitable for performing the steps.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing selectable options within interactive applications that allow users to access passive video products (e.g., a barker channel, passive guide, or other passive video product).
  • the system may provide an interactive menu of options such as, for example, an interactive program guide, home shopping, or other menu.
  • the interactive menu may include a selectable option for the passive video product (step 1210 ).
  • the option may be branded to indicate the name or source of the passive video product (e.g., branded “The TV Guide Channel” as shown in FIG. 5).
  • the system may provide the passive video product to a user in response to the user selecting the option.
  • Providing the passive video product may be accomplished using any suitable approach.
  • the system may tune the user's television equipment to a digital or analog television channel carrying the passive video product.
  • the system may access an Internet site that provides a real-time passive video product (i.e., a passive product that is not provided on-demand, as opposed to other types of content on the Internet).
  • the system may provide interactive content with the passive video product.
  • the system may, for example, provide an alert icon.
  • the system may provide the user with a merchandising opportunity to, for example, purchase products related to what is showing in the passive video product (step 1240 ).
  • the system may provide additional information for the passive video product such as, for example, descriptions, reviews, or any other suitable information (step 1250 ).
  • the interactive content provided at step 1230 may include, for example, interactive television program listings.
  • the system may overlay interactive program listings over a passive program guide to provide a hybrid guide.
  • the system may provide additional information for a selected listing (step 1250 ).
  • FIG. 13 is an illustrative flowchart of steps involved in providing advertisements for passive programming from interactive applications.
  • the system may retrieve advertisements for passive programming.
  • the passive programming may be any suitable passive programming such as, for example, television programs, pay-per-view programs, commercials, segments within passive video products, or any other suitable passive programming.
  • the advertisements may include any suitable content such as, for example, text, graphics, audio, video, animations, other suitable content, or any suitable content thereof.
  • the advertisements may be branded—i.e., they may include brands or logos for sponsors.
  • the advertisement for the Insider segment, as shown in FIG. 9 a is branded by Miller Lite.
  • the system may retrieve advertisements using any suitable approach. For example, the system may retrieve advertisements according to a schedule (step 1310 ), according to a real-time flag (step 1320 ), using a combination of these approaches, or any other suitable approach, from local memory or from a remote server.
  • the system provides retrieved advertisements within an interactive application.
  • the interactive application may be any suitable interactive application such as, for example, an interactive program guide, a home shopping application, operating system software, a web browser, or any other suitable interactive application.
  • the advertisement may be provided as, for example, a panel advertisement, a banner advertisement, a full-screen advertisement, or using any other suitable format.
  • the system provides the advertised passive programming at step 1340 . Providing the advertised passive programming may be accomplished using any suitable approach. For example, the system may tune the user's television equipment to a television channel carrying the passive programming. In another suitable approach, for example, the system may access an Internet site that provides the passive programming in real time.
  • FIG. 14 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements for advertisers during passive programming and from within interactive applications.
  • the system may allocate advertisement time for an advertiser on at least one interactive product (e.g., interactive television program guide, operating system, web browser, home banking application, or other suitable interactive application) and at least one passive program (e.g., television program, pay-per-view program, movie, passive guide channel or barker channel segment, or other suitable programming).
  • the system may provide an advertisement for the advertiser simultaneously on the interactive product and during the passive program. This may allow the system provider to sell advertisers advertisement time across multiple platforms or products. The advertiser may brand the program and the advertisement within the interactive application.
  • the system may provide the user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the interactive product.
  • the system provides the advertised passive program in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive application.
  • the system may provide the advertised passive program using any suitable approach. For example, the system may tune the user's television equipment to a television channel carrying the passive programming. In another suitable approach, for example, the system may access an Internet site that provides the passive programming in real time.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements for advertisers within interactive applications based on branded passive programming.
  • the steps shown in FIG. 15 provide for advertisements within interactive applications based on the branding of passive programming.
  • the system may retrieve advertisements.
  • the advertisements may include any suitable content such as, for example, text, graphics, audio, video, animations, other suitable content, or any suitable combination thereof.
  • the advertisements may be retrieved using any suitable approach.
  • the system may retrieve advertisements according to a schedule (step 1510 ), according to a real-time flag (step 1520 ), using a combination of these approaches, or any other suitable approach, from local memory or a remote server.
  • the system may provide passive programming branded with an advertiser's brand.
  • the programming may be branded by the source of the programming, main facility 12 , distribution facility 16 , Internet service system 235 , or at any other suitable facility.
  • the system may provide a user with an opportunity to access interactive information provided from an interactive application such as, for example, an interactive television program guide, a web browser, an operating system, a home shopping application, or other suitable interactive application.
  • the system may, for example, provide a selectable or non-selectable icon that indicates the availability of interactive information associated with the programming.
  • the interactive application may provide an advertisement for the advertiser associated with the brand on the branded passive programming (step 1550 ).

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing enhanced advertising and merchandising opportunities are described. Advertisements may be provided for passive programming such as television programs, commercials, pay-per-view programs, passive video products, or other suitable passive programming. Interactive advertisements may be provided in interactive applications such as interactive television program guides, web browsers, home shopping applications, operating systems, or other suitable interactive applications.

Description

  • This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/170,060, filed Dec. 10, 1999.[0001]
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to passive and interactive advertising and merchandising systems and methods and, more particularly, television products for performing the same. [0002]
  • Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Viewers have traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to determine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. More recently, passive and interactive electronic television program guides have been developed that allow television program information to be displayed on a viewer's television. Promotional channels such as barker channels have also been developed that advertise various premium channel and pay-per-view promotions. [0003]
  • Passive electronic television program guides typically provide a scrolling or paging list of program listings on a dedicated television channel. The TV Guide Channel is a passive program guide in which viewers are presented with promotional videos or trailers in one portion of the screen and program listings in another. [0004]
  • Interactive television program guides are typically implemented on set-top boxes and allow users to navigate through television program listings using a remote control. In a typical program guide, various groups of television program listings are displayed in predefined or user-selected categories. Program listings are typically displayed in a grid or table. Some interactive guides are client-server based and some others are on-line. In client-server based guides, program guide data is typically provided to the set-top in response to requests from the guide that are processed by a server at a cable system head-end. In on-line guides, users may access a web site with their personal computer or Internet enabled set-top box to obtain program listings and other program related information. [0005]
  • Another type of program guide is the hybrid passive/interactive television program guide. A hybrid guide may be based on a passive guide channel containing a listings portion over which an interactive guide portion has been overlaid. [0006]
  • As suggested above, barker channels are typically promotional channels that display full screen promotions of pay-per-view programs. A barker channel may overlay price, ordering, event code, and time information over such promotions and even instruct the user on how to order the promoted pay-per-view program. [0007]
  • Such systems have been limited in their abilities to integrate sponsorship, advertising, and merchandising opportunities among passive video products such as barker channels, passive guides, and interactive guides. [0008]
  • It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide enhanced advertising and merchandising opportunities within passive and interactive programming and applications such as, for example, program guides. [0009]
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • This and other objects of the present invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing systems and methods in which passive programming, such as, for example, television programming, pay-per-view programming, commercials, one or more passive video products (e.g., barker channels, passive program guides, or other video products), or any other suitable passive program, and an interactive television program guide, or other interactive software, are provided. The interactive guide, or other interactive software (e.g., a web browser, operating system software, home shopping application, or any other suitable type of software any of which may sometimes be referred to herein as “interactive applications”), may integrate interactive program sponsorship, advertising, merchandising opportunities, or any suitable combination thereof, with the video content of the passive programming. Some features of such a system are described, for example, in Reichardt et al. U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/170,060, filed Dec. 10, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. [0010]
  • In accordance with the present invention, a main facility (e.g., a satellite uplink facility) may provide data from a data source to any number of distribution facilities (e.g., cable system headends, broadcast distribution facilities, a satellite distribution facilities, or any other suitable distribution facilities). There may be multiple data sources, some of which may be located at different facilities, which provide data to the main facility for localization and distribution. The data transmitted by the main facility to the distribution facilities may include data suitable for the interactive application. For example, the data may include television programming data (e.g., titles, channels, content information, rating information, advertising information, or any other information associated with television programming), and may also include other data for additional services other than television program listings (e.g., weather information, associated Internet web links, computer software, video clips, non-television advertisements etc.). Any suitable combination of programming data and other data may sometimes be referred to herein as “program guide data.”[0011]
  • The main facility may also provide one or more videos for passive video products to the distribution facilities. The videos may be transmitted in real-time by the main facility to the distribution facilities for real-time distribution to user television equipment of any number of viewers. Alternatively, the main facility may transmit videos to the distribution facilities where the videos may be stored. The distribution facilities may later distribute the videos to the user television equipment of any number of viewers in real-time. This approach may be referred to as a “store-and-forward” video distribution scheme. If desired, a combination of the two approaches may be used. In still another suitable store-and-forward approach, passive guide videos may be provided on storage media (e.g., laser disks, digital versatile discs (DVDs), etc.), that are provided to the distribution facilities via the mail. [0012]
  • The distribution facilities may generate and distribute passive video product display screens, such as passive electronic program guide display screens or barker channel display screens, over dedicated television channels. Passive guide channel display screens may contain, for example, television programming data (e.g., program listings), other data, videos, or any suitable combination thereof. [0013]
  • The distribution facilities may distribute the program guide data for use by an interactive program guide. The interactive program guide may run wholly on a user's television equipment or partially on the television equipment and partially on a program guide server. [0014]
  • Program sponsorship and interactive advertising between one or more passive video products, or other television programming, may be integrated with interactive advertising within an interactive application such as, for example, interactive television program guide or any other interactive software (e.g., a web browser, operating system software, or any other suitable type of software). The interactive application may include, for example, one or more graphic advertisements. The graphic advertisements may promote any suitable product or service, including, but not limited to, passive programming. When a promotion is aired on the passive video product or other type of television channel, the system may display an interactive advertisement indicating the promotion and, if applicable, its sponsor. In response to a viewer selecting the interactive advertisement, the system may tune the viewer's equipment to the passive video product or other channel. [0015]
  • In another aspect of the invention, passive video products or other television programming may be branded (i.e., have an ad inserted from a source of products or services). In response to a viewer indicating a desire to access interactive content, the system may provide the interactive content with an advertisement for the advertiser associated with the brand. [0016]
  • The interactive application may be programmed to display a linked interactive advertisement using any suitable synchronization approach. For example, in a timing-based synchronization approach, program guide data may include a schedule (i.e., a timing synch) that indicates to the interactive guide scheduled times for linked interactive advertisements. In another communications-based synchronization approach, a passive video product may include, for example, a flag in its header (e.g., in its vertical blanking interval (VBI)) that alerts the interactive guide (or other hardware or software running in the user's equipment) to find and retrieve interactive content for a particular advertiser. If desired, this communications-based synchronization approach may be combined with the aforementioned timing-based synchronization approach. For example, interactive graphics may be downloaded to the interactive guide at the same time (or substantially the same time) as the promotions are provided to distribution facilities. These and other approaches may facilitate collection of advertisement revenues for time blocks across multiple platforms. For example, time blocks may be sold for time on two products—a passive video product and an interactive program guide. As another example, time blocks may be sold for time on a regular television channel and an interactive program guide. [0017]
  • Conventional television programming or passive video product promotions may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase features. The purchasing features may be provided by an interactive guide, or may be provided by non-program guide software. For example, a passive video product segment, promotion, or conventional television program may promote or otherwise include information about particular products or services. When interactive content is available for a product or service, an alert icon may be overlaid onto a video signal associated with the segment, promotion, or program to alert a user that interactive content is available. [0018]
  • When a user selects such an icon, a point-of-purchase window may be displayed in which purchase information for the product or service may be displayed. When a user completes a purchase, a full-screen display of the passive video product or conventional program may be redisplayed. Alternatively, a user may be provided with an opportunity to order other merchandise from, for example, a TV Guide Store. [0019]
  • Advertiser sponsorship may also be combined with interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment. When a conventional television or passive video product feature or segment is sponsored by a sponsor, an icon may be overlaid on a viewed screen that alerts the user to additional information concerning, for example, the subject of the feature or segment. In response to a user selecting the icon, interactive content, such as, for example, a point-of-purchase window, may be displayed. The products or services offered in the point-of-purchase window may be from the sponsor of the segment or feature, from a featured source, or from any other source. [0020]
  • Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.[0021]
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0022]
  • FIGS. 2[0023] a-2 e show illustrative arrangements for the interactive application equipment of FIG. 1 in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is an illustrative schematic block diagram of the user television equipment of FIGS. 2[0024] a-2 d in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a generalized schematic block diagram of portions of the illustrative user television equipment of FIG. 3 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0025]
  • FIG. 5 is an illustrative interactive television program guide main menu screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0026]
  • FIG. 6 is an illustrative passive guide display screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0027]
  • FIG. 7 is an illustrative hybrid guide display screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0028]
  • FIG. 8 is an illustrative information screen in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0029]
  • FIGS. 9[0030] a-9 d show illustrative display screens for combining program sponsorship and interactive advertising in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 10[0031] a-10 f show illustrative display screens for combining conventional television programming with interactive impulse-purchase features in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 11[0032] a-11 c show illustrative display screens for combining advertiser sponsorship with interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing selectable options within interactive applications that allow users to access passive video products in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0033]
  • FIG. 13 is an illustrative flowchart of steps involved in providing advertisements for passive programming from interactive applications in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0034]
  • FIG. 14 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements for advertisers during passive programming and from within interactive applications in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0035]
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements for advertisers within interactive applications based on branded passive programming in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.[0036]
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • An [0037] illustrative system 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. For purposes of clarity, and not by way of limitation, system 10 is described herein as providing an interactive television program guide. In practice, and as described herein, system 10 may be any suitable system for providing passive programming and interactive applications. For example, data sources 14 may provide data for, for example, home shopping applications, operating system software, or any other application.
  • As shown in FIG. 1, [0038] main facility 12 may provide program guide or other application data from data source 14 within main facility 12 to application equipment 17 via communications link 18. There may be multiple data sources 14 but only one has been shown to avoid over complicating FIG. 1. If desired, program guide data sources 14 may also be located at facilities separate from main facility 12, such as at local information services 15, and may provide data to main facility 12 for localization and distribution. Data sources 14 may be any suitable computer or computer based system for obtaining data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically via a computer network or other connection, or via storage media) and for putting the data into electronic form for distribution by main facility 12. Link 18 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link. If desired, one or more data sources 14 may provide data for both a passive and an interactive guide. Alternatively, data may be provided by one or more separate data sources 14 for each guide.
  • [0039] Local information service 15 may be any suitable facility for obtaining data particular to a localized region and for providing the data to main facility 12 over communications link 41. Local information service 15 may be, for example, a local weather station that measures weather data, a local newspaper that obtains local high school and college sporting information, or any other suitable provider of information. Local information service 15 may be a local business with a computer for providing main facility 12 with, for example, local ski reports, fishing conditions, menus, etc., or any other suitable provider of information. Link 41 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link.
  • The program guide data transmitted by [0040] main facility 12 to application equipment 17 may include television programming data (e.g., program identifiers, times, channels, titles, and descriptions) and other data for services other than television program listings (e.g., help text, pay-per-view information, weather information, sports information, music channel information, associated Internet web links, associated software, etc.). There are preferably numerous pieces or installations of application equipment 17, although only one is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid over-complicating FIG. 1.
  • Program guide data may be transmitted by [0041] main facility 12 to application equipment 17 using any suitable approach. Data files may, for example, be encapsulated as objects and transmitted using a suitable Internet based addressing scheme and protocol stack (e.g., a stack which uses the user datagram protocol (UDP) and Internet protocol (IP)). Systems in which program guide data is transmitted from a main facility using such protocols are described, for example, in Gollahon et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,624, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • [0042] Main facility 12 may also provide videos for passive video products to application equipment 17. Videos for the passive video products may be transmitted in real-time by main facility 12 to application equipment 17 for real-time distribution to the user television equipment of any number of users. Alternatively, main facility 12 may transmit or otherwise provide (e.g., on portable storage media) videos to application equipment 17 for storage. Portions of application equipment 17 may later distribute the videos to user television equipment of any number of users in real-time. This approach may be referred to as a “store-and-forward” video distribution scheme. If desired, a combination of the two approaches may be used. Systems in which videos are both distributed directly in real-time and stored-and-forwarded in real-time are described, for example, in Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The application of such an approach in a hybrid guide system is described, for example, in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • [0043] Main facility 12 may distribute videos in real-time or for store-and-forwarding by portions of application equipment 17 using any suitable approach. As described, for example, in above-mentioned Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, main facility 12 may schedule videos for distribution according to a promotional philosophy. As taught therein, promotional philosophies are selection algorithms that attempt to maximize the effectiveness of promotions by selecting promotions for distribution during times in which expected audiences will view the promotions. An operator at main facility 12 may, for example, generate one or more promotional philosophy templates that are used by main facility 12 to generate a national playlist of promotional events. The promotional philosophy templates and national playlist may be provided to application equipment 17 as part of the program guide data.
  • In approaches where alternative sources of videos are provided by [0044] main facility 12 to application equipment 17, such as in the store-and-forward approach described in above-mentioned Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,448, equipment at application equipment 17 may generate a local playlist of promotional events according to the promotional philosophy templates. If the promotional events scheduled by the national playlist are unavailable or undesirable to the application equipment 17, the local playlist may schedule alternative videos instead of the undesirable ones scheduled by the national playlist. The application equipment 17 may generate program guide display screens with the nationally selected or alternative videos and program guide data according to the local playlist. The display screens are distributed to viewers for viewing on their televisions.
  • The videos supplied by [0045] main facility 12 may include promotional videos such as short videos (i.e., videos less than three minutes in length), video trailers promoting a television program, or the like. The videos may be supplied by video source 11. Video source 11 may be based, for example, on a library of video clips stored on a video juke box (a multiple-compact disc or digital video disc storage system) or any other suitable combination of hardware and software for storing such videos. Videos may be provided in any suitable format. For example, video signals may be provided in an analog signal format using the National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) signal format or in a digital signal format such as a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format.
  • If desired, [0046] data source 14 and video source 11 may be combined into a single information source. This information source may provide program guide data, videos, or any suitable combination thereof. The data provided by such an information source may be used by application equipment 17 to provide a passive guide, an interactive guide, or both. The videos may be used for whole screen or partial screen displays.
  • Program guide or other application data and videos may be transmitted by [0047] transmission system 24 to application equipment 17 via link 18. Transmission system 24 may include any equipment suitable for encoding the program guide data and videos and providing the encoded data and videos to transmitter 111. Transmitter 111 is preferably a digital satellite uplink transmitter, but may be any suitable analog, digital, radio frequency, optical, microwave, terrestrial, or other type of transmitter. Transmission system 24 may encode the data as, for example, component object model (COM) objects that are transmitted using an Internet based addressing scheme and Internet based transport and network protocols such as the user datagram protocol (UDP) and the Internet protocol (IP). Electronic program guide systems that transfer UDP packets and COM objects using a UDP/IP protocol stack are described in above-mentioned Gollahon et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,624, filed Jun. 11, 1999.
  • An interactive television program guide or other interactive software (e.g., a web browser, operating system software, or any other suitable software) is implemented on [0048] application equipment 17. Various architectures for interactive television program guide systems and various interactive guide features are described, for example, in above-mentioned Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999. Five illustrative arrangements for application equipment 17 are shown in FIGS. 2a-2 e. As shown in FIGS. 2a-2 d, application equipment 17 may include user television equipment 22 and equipment located at distribution facility 16.
  • The interactive television program guide or other software may run totally on [0049] user television equipment 22 as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2 c, or may run partially on user television equipment 22 and partially on distribution facility 16 using a suitable client-server or distributed processing approach as shown in FIGS. 2b and 2 d.
  • As shown in FIGS. 2[0050] a-2 e, distribution facility 16 may be any suitable distribution facility (e.g., a cable system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite distribution facility, or any other suitable type of distribution facility). As illustrated in FIGS. 2a-2 d, distribution facility 16 may have reception system 23 for receiving videos, data, or a suitable combination thereof from transmitter 111 using receiver 27. Receiver 27 is preferably a digital satellite downlink receiver, but may be any suitable analog, digital, radio-frequency, optical, microwave, terrestrial, or other type of receiver.
  • [0051] Distribution facility 16 may have screen generator 117 for generating passive video product display screens containing videos and data. Screen generator 117 may be implemented using any suitable hardware, software, or combination thereof. Screen generator 117, may be, for example, a Windows NT process running on a personal computer with a Pentium II microprocessor.
  • [0052] Screen generator 117 may use an object-oriented approach to generate video product display screens. The use of COM objects, for example, may allow changes to be made to the format and functionality of some of the features of system 10 without requiring changes to other system components. Such an approach may allow one main facility 12 to provide and manage a number of different passive guides and other video products from a central location. Screen generators that may be used to create video product display screens using an object-oriented approach are described, for example, in Kern et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,539, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • [0053] Distribution equipment 21 may distribute passive video product display screens on a dedicated channel and, if desired, television programming on multiple analog or digital channels, to multiple users via communications paths 20. Distribution equipment 21 may include, for example, a cable headend modulator, and any other or additional equipment suitable for transmitting television programming and passive guide display screens over communications paths 20. Alternatively, distribution equipment 21 may include suitable hardware and software for delivering videos in real-time or substantially real-time via the Internet (e.g., using the M-bone). If desired, television programming and video products may be provided over separate communications paths.
  • [0054] Distribution equipment 21 of FIGS. 2a-2 d may also include suitable hardware for providing program guide or other application data to user television equipment 22 over communications path 20. Distribution equipment 21 may include, for example, suitable transmission hardware for distributing program guide data on a television channel sideband, in the vertical blanking interval of a television channel, using an in-band digital signal, using an out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data transmission technique. The data may, for example, be provided over a phone line when communications path 20 include separate paths for data and television signals.
  • [0055] Communications path 20 may be any communications path or paths suitable for distributing program guide or other application data. Communications path 20 may include, for example, a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an Internet link, a data-over-cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) link, a digital subscriber line (DSL) link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications link. Communications path 20 may allow distribution facility 16 to distribute television programming to user television equipment 22. There are typically multiple pieces of user television equipment 22 and multiple associated communications paths 20, although only one piece of user television equipment 22 and communications path 20 are shown in FIGS. 2a-2 d to avoid over complicating the figures. If desired, television programming may be provided over separate communications paths (not shown).
  • FIG. 2[0056] b shows an illustrative arrangement for application equipment 17 in a client-server based or distributed interactive program guide system. The approach shown in FIG. 2b may also be used to provide other applications. As shown in FIG. 2b, distribution equipment 21 may include application server 25. Application server 25 may be any suitable software, hardware, or combination thereof for providing a client-server based program guide. Application server 25 may, for example, run a suitable database engine (e.g., SQL Server by Microsoft) and provide program guide data, passive guide characteristics, or any suitable combination thereof, in response to queries generated by a program guide client implemented on user television equipment 22. Alternatively, application server 25 may poll the program guide client and provide data when necessary. If desired, application server 25 may be located at main facility 12 or some other location (not shown).
  • A program guide or other application client running on [0057] user television equipment 22 may retrieve program guide data, passive guide characteristics, or any suitable combination thereof, from application server 25 using any suitable client-server based approach. The program guide client may, for example, pass SQL requests as messages to application server 25. In another suitable approach, the program guide or other application may invoke remote procedures that reside on application server 25 using one or more remote procedure calls. Application server 25 may execute SQL statements for such invoked remote procedures. In still another suitable approach, client objects executed by the program guide may communicate with server objects executed by application server 25 using, for example, an object request broker (ORB). This may involve using, for example, Microsoft's Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) approach.
  • In another approach, program guide display pages may be generated at [0058] distribution facility 16 using a graphics engine or video production equipment. The display pages are then encoded into an MPEG or other suitable digital format for distribution. The program guide display pages may be decoded by a thin program guide client running on user television equipment 22 to produce program guide display screens seen by the user. Client-server based program guides of this type are described, for example, in Marshall et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,501, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • The program guide or other application client may communicate with [0059] application server 25 over communications path 20 using any suitable network and transport layer protocols, if desired. A protocol stack may be used which includes, for example, Sequenced Packet Exchange/Internetwork Packet Exchange (SPX/IPX) layers, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) layers, AppleTalk Transaction Protocol/Datagram Delivery Protocol (ATP/DDP) layers, or any other suitable network and transport layer protocols. If desired DOCSIS may also be used. A suitable client-server based approach may also be used for providing non-program guide software, if desired.
  • FIGS. 2[0060] c and 2 d show illustrative Internet based systems for providing an interactive television program guide or other interactive application. Distribution facility 16 may, for example, include Internet service system 61. Internet service system 61 may use any suitable combination of hardware and software capable of obtaining or providing program guide or other application data, passive guide characteristics, or any suitable combination thereof, for or to the guide using an Internet based approach (e.g., the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)). If desired, Internet service system 61 may be located at a facility that is separate from distribution facility 16.
  • If the program guide or other application is implemented on [0061] user television equipment 22 of application equipment 17 as shown in FIG. 2c, Internet service system 61 (or other suitable equipment at program guide distribution facility 16 that is connected to Internet service system 61) may provide program guide or other application data, to user television equipment 22 via the Internet, or via distribution equipment 21 using any suitable Internet-based approach (e.g., using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) type link). If the program guide or other application implemented on application equipment 17 is a client-server application as shown in FIG. 2d, application server 25 may obtain program guide or other application data from Internet service system 61. Alternatively, the data may be provided by main facility 12 to distribution facility 16 via the Internet and Internet service system 61. The program guide data may be distributed by distribution equipment 21 to the guide using any suitable distribution scheme.
  • In still another embodiment, [0062] distribution equipment 21 may include suitable hardware (not shown) on which a first portion or version of the interactive television program guide or other software may be implemented. A second portion or version of the program guide or other software may be implemented on user television equipment 22. The two versions or portions of the interactive program guide or other software may communicate using any suitable peer-to-peer communications scheme (e.g., messaging, remote procedure calls, etc.) and perform interactive program guide or other functions distributively between distribution facility 16 and user television equipment 22.
  • Another suitable arrangement in which an on-line program guide or other software may be implemented on [0063] application equipment 17 is shown in FIG. 2e. On-line program guide systems are described, for example, in Boyer et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/938,028, filed Sep. 18, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The user may have personal computer (PC) 231 on which a program guide client or web browser is implemented. Personal computer 231 may be connected to Internet service system 235 via Internet link 233. Internet service system 235 may use any suitable combination of computer hardware and software capable of providing an on-line program guide or other server application or web site.
  • An illustrative arrangement for [0064] user television equipment 22 is shown in FIG. 3. As shown, user television equipment 22 may receive video signals and data from distribution facility 16 or application server 25 at input 26. During normal television viewing, a viewer may tune set-top box 28 to a desired television channel. The signal for that television channel may then be provided at video output 30. The signal supplied at output 30 may be a radio-frequency (RF) signal on a predefined channel (e.g., channel 3 or 4), an analog demodulated video signal, a digital signal provided to television 36 on an appropriate digital bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard, (not shown)), or any other suitable output. The video signal at output 30 is received by optional secondary storage device 32.
  • The interactive television program guide or other software may run on set-[0065] top box 28, on television 36 (if television 36 has suitable processing circuitry and memory), on a suitable analog or digital receiver connected to television 36, or on digital storage device 31 if digital storage device 31 has suitable processing circuitry and memory. The interactive television program guide or other software may also run cooperatively on a suitable combination of these devices. Interactive television application systems in which a cooperative interactive television program guide application runs on multiple devices are described, for example, in Ellis U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/186,598, filed Nov. 5, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • [0066] Secondary storage device 32 can be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device or player (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled by set-top box 28 using control path 34. If secondary storage device 32 is a videocassette recorder, for example, a typical control path 34 involves the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to an infrared receiver in the videocassette recorder that normally accepts commands from a remote control such as remote control 40. Remote control 40 may be used to control set-top box 28, secondary storage device 32, and television 36.
  • If desired, a user may record programs, program guide data, passive guide videos, or a combination thereof in digital form on optional [0067] digital storage device 31. Digital storage device 31 may be a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device. Interactive television program guide systems that have digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/157,256, filed Sep. 17, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • [0068] Digital storage device 31 can be contained in set-top box 28 or it can be an external device connected to set-top box 28 via an output port and appropriate interface. Digital storage device 31 may, for example, be contained in a local media server. If necessary, processing circuitry in set-top box 28 formats the received video, audio and data signals into a digital file format. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard or the Moving Joint Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG) standard. The resulting data is streamed to digital storage device 31 via an appropriate bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 standard), and is stored on digital storage device 31. In another suitable approach, an MPEG-2 data stream or series of files may be received from distribution equipment 21 (FIGS. 2a-2 d) and stored.
  • [0069] Television 36 receives video signals from secondary storage device 32 via communications path 38. The video signals on communications path 38 may be generated by secondary storage device 32 when playing back a prerecorded storage medium (e.g., a videocassette or a recordable digital video disc), may be generated by digital storage device 31 when playing back a pre-recorded digital medium, may be passed through from set-top box 28, may be provided directly to television 36 from set-top box 28 if secondary storage device 32 is not included in user television equipment 22, or may be received directly by television from input 26 when, for example, set-top box 28 is not included in user television equipment 22. During normal television viewing, the video signals provided to television 36 correspond to a desired channel to which a viewer has tuned set-top box 28.
  • Set-[0070] top box 28 may have memory 44. Memory 44 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing instructions, data, or a suitable combination thereof for use by the program guide or other application.
  • In client-server based approaches, set-[0071] top box 28 may have communications device 37 for communicating directly with application server 25 (FIG. 2d) or Internet service system 61 (FIG. 2d) over communications path 20 (FIG. 2d). Communications device 37 may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable communications device. Television 36 may also have such a suitable communications device if desired.
  • In an alternative approach, user television equipment [0072] 22 (FIG. 2d) may communicate with Internet service system 61 (FIG. 2d) via distribution equipment 21 (FIG. 2d) using our comments path 20 or another suitable communication path.
  • A more generalized embodiment of [0073] user television equipment 22 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, program guide data from distribution facility 16 is received by control circuitry 42 of user television equipment 22. The functions of control circuitry 42 may be provided in set-top box 28. Alternatively, these functions may be integrated into an advanced television receiver, personal computer television (PC/TV), personal computer 231 or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such arrangements may be used.
  • [0074] User television equipment 22 may also have secondary storage device 47 and digital storage device 49 for recording programming. Secondary storage device 47 may be any suitable type of analog or digital program storage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder, a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.). Program recording and other features may be controlled by control circuitry 42. Digital storage device 49 may be, for example, a writeable optical storage device (such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage device.
  • [0075] User television equipment 22 may also have memory 63. Memory 63 may be any memory or other storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such devices, etc., that is suitable for storing instructions, data, or a suitable combination thereof for use by control circuitry 42.
  • [0076] User television equipment 22 may also have communications device 51 for communicating with distribution equipment 21 (FIG. 2a), application server 25 (FIG. 2b), or Internet service system 61 (FIGS. 2c-2 d) via communications path 20. Communications device 51 may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), or other suitable communications device.
  • A user may control the operation of [0077] user television equipment 22 with user input device 46. User input device 46 may be a pointing device, wireless remote control, keyboard, touch-pad, voice recognition system, or any other suitable user input device. To watch television, a user may instruct control circuitry 42 to display a desired television channel on display device 45. Display device 45 may be any suitable television, monitor, or other suitable display device. To access the functions of the program guide or other software, a user may instruct the program guide or other software implemented on application equipment 17 to generate a main menu or other desired display screen for display on display device 45.
  • For purposes of clarity, and not by way of limitation, suitable displays for an interactive program guide are now described herein below. These displays and their approaches for providing advertisements and merchandising opportunities are only illustrative and similar displays, display elements, and approaches may be used for other applications. For example, panel advertisements and other display elements may be incorporated into other applications. [0078]
  • Turning first to FIG. 5, a [0079] main menu screen 100 is shown. Main menu screen 100 may be accessed by pressing a “guide” key on remote control 40. As illustrated, screen 100 may include menu 102 of selectable program guide features 106. If desired, program guide features 106 may be organized according to feature type. In menu 102, for example, program guide features 106 have been organized into three columns. The interactive television program guide may generate a display screen for a particular program guide feature when a user selects that feature from menu 102 with, for example, highlight region 120.
  • [0080] Main menu screen 100 may include one or more selectable advertisements 108. Selectable advertisements 108 may, for example, include text and graphics advertising pay-per-view programs or other programs, channels, or products. When a user selects a selectable advertisement 108 with, for example, highlight region 120, the program guide may display information (e.g., pay-per-view information) or take other actions related to the content of the advertisement. Pure text advertisements may be presented, if desired, as illustrated by selectable advertisement banner 110.
  • [0081] Main menu screen 100 may also include other screen elements. The brand of the program guide product may be indicated, for example, using a product brand logo graphic such as product brand logo graphic 112. The identity of the television service provider may be presented, for example, using a service provider logo graphic such as service provider logo graphic 114. The logos may be included in the program guide data allowing for on-the-fly configurability of the display screens. Video window 501 may include video from a currently tuned channel.
  • The user may access a passive video product from an interactive guide or other software. If desired, the interactive guide or other software may include one or more branded screen elements, such as illustrative branded [0082] menu feature 505, to provide the user with an opportunity to access a passive video product. In this example, the user is provided with an opportunity to access the TV Guide Channel, a passive guide, directly from menu 102. In response to the user selecting branded feature 505, the interactive guide or other software may tune the user's equipment (e.g., television 36 or personal computer 231) to the channel on which the passive guide is carried.
  • FIG. 6 shows an illustrative passive [0083] guide display screen 601. Display screen 601 includes a half-screen video display area 607, a half-screen listings area 603, and separator bar 605. Separator bar 605 may display the current time and indicate the time slots for which listings are displayed. The program listings may scroll continuously or page periodically to display program listings for additional channels. Program listings may be displayed in subsets according to one or more organization criteria and sorted in various ways.
  • Passive [0084] guide display screen 601 is only illustrative of one suitable passive video product. Passive video product display screens may include any suitable combination of videos, listings, text, graphics and other content. For example, passive video products may include a near-full-screen video of a promoted program, plus a small text area with ordering details for the promoted program (e.g., a barker channel). Alternatively, they may include a quarter-screen video, accompanied by quarter screen text with ordering or viewing instructions, and a half-screen of scrolling program listings. These examples are merely illustrative, and other passive video product approaches may be used.
  • If desired, program listings area [0085] 603 may be replaced or overlaid with interactive program listings to provide the user with a hybrid passive/interactive television program guide. The hybrid guide may be generated by the interactive guide using any suitable technique to overlay program listings display areas, text display areas, graphic display areas, video display areas, or interactive feature areas onto the passive guide display screen, or to otherwise replace passive guide content. Interactive feature areas may include any suitable interactive program guide feature and may replace or supplement a passive feature of the passive guide. The interactive guide may also generate the hybrid guide immediately when a user tunes to the passive guide channel. Hybrid passive/interactive television program guides are described, for example, in Reynolds et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,391, filed Sep. 21, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. An illustrative hybrid passive/interactive program guide is shown in FIG. 7.
  • The interactive guide may, for example, overlay a passive listings display area (e.g., program listings area [0086] 603 of FIG. 6) with an interactive listings area in response to a user indicating a desire to select a program listing by, for example, pressing an arrow key on remote control 40. The interactive guide may determine the first program listing displayed and may display the interactive listings starting with that first program listing. The interactive guide may determine the current time slot and channel that are being displayed by the passive guide based, for example, on passive guide characteristics (e.g., currently displayed screen components, size and location of screen components, current listings, etc.). Systems in which passive guide characteristics are used to synchronize passive and interactive program listings are described, for example, in above-mentioned Reynolds et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,391, filed Sep. 21, 1999. In still another suitable approach, the interactive guide may determine the type of listings displayed (e.g., whether they are movie listings, spots listings, etc.), and display interactive listings for the same type.
  • The interactive guide may indicate to a user that a hybrid guide is active by, for example, displaying a highlight region. FIG. 7 shows an illustrative hybrid guide having [0087] interactive grid 701 and highlight region 151. The operation of grid 701 may be similar to full-screen television listings displays as described, for example, in above-mentioned Knudsen et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,941, filed Jul. 16, 1999. The user may position highlight region 151 by entering appropriate commands with user input device 46. For example, if user input device 46 has a keypad, the user can position highlight region 151 using “up,” “down,” “left,” and “right” using, for example, cursor keys on user input device 46. Alternatively, a touch sensitive screen, trackball, voice commands, or other suitable device may be used to move highlight region 151 or to select program listings without the use of highlight region 151. In still another approach, the user may speak the title of a television program listing into a voice request recognition system which will issue an appropriate command or request to the interactive guide. Any other suitable approach may also be used. In response to the user positioning highlight region 151, the guide may display interactive listings for additional channels (e.g., when the user positions highlight region 151 up or down), or for additional time slots (e.g., when the user positions highlight region 151 left or right).
  • The user may indicate a desire to access additional information for a program by, for example, pressing an info key on [0088] remote control 40. In response, the interactive guide may display an additional information screen for the currently highlighted program listing. FIG. 8 shows illustrative information screen 801. Information screen 801 may include, for example, an area 805 that displays the title, channel, rating, and air time of the program. Information screen 801 may also include other information, such as a description of the program, in window 803. Video window 811 may display the currently tuned channel. When the user accesses information screen 801 from a hybrid guide or from the passive video product, video window 811 may display the passive video product. Information screen 801 may also provide selectable features 807 for providing users with access to other interactive guide features. Interactive program guide systems in which additional information screens provide users with access to interactive guide features are described, for example, in Rudnick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,268, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • The system may integrate program sponsorship and interactive advertising between conventional programming or one or more video products and interactive software such as an interactive television program guide. The interactive television program guide or other software may include, for example, one or more graphic advertisements, such as selectable graphics [0089] 108 (FIG. 5). Selectable graphics 108 may promote any suitable product or service. When a promotion is aired on the passive video product or within other programing, the interactive guide or other software may display an interactive advertisement indicating the promotion and, if applicable, its sponsor. In response to the user selecting the interactive advertisement, the interactive guide may tune the user's equipment to the passive video product or other channel.
  • The interactive guide may be programmed to display a linked interactive advertisement using any suitable approach. For example, the program guide data may include a schedule (i.e., a timing synch) that indicates to the interactive guide scheduled times for linked interactive advertisements. In another suitable approach, a passive video product may include, for example, a flag in its header (e.g., in its vertical blanking interval (VBI)) that alerts the interactive guide (or other hardware or software running in the user's equipment) to find and retrieve interactive content for a particular advertiser. If desired, this communications-based synchronization approach may be combined with the aforementioned timing-based synchronization approach. For example, interactive graphics may be downloaded to an interactive guide at the same time (or substantially the same time) that the promotions are provided to distribution facilities within the system. Such an approach may provide the system provider or some other interested entity with an opportunity to collect advertisement revenues for time blocks across multiple platforms. For example, time blocks may be sold for time on two products—a passive video product and an interactive program guide. [0090]
  • In one suitable approach, the interactive guide may be provided with playlists that schedule the passive guide promotions, and with passive guide characteristics. Passive guide characteristics include information that indicates what content is displayed by the passive video product, as well as how the content is being displayed. Systems in which playlists and passive video product characteristics are provided to an interactive guide to integrate passive video product and interactive guide content and functionality are described, for example, in above-mentioned Reynolds et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,391, filed Sep. 21, 1999. [0091]
  • Screen generator [0092] 117 (FIGS. 2a-2 d) may track passive guide characteristics such as the currently displayed screen components of the passive video product display screen (e.g., videos, program listings grid, etc.), the size and location of the components, the listings that are being displayed, the period with which listings are paged or the speed with which listings are scrolled, which program segment is currently active in the video portion of the passive video product, the content of the videos (e.g., programs or products that are promoted by a video), the channel and call letters of the passive video product, a source identifier or other identifier of the passive video product, or any other suitable information. If desired, local or national playlists may also be provided to the interactive guide as part of the passive video product characteristics. The passive video product characteristics may be provided to distribution equipment 21 or application server 25 for use by the interactive television program guide. The passive video product characteristics may be provided to the guide or a guide client periodically, continuously, on-demand, or with any other suitable frequency based on the system architecture underlying the guide.
  • Comparing FIGS. 9[0093] a-9 d illustrates how combining program sponsorship and interactive advertising between a passive guide and an interactive television program guide may be performed. In FIG. 9a, selectable advertisement graphic 108 of main menu screen 100 includes an advertisement for Faith Hill on Insider. The segment is sponsored by Miller Lite. This graphic is displayed in the interactive guide when the passive guide provides the sponsored segment. In response to the user selecting advertisement graphic 108, the interactive guide may tune the user's television or personal computer to the passive guide channel, where the sponsor identifier may appear on the video (FIG. 9b). In this example, the identifier may appear at the beginning of the segment. The segment may then air (FIG. 9c), and be followed by or interrupted by an advertisement for the sponsor (FIG. 9d). This approach may allow the provider of the interactive software (e.g., the interactive guide) and the passive video product (e.g., the passive guide) to sell time-blocks across multiple platforms. If desired, selectable advertisement graphic 108 may be provided by non-program guide software (e.g., a web browser, computer operating system, etc.).
  • Conventional television programming or passive video product promotions may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase features. The purchasing features may be provided by an interactive guide or by non-program guide software. For example, a passive video product segment or promotion (or a conventional television program) may promote or otherwise include information about particular products or services. When interactive content is available for the product or service, the interactive guide may overlay an alert icon onto the video signal to alert the user that interactive content is available. The interactive guide or other software may determine that there is related interactive content using any suitable approach. The programming may, for example, include a suitable header in its vertical blanking interval (VBI). Alternatively, the interactive software may be provided with characteristics of the programming and, if applicable, a playlist for the channel. Any other suitable approach may be used. [0094]
  • When the user selects such an icon, an interactive guide or other software may display a point-of-purchase window in which purchase information for the product or service is displayed. When the user completes the purchase, the guide or other software may return to full-screen display of the passive video product or conventional program. Alternatively, the user may be provided with an opportunity to order other merchandise from, for example, a TV Guide Store. [0095]
  • Comparing FIGS. 10[0096] a-10 f illustrates how conventional television programming or passive video product promotions may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase features. As shown in FIGS. 10a and 10 b, a passive video product channel includes a TV Music News segment. At some point in the segment, interactive content related to the content of the segment may be available. In this example, there may be interactive content available for 'N Sync (FIG. 10c). The interactive software may display an icon, such as alert icon 1000. In response to the user selecting alert icon 1000, the interactive software may display an interactive window. In this example, the additional information may be available merchandise (the Star Profile CD), and a point-of-purchase window 1010 may be displayed (FIG. 10d). If desired, the passive programming may be resized (as shown), and additional advertisements or other graphics may be displayed.
  • The user may return to full-screen video if the user does not want to order the original product or any additional products. If the user indicates a desire to order the product by, for example, selecting “Yes”, the interactive software may prompt the user to add the product to a shopping cart (e.g., by selecting “No” in FIG. 10[0097] e). If desired, a suitable one-click ordering approach may be used. If the user wants to order additional products (e.g., by selecting “Yes” in FIG. 10e), the interactive software may provide the user with access to a virtual store. The store may be provided via the Internet, a private network, programmed into the interactive software, or provided using any other suitable approach. FIG. 10f shows an illustrative virtual store display screen 1030. The store may display related items for sale (e.g., other CDs by 'N Sync, other CDs by similar artists, other CDs, for the same record label, etc.) that the user may select and purchase. The store may also provide options that the user may select to view other available products.
  • The system may combine advertiser sponsorship with interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment. When a passive video product feature or segment is sponsored by a particular sponsor, the system may overlay an icon that alerts the user to additional information concerning, for example, the subject of the feature or segment. In response to a user selecting the icon, the system may display interactive content such as, for example, a point-of-purchase window. The products or services offered in the point-of-purchase window may be from the sponsor of the segment or feature, from a featured source, or from some other source. [0098]
  • Comparing FIGS. 11[0099] a-11 c illustrates how advertiser sponsorship may be combined with interactive impulse-purchase fulfillment. A passive video product segment may be sponsored, for example, by DiGiorno and feature an interview with Papa John's Pizza (FIG. 11a). If interactive content is available for the segment, interactive software may display an alert icon 1100 (FIG. 11b). In response to a user selecting alert icon 1100, the interactive software may display the interactive content. In this example, the interactive content may be a recipe for Papa John's Pizza (FIG. 11c). Point-of-purchase window 1120 may be displayed to allow the user to order products associated with the interactive content, in this example, ingredients for the recipe. Window 1120 may include an advertisement for the provider of the ingredients, in this example, Peapod Grocery Delivery Service. This approach may provide for a three-way sale of advertisements. DiGiorno, Papa John's, and Pea Pod may each advertise in connection with impulse-purchase fulfillment. Moreover, as in this example, the advertisers may be selected to be complimentary to one another and may interact synergistically, thereby enhancing the advertising value of the individual advertisements.
  • If desired, integrating conventional television advertising or sponsorship, interactive advertising, and impulse-purchase fulfillment may be performed using Intent-based technologies. Conventional television programing and passive video products may be augmented or otherwise coordinated with an interactive guide or other software using markup language documents, such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) documents. Systems in which passive video products and interactive guide content and functionality are augmented and coordinated using Intent-delivered data are described, for example, in Allison et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/368,825, filed Aug. 5, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. [0100]
  • FIGS. [0101] 12-15 are flowcharts of illustrative steps involved in providing features of one embodiment of the present invention. In practice, the steps shown in FIGS. 12-15 may be performed in any suitable order, some may be deleted, and others added. Some of the steps shown in FIGS. 12-15 involve providing users with opportunities to interact with the system, performing various processes, or providing various displays. These and other steps may be performed by, for example, a client application that is programmed to generate or download screens suitable to provide such opportunities, an Internet browser that downloads suitable pages to provide such opportunities, peer applications, or using any other suitable approach. In non-on-line arrangements, processing for these operations may be performed by a client, a server, or distributed among peer applications, depending on the chosen system implementation and the processing requirements of such operations. In on-line arrangements, such processing may be performed by user television equipment 22, personal computer 231, or Internet service systems 61 and 235, depending on, for example, the processing and storage capabilities of user television equipment 22 or personal computer 231, the chosen implementation for the interactive applications, the processing requirements of such operations, or other factors. For purpose of clarity, the following discussion will describe the steps shown in FIGS. 12-15 as being performed by “the system,” which is intended to include any suitable system, such as, for example, any non-on-line or on-line arrangement suitable for performing the steps.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing selectable options within interactive applications that allow users to access passive video products (e.g., a barker channel, passive guide, or other passive video product). At [0102] step 1200, the system may provide an interactive menu of options such as, for example, an interactive program guide, home shopping, or other menu. The interactive menu may include a selectable option for the passive video product (step 1210). The option may be branded to indicate the name or source of the passive video product (e.g., branded “The TV Guide Channel” as shown in FIG. 5).
  • At [0103] step 1220, the system may provide the passive video product to a user in response to the user selecting the option. Providing the passive video product may be accomplished using any suitable approach. For example, the system may tune the user's television equipment to a digital or analog television channel carrying the passive video product. In another suitable approach, for example, the system may access an Internet site that provides a real-time passive video product (i.e., a passive product that is not provided on-demand, as opposed to other types of content on the Internet).
  • At [0104] step 1230, the system may provide interactive content with the passive video product. The system may, for example, provide an alert icon. In response to the user selecting the alert icon or otherwise indicating a desire to access interactive content, the system may provide the user with a merchandising opportunity to, for example, purchase products related to what is showing in the passive video product (step 1240). In another approach, the system may provide additional information for the passive video product such as, for example, descriptions, reviews, or any other suitable information (step 1250). The interactive content provided at step 1230 may include, for example, interactive television program listings. In one suitable approach, the system may overlay interactive program listings over a passive program guide to provide a hybrid guide. The system may provide additional information for a selected listing (step 1250).
  • FIG. 13 is an illustrative flowchart of steps involved in providing advertisements for passive programming from interactive applications. At [0105] step 1300, the system may retrieve advertisements for passive programming. The passive programming may be any suitable passive programming such as, for example, television programs, pay-per-view programs, commercials, segments within passive video products, or any other suitable passive programming. The advertisements may include any suitable content such as, for example, text, graphics, audio, video, animations, other suitable content, or any suitable content thereof. The advertisements may be branded—i.e., they may include brands or logos for sponsors. For example, the advertisement for the Insider segment, as shown in FIG. 9a, is branded by Miller Lite. The system may retrieve advertisements using any suitable approach. For example, the system may retrieve advertisements according to a schedule (step 1310), according to a real-time flag (step 1320), using a combination of these approaches, or any other suitable approach, from local memory or from a remote server.
  • At [0106] step 1330, the system provides retrieved advertisements within an interactive application. The interactive application may be any suitable interactive application such as, for example, an interactive program guide, a home shopping application, operating system software, a web browser, or any other suitable interactive application. The advertisement may be provided as, for example, a panel advertisement, a banner advertisement, a full-screen advertisement, or using any other suitable format. The system provides the advertised passive programming at step 1340. Providing the advertised passive programming may be accomplished using any suitable approach. For example, the system may tune the user's television equipment to a television channel carrying the passive programming. In another suitable approach, for example, the system may access an Internet site that provides the passive programming in real time.
  • FIG. 14 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements for advertisers during passive programming and from within interactive applications. At [0107] step 1400, the system may allocate advertisement time for an advertiser on at least one interactive product (e.g., interactive television program guide, operating system, web browser, home banking application, or other suitable interactive application) and at least one passive program (e.g., television program, pay-per-view program, movie, passive guide channel or barker channel segment, or other suitable programming). At step 1410, the system may provide an advertisement for the advertiser simultaneously on the interactive product and during the passive program. This may allow the system provider to sell advertisers advertisement time across multiple platforms or products. The advertiser may brand the program and the advertisement within the interactive application.
  • At [0108] step 1420, the system may provide the user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the interactive product. At step 1430, the system provides the advertised passive program in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive application. The system may provide the advertised passive program using any suitable approach. For example, the system may tune the user's television equipment to a television channel carrying the passive programming. In another suitable approach, for example, the system may access an Internet site that provides the passive programming in real time.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart of illustrative steps involved in providing advertisements for advertisers within interactive applications based on branded passive programming. The steps shown in FIG. 15 provide for advertisements within interactive applications based on the branding of passive programming. At [0109] step 1500, the system may retrieve advertisements. The advertisements may include any suitable content such as, for example, text, graphics, audio, video, animations, other suitable content, or any suitable combination thereof. The advertisements may be retrieved using any suitable approach. For example, the system may retrieve advertisements according to a schedule (step 1510), according to a real-time flag (step 1520), using a combination of these approaches, or any other suitable approach, from local memory or a remote server.
  • At [0110] step 1530, the system may provide passive programming branded with an advertiser's brand. The programming may be branded by the source of the programming, main facility 12, distribution facility 16, Internet service system 235, or at any other suitable facility. At step 1540, the system may provide a user with an opportunity to access interactive information provided from an interactive application such as, for example, an interactive television program guide, a web browser, an operating system, a home shopping application, or other suitable interactive application. The system may, for example, provide a selectable or non-selectable icon that indicates the availability of interactive information associated with the programming. In addition to the interactive information, the interactive application may provide an advertisement for the advertiser associated with the brand on the branded passive programming (step 1550).
  • Thus, systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisements and merchandising opportunities are provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow. [0111]

Claims (84)

What is claimed is:
1. A method for providing access to a passive video product from an interactive application comprising:
providing a branded selectable option within an interactive application display; and
providing a passive video product associated with the brand in response to a user selecting the option from the interactive application display.
2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing interactive content with the passive video product.
3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein:
the interactive content comprises an alert icon; and
the method further comprises providing a merchandising opportunity to the user in response to the user selecting the alert icon.
4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein the alert icon is overlaid onto the passive video product.
5. The method defined in claim 2 wherein:
the interactive content comprises a television program listing; and
the method further comprises providing additional information for the television program listing in response to the user selecting the televison program listing.
6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
the branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of the interactive television program guide.
7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the interactive application is a web browser.
8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein providing the passive video product comprises tuning equipment associated with the user to a television channel.
9. A method for providing advertisements for passive programming within an interactive application implemented at least in part on user equipment comprising:
providing an advertisement for passive programming in an interactive application display; and
providing the advertised passive programming on the user equipment in response to the user selecting the advertisement from the interactive application display.
10. The method defined in claim 9 wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
11. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising retrieving the advertisement associated with the passive programming.
12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a schedule.
13. The method defined in claim 11 wherein retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a real-time flag.
14. The method defined in claim 9 wherein the advertisement is branded.
15. The method defined in claim 9 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
16. The method defined in claim 9 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
providing the advertisement in the interactive application display comprises providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in the interactive television program guide.
17. The method defined in claim 9 wherein providing the advertised passive programming comprises tuning the user equipment to a channel on which the programming is provided.
18. A method for providing advertisements within an interactive application implemented at least in part on user equipment comprising:
providing branded passive programming to the user equipment;
providing a user associated with the user equipment with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access additional information associated with the branded passive programming; and
providing an interactive display on the user equipment in response to the user indicating a desire to access the additional information, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for an advertiser associated with the brand of the branded passive programming.
19. The method defined in claim 18 wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
20. The method defined in claim 18 further comprising retrieving the advertisement.
21. The method defined in claim 20 wherein retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a schedule.
22. The method defined in claim 20 wherein retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a real-time flag.
23. The method defined in claim 18 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
24. The method defined in claim 18 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
providing the interactive display comprises providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in an interactive television program guide display.
25. A method for providing advertisement space to advertisers across television-related products comprising:
allocating advertisement time for an advertiser on an interactive application and during a passive program; and
providing an advertisement for the advertiser within a display for the interactive product and with the passive program, during the allocated advertisement time.
26. The method defined in claim 25 further comprising:
providing a user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the interactive application; and
providing the passive program in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive application.
27. The method defined in claim 25 wherein the passive program is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
28. The method defined in claim 25 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
29. A system for providing access to a passive video product from an interactive application comprising:
means for providing a branded selectable option within an interactive application display; and
means for providing a passive video product associated with the brand in response to a user selecting the option from the interactive application display.
30. The system defined in claim 29 further comprising means for providing interactive content with the passive video product.
31. The system defined in claim 30 wherein:
the interactive content comprises an alert icon; and
the system further comprises means for providing a merchandising opportunity to the user in response to the user selecting the alert icon.
32. The system defined in claim 31 wherein the alert icon is overlaid onto the passive video product.
33. The system defined in claim 30 wherein:
the interactive content comprises a television program listing; and
the system further comprises means for providing additional information for the television program listing in response to the user selecting the televison program listing.
34. The system defined in claim 20 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
the branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of the interactive television program guide.
35. The system defined in claim 20 wherein the interactive application is a web browser.
36. The system defined in claim 20 wherein the means for providing the passive video product comprises means for tuning equipment associated with the user to a television channel.
37. A system for providing advertisements for passive programming within an interactive application implemented at least in part on user equipment comprising:
means for providing an advertisement for passive programming in an interactive application display; and
means for providing the advertised passive programming on the user equipment in response to the user selecting the advertisement from the interactive application display.
38. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the passive program is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
39. The system defined in claim 37 further comprising means for retrieving the advertisement.
40. The system defined in claim 39 wherein the means for retrieving the advertisement comprises means for retrieving an advertisement according to a schedule.
41. The system defined in claim 39 wherein the means for retrieving the advertisement comprises means for retrieving an advertisement according to a real-time flag.
42. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the advertisement is branded.
43. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
44. The system defined in claim 9 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
the means for providing the advertisement in the interactive application display comprises means for providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in the interactive television program guide.
45. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the means for providing the advertised programming comprises means for tuning the user equipment to a channel on which the advertised programming is provided.
46. A system for providing advertisements within an interactive application running at least in part on user equipment comprising:
means for providing branded passive programming to the user equipment;
means for providing a user associated with the user equipment with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access additional information associated with the branded passive programming; and
means for providing an interactive display on the user equipment in response to the user indicating a desire to access the additional information, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for an advertiser associated with the brand of the branded passive programming.
47. The system defined in claim 46 wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
48. The system defined in claim 46 further comprising means for retrieving the advertisement.
49. The system defined in claim 48 wherein the means for retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a schedule.
50. The system defined in claim 48 wherein the means for retrieving an advertisement comprises retrieving an advertisement according to a real-time flag.
51. The system defined in claim 46 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
52. The system defined in claim 46 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
the means for providing the interactive display comprises means for providing the advertisement as a panel advertisement in an interactive television program guide display.
53. A system for providing advertisement space to advertisers across television related-products comprising:
means for allocating advertisement time for an advertiser on an interactive application and during a passive program; and
means for providing an advertisement for the advertiser within a display for the interactive product and with the passive program, during the allocated advertisement time.
54. The system defined in claim 53 further comprising:
means for providing a user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the interactive application; and
means for providing the passive program in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive application.
55. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the passive program is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
56. The system defined in claim 53 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
57. A system for providing access to a passive video product from an interactive application comprising:
user equipment on which an interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive application is configured to:
provide a display on the user equipment, wherein the display comprises a branded selectable option; and
provide a passive video product associated with the branded selectable option on the user equipment in response to a user selecting the option.
58. The system defined in claim 57 wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide interactive content with the passive video product.
59. The system defined in claim 58 wherein:
the interactive content comprises an alert icon; and
wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide a merchandising opportunity to the user in response to the user selecting the alert icon.
60. The system defined in claim 59 wherein the alert icon is overlaid onto the passive video product.
61. The system defined in claim 58 wherein:
the interactive content comprises a television program listing; and
wherein the interactive application is further configured to provide additional information for the television program listing in response to the user selecting the televison program listing.
62. The system defined in claim 57 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
the branded selectable option is a branded selectable menu option of the interactive television program guide.
63. The system defined in claim 57 wherein the interactive application is a web browser.
64. The system defined in claim 57 wherein the interactive application is configured to provide the passive programming by tuning the user equipment to a television channel on which the passive programming is provided.
65. A system for providing advertisements for passive programming within an interactive application comprising:
user equipment on which an interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive application is configured to:
provide a display on the user equipment, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for passive programming; and
provide the passive programming in response to the user selecting the advertisement.
66. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the passive program is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
67. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement.
68. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement according to a schedule.
69. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement according to a real-time flag.
70. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the advertisement is branded.
71. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
72. The system defined in claim 65 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
the interactive television program guide is configured to provide the advertisement as a panel advertisement.
73. The system defined in claim 65 wherein the interactive application is configured to provide the passive programming by tuning the user equipment to a television channel on which the passive programming is provided.
74. A system for providing advertisements within an interactive application comprising:
user equipment on which an interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive application is configured to:
provide a display on the user equipment, wherein the display comprises branded passive programming;
provide a user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to access additional information associated with the branded passive programming; and
provide a display in response to the user indicating a desire to access the additional information, wherein the display comprises an advertisement for an advertiser associated with the brand of the branded passive programming.
75. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
76. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement.
77. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement according to a schedule.
78. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the interactive application is further configured to retrieve the advertisement according to a real-time flag.
79. The system defined in claim 73 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
80. The system defined in claim 73 wherein:
the interactive application is an interactive television program guide; and
the interactive television program guide is configured to provide the advertisement as a panel advertisement.
81. A system for providing advertisement time to advertisers across television related products comprising:
a distribution facility configured to provide passive programming having an advertisement for an advertiser during a given time block; and
user equipment on which an interactive application is at least partly implemented, wherein the interactive application is configured to provide a display comprising an advertisement for the advertiser during the give time block.
82. The system defined in claim 81 wherein the interactive application is further configured to:
provide a user with an opportunity to select the advertisement in the display provided by the interactive application; and
provide the passive programming in response to the user selecting the advertisement in the interactive application.
83. The system defined in claim 81 wherein the passive programming is a television program, a commercial, a pay-per-view program, or a passive video product segment.
84. The system defined in claim 81 wherein the interactive application is an interactive television program guide, an operating system, a home shopping application, or a web browser.
US09/731,115 1999-12-10 2000-12-06 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities Abandoned US20020124255A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/731,115 US20020124255A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2000-12-06 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US10/285,870 US20030056219A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2002-10-30 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US10/618,154 US20040107437A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2003-07-11 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US12/775,974 US20100223640A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2010-05-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US12/775,967 US20100223639A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2010-05-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US13/290,449 US9118958B2 (en) 1999-12-10 2011-11-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17006099P 1999-12-10 1999-12-10
US09/731,115 US20020124255A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2000-12-06 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities

Related Child Applications (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/285,870 Continuation US20030056219A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2002-10-30 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US10/618,154 Continuation US20040107437A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2003-07-11 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US12/775,974 Continuation US20100223640A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2010-05-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US12/775,967 Continuation US20100223639A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2010-05-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20020124255A1 true US20020124255A1 (en) 2002-09-05

Family

ID=22618387

Family Applications (6)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/731,115 Abandoned US20020124255A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2000-12-06 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US10/285,870 Abandoned US20030056219A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2002-10-30 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US10/618,154 Abandoned US20040107437A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2003-07-11 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US12/775,974 Abandoned US20100223640A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2010-05-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US12/775,967 Abandoned US20100223639A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2010-05-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US13/290,449 Expired - Fee Related US9118958B2 (en) 1999-12-10 2011-11-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities

Family Applications After (5)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/285,870 Abandoned US20030056219A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2002-10-30 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US10/618,154 Abandoned US20040107437A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2003-07-11 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US12/775,974 Abandoned US20100223640A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2010-05-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US12/775,967 Abandoned US20100223639A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2010-05-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US13/290,449 Expired - Fee Related US9118958B2 (en) 1999-12-10 2011-11-07 Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (6) US20020124255A1 (en)
AU (1) AU4711601A (en)
WO (1) WO2001046869A2 (en)

Cited By (95)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010049820A1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2001-12-06 Barton James M. Method for enhancing digital video recorder television advertising viewership
US20020016965A1 (en) * 2000-07-25 2002-02-07 Mai-Ian Tomsen Method and system to save context for deferred transaction via interactive television
US20020087402A1 (en) * 2001-01-02 2002-07-04 Zustak Fred J. User selective advertising
US20020124253A1 (en) * 2001-03-02 2002-09-05 Eyer Mark Kenneth Personal information database with privacy for targeted advertising
US20020124250A1 (en) * 2001-03-02 2002-09-05 Proehl Andrew M. Hybrid advertising broadcast method
US20020124249A1 (en) * 2001-01-02 2002-09-05 Shintani Peter Rae Targeted advertising during playback of stored content
US20020124252A1 (en) * 2001-03-02 2002-09-05 Schaefer Scott R. Method and system to provide information alerts via an interactive video casting system
US20030049021A1 (en) * 2001-09-12 2003-03-13 General Instrument Corporation Apparatus for monitoring of DVD/CD usage and targeted DVD/CD sales utilizing a set top with DVD/CD capability
US20030070171A1 (en) * 2001-10-06 2003-04-10 Alticast, Corp. Method for displaying an electronic program guide on a screen of a digital television
US20030110498A1 (en) * 2001-12-10 2003-06-12 General Instrument Corporation Methods, systems, and apparatus for tuning television components using an internet appliance
US20030172385A1 (en) * 2001-06-11 2003-09-11 Masahiro Takatori Television receiver and method for providing information to the same
US20040010518A1 (en) * 2002-07-03 2004-01-15 Interchange Corp. Methods and system for a distributed advertiser publishing system in enhanced directory assistance services
US20040148628A1 (en) * 2003-01-24 2004-07-29 Mears Mark Gilmore System and method for advertising a currently airing program through the use of an electronic program guide interface
US20050076359A1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2005-04-07 Andrew Pierson Modifying commercials for multi-speed playback
US20060218578A1 (en) * 2005-03-24 2006-09-28 Amy Kyle Integrated offline product branding method
US7167840B1 (en) 2000-03-15 2007-01-23 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and apparatus for distributing and selling electronic content
US20070107010A1 (en) * 2005-11-08 2007-05-10 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive advertising and program promotion in an interactive television system
US20070162936A1 (en) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-12 Verizon Data Services Inc. Interactive main menu graphical user interface systems and methods
US20070214478A1 (en) * 2006-03-10 2007-09-13 Feldstein David E Dynamic determination of presentation of multiple video cells in an on-screen display
US20070220551A1 (en) * 2006-02-02 2007-09-20 Shanks David E Interactive mosaic channel video stream with nested menu features
US20070220546A1 (en) * 2006-02-02 2007-09-20 Shanks David E Interactive mosaic channel video stream with additional programming sources
US20070240232A1 (en) * 2006-04-07 2007-10-11 Pino Angelo J Interactive Television System and Method
US20070288976A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2007-12-13 Redling Peter M Interactive Television Advertising Method
US20070294730A1 (en) * 2006-03-10 2007-12-20 Feldstein David E Customizable on-screen display for data presentation
US20070300269A1 (en) * 2006-06-27 2007-12-27 Verizon Data Services Inc. Snippet access systems and methods
US20080052624A1 (en) * 2006-08-25 2008-02-28 Verizon Data Services Inc. Systems and methods for modifying content based on a positional relationship
WO2008024382A1 (en) 2006-08-23 2008-02-28 The Directv Group, Inc. Selective display of overlay video streams via interactive alert icons
US20080060006A1 (en) * 2006-08-18 2008-03-06 The Directv Group, Inc Mosaic channel video stream with personalized interactive services
US20080065990A1 (en) * 2006-03-22 2008-03-13 Harrison Fredrick W Integrated product branding method
WO2008040371A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-10 Nokia Siemens Networks Gmbh & Co. Kg Interactive service in a telecommunication network
US20080115178A1 (en) * 2006-10-30 2008-05-15 Comcast Cable Holdings, Llc Customer configurable video rich navigation (vrn)
US20080148317A1 (en) * 2006-12-18 2008-06-19 Verizon Services Corp. Systems and methods for presentation of preferred program selections
US20080163328A1 (en) * 2006-12-29 2008-07-03 Verizon Services Organization Inc. Method and system for providing attribute browsing of video assets
US20080229352A1 (en) * 2006-04-07 2008-09-18 Pino Angelo J System and Method for Providing Supplementary Interactive Content
US20080244654A1 (en) * 2007-03-29 2008-10-02 Verizon Laboratories Inc. System and Method for Providing a Directory of Advertisements
US20080239169A1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-10-02 Verizon Laboratories Inc. Method and system for providing a transition between linear content and non-linear content
US20080244643A1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-10-02 Verizon Laboratories Inc. System and Method for Alphanumeric Channel-Changing
US20080320393A1 (en) * 2007-06-19 2008-12-25 Verizon Data Services Inc. Program guide 3d zoom
US20090003796A1 (en) * 2007-06-29 2009-01-01 Verizon Laboratories Inc. Apparatus, method, and computer program product for receiving a command during a commercial
US20090007173A1 (en) * 2007-06-28 2009-01-01 Verizon Laboratories Inc. Apparatus, method, and computer program product for presenting an interactive programming guide
US20090089838A1 (en) * 2006-04-07 2009-04-02 Pino Jr Angelo J Template Based System, Device and Method for Providing Interactive Content
US20090164906A1 (en) * 2007-12-19 2009-06-25 Verizon Data Services Inc. Vertically oriented program guide for media content access systems and methods
US20090205001A1 (en) * 2005-07-29 2009-08-13 Thomson Licensing Intelligent Disaster Recovery for Digital Cinema Multiplex Theaters
US7577973B1 (en) * 2001-05-31 2009-08-18 Keen Personal Media, Inc. Client terminal for displaying program guide information associated with different programs within a pop-up
US20090265732A1 (en) * 2005-08-16 2009-10-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Contents providing system, and contents providing method
US20100064320A1 (en) * 2006-03-13 2010-03-11 Verizon Services Corp. Integrating data on program popularity into an on-screen program guide
US20100162170A1 (en) * 2008-12-19 2010-06-24 Verizon Data Services, Llc Systems and methods for radial display of time based information
US20100175084A1 (en) * 2001-07-12 2010-07-08 Ellis Michael D Interactive television system with messaging and related promotions
US20100333142A1 (en) * 2009-06-29 2010-12-30 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Method and apparatus for creating a personalized programming guide
US20100333025A1 (en) * 2009-06-30 2010-12-30 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media Content Instance Search Methods and Systems
US20100333139A1 (en) * 2009-06-29 2010-12-30 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc Search-based media program guide systems and methods
US20100333163A1 (en) * 2009-06-25 2010-12-30 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Voice enabled media presentation systems and methods
US20110107374A1 (en) * 2009-10-30 2011-05-05 Verizon Patent And Licensing, Inc. Media content watch list systems and methods
US20110131594A1 (en) * 2009-11-30 2011-06-02 Verizon Patent And Licensing, Inc. Boosting factor for television content
US20110154399A1 (en) * 2009-12-22 2011-06-23 Verizon Patent And Licensing, Inc. Content recommendation engine
US20110162008A1 (en) * 2009-12-28 2011-06-30 Verizon Patent And Licensing, Inc. Dynamic program guide information
US8028313B2 (en) 2006-12-21 2011-09-27 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Linear program guide for media content access systems and methods
US8051447B2 (en) 2007-12-19 2011-11-01 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Condensed program guide for media content access systems and methods
WO2011137188A1 (en) * 2010-04-28 2011-11-03 Qualcomm Incorporated Synchronization of interactivity with linear advertisement in a mobile broadcast network
US8069461B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2011-11-29 Verizon Services Corp. On-screen program guide with interactive programming recommendations
US8103965B2 (en) 2007-06-28 2012-01-24 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media content recording and healing statuses
US8194034B2 (en) 2006-12-20 2012-06-05 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for controlling a display
US8316408B2 (en) 2006-11-22 2012-11-20 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Audio processing for media content access systems and methods
US8316320B2 (en) 2006-10-03 2012-11-20 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Expandable history tab in interactive graphical user interface systems and methods
US8418217B2 (en) 2006-09-06 2013-04-09 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for accessing media content
US20130125041A1 (en) * 2011-11-10 2013-05-16 Microsoft Corporation Format Object Task Pane
US8464295B2 (en) 2006-10-03 2013-06-11 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Interactive search graphical user interface systems and methods
US20130205333A1 (en) * 2012-02-02 2013-08-08 Electronics And Telecommunications Reasearch Institute Method and apparatus of interactive advertising service in digital broadcast system
US8510780B2 (en) 2006-12-21 2013-08-13 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Program guide navigation tools for media content access systems and methods
US8522163B2 (en) 2008-12-19 2013-08-27 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for radial display of time based information
US8566874B2 (en) 2006-10-03 2013-10-22 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Control tools for media content access systems and methods
US8595778B2 (en) 2008-11-12 2013-11-26 Level 3 Communications, Llc User authentication in a content delivery network
US8640052B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2014-01-28 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. User interface enhancements for media content access systems and methods
US20140122203A1 (en) * 2012-11-01 2014-05-01 Performance Marketing Brands, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing a multi-merchant electronic shopping cart for a shopping service
US8726159B2 (en) 2007-01-05 2014-05-13 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Content level navigation systems and methods
US8739213B2 (en) 2007-06-29 2014-05-27 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. System and method for providing an interactive program guide for past current and future programming
US20140250477A1 (en) * 2013-03-04 2014-09-04 Snu R&Db Foundation Digital display device and method for controlling the same
US20140282701A1 (en) * 2002-02-11 2014-09-18 Cisco Technology, Inc. Enabling Advertisements in Designated Periods of a Recurring Schedule
US8892495B2 (en) 1991-12-23 2014-11-18 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-interface therefore
US20150106836A1 (en) * 2001-10-03 2015-04-16 Promptu Systems Corporation Global speech user interface
US9143737B2 (en) 2009-10-15 2015-09-22 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Data distribution
US9173001B1 (en) 2006-06-27 2015-10-27 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media content access systems and methods
US9258529B2 (en) 2009-10-15 2016-02-09 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Data distribution
US9380347B2 (en) 2000-05-04 2016-06-28 Cisco Technology, Inc. Hypertext service guide menu display
US9535563B2 (en) 1999-02-01 2017-01-03 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Internet appliance system and method
US9615139B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2017-04-04 Tech 5 Determining device that performs processing of output pictures
US9654721B2 (en) 2007-07-10 2017-05-16 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. System and method for providing personal content recommendations
US20180152767A1 (en) * 2016-11-30 2018-05-31 Alibaba Group Holding Limited Providing related objects during playback of video data
US20180310066A1 (en) * 2016-08-09 2018-10-25 Paronym Inc. Moving image reproduction device, moving image reproduction method, moving image distribution system, storage medium with moving image reproduction program stored therein
US10387949B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2019-08-20 Roku, Inc. System and method for providing interactive advertisement
US10387920B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2019-08-20 Roku, Inc. System and method for offering and billing advertisement opportunities
US10740781B2 (en) 2017-10-31 2020-08-11 Ebates Performance Marketing, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing notification of a cashback reward from a shopping portal using online screen and email analysis
US10785526B1 (en) 2014-10-24 2020-09-22 Music Choice System for providing music content to a user
US10970755B2 (en) 2016-10-13 2021-04-06 Ebates Performance Marketing, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing a wish list user interface within a web browser that alerts users to changes in multifactor-based prices
US11568468B2 (en) 2019-08-08 2023-01-31 Rakuten Group, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing similar product recommendations for non-merchant publishers based on publisher preferences

Families Citing this family (129)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6769128B1 (en) 1995-06-07 2004-07-27 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access
US6469753B1 (en) 1996-05-03 2002-10-22 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Information system
US9113122B2 (en) 1997-04-21 2015-08-18 Rovi Guides, Inc. Method and apparatus for time-shifting video and text in a text-enhanced television program
ES2475242T3 (en) 1997-07-21 2014-07-10 Gemstar Development Corporation Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interfaces
US6742183B1 (en) * 1998-05-15 2004-05-25 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for advertising television networks, channels, and programs
US20020095676A1 (en) 1998-05-15 2002-07-18 Robert A. Knee Interactive television program guide system for determining user values for demographic categories
US6898762B2 (en) 1998-08-21 2005-05-24 United Video Properties, Inc. Client-server electronic program guide
ATE477677T1 (en) 2000-02-01 2010-08-15 United Video Properties Inc METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FORCING PUBLICITY
ATE516665T1 (en) * 2000-02-01 2011-07-15 United Video Properties Inc APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INCORPORATING ADVERTISING IN RECORDED PROGRAMS
US7788686B1 (en) * 2000-03-01 2010-08-31 Andrews Christopher C Method of and apparatus for describing, promoting, publishing, aggregating, distributing and accessing live content information
US20020060750A1 (en) * 2000-03-29 2002-05-23 Istvan Anthony F. Single-button remote access to a synthetic channel page of specialized content
WO2001075649A2 (en) 2000-03-31 2001-10-11 United Video Properties, Inc. System and method for metadata-linked advertisements
AU2001257510A1 (en) * 2000-05-03 2001-11-12 Worldgate Service, Inc. System and method to control and distribute processing and memory resources among applications in a television terminal
US20040181801A1 (en) * 2000-12-28 2004-09-16 David Hagen Interactive television for promoting goods and services
US8490134B2 (en) 2000-08-14 2013-07-16 Cumnor Technologies Llc Displaying advertising in an electronic program guide
US20020073428A1 (en) * 2000-09-06 2002-06-13 Leonid Gurevich Downloading and transfer of audio or video data from video broadcasts
CA2860962C (en) 2000-10-11 2016-09-20 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for caching data in media-on-demand systems
US20030167465A1 (en) * 2001-01-17 2003-09-04 Davis T. Ron Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
BR0207769A (en) 2001-02-21 2004-09-14 United Video Properties Inc Systems and methods for interactive program guides with personal video recording features
CA2447801C (en) * 2001-04-16 2012-06-12 Corporate Media Partners D/B/A Americast Television program database architecture
US8667553B2 (en) * 2001-06-19 2014-03-04 Opentv, Inc. Automated input in an interactive television system
US11388451B2 (en) 2001-11-27 2022-07-12 Comcast Cable Communications Management, Llc Method and system for enabling data-rich interactive television using broadcast database
US8413205B2 (en) 2001-09-19 2013-04-02 Tvworks, Llc System and method for construction, delivery and display of iTV content
US8042132B2 (en) 2002-03-15 2011-10-18 Tvworks, Llc System and method for construction, delivery and display of iTV content
US8365230B2 (en) * 2001-09-19 2013-01-29 Tvworks, Llc Interactive user interface for television applications
US20030084453A1 (en) * 2001-11-01 2003-05-01 Commerce Tv Corporation System and method for providing product information over an interactive television system
US20030084443A1 (en) * 2001-11-01 2003-05-01 Commerce Tv Corporation, Inc. System and method for creating program enhancements for use in an interactive broadcast network
US8261306B2 (en) * 2001-12-11 2012-09-04 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. System for and method of shopping through television
US20070157233A1 (en) * 2001-12-20 2007-07-05 I-Requestv, Inc. Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
US20070266413A1 (en) * 2001-12-20 2007-11-15 I-Requestv, Inc. Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
US8707354B1 (en) 2002-06-12 2014-04-22 Tvworks, Llc Graphically rich, modular, promotional tile interface for interactive television
US7703116B1 (en) 2003-07-11 2010-04-20 Tvworks, Llc System and method for construction, delivery and display of iTV applications that blend programming information of on-demand and broadcast service offerings
US20030202110A1 (en) * 2002-04-30 2003-10-30 Owens James W. Arrangement of images
AU2003243183A1 (en) * 2002-05-01 2003-11-17 Index Systems, Inc. Method and system for facilitating advertising and t-commerce transactions in connection with content stored on a storage medium
WO2004001542A2 (en) * 2002-06-24 2003-12-31 General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc. Systems and methods for providing media content
US8352983B1 (en) * 2002-07-11 2013-01-08 Tvworks, Llc Programming contextual interactive user interface for television
US11070890B2 (en) 2002-08-06 2021-07-20 Comcast Cable Communications Management, Llc User customization of user interfaces for interactive television
US20040039648A1 (en) * 2002-08-20 2004-02-26 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for downloading data to a set top box
US8220018B2 (en) 2002-09-19 2012-07-10 Tvworks, Llc System and method for preferred placement programming of iTV content
US20070055566A1 (en) * 2005-09-02 2007-03-08 Aws Convergence Technologies, Inc. System, method, apparatus and computer media for user control of advertising
SE0203493D0 (en) * 2002-11-26 2002-11-26 Kianoush Namvar Interactive Media Communication
US11381875B2 (en) 2003-03-14 2022-07-05 Comcast Cable Communications Management, Llc Causing display of user-selectable content types
US8578411B1 (en) 2003-03-14 2013-11-05 Tvworks, Llc System and method for controlling iTV application behaviors through the use of application profile filters
US10664138B2 (en) 2003-03-14 2020-05-26 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Providing supplemental content for a second screen experience
US20040267917A1 (en) * 2003-06-26 2004-12-30 Timo Tokkonen Wireless downloading of theme oriented content
JP3918189B2 (en) * 2003-06-26 2007-05-23 ソニー株式会社 Content transmission / reception system and method
US8416952B1 (en) 2003-07-11 2013-04-09 Tvworks, Llc Channel family surf control
US8819734B2 (en) 2003-09-16 2014-08-26 Tvworks, Llc Contextual navigational control for digital television
US20050138674A1 (en) * 2003-12-17 2005-06-23 Quadrock Communications, Inc System and method for integration and synchronization of interactive content with television content
US20050229227A1 (en) * 2004-04-13 2005-10-13 Evenhere, Inc. Aggregation of retailers for televised media programming product placement
US9167301B2 (en) 2004-10-05 2015-10-20 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Methods and computer program products for taking a secondary action responsive to receipt of an advertisement
US20060075427A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Robert Koch Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for recording media files
US8806537B2 (en) * 2004-10-05 2014-08-12 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing interactive control of radio and other media
US20060075455A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Robert Koch Digital rights management and payment for a file download
US20060075425A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Robert Koch System, method and computer program for content management in conjunction with a file download
US20060075452A1 (en) * 2004-10-05 2006-04-06 Robert Koch Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing interactive content-based activities
US8132220B2 (en) 2005-01-11 2012-03-06 Tvngo Ltd. Method and apparatus for facilitating toggling between internet and TV broadcasts
US7818667B2 (en) 2005-05-03 2010-10-19 Tv Works Llc Verification of semantic constraints in multimedia data and in its announcement, signaling and interchange
US20090144778A1 (en) * 2005-10-05 2009-06-04 I-Requestv, Inc. Method and system for supplementing television programming with e-mailed magazines
US20070180461A1 (en) * 2006-02-02 2007-08-02 Ice, L.L.C. Multiplexed Telecommunication and Commerce Exchange Multimedia Tool
US20070199041A1 (en) * 2006-02-23 2007-08-23 Sbc Knowledge Ventures, Lp Video systems and methods of using the same
US7529741B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2009-05-05 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for segmenting relative user preferences into fine-grain and coarse-grain collections
US8316394B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2012-11-20 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive media guidance application with intelligent navigation and display features
US20070294721A1 (en) * 2006-06-20 2007-12-20 Sbc Knowledge Ventures, Lp System and method of providing supplemental video content related to targeted advertisements in a video stream
US20080183566A1 (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-07-31 Montgomery John R Episodic show, device and system operable to produce a promotional effect
US7801888B2 (en) 2007-03-09 2010-09-21 Microsoft Corporation Media content search results ranked by popularity
US8290827B2 (en) * 2007-03-23 2012-10-16 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method, medium, and system of presenting assets related to media content
US8756103B1 (en) 2007-03-28 2014-06-17 Qurio Holdings, Inc. System and method of implementing alternative redemption options for a consumer-centric advertising system
US7966638B2 (en) * 2007-03-30 2011-06-21 Google Inc. Interactive media display across devices
KR100903070B1 (en) * 2007-04-16 2009-06-18 삼성전자주식회사 Apparatus and method for displaying data
US7861260B2 (en) 2007-04-17 2010-12-28 Almondnet, Inc. Targeted television advertisements based on online behavior
US8566164B2 (en) 2007-12-31 2013-10-22 Intent IQ, LLC Targeted online advertisements based on viewing or interacting with television advertisements
US7890380B2 (en) * 2007-05-07 2011-02-15 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method, system, and computer readable medium for implementing sales of products using a trace of an object
US20080288974A1 (en) * 2007-05-18 2008-11-20 Jamie Dierlam Systems and methods for outputting advertisements with ongoing video streams
US8560387B2 (en) 2007-06-07 2013-10-15 Qurio Holdings, Inc. Systems and methods of providing collaborative consumer-controlled advertising environments
US20090006208A1 (en) * 2007-06-26 2009-01-01 Ranjit Singh Grewal Display of Video with Tagged Advertising
US9239958B2 (en) 2007-11-09 2016-01-19 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams
US20090150927A1 (en) * 2007-12-06 2009-06-11 Alcatel Lucent Facilitating interactive advertising in digital television program content through follow-up browsing of selectable advertised offerings presented within such digital television program content
WO2009096684A2 (en) 2008-01-29 2009-08-06 Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd. Content recording control method for peers, and a device therefor
MX2010008351A (en) * 2008-01-29 2010-08-18 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Method for providing a content-sharing service, and a device therefor.
US8973028B2 (en) * 2008-01-29 2015-03-03 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Information storage medium storing metadata and method of providing additional contents, and digital broadcast reception apparatus
US20090193455A1 (en) * 2008-01-29 2009-07-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Information storage medium and method for providing additional contents based on trigger, and digital broadcast reception apparatus
US20090199233A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 David Selinger System and process for generating a selection model for use in personalized non-competitive advertising
US20090198556A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 David Selinger System and process for selecting personalized non-competitive electronic advertising
US20090198554A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 David Selinger System and process for identifying users for which non-competitive advertisements is relevant
US20090198551A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 David Selinger System and process for selecting personalized non-competitive electronic advertising for electronic display
US20090198553A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 David Selinger System and process for generating a user model for use in providing personalized advertisements to retail customers
US20090198555A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 David Selinger System and process for providing cooperative electronic advertising
US20090198552A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 David Selinger System and process for identifying users for which cooperative electronic advertising is relevant
US9083853B2 (en) 2008-06-02 2015-07-14 Intent IQ, LLC Targeted television advertisements associated with online users' preferred television programs or channels
US8051444B2 (en) 2008-06-02 2011-11-01 Intent IQ, LLC Targeted television advertisements selected on the basis of an online user profile and presented with television programs or channels related to that profile
US20090307092A1 (en) * 2008-06-04 2009-12-10 Dionytech, Inc. System and method for providing media content
US11832024B2 (en) 2008-11-20 2023-11-28 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Method and apparatus for delivering video and video-related content at sub-asset level
CA2756237C (en) * 2009-04-01 2018-02-06 Fourthwall Media, Inc. Systems, methods, and apparatuses for enhancing video advertising with interactive content
US9166714B2 (en) 2009-09-11 2015-10-20 Veveo, Inc. Method of and system for presenting enriched video viewing analytics
US9014546B2 (en) 2009-09-23 2015-04-21 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for automatically detecting users within detection regions of media devices
US8930985B2 (en) * 2009-12-30 2015-01-06 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Trigger-based transactional advertising for television
US20110161813A1 (en) * 2009-12-31 2011-06-30 Mobitv, Inc. Data measurement and feedback mechanism using an application framework
KR101092810B1 (en) * 2009-12-31 2011-12-12 김기연 The method of broadcasting pay-per-view contents free of charge on condition of viewer's consent to advertisement exposures
WO2011130165A2 (en) * 2010-04-13 2011-10-20 Enzo Stancato Method and apparatus for interactive sales and advertising
US20120078952A1 (en) * 2010-09-24 2012-03-29 Rovi Technologies Corporation Browsing hierarchies with personalized recommendations
US8997138B2 (en) 2010-10-15 2015-03-31 Intent IQ, LLC Correlating online behavior with presumed viewing of television advertisements
US9131282B2 (en) 2010-10-15 2015-09-08 Intent IQ, LLC Systems and methods for selecting television advertisements for a set-top box requesting an advertisement without knowing what program or channel is being watched
WO2012083415A1 (en) 2010-11-15 2012-06-28 Tandemlaunch Technologies Inc. System and method for interacting with and analyzing media on a display using eye gaze tracking
US9736524B2 (en) 2011-01-06 2017-08-15 Veveo, Inc. Methods of and systems for content search based on environment sampling
US9112623B2 (en) 2011-06-06 2015-08-18 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Asynchronous interaction at specific points in content
US8949901B2 (en) 2011-06-29 2015-02-03 Rovi Guides, Inc. Methods and systems for customizing viewing environment preferences in a viewing environment control application
US20130007807A1 (en) * 2011-06-30 2013-01-03 Delia Grenville Blended search for next generation television
GB2493189A (en) * 2011-07-28 2013-01-30 James Booth Interactive Element Panels Available During Viewing of Video on Demand Content
US9338510B2 (en) 2011-07-31 2016-05-10 Google Inc. Systems and methods for presenting home screen shortcuts
WO2013020100A2 (en) 2011-08-03 2013-02-07 Intent IQ, LLC Targeted television advertising based on profiles linked to multiple online devices
EP2568430A1 (en) 2011-09-06 2013-03-13 David Miller Immersion based advertisement system and method
US9448619B1 (en) 2011-11-30 2016-09-20 Google Inc. Video advertisement overlay system and method
US9953340B1 (en) 2012-05-22 2018-04-24 Google Llc Companion advertisements on remote control devices
WO2013184488A1 (en) 2012-06-05 2013-12-12 Almondnet, Inc. Targeted television advertising based on a profile linked to an online device associated with a content-selecting device
US11115722B2 (en) 2012-11-08 2021-09-07 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Crowdsourcing supplemental content
US8713600B2 (en) 2013-01-30 2014-04-29 Almondnet, Inc. User control of replacement television advertisements inserted by a smart television
US9553927B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2017-01-24 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Synchronizing multiple transmissions of content
US10880609B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2020-12-29 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Content event messaging
US20150011311A1 (en) * 2013-07-03 2015-01-08 Iswifter, Inc. System and method for experiencing advertised interactive applications
GB2519375A (en) * 2013-10-21 2015-04-22 Mastercard International Inc Method and apparatus for interaction via television system
US9288521B2 (en) 2014-05-28 2016-03-15 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for updating media asset data based on pause point in the media asset
US11783382B2 (en) 2014-10-22 2023-10-10 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Systems and methods for curating content metadata
US9973819B1 (en) 2015-06-26 2018-05-15 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Live video stream with interactive shopping interface
US10440436B1 (en) 2015-06-26 2019-10-08 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Synchronizing interactive content with a live video stream
US9883249B2 (en) * 2015-06-26 2018-01-30 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Broadcaster tools for interactive shopping interfaces
US10021458B1 (en) 2015-06-26 2018-07-10 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Electronic commerce functionality in video overlays
CN106991108A (en) * 2016-09-27 2017-07-28 阿里巴巴集团控股有限公司 The method for pushing and device of a kind of information
WO2022016306A1 (en) * 2020-07-20 2022-01-27 Arris Enterprises Llc Method and system for displaying an electronic program guide in a bullet screen format

Citations (78)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3729581A (en) * 1970-09-03 1973-04-24 Display Sys Corp Computer assisted dial access video retrieval for an instructional television system
US4058830A (en) * 1975-06-06 1977-11-15 Yves Maurice Guinet One way data transmission system
US4203130A (en) * 1977-01-11 1980-05-13 Dial-A-Channel, Inc. Information displaying system
US4488179A (en) * 1980-09-27 1984-12-11 Robert Bosch Gmbh Television viewing center system
US4685131A (en) * 1985-03-11 1987-08-04 General Instrument Corp. Program blocking method for use in direct broadcast satellite system
US4691351A (en) * 1984-11-29 1987-09-01 Sony Corporation Television signal receiving apparatus
US4706121A (en) * 1985-07-12 1987-11-10 Patrick Young TV schedule system and process
US4714919A (en) * 1984-07-30 1987-12-22 Zenith Electronics Corporation Video display with improved smooth scrolling
US4751578A (en) * 1985-05-28 1988-06-14 David P. Gordon System for electronically controllably viewing on a television updateable television programming information
US4787063A (en) * 1984-10-19 1988-11-22 Francis Muguet Acquisition and transmission system for a recorder and a computer center
US4833710A (en) * 1984-02-15 1989-05-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Pay television system
US4899139A (en) * 1982-08-24 1990-02-06 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Display control device for superimposing data with a broad case signal on a television screen
US4942391A (en) * 1987-08-31 1990-07-17 Nec Home Electronics Ltd. Picture information composite system
US4963994A (en) * 1981-12-14 1990-10-16 Levine Michael R VCR programmer
US4977455A (en) * 1988-07-15 1990-12-11 Insight Telecast, Inc. System and process for VCR scheduling
US5003384A (en) * 1988-04-01 1991-03-26 Scientific Atlanta, Inc. Set-top interface transactions in an impulse pay per view television system
US5027400A (en) * 1988-08-19 1991-06-25 Hitachi Ltd. Multimedia bidirectional broadcast system
US5038211A (en) * 1989-07-05 1991-08-06 The Superguide Corporation Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving television program information
US5093718A (en) * 1990-09-28 1992-03-03 Inteletext Systems, Inc. Interactive home information system
US5109414A (en) * 1981-11-03 1992-04-28 Personalized Mass Media Corporation Signal processing apparatus and methods
US5151789A (en) * 1989-10-30 1992-09-29 Insight Telecast, Inc. System and method for automatic, unattended recording of cable television programs
US5151782A (en) * 1989-05-17 1992-09-29 Reiss Media Enterprises Control system for satellite delivered pay-per-view television system
US5172413A (en) * 1990-12-20 1992-12-15 Sasktel Secure hierarchial video delivery system and method
US5210611A (en) * 1991-08-12 1993-05-11 Keen Y. Yee Automatic tuning radio/TV using filtered seek
US5220420A (en) * 1990-09-28 1993-06-15 Inteletext Systems, Inc. Interactive home information system for distributing compressed television programming
US5233423A (en) * 1990-11-26 1993-08-03 North American Philips Corporation Embedded commericals within a television receiver using an integrated electronic billboard
US5235415A (en) * 1989-12-22 1993-08-10 Centre National D'etudes Des Telecommunications Device for the intelligible consultation of data relating to the fees programs of a subscription television and/or radio service
USRE34340E (en) * 1987-10-26 1993-08-10 Actv, Inc. Closed circuit television system having seamless interactive television programming and expandable user participation
US5253066A (en) * 1989-06-01 1993-10-12 Vogel Peter S TV recording and viewing control system
US5285278A (en) * 1992-05-21 1994-02-08 Holman Michael J Electronic redeemable coupon system via television
US5311423A (en) * 1991-01-07 1994-05-10 Gte Service Corporation Schedule management method
US5353121A (en) * 1989-10-30 1994-10-04 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Television schedule system
US5404393A (en) * 1991-10-03 1995-04-04 Viscorp Method and apparatus for interactive television through use of menu windows
US5412720A (en) * 1990-09-28 1995-05-02 Ictv, Inc. Interactive home information system
US5442389A (en) * 1992-12-28 1995-08-15 At&T Corp. Program server for interactive television system
US5465385A (en) * 1991-10-28 1995-11-07 Pioneer Electronic Corporation CATV system with an easy program reservation
US5479268A (en) * 1990-09-10 1995-12-26 Starsight Telecast Inc. User interface for television schedule system
US5523796A (en) * 1994-05-20 1996-06-04 Prevue Networks, Inc. Video clip program guide
US5559548A (en) * 1994-05-20 1996-09-24 Davis; Bruce System and method for generating an information display schedule for an electronic program guide
US5583560A (en) * 1993-06-22 1996-12-10 Apple Computer, Inc. Method and apparatus for audio-visual interface for the selective display of listing information on a display
US5585866A (en) * 1993-09-09 1996-12-17 Miller; Larry Electronic television program guide schedule system and method including virtual channels
US5585838A (en) * 1995-05-05 1996-12-17 Microsoft Corporation Program time guide
US5585858A (en) * 1994-04-15 1996-12-17 Actv, Inc. Simulcast of interactive signals with a conventional video signal
US5589892A (en) * 1993-09-09 1996-12-31 Knee; Robert A. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access
US5600364A (en) * 1992-12-09 1997-02-04 Discovery Communications, Inc. Network controller for cable television delivery systems
US5619274A (en) * 1990-09-10 1997-04-08 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Television schedule information transmission and utilization system and process
US5629733A (en) * 1994-11-29 1997-05-13 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with display and search of program listings by title
US5635978A (en) * 1994-05-20 1997-06-03 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic television program guide channel system and method
US5659350A (en) * 1992-12-09 1997-08-19 Discovery Communications, Inc. Operations center for a television program packaging and delivery system
US5699107A (en) * 1995-05-05 1997-12-16 Microsoft Corporation Program reminder system
US5701161A (en) * 1994-12-14 1997-12-23 Williams; Mark C. Method and apparatus for providing real time data on a viewing screen concurrently with any programing in process
US5761606A (en) * 1996-02-08 1998-06-02 Wolzien; Thomas R. Media online services access via address embedded in video or audio program
US5760821A (en) * 1995-06-07 1998-06-02 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic program guide schedule localization system and method
US5781246A (en) * 1993-09-09 1998-07-14 Alten; Jerry Electronic television program guide schedule system and method
US5798785A (en) * 1992-12-09 1998-08-25 Discovery Communications, Inc. Terminal for suggesting programs offered on a television program delivery system
US5812123A (en) * 1994-11-29 1998-09-22 Microsoft Corporation System for displaying programming information
US5880768A (en) * 1995-04-06 1999-03-09 Prevue Networks, Inc. Interactive program guide systems and processes
US5892498A (en) * 1994-04-08 1999-04-06 Prevue Networks, Inc. Interactive scroll program guide
US5940073A (en) * 1996-05-03 1999-08-17 Starsight Telecast Inc. Method and system for displaying other information in a TV program guide
US5945987A (en) * 1995-05-05 1999-08-31 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment network system and method for providing short sets of preview video trailers
US6006257A (en) * 1995-09-29 1999-12-21 Comverse Networks Systems, Inc. Multimedia architecture for interactive advertising in which secondary programming is varied based upon viewer demographics and content of primary programming
US6025837A (en) * 1996-03-29 2000-02-15 Micrsoft Corporation Electronic program guide with hyperlinks to target resources
US6034677A (en) * 1997-10-17 2000-03-07 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for displaying an electronic program guide
US6177931B1 (en) * 1996-12-19 2001-01-23 Index Systems, Inc. Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interface with television programs, video, advertising information and program scheduling information
US6240555B1 (en) * 1996-03-29 2001-05-29 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment system for presenting supplemental interactive content together with continuous video programs
US6388714B1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2002-05-14 Starsight Telecast Inc Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
US6505348B1 (en) * 1998-07-29 2003-01-07 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Multiple interactive electronic program guide system and methods
US6518986B1 (en) * 1997-10-17 2003-02-11 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for providing an on-screen guide for a multiple channel broadcasting system
US6600503B2 (en) * 1996-10-07 2003-07-29 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Integrated content guide for interactive selection of content and services on personal computer systems with multiple sources and multiple media presentation
US6637032B1 (en) * 1997-01-06 2003-10-21 Microsoft Corporation System and method for synchronizing enhancing content with a video program using closed captioning
US6698020B1 (en) * 1998-06-15 2004-02-24 Webtv Networks, Inc. Techniques for intelligent video ad insertion
US6732369B1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2004-05-04 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Systems and methods for contextually linking television program information
US6745391B1 (en) * 1997-12-10 2004-06-01 E Guide, Inc. Premium channel promotion system and method
US6754905B2 (en) * 1998-07-23 2004-06-22 Diva Systems Corporation Data structure and methods for providing an interactive program guide
US6928652B1 (en) * 1998-05-29 2005-08-09 Webtv Networks, Inc. Method and apparatus for displaying HTML and video simultaneously
US7010801B1 (en) * 1999-06-11 2006-03-07 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Video on demand system with parameter-controlled bandwidth deallocation
US7058635B1 (en) * 1998-10-30 2006-06-06 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for searching through an electronic programming guide
US7143428B1 (en) * 1999-04-21 2006-11-28 Microsoft Corporation Concurrent viewing of a video programming and of text communications concerning the video programming

Family Cites Families (424)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US34340A (en) * 1862-02-04 Improved washing-machine
US3729851A (en) 1971-08-25 1973-05-01 G Garcia Live shrimp securing fishing lure
GB1554411A (en) 1975-08-09 1979-10-17 Communications Patents Ltd Control systems
US4024401A (en) 1975-11-17 1977-05-17 General Electric Company X-ray apparatus
US4081753A (en) * 1976-12-13 1978-03-28 Miller Arthur O Automatic programming system for television receivers
US4170782A (en) 1976-12-13 1979-10-09 Miller Arthur O Programming and selection monitoring system for television receivers
US4271532A (en) 1979-11-13 1981-06-02 Rca Corporation Receiver with a channel swapping apparatus
DE2950432A1 (en) 1979-12-14 1981-06-19 Edmond 8031 Gröbenzell Keiser METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF A TELEVISION RECEIVER
US4280148A (en) 1980-01-21 1981-07-21 Saxena Arjun N Audio recording apparatus and method
US4381522A (en) 1980-12-01 1983-04-26 Adams-Russell Co., Inc. Selective viewing
US4367559A (en) * 1981-02-06 1983-01-04 Rca Corporation Arrangement for both channel swapping and favorite channel features
US4425579A (en) * 1981-05-22 1984-01-10 Oak Industries Inc. Catv converter with keylock to favorite channels
US4375651A (en) * 1981-07-27 1983-03-01 Zenith Radio Corporation Selective video reception control system
DE3151492A1 (en) 1981-11-21 1983-07-07 Gorenje Körting Electronic GmbH & Co, 8217 Grassau Audio/video home system
US5692214A (en) 1981-12-14 1997-11-25 Levine; Michael R. System for unattended recording of video programs by remote control code transmitter module which receives user selections from a personal computer
US4908713A (en) * 1981-12-14 1990-03-13 Levine Michael R VCR Programmer
US4429385A (en) * 1981-12-31 1984-01-31 American Newspaper Publishers Association Method and apparatus for digital serial scanning with hierarchical and relational access
US4495654A (en) * 1983-03-29 1985-01-22 Rca Corporation Remote controlled receiver with provisions for automatically programming a channel skip list
JPS59188831A (en) 1983-04-11 1984-10-26 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd Magnetic recording medium
US4625080A (en) 1983-05-03 1986-11-25 Scott Michael M Remote video recorder programming apparatus operating over telephone lines
US4527194A (en) 1983-07-27 1985-07-02 Zenith Electronics Corporation Channel assignment for CATV system
JPS6061935A (en) 1983-09-13 1985-04-09 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Magnetic recording and reproducing device
US4754326A (en) 1983-10-25 1988-06-28 Keycom Electronic Publishing Method and apparatus for assisting user of information retrieval systems
US4641205A (en) * 1984-03-05 1987-02-03 Rca Corporation Television system scheduler with on-screen menu type programming prompting apparatus
JPH0638165B2 (en) 1984-03-08 1994-05-18 株式会社リコー Toner for electrostatic latent image development
JPS60222032A (en) 1984-04-19 1985-11-06 日本電気株式会社 Electrocardiograph signal processor
US4689022A (en) 1984-04-30 1987-08-25 John Peers System for control of a video storage means by a programmed processor
EP0189399A1 (en) 1984-08-06 1986-08-06 Prutec Limited Information processing apparatus
DE3544183A1 (en) 1985-12-13 1987-06-19 Thomson Brandt Gmbh METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING A VIDEO RECORDER
JP2526875B2 (en) 1986-11-05 1996-08-21 ソニー株式会社 Digital information recorder
US5089885A (en) * 1986-11-14 1992-02-18 Video Jukebox Network, Inc. Telephone access display system with remote monitoring
US4761684A (en) 1986-11-14 1988-08-02 Video Jukebox Network Telephone access display system
DE3640436C3 (en) 1986-11-27 1997-04-17 Siemens Ag Remote control for a consumer electronics receiver
GB8629291D0 (en) 1986-12-08 1987-01-14 British Broadcasting Corp Programming of broadcast receiving devices
US4807154A (en) 1987-01-29 1989-02-21 International Business Machines Corporation Method for developing automatic replies in an interactive electronic calendaring system
US5126851A (en) 1987-06-16 1992-06-30 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Video system using two different kinds of recording media
DE3856057T2 (en) 1987-07-20 1998-10-29 Philips Electronics Nv Television transmission system
JPS6450688A (en) 1987-08-21 1989-02-27 Hashimoto Corp Method and device for generating individual television program
WO1989003085A1 (en) 1987-09-28 1989-04-06 Fox James C Automatic program selector
IT1218950B (en) 1988-01-12 1990-04-24 Sarin Societa Servizi Ausiliar PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED DELIVERY PARTICULARLY FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES OF TELEMATIC SERVICES AND GRAPHIC INFORMATION ON USER TERMINALS
GB2218287B (en) * 1988-05-02 1992-10-07 Hashimoto Corp Display system for use with a tv program reservation system
CA1337132C (en) 1988-07-15 1995-09-26 Robert Filepp Reception system for an interactive computer network and method of operation
US5187589A (en) * 1988-07-28 1993-02-16 Pioneer Electronic Corporation Multiprogram video tape recording and reproducing device
US4959719A (en) 1988-12-21 1990-09-25 North American Philips Corporation Picture-in-picture television receiver control
US5016273A (en) 1989-01-09 1991-05-14 At&E Corporation Dual communication mode video tape recorder
JPH02288571A (en) 1989-04-28 1990-11-28 Pioneer Electron Corp Catv system and its reception terminal equipment
US5047867A (en) 1989-06-08 1991-09-10 North American Philips Corporation Interface for a TV-VCR system
US5663757A (en) 1989-07-14 1997-09-02 Morales; Fernando Software controlled multi-mode interactive TV systems
US5170388A (en) 1989-07-27 1992-12-08 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Image/audio information recording/reproduction apparatus with built-in semiconductor memory
GB8922702D0 (en) 1989-10-09 1989-11-22 Videologic Ltd Radio television receiver
US5155591A (en) * 1989-10-23 1992-10-13 General Instrument Corporation Method and apparatus for providing demographically targeted television commercials
US5446919A (en) 1990-02-20 1995-08-29 Wilkins; Jeff K. Communication system and method with demographically or psychographically defined audiences
JP2811887B2 (en) * 1990-03-27 1998-10-15 ソニー株式会社 Receiver
US5113259A (en) 1990-04-19 1992-05-12 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Data transfer from an external computer to a television receiver having picture-in-picture capability
JP3057335B2 (en) 1990-04-27 2000-06-26 株式会社日立製作所 Information display device
US5090049A (en) * 1990-05-22 1992-02-18 Chen Thomas N Fax message recorder and relay system and method
US5189630A (en) * 1991-01-15 1993-02-23 Barstow David R Method for encoding and broadcasting information about live events using computer pattern matching techniques
US5963916A (en) 1990-09-13 1999-10-05 Intouch Group, Inc. Network apparatus and method for preview of music products and compilation of market data
US5526034A (en) 1990-09-28 1996-06-11 Ictv, Inc. Interactive home information system with signal assignment
US5282028A (en) 1990-11-27 1994-01-25 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Remote control for digital music terminal with synchronized communications
JPH0731649Y2 (en) * 1990-11-28 1995-07-19 船井電機株式会社 Channel tuning device
US5253275A (en) 1991-01-07 1993-10-12 H. Lee Browne Audio and video transmission and receiving system
US5132992A (en) 1991-01-07 1992-07-21 Paul Yurt Audio and video transmission and receiving system
ES2092583T3 (en) * 1991-01-16 1996-12-01 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd RECORDING DEVICE ON VIDEO TAPE TO RECORD MULTIPLE CHANNELS.
US5283819A (en) * 1991-04-25 1994-02-01 Compuadd Corporation Computing and multimedia entertainment system
JPH04335395A (en) 1991-05-13 1992-11-24 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Automatic screen scrolling device
US5488409A (en) * 1991-08-19 1996-01-30 Yuen; Henry C. Apparatus and method for tracking the playing of VCR programs
JPH0621907A (en) 1991-09-10 1994-01-28 New Media Corp Method and apparatus for multiple medium sending network
US5396546A (en) 1991-10-03 1995-03-07 Viscorp Apparatus and method for automatic and user configurable information appliance
US5231494A (en) 1991-10-08 1993-07-27 General Instrument Corporation Selection of compressed television signals from single channel allocation based on viewer characteristics
US5231664A (en) * 1991-11-14 1993-07-27 Zenith Electronics Corporation Cable system having multiple barkering
US5861881A (en) * 1991-11-25 1999-01-19 Actv, Inc. Interactive computer system for providing an interactive presentation with personalized video, audio and graphics responses for multiple viewers
US5477262A (en) 1991-11-29 1995-12-19 Scientific-Altanta, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing an on-screen user interface for a subscription television terminal
US5988078A (en) 1991-12-04 1999-11-23 Gemstar Development Corp. Method and apparatus for receiving customized television programming information by transmitting geographic location to a service provider through a wide-area network
US5903454A (en) 1991-12-23 1999-05-11 Hoffberg; Linda Irene Human-factored interface corporating adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus
US5875108A (en) * 1991-12-23 1999-02-23 Hoffberg; Steven M. Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
US6081750A (en) 1991-12-23 2000-06-27 Hoffberg; Steven Mark Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
DE4201031C2 (en) 1992-01-14 1994-09-01 Ludwig J Prof Dr Issing Program selection system for the automated pre-selection of television or radio programs according to the individual interests of the participants
GB2264409B (en) 1992-02-03 1995-11-29 Amstrad Plc Television channel display
JP3328951B2 (en) 1992-02-07 2002-09-30 ソニー株式会社 TV receiver and tuning method
JPH06296200A (en) 1992-02-14 1994-10-21 Hashimoto Corp Automatic control system for video tape recorder
JPH05260400A (en) 1992-03-12 1993-10-08 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Television receiver
US5432561A (en) 1992-03-27 1995-07-11 North American Philips Corporation System for automatically activating picture-in-picture when an auxiliary signal is detected
US5262860A (en) 1992-04-23 1993-11-16 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system communication establishment utilizing captured and processed visually perceptible data within a broadcast video signal
DE4217246A1 (en) 1992-05-25 1993-12-02 Grundig Emv Video device for processing additional signals, which are transmitted in the blanking intervals of television signals
US5469206A (en) * 1992-05-27 1995-11-21 Philips Electronics North America Corporation System and method for automatically correlating user preferences with electronic shopping information
US5223924A (en) 1992-05-27 1993-06-29 North American Philips Corporation System and method for automatically correlating user preferences with a T.V. program information database
US5317403A (en) 1992-06-26 1994-05-31 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Favorite channel selection using extended keypress
US5414756A (en) 1992-06-26 1995-05-09 Smart Vcr Limited Partnership Telephonically programmable apparatus
US5325423A (en) 1992-11-13 1994-06-28 Multimedia Systems Corporation Interactive multimedia communication system
DE4240187A1 (en) 1992-11-30 1994-06-01 Siemens Ag Displaying information from video text signals on screen - generating text table representing all TV programmes available from different transmitters without switching between transmitters
US5592551A (en) 1992-12-01 1997-01-07 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing interactive electronic programming guide
US5410326A (en) * 1992-12-04 1995-04-25 Goldstein; Steven W. Programmable remote control device for interacting with a plurality of remotely controlled devices
JPH06176492A (en) * 1992-12-04 1994-06-24 Sony Corp Device for recording and reproducing digital video signal
US6828993B1 (en) 1992-12-09 2004-12-07 Discovery Communications, Inc. Set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus
DE69329949T2 (en) 1992-12-09 2001-06-07 Discovery Communicat Inc NETWORK CONTROL FOR CABLE TV DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
US7721307B2 (en) 1992-12-09 2010-05-18 Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc Method and apparatus for targeting of interactive virtual objects
US6675386B1 (en) * 1996-09-04 2004-01-06 Discovery Communications, Inc. Apparatus for video access and control over computer network, including image correction
US6463585B1 (en) 1992-12-09 2002-10-08 Discovery Communications, Inc. Targeted advertisement using television delivery systems
US6181335B1 (en) * 1992-12-09 2001-01-30 Discovery Communications, Inc. Card for a set top terminal
JP3297914B2 (en) 1993-01-08 2002-07-02 ソニー株式会社 Television receiver
JP3302425B2 (en) 1993-01-29 2002-07-15 パイオニア株式会社 Selection method and selection device
JPH06243539A (en) 1993-02-22 1994-09-02 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> Method for obtaining video structure information
WO1994021081A2 (en) 1993-03-05 1994-09-15 Mankovitz Roy J Apparatus and method using compressed codes for television program record scheduling
US5508732A (en) 1993-03-22 1996-04-16 International Business Machines Corporation Data server, control server and gateway architecture system and method for broadcasting digital video on demand
US20020032907A1 (en) * 1993-03-29 2002-03-14 Daniels John J. Initiating record from an electronic programming schedule
US8046800B2 (en) * 1993-03-29 2011-10-25 Microsoft Corporation Remotely controlling a video recorder
US5631995A (en) 1993-04-01 1997-05-20 U.S. Philips Corporation Video recorder having circuitry for causing the tuner therein to tune to the same received signal as the tuner in a television receiver connected to the video recorder
JP2802876B2 (en) 1993-04-28 1998-09-24 橋本コーポレイション株式会社 Apparatus combining a TV receiver and a video tape recorder
TW318315B (en) 1993-05-03 1997-10-21 At & T Corp
US5524195A (en) 1993-05-24 1996-06-04 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Graphical user interface for interactive television with an animated agent
US6239794B1 (en) 1994-08-31 2001-05-29 E Guide, Inc. Method and system for simultaneously displaying a television program and information about the program
JP3590641B2 (en) * 1993-06-16 2004-11-17 ソニー株式会社 Camera-integrated recording device and recording device
AU7175894A (en) 1993-06-22 1995-01-17 Apple Computer, Inc. Methods and apparatus for managing viewing of and interaction with audio-visual program and service offerings
US5594509A (en) * 1993-06-22 1997-01-14 Apple Computer, Inc. Method and apparatus for audio-visual interface for the display of multiple levels of information on a display
US5621456A (en) 1993-06-22 1997-04-15 Apple Computer, Inc. Methods and apparatus for audio-visual interface for the display of multiple program categories
US5440336A (en) 1993-07-23 1995-08-08 Electronic Data Systems Corporation System and method for storing and forwarding audio and/or visual information on demand
US5382983A (en) 1993-07-29 1995-01-17 Kwoh; Daniel S. Apparatus and method for total parental control of television use
US5481296A (en) * 1993-08-06 1996-01-02 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus and method for selectively viewing video information
JPH07123326A (en) 1993-09-03 1995-05-12 Sony Corp Concentrated recording reservation control system for one or more vtrs
US5761372A (en) 1993-09-03 1998-06-02 Sony Corporation Recording reservation central control system for one or more VTR's
US6418556B1 (en) 1993-09-09 2002-07-09 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method
US6275268B1 (en) 1993-09-09 2001-08-14 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide with remote product ordering
US5822123A (en) 1993-09-09 1998-10-13 Davis; Bruce Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with pop-up hints
US5410344A (en) 1993-09-22 1995-04-25 Arrowsmith Technologies, Inc. Apparatus and method of selecting video programs based on viewers' preferences
DE4332572A1 (en) * 1993-09-24 1995-03-30 Esselte Meto Int Gmbh Control circuit for at least one thermal print head
US6279029B1 (en) 1993-10-12 2001-08-21 Intel Corporation Server/client architecture and method for multicasting on a computer network
US5734786A (en) 1993-10-20 1998-03-31 E Guide, Inc. Apparatus and methods for deriving a television guide from audio signals
JP3351058B2 (en) 1993-11-09 2002-11-25 松下電器産業株式会社 Recording and tuning method for video equipment
JPH07147657A (en) 1993-11-22 1995-06-06 Systec:Kk Television program table receiver
JPH07154349A (en) 1993-11-30 1995-06-16 Sony Corp Information recording reservation system
ES2151590T3 (en) 1993-12-02 2001-01-01 Discovery Communicat Inc NETWORK MANAGER FOR CABLE HEADS OF A CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM.
JPH07160732A (en) 1993-12-10 1995-06-23 Sony Corp Program information retrieval system
US5465113A (en) 1993-12-13 1995-11-07 At&T Corp. Programmable channel regulating cable television controller
JP3365573B2 (en) 1993-12-21 2003-01-14 ソニー株式会社 Program recording reservation device
JPH07193763A (en) 1993-12-27 1995-07-28 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Television receiver
JP3237362B2 (en) 1993-12-27 2001-12-10 松下電器産業株式会社 Program guide display device
US5563665A (en) 1993-12-29 1996-10-08 Chang; Darwin Video signal controller for use with a multi-sync monitor for displaying a plurality of different types of video signals
GB9400101D0 (en) 1994-01-05 1994-03-02 Thomson Consumer Electronics Consumer interface for a satellite television system
US5579239A (en) 1994-02-16 1996-11-26 Freeman; Mitchael C. Remote video transmission system
US5410367A (en) 1994-02-23 1995-04-25 Aqi Ltd. Television program scheduler for providing an indication to a user that a television program is about to start
JP3500741B2 (en) 1994-03-01 2004-02-23 ソニー株式会社 Channel selection method and channel selection device for television broadcasting
DE4407701A1 (en) 1994-03-08 1995-09-14 Thomson Brandt Gmbh Data reproduction method using video-recorder with inbuilt time switch
US5570295A (en) 1994-03-18 1996-10-29 Lucent Technologies Inc. System and method of capturing encoded data transmitted over a communications network in a video system
DE4410547C2 (en) 1994-03-26 1999-03-18 Loewe Opta Gmbh Process for creating an electronic program guide and circuit therefor
US5724567A (en) 1994-04-25 1998-03-03 Apple Computer, Inc. System for directing relevance-ranked data objects to computer users
US5502504A (en) 1994-04-28 1996-03-26 Prevue Networks, Inc. Video mix program guide
KR100348915B1 (en) 1994-05-12 2002-12-26 마이크로소프트 코포레이션 TV program selection method and system
EP2282533A1 (en) 1994-05-20 2011-02-09 United Video Properties, Inc. Improved electronic televison program schedule guide system and method
JPH10504146A (en) 1994-05-20 1998-04-14 ニュウス アメリカ パブリケイションズ,インク. System and method for displaying program schedule information on a television channel
US6396546B1 (en) 1994-05-20 2002-05-28 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method
US5594490A (en) 1994-05-23 1997-01-14 Cable Services Technologies, Inc. System for distributing video/audio files from central location to a plurality of cable headends
US5635979A (en) 1994-05-27 1997-06-03 Bell Atlantic Dynamically programmable digital entertainment terminal using downloaded software to control broadband data operations
US5666293A (en) 1994-05-27 1997-09-09 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Downloading operating system software through a broadcast channel
US5818511A (en) 1994-05-27 1998-10-06 Bell Atlantic Full service network
US5515511A (en) 1994-06-06 1996-05-07 International Business Machines Corporation Hybrid digital/analog multimedia hub with dynamically allocated/released channels for video processing and distribution
DE69522504T2 (en) 1994-06-14 2002-05-08 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Video signal recording device and video signal recording and display device
US5624265A (en) 1994-07-01 1997-04-29 Tv Interactive Data Corporation Printed publication remote contol for accessing interactive media
JPH0832538A (en) 1994-07-21 1996-02-02 Sony Corp Data serving system
US5572442A (en) 1994-07-21 1996-11-05 Information Highway Media Corporation System for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming
US5528304A (en) 1994-07-22 1996-06-18 Zenith Electronics Corp. Picture-in-picture feedback for channel related features
JPH0856352A (en) 1994-08-11 1996-02-27 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Video file server and video recording controller
DE4430302A1 (en) * 1994-08-26 1996-02-29 Abb Management Ag Impact-cooled wall part
EP0700205A3 (en) 1994-08-31 1997-04-02 Toshiba Kk Multimedia television receiver and method of booting the same
US5619249A (en) 1994-09-14 1997-04-08 Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. Telecasting service for providing video programs on demand with an interactive interface for facilitating viewer selection of video programs
DE4433823A1 (en) * 1994-09-22 1996-03-28 Huels Chemische Werke Ag Process for the preparation of keto compounds
US5594661A (en) 1994-09-23 1997-01-14 U. S. West Marketing Resources Group, Inc. Method for interfacing with a multi-media information system
US5781734A (en) 1994-09-28 1998-07-14 Nec Corporation System for providing audio and video services on demand
JP3644455B2 (en) 1994-09-29 2005-04-27 ソニー株式会社 Program information broadcasting system, program information display method and receiving apparatus
US5715416A (en) * 1994-09-30 1998-02-03 Baker; Michelle User definable pictorial interface for a accessing information in an electronic file system
JPH08125497A (en) 1994-10-19 1996-05-17 Nec Home Electron Ltd Method and circuit for automatically setting reception channel
US5715314A (en) 1994-10-24 1998-02-03 Open Market, Inc. Network sales system
AU3970595A (en) 1994-10-27 1996-05-23 Gemstar Development Corporation Apparatus and methods for downloading recorder programming data in a video signal
US5576755A (en) 1994-10-28 1996-11-19 Davis; Bruce System and method for verification of electronic television program guide data
US5534911A (en) 1994-11-02 1996-07-09 Levitan; Gutman Virtual personal channel in a television system
US5717923A (en) * 1994-11-03 1998-02-10 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for dynamically customizing electronic information to individual end users
DE4440419A1 (en) 1994-11-07 1996-05-09 Tilman Issing Automated information selection system for radio and television service
US5671411A (en) 1994-11-10 1997-09-23 Intel Corporation Method of searching an audio/visual programming database using selected criterion having implicit logical operation
US5758257A (en) 1994-11-29 1998-05-26 Herz; Frederick System and method for scheduling broadcast of and access to video programs and other data using customer profiles
US6008803A (en) 1994-11-29 1999-12-28 Microsoft Corporation System for displaying programming information
US5617565A (en) 1994-11-29 1997-04-01 Hitachi America, Ltd. Broadcast interactive multimedia system
US6029195A (en) * 1994-11-29 2000-02-22 Herz; Frederick S. M. System for customized electronic identification of desirable objects
US7349976B1 (en) 1994-11-30 2008-03-25 Realnetworks, Inc. Audio-on-demand communication system
US5617526A (en) 1994-12-13 1997-04-01 Microsoft Corporation Operating system provided notification area for displaying visual notifications from application programs
US5915026A (en) 1994-12-23 1999-06-22 Gemstar Development Corporation System and method for programming electronic devices from a remote site
US5774859A (en) 1995-01-03 1998-06-30 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Information system having a speech interface
CA2166434A1 (en) 1995-01-04 1996-07-05 Fujio Noguchi Method and apparatus for providing programming information
US6163345A (en) 1995-01-04 2000-12-19 Sony Corportion Method and apparatus for providing station and programming information in a multiple station broadcast system
US5596373A (en) 1995-01-04 1997-01-21 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for providing program oriented information in a multiple station broadcast system
US6233734B1 (en) 1995-01-05 2001-05-15 Videoguide, Inc. System and method for controlling the broadcast and recording of television programs and for distributing information to be displayed on a television screen
US5682525A (en) 1995-01-11 1997-10-28 Civix Corporation System and methods for remotely accessing a selected group of items of interest from a database
EP0723369A1 (en) 1995-01-23 1996-07-24 NTEX datacommunications bv Access method retrieving Internet information through Teletext/Videotex and the reverse
JP4001942B2 (en) 1995-02-06 2007-10-31 ソニー株式会社 Receiving apparatus and receiving method, and broadcasting system and broadcasting method
US5559550A (en) 1995-03-01 1996-09-24 Gemstar Development Corporation Apparatus and methods for synchronizing a clock to a network clock
US5612730A (en) 1995-03-03 1997-03-18 Multimedia Systems Corporation Interactive system for a closed cable network
US5748263A (en) * 1995-03-07 1998-05-05 Ball; Bradley E. System for automatically producing infrared control signals
JPH08251122A (en) 1995-03-10 1996-09-27 Sony Corp Information selection device/method
US5696905A (en) 1995-03-20 1997-12-09 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for providing merchant information and establishing links to merchants while presenting a movie
US5710884A (en) * 1995-03-29 1998-01-20 Intel Corporation System for automatically updating personal profile server with updates to additional user information gathered from monitoring user's electronic consuming habits generated on computer during use
JP3372004B2 (en) 1995-03-31 2003-01-27 ソニー株式会社 Electronic program guide device, electronic program guide system, and electronic program guide method
US5828945A (en) 1995-04-17 1998-10-27 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Merging multi-source information in a television system
US5550576A (en) 1995-04-17 1996-08-27 Starsight Telecast Incorporated Method and apparatus for merging television program schedule information received from multiple television schedule information sources
AU712344B2 (en) 1995-04-24 1999-11-04 Rovi Guides, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with remote product ordering
IT1285179B1 (en) 1995-04-24 1998-06-03 Motorola Inc PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF SENSITIVE ADDRESSING FOR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS.
US5666645A (en) 1995-04-26 1997-09-09 News America Publications, Inc. Data management and distribution system and method for an electronic television program guide
US5752160A (en) 1995-05-05 1998-05-12 Dunn; Matthew W. Interactive entertainment network system and method with analog video startup loop for video-on-demand
US5805763A (en) 1995-05-05 1998-09-08 Microsoft Corporation System and method for automatically recording programs in an interactive viewing system
US5907323A (en) 1995-05-05 1999-05-25 Microsoft Corporation Interactive program summary panel
US5861906A (en) * 1995-05-05 1999-01-19 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment network system and method for customizing operation thereof according to viewer preferences
US5630119A (en) 1995-05-05 1997-05-13 Microsoft Corporation System and method for displaying program listings in an interactive electronic program guide
US5654748A (en) 1995-05-05 1997-08-05 Microsoft Corporation Interactive program identification system
US5914746A (en) 1995-05-05 1999-06-22 Microsoft Corporation Virtual channels in subscriber interface units
US5677708A (en) 1995-05-05 1997-10-14 Microsoft Corporation System for displaying a list on a display screen
US5914712A (en) 1995-05-08 1999-06-22 Video Jukebox Network, Inc. Interactive video system
US5659366A (en) 1995-05-10 1997-08-19 Matsushita Electric Corporation Of America Notification system for television receivers
GB9526304D0 (en) 1995-05-22 1996-02-21 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd Interactive services interface
DE59608151D1 (en) 1995-05-31 2001-12-13 Siemens Ag INTEGRATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
US5606374A (en) 1995-05-31 1997-02-25 International Business Machines Corporation Video receiver display of menu overlaying video
US5793964A (en) 1995-06-07 1998-08-11 International Business Machines Corporation Web browser system
US6769128B1 (en) 1995-06-07 2004-07-27 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access
US5751282A (en) 1995-06-13 1998-05-12 Microsoft Corporation System and method for calling video on demand using an electronic programming guide
US5818441A (en) 1995-06-15 1998-10-06 Intel Corporation System and method for simulating two-way connectivity for one way data streams
US5873660A (en) * 1995-06-19 1999-02-23 Microsoft Corporation Morphological search and replace
FR2736783B1 (en) 1995-07-13 1997-08-14 Thomson Multimedia Sa METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING AND PLAYBACK WITH LARGE CAPACITY RECORDING MEDIUM
US6359636B1 (en) * 1995-07-17 2002-03-19 Gateway, Inc. Graphical user interface for control of a home entertainment system
US5675390A (en) 1995-07-17 1997-10-07 Gateway 2000, Inc. Home entertainment system combining complex processor capability with a high quality display
JP3698273B2 (en) * 1995-07-20 2005-09-21 ソニー株式会社 Electronic program guide transmission apparatus and method, electronic program guide reception apparatus and method, and electronic program guide transmission / reception system and method
US5748191A (en) 1995-07-31 1998-05-05 Microsoft Corporation Method and system for creating voice commands using an automatically maintained log interactions performed by a user
US5801753A (en) 1995-08-11 1998-09-01 General Instrument Corporation Of Delaware Method and apparatus for providing an interactive guide to events available on an information network
DE19531121A1 (en) 1995-08-24 1997-02-27 Olaf Bostroem Technical service system with remotely updated system software
US5758259A (en) 1995-08-31 1998-05-26 Microsoft Corporation Automated selective programming guide
JPH0974534A (en) 1995-09-05 1997-03-18 Sony Corp Magnetic tape recording and reproducing device for video signal
US5682206A (en) 1995-09-25 1997-10-28 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Consumer interface for programming device
US5734893A (en) 1995-09-28 1998-03-31 Ibm Corporation Progressive content-based retrieval of image and video with adaptive and iterative refinement
US5694163A (en) 1995-09-28 1997-12-02 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for viewing of on-line information service chat data incorporated in a broadcast television program
US8850477B2 (en) 1995-10-02 2014-09-30 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
EP1667445A1 (en) 1995-10-02 2006-06-07 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Systems and methods for providing television schedule information
US6323911B1 (en) 1995-10-02 2001-11-27 Starsight Telecast, Inc. System and method for using television schedule information
JPH09102827A (en) 1995-10-05 1997-04-15 Sony Corp Remote controller and communication equipment
US5572643A (en) 1995-10-19 1996-11-05 Judson; David H. Web browser with dynamic display of information objects during linking
US5929932A (en) 1995-10-24 1999-07-27 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Program guide display controller at user terminal of television broadcasting system
US5724103A (en) 1995-11-13 1998-03-03 Intel Corporation CD ROM information references delivered to a personal computer using the vertical blanking intervals associated data technology from a nabts compliant television broadcast program
US5802526A (en) 1995-11-15 1998-09-01 Microsoft Corporation System and method for graphically displaying and navigating through an interactive voice response menu
JP3081986B2 (en) 1995-11-16 2000-08-28 セイコーインスツルメンツ株式会社 Small printer
US5867226A (en) * 1995-11-17 1999-02-02 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Scheduler employing a predictive agent for use in a television receiver
US6216264B1 (en) 1995-11-17 2001-04-10 Thomson Licensing S.A. Scheduler apparatus employing a gopher agent
US6157413A (en) 1995-11-20 2000-12-05 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive special events video signal navigation system
US5886732A (en) * 1995-11-22 1999-03-23 Samsung Information Systems America Set-top electronics and network interface unit arrangement
US5722041A (en) 1995-12-05 1998-02-24 Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. Hybrid home-entertainment system
US5835717A (en) 1995-12-13 1998-11-10 Silicon Graphics, Inc. System and method for saving state information in an interactive television system
US5805806A (en) 1995-12-18 1998-09-08 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for providing interactive networking between televisions and personal computers
US5790753A (en) 1996-01-22 1998-08-04 Digital Equipment Corporation System for downloading computer software programs
US5833468A (en) 1996-01-24 1998-11-10 Frederick R. Guy Remote learning system using a television signal and a network connection
US5635989A (en) 1996-02-13 1997-06-03 Hughes Electronics Method and apparatus for sorting and searching a television program guide
CA2195260A1 (en) 1996-02-22 1997-08-22 Marc Andrew Levy Remote control of videocassette recorder operations over telephone lines
JP2000503829A (en) 1996-02-23 2000-03-28 イー グイド インコーポレイテッド Interactive interactive television system
CN1153462C (en) 1996-02-26 2004-06-09 E盖德公司 Cordless phone back link for interactive television system
US5694176A (en) 1996-02-29 1997-12-02 Hughes Electronics Method and apparatus for generating television program guides with category selection overlay
JPH09237234A (en) 1996-02-29 1997-09-09 Toshiba Corp Television mail system
US5778181A (en) 1996-03-08 1998-07-07 Actv, Inc. Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated internet information segments
US5774664A (en) 1996-03-08 1998-06-30 Actv, Inc. Enhanced video programming system and method for incorporating and displaying retrieved integrated internet information segments
US5946386A (en) 1996-03-11 1999-08-31 Xantel Corporation Call management system with call control from user workstation computers
US6195501B1 (en) 1996-03-28 2001-02-27 Intel Corporation Computer control of a video cassette recorder using wireless communication and a vertical blanking interval triggering
JPH09265113A (en) * 1996-03-28 1997-10-07 Nec Corp Active matrix type liquid crystal display device and its production
US5787259A (en) 1996-03-29 1998-07-28 Microsoft Corporation Digital interconnects of a PC with consumer electronics devices
US5657072A (en) 1996-04-10 1997-08-12 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment network system and method for providing program listings during non-peak times
US5848396A (en) 1996-04-26 1998-12-08 Freedom Of Information, Inc. Method and apparatus for determining behavioral profile of a computer user
JP3911047B2 (en) 1996-04-30 2007-05-09 ソニー株式会社 Recording reservation control system and recording reservation control method
US5929849A (en) 1996-05-02 1999-07-27 Phoenix Technologies, Ltd. Integration of dynamic universal resource locators with television presentations
US5793972A (en) 1996-05-03 1998-08-11 Westminster International Computers Inc. System and method providing an interactive response to direct mail by creating personalized web page based on URL provided on mail piece
US5790202A (en) 1996-05-15 1998-08-04 Echostar Communications Corporation Integration of off-air and satellite TV tuners in a direct broadcast system
US5768528A (en) 1996-05-24 1998-06-16 V-Cast, Inc. Client-server system for delivery of online information
US5923848A (en) 1996-05-31 1999-07-13 Microsoft Corporation System and method for resolving names in an electronic messaging environment
US5918013A (en) 1996-06-03 1999-06-29 Webtv Networks, Inc. Method of transcoding documents in a network environment using a proxy server
US6034689A (en) 1996-06-03 2000-03-07 Webtv Networks, Inc. Web browser allowing navigation between hypertext objects using remote control
US5862220A (en) 1996-06-03 1999-01-19 Webtv Networks, Inc. Method and apparatus for using network address information to improve the performance of network transactions
US6151643A (en) 1996-06-07 2000-11-21 Networks Associates, Inc. Automatic updating of diverse software products on multiple client computer systems by downloading scanning application to client computer and generating software list on client computer
US5815671A (en) * 1996-06-11 1998-09-29 Command Audio Corporation Method and apparatus for encoding and storing audio/video information for subsequent predetermined retrieval
WO1997048230A1 (en) 1996-06-13 1997-12-18 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Method and apparatus for searching a guide using program characteristics
US6157411A (en) 1996-06-14 2000-12-05 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for compiling a repository of entertainment system data from multiple sources
US5801787A (en) * 1996-06-14 1998-09-01 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Television schedule system and method of operation for multiple program occurrences
US6078348A (en) 1996-06-17 2000-06-20 Starsight Telecast Inc. Television schedule system with enhanced features
AU3223097A (en) 1996-06-17 1998-01-07 Starsight Telecast Incorporated System and method for using television schedule information
DK0932398T3 (en) 1996-06-28 2006-09-25 Ortho Mcneil Pharm Inc Use of topiramate or derivatives thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of manic depressive bipolar disorders
US5903816A (en) 1996-07-01 1999-05-11 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Interactive television system and method for displaying web-like stills with hyperlinks
US5929850A (en) 1996-07-01 1999-07-27 Thomson Consumer Electronices, Inc. Interactive television system and method having on-demand web-like navigational capabilities for displaying requested hyperlinked web-like still images associated with television content
US6208384B1 (en) * 1996-07-11 2001-03-27 Douglas G. Brown Methods and systems for providing information to a television using a personal computer
FR2752130B1 (en) * 1996-07-31 1999-03-19 Thomson Multimedia Sa METHOD FOR SELECTING PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY TELEVISION PROGRAMS AND GRAPHIC DEVICE AND INTERFACE IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD
WO1998006219A1 (en) 1996-08-06 1998-02-12 Starsight Telecast, Incorporated Electronic program guide with interactive areas
US5790201A (en) 1996-08-08 1998-08-04 Antos; Jeffrey David Television and computer capability integration
US5955988A (en) 1996-08-14 1999-09-21 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Graphical user interface for establishing installation location for satellite based television system
AU4175797A (en) 1996-09-03 1998-03-26 Starsight Telecast Incorporated Schedule system with enhanced recording capability
US5832223A (en) 1996-09-13 1998-11-03 Motorola, Inc. System, method and device for automatic capture of internet access information in a broadcast signal for use by an internet access device
US5852437A (en) 1996-09-24 1998-12-22 Ast Research, Inc. Wireless device for displaying integrated computer and television user interfaces
JP3162633B2 (en) * 1996-09-27 2001-05-08 松下電器産業株式会社 Broadcasting system and information broadcast receiving terminal device used therefor
CN1237308A (en) 1996-10-08 1999-12-01 张艾伦 Talking remote control with display
EP2259593B1 (en) 1996-10-16 2014-11-26 Gemstar Development Corporation Program recording apparatus and recording schedule managing method
US5907322A (en) 1996-10-16 1999-05-25 Catch Tv Acquisition Corp. Television event marking system
US20030005463A1 (en) * 1999-09-30 2003-01-02 Douglas B Macrae Access to internet data through a television system
US5982445A (en) 1996-10-21 1999-11-09 General Instrument Corporation Hypertext markup language protocol for television display and control
US6002443A (en) 1996-11-01 1999-12-14 Iggulden; Jerry Method and apparatus for automatically identifying and selectively altering segments of a television broadcast signal in real-time
US5828839A (en) 1996-11-14 1998-10-27 Interactive Broadcaster Services Corp. Computer network chat room based on channel broadcast in real time
US5801747A (en) 1996-11-15 1998-09-01 Hyundai Electronics America Method and apparatus for creating a television viewer profile
US6139177A (en) 1996-12-03 2000-10-31 Hewlett Packard Company Device access and control using embedded web access functionality
US20030066085A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2003-04-03 United Video Properties, Inc., A Corporation Of Delaware Internet television program guide system
DK1809017T3 (en) * 1996-12-10 2014-04-22 United Video Properties Inc Internet Television Program Guide System
CN100362865C (en) 1996-12-10 2008-01-16 联合视频制品公司 Internet TV programme guide system
US6184877B1 (en) * 1996-12-11 2001-02-06 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for interactively accessing program information on a television
US6687906B1 (en) 1996-12-19 2004-02-03 Index Systems, Inc. EPG with advertising inserts
US5889950A (en) * 1996-12-20 1999-03-30 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for distribution of broadcast data
US5991799A (en) 1996-12-20 1999-11-23 Liberate Technologies Information retrieval system using an internet multiplexer to focus user selection
US6411696B1 (en) 1996-12-31 2002-06-25 Intel Corporation System for finding a user with a preferred communication mechanism
US6510557B1 (en) 1997-01-03 2003-01-21 Texas Instruments Incorporated Apparatus for the integration of television signals and information from an information service provider
US6163316A (en) 1997-01-03 2000-12-19 Texas Instruments Incorporated Electronic programming system and method
US5819156A (en) 1997-01-14 1998-10-06 Compaq Computer Corp. PC/TV usage tracking and reporting device
US5844552A (en) 1997-01-23 1998-12-01 Zenith Electronics Corporation Communication of character data in a web television
US6067561A (en) 1997-02-07 2000-05-23 Hughes Electronics Corporation Electronic mail notification system and method within a hybrid network that transmits notifications via a continuous, high-speed channel
US6098065A (en) 1997-02-13 2000-08-01 Nortel Networks Corporation Associative search engine
US5850218A (en) 1997-02-19 1998-12-15 Time Warner Entertainment Company L.P. Inter-active program guide with default selection control
WO1998039893A2 (en) 1997-03-03 1998-09-11 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Electronic programming guide with movie preview
US5818935A (en) 1997-03-10 1998-10-06 Maa; Chia-Yiu Internet enhanced video system
CA2283957C (en) 1997-03-11 2004-04-27 Actv, Inc. A digital interactive system for providing full interactivity with live programming events
US5892767A (en) 1997-03-11 1999-04-06 Selsius Systems Inc. Systems and method for multicasting a video stream and communications network employing the same
US6064376A (en) 1997-03-13 2000-05-16 United Video Properties, Inc. Adjustable program guide display system
US6130726A (en) 1997-03-24 2000-10-10 Evolve Products, Inc. Program guide on a remote control display
US6005565A (en) 1997-03-25 1999-12-21 Sony Corporation Integrated search of electronic program guide, internet and other information resources
GB2325537B8 (en) 1997-03-31 2000-01-31 Microsoft Corp Query-based electronic program guide
JP3491665B2 (en) 1997-04-16 2004-01-26 ソニー株式会社 Remote control device and remote control method
US6892354B1 (en) 1997-04-16 2005-05-10 Sony Corporation Method of advertising on line during a communication link idle time
CA2289281C (en) 1997-04-21 2006-07-04 Gemstar Development Corporation Tv vbi encoded url with video storage
US6034680A (en) * 1997-04-25 2000-03-07 Foundation For Concepts In Education, Inc. Supplying supplementary information for printed books
US5937160A (en) 1997-05-01 1999-08-10 Reedy Creek Technologies, Inc. Systems, methods and computer program products for updating hypertext documents via electronic mail
JP4616943B2 (en) 1997-05-21 2011-01-19 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ Transmission and reception of television programs
EP0916222B1 (en) * 1997-06-03 2007-04-04 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Navigating through television programs
ES2179509T3 (en) * 1997-06-06 2003-01-16 Thomson Consumer Electronics SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECORDING PAY TELEVISION PROGRAMS.
US6012086A (en) * 1997-06-24 2000-01-04 Sony Corporation Internet event timer recording for video and/or audio
US5995102A (en) * 1997-06-25 1999-11-30 Comet Systems, Inc. Server system and method for modifying a cursor image
US6317885B1 (en) 1997-06-26 2001-11-13 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment and information system using television set-top box
IL121230A (en) 1997-07-03 2004-05-12 Nds Ltd Intelligent electronic program guide
US6262722B1 (en) 1997-07-08 2001-07-17 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive program guide navigator menu system
US6111612A (en) 1997-07-10 2000-08-29 Thomson Consumer Electronics System for forming and processing text data for use in program specific information for broadcast
WO1999004570A1 (en) 1997-07-18 1999-01-28 Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne Method for marking a compressed digital video signal
ES2475242T3 (en) 1997-07-21 2014-07-10 Gemstar Development Corporation Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interfaces
JP3981777B2 (en) * 1997-08-19 2007-09-26 ソニー株式会社 Information providing apparatus and method, information receiving apparatus and method, and information providing system
EP1519573B1 (en) * 1997-08-21 2009-12-02 Sony Corporation Information transmitting method and television broadcasting receiving apparatus
US6172674B1 (en) * 1997-08-25 2001-01-09 Liberate Technologies Smart filtering
US6310886B1 (en) 1997-08-28 2001-10-30 Tivo, Inc. Method and apparatus implementing a multimedia digital network
US6018372A (en) * 1997-09-04 2000-01-25 Liberate Technologies Electronic program guide with multiple day planner
DE19740079B4 (en) 1997-09-12 2004-07-01 Ciburski, Guido Method for remote control of video recorders from the Internet
DE69805420T2 (en) 1997-09-18 2003-01-30 United Video Properties Inc REMINDER FOR INTERNET TELEVISION GUIDE BY ELECTRONIC MAIL
US6588014B1 (en) * 1997-09-26 2003-07-01 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. System and method for digital communication
US6600496B1 (en) * 1997-09-26 2003-07-29 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Interactive graphical user interface for television set-top box
JPH11167594A (en) 1997-09-30 1999-06-22 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd Order information recording medium and order file production device for photograph service
US6604240B2 (en) * 1997-10-06 2003-08-05 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television program guide system with operator showcase
US6016141A (en) * 1997-10-06 2000-01-18 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion
US6005597A (en) 1997-10-27 1999-12-21 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Method and apparatus for program selection
US5867208A (en) 1997-10-28 1999-02-02 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Encoding system and method for scrolling encoded MPEG stills in an interactive television application
US5973683A (en) 1997-11-24 1999-10-26 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamic regulation of television viewing content based on viewer profile and viewing history
US6335963B1 (en) * 1997-12-01 2002-01-01 Nortel Networks Limited System and method for providing notification of a received electronic mail message
US7117440B2 (en) * 1997-12-03 2006-10-03 Sedna Patent Services, Llc Method and apparatus for providing a menu structure for an interactive information distribution system
US6564378B1 (en) 1997-12-08 2003-05-13 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide system with browsing display
US6097441A (en) 1997-12-31 2000-08-01 Eremote, Inc. System for dual-display interaction with integrated television and internet content
US6104334A (en) 1997-12-31 2000-08-15 Eremote, Inc. Portable internet-enabled controller and information browser for consumer devices
US6104705A (en) 1997-12-31 2000-08-15 U.S. Philips Corporation Group based control scheme for video compression
US6008802A (en) 1998-01-05 1999-12-28 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for automatically performing a function based on the reception of information corresponding to broadcast data
US6237049B1 (en) 1998-01-06 2001-05-22 Sony Corporation Of Japan Method and system for defining and discovering proxy functionality on a distributed audio video network
US6545722B1 (en) 1998-01-09 2003-04-08 Douglas G. Brown Methods and systems for providing television related services via a networked personal computer
US20010042246A1 (en) * 1999-08-04 2001-11-15 Henry C. Yuen Home entertainment system and method of its operation
US6750919B1 (en) * 1998-01-23 2004-06-15 Princeton Video Image, Inc. Event linked insertion of indicia into video
WO1999045700A1 (en) * 1998-03-04 1999-09-10 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide system with monitoring of advertisement usage and user activities
US7185355B1 (en) 1998-03-04 2007-02-27 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide system with preference profiles
US6040829A (en) * 1998-05-13 2000-03-21 Croy; Clemens Personal navigator system
US6742183B1 (en) * 1998-05-15 2004-05-25 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for advertising television networks, channels, and programs
US20050204388A1 (en) 1998-06-11 2005-09-15 Knudson Edward B. Series reminders and series recording from an interactive television program guide
US6400407B1 (en) 1998-06-17 2002-06-04 Webtv Networks, Inc. Communicating logical addresses of resources in a data service channel of a video signal
US6215483B1 (en) * 1998-06-17 2001-04-10 Webtv Networks, Inc. Combining real-time and batch mode logical address links
US6317791B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2001-11-13 Webtv Networks, Inc. System and method for distributing data over a communications network for display during start-up
US6308202B1 (en) 1998-09-08 2001-10-23 Webtv Networks, Inc. System for targeting information to specific users on a computer network
US6237039B1 (en) 1998-06-30 2001-05-22 Webtv Networks, Inc. Method and apparatus for downloading auxiliary data to a client from a network during client idle periods
US6268849B1 (en) 1998-06-30 2001-07-31 United Video Properties, Inc. Internet television program guide system with embedded real-time data
CA2337463C (en) 1998-07-17 2009-10-13 United Video Properties, Inc. Television system with aided user program searching
US6584153B1 (en) * 1998-07-23 2003-06-24 Diva Systems Corporation Data structure and methods for providing an interactive program guide
KR20010053570A (en) 1998-07-23 2001-06-25 암만 챨스 비. Interactive tele vision program guide system that serves as a portal
JP2003524307A (en) * 1998-07-23 2003-08-12 ディバ システムズ コーポレイション A system that creates, distributes, and receives interactive user interfaces
US6898762B2 (en) 1998-08-21 2005-05-24 United Video Properties, Inc. Client-server electronic program guide
US6268856B1 (en) 1998-09-08 2001-07-31 Webtv Networks, Inc. System and method for controlling delivery of content over a communications network
US6437836B1 (en) 1998-09-21 2002-08-20 Navispace, Inc. Extended functionally remote control system and method therefore
US6934963B1 (en) * 1998-09-22 2005-08-23 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television program guide with passive content
AU6389899A (en) * 1998-09-29 2000-04-17 Radiowave.Com, Inc. System and method for coordinating communications network advertising material
US6675385B1 (en) * 1998-10-21 2004-01-06 Liberate Technologies HTML electronic program guide for an MPEG digital TV system
US6452609B1 (en) 1998-11-06 2002-09-17 Supertuner.Com Web application for accessing media streams
US7165098B1 (en) * 1998-11-10 2007-01-16 United Video Properties, Inc. On-line schedule system with personalization features
TW494680B (en) 1998-11-12 2002-07-11 United Video Properties Inc Program guide with interactive information display screen
US6442529B1 (en) 1998-11-17 2002-08-27 Novaweb Technologies, Inc. Methods and apparatus for delivering targeted information and advertising over the internet
US6678891B1 (en) * 1998-11-19 2004-01-13 Prasara Technologies, Inc. Navigational user interface for interactive television
US6526577B1 (en) * 1998-12-01 2003-02-25 United Video Properties, Inc. Enhanced interactive program guide
US6865746B1 (en) * 1998-12-03 2005-03-08 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic program guide with related-program search feature
US6169542B1 (en) * 1998-12-14 2001-01-02 Gte Main Street Incorporated Method of delivering advertising through an interactive video distribution system
US6282713B1 (en) * 1998-12-21 2001-08-28 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for providing on-demand electronic advertising
US6237022B1 (en) * 1999-03-15 2001-05-22 Webtv Networks, Inc. System and method for distributing preferenced data over a communications network
WO2000059220A1 (en) * 1999-03-30 2000-10-05 Diva Systems Corporation User access to secondary content associated with a primary content
US6611654B1 (en) 1999-04-01 2003-08-26 Koninklijke Philips Electronics Nv Time- and location-driven personalized TV
US6560777B2 (en) 1999-04-07 2003-05-06 Webtv Networks, Inc. Broadcast enhancement trigger addressed to multiple uniquely addressed information resources
US6651252B1 (en) * 1999-10-27 2003-11-18 Diva Systems Corporation Method and apparatus for transmitting video and graphics in a compressed form
US7634787B1 (en) * 1999-06-15 2009-12-15 Wink Communications, Inc. Automatic control of broadcast and execution of interactive applications to maintain synchronous operation with broadcast programs
TW529306B (en) 1999-06-22 2003-04-21 United Video Properties Inc System for providing personalized program guide data and targeted advertising to a user of multiple program guides
US6574424B1 (en) 1999-06-25 2003-06-03 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for a randomizer for DVD video
US7103904B1 (en) * 1999-06-30 2006-09-05 Microsoft Corporation Methods and apparatus for broadcasting interactive advertising using remote advertising templates
JP2001036873A (en) * 1999-07-15 2001-02-09 Sony Corp Information processor, information processing method and medium
KR100458430B1 (en) * 1999-09-27 2004-12-03 주식회사 메디칼스탠다드 Advertizing method using software products
JP2001111940A (en) * 1999-10-13 2001-04-20 Nec Corp Personal commercial bank system
US6600497B1 (en) * 1999-11-15 2003-07-29 Elliot A. Gottfurcht Apparatus and method to navigate interactive television using unique inputs with a remote control
US7159232B1 (en) * 1999-11-16 2007-01-02 Microsoft Corporation Scheduling the recording of television programs
US6606103B1 (en) * 1999-11-30 2003-08-12 Uhc Llc Infinite resolution scheme for graphical user interface object
US20020010697A1 (en) * 1999-12-06 2002-01-24 Marshall Robert S. On-line sports information entry and retrieval system
US6754904B1 (en) 1999-12-30 2004-06-22 America Online, Inc. Informing network users of television programming viewed by other network users
ATE516665T1 (en) 2000-02-01 2011-07-15 United Video Properties Inc APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INCORPORATING ADVERTISING IN RECORDED PROGRAMS
US6766524B1 (en) * 2000-05-08 2004-07-20 Webtv Networks, Inc. System and method for encouraging viewers to watch television programs
DE10023524C2 (en) * 2000-05-13 2002-07-11 Micronas Gmbh Two stage amplifier
US7000242B1 (en) * 2000-07-31 2006-02-14 Jeff Haber Directing internet shopping traffic and tracking revenues generated as a result thereof
US7174512B2 (en) * 2000-12-01 2007-02-06 Thomson Licensing S.A. Portal for a communications system
US20080059571A1 (en) * 2001-03-14 2008-03-06 Khoo Soon H Displaying Advertising Messages in the Unused Portion and During a Context Switch Period of a Web Browser Display Interface
US20040169685A1 (en) * 2001-07-30 2004-09-02 Alcatel, Societe Anonyme System and method for controlling a hyperlink activation per the intent of a web page creator
US20090006189A1 (en) * 2007-06-27 2009-01-01 Microsoft Corporation Displaying of advertisement-infused thumbnails of images

Patent Citations (83)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3729581A (en) * 1970-09-03 1973-04-24 Display Sys Corp Computer assisted dial access video retrieval for an instructional television system
US4058830A (en) * 1975-06-06 1977-11-15 Yves Maurice Guinet One way data transmission system
US4203130B1 (en) * 1977-01-11 1989-11-14
US4203130A (en) * 1977-01-11 1980-05-13 Dial-A-Channel, Inc. Information displaying system
US4488179A (en) * 1980-09-27 1984-12-11 Robert Bosch Gmbh Television viewing center system
US5335277A (en) * 1981-11-03 1994-08-02 The Personalized Mass Media Corporation Signal processing appparatus and methods
US5109414A (en) * 1981-11-03 1992-04-28 Personalized Mass Media Corporation Signal processing apparatus and methods
US4963994A (en) * 1981-12-14 1990-10-16 Levine Michael R VCR programmer
US4899139A (en) * 1982-08-24 1990-02-06 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Display control device for superimposing data with a broad case signal on a television screen
US4833710A (en) * 1984-02-15 1989-05-23 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Pay television system
US4714919A (en) * 1984-07-30 1987-12-22 Zenith Electronics Corporation Video display with improved smooth scrolling
US4787063A (en) * 1984-10-19 1988-11-22 Francis Muguet Acquisition and transmission system for a recorder and a computer center
US4691351A (en) * 1984-11-29 1987-09-01 Sony Corporation Television signal receiving apparatus
US4685131A (en) * 1985-03-11 1987-08-04 General Instrument Corp. Program blocking method for use in direct broadcast satellite system
US4751578A (en) * 1985-05-28 1988-06-14 David P. Gordon System for electronically controllably viewing on a television updateable television programming information
US4706121A (en) * 1985-07-12 1987-11-10 Patrick Young TV schedule system and process
US4706121B1 (en) * 1985-07-12 1993-12-14 Insight Telecast, Inc. Tv schedule system and process
US4942391A (en) * 1987-08-31 1990-07-17 Nec Home Electronics Ltd. Picture information composite system
USRE34340E (en) * 1987-10-26 1993-08-10 Actv, Inc. Closed circuit television system having seamless interactive television programming and expandable user participation
US5003384A (en) * 1988-04-01 1991-03-26 Scientific Atlanta, Inc. Set-top interface transactions in an impulse pay per view television system
US4977455B1 (en) * 1988-07-15 1993-04-13 System and process for vcr scheduling
US4977455A (en) * 1988-07-15 1990-12-11 Insight Telecast, Inc. System and process for VCR scheduling
US5027400A (en) * 1988-08-19 1991-06-25 Hitachi Ltd. Multimedia bidirectional broadcast system
US5151782A (en) * 1989-05-17 1992-09-29 Reiss Media Enterprises Control system for satellite delivered pay-per-view television system
US5253066A (en) * 1989-06-01 1993-10-12 Vogel Peter S TV recording and viewing control system
US5253066C1 (en) * 1989-06-01 2001-05-22 United Video Properties Inc Tv recording and viewing control system
US5038211A (en) * 1989-07-05 1991-08-06 The Superguide Corporation Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving television program information
US5151789A (en) * 1989-10-30 1992-09-29 Insight Telecast, Inc. System and method for automatic, unattended recording of cable television programs
US5353121A (en) * 1989-10-30 1994-10-04 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Television schedule system
US5235415A (en) * 1989-12-22 1993-08-10 Centre National D'etudes Des Telecommunications Device for the intelligible consultation of data relating to the fees programs of a subscription television and/or radio service
US5479268A (en) * 1990-09-10 1995-12-26 Starsight Telecast Inc. User interface for television schedule system
US5619274A (en) * 1990-09-10 1997-04-08 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Television schedule information transmission and utilization system and process
US5093718A (en) * 1990-09-28 1992-03-03 Inteletext Systems, Inc. Interactive home information system
US5220420A (en) * 1990-09-28 1993-06-15 Inteletext Systems, Inc. Interactive home information system for distributing compressed television programming
US5412720A (en) * 1990-09-28 1995-05-02 Ictv, Inc. Interactive home information system
US5233423A (en) * 1990-11-26 1993-08-03 North American Philips Corporation Embedded commericals within a television receiver using an integrated electronic billboard
US5172413A (en) * 1990-12-20 1992-12-15 Sasktel Secure hierarchial video delivery system and method
US5311423A (en) * 1991-01-07 1994-05-10 Gte Service Corporation Schedule management method
US5210611A (en) * 1991-08-12 1993-05-11 Keen Y. Yee Automatic tuning radio/TV using filtered seek
US5404393A (en) * 1991-10-03 1995-04-04 Viscorp Method and apparatus for interactive television through use of menu windows
US5465385A (en) * 1991-10-28 1995-11-07 Pioneer Electronic Corporation CATV system with an easy program reservation
US5285278A (en) * 1992-05-21 1994-02-08 Holman Michael J Electronic redeemable coupon system via television
US5659350A (en) * 1992-12-09 1997-08-19 Discovery Communications, Inc. Operations center for a television program packaging and delivery system
US5600364A (en) * 1992-12-09 1997-02-04 Discovery Communications, Inc. Network controller for cable television delivery systems
US5798785A (en) * 1992-12-09 1998-08-25 Discovery Communications, Inc. Terminal for suggesting programs offered on a television program delivery system
US5442389A (en) * 1992-12-28 1995-08-15 At&T Corp. Program server for interactive television system
US5583560A (en) * 1993-06-22 1996-12-10 Apple Computer, Inc. Method and apparatus for audio-visual interface for the selective display of listing information on a display
US5585866A (en) * 1993-09-09 1996-12-17 Miller; Larry Electronic television program guide schedule system and method including virtual channels
US5589892A (en) * 1993-09-09 1996-12-31 Knee; Robert A. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access
US5781246A (en) * 1993-09-09 1998-07-14 Alten; Jerry Electronic television program guide schedule system and method
US5892498A (en) * 1994-04-08 1999-04-06 Prevue Networks, Inc. Interactive scroll program guide
US5585858A (en) * 1994-04-15 1996-12-17 Actv, Inc. Simulcast of interactive signals with a conventional video signal
US5635978A (en) * 1994-05-20 1997-06-03 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic television program guide channel system and method
US5559548A (en) * 1994-05-20 1996-09-24 Davis; Bruce System and method for generating an information display schedule for an electronic program guide
US5523796A (en) * 1994-05-20 1996-06-04 Prevue Networks, Inc. Video clip program guide
US5812123A (en) * 1994-11-29 1998-09-22 Microsoft Corporation System for displaying programming information
US5629733A (en) * 1994-11-29 1997-05-13 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with display and search of program listings by title
US5701161A (en) * 1994-12-14 1997-12-23 Williams; Mark C. Method and apparatus for providing real time data on a viewing screen concurrently with any programing in process
US5880768A (en) * 1995-04-06 1999-03-09 Prevue Networks, Inc. Interactive program guide systems and processes
US5585838A (en) * 1995-05-05 1996-12-17 Microsoft Corporation Program time guide
US5945987A (en) * 1995-05-05 1999-08-31 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment network system and method for providing short sets of preview video trailers
US5699107A (en) * 1995-05-05 1997-12-16 Microsoft Corporation Program reminder system
US5760821A (en) * 1995-06-07 1998-06-02 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic program guide schedule localization system and method
US6006257A (en) * 1995-09-29 1999-12-21 Comverse Networks Systems, Inc. Multimedia architecture for interactive advertising in which secondary programming is varied based upon viewer demographics and content of primary programming
US6732369B1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2004-05-04 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Systems and methods for contextually linking television program information
US6388714B1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2002-05-14 Starsight Telecast Inc Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
US5761606A (en) * 1996-02-08 1998-06-02 Wolzien; Thomas R. Media online services access via address embedded in video or audio program
US6025837A (en) * 1996-03-29 2000-02-15 Micrsoft Corporation Electronic program guide with hyperlinks to target resources
US6240555B1 (en) * 1996-03-29 2001-05-29 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment system for presenting supplemental interactive content together with continuous video programs
US5940073A (en) * 1996-05-03 1999-08-17 Starsight Telecast Inc. Method and system for displaying other information in a TV program guide
US6600503B2 (en) * 1996-10-07 2003-07-29 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Integrated content guide for interactive selection of content and services on personal computer systems with multiple sources and multiple media presentation
US6177931B1 (en) * 1996-12-19 2001-01-23 Index Systems, Inc. Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interface with television programs, video, advertising information and program scheduling information
US6637032B1 (en) * 1997-01-06 2003-10-21 Microsoft Corporation System and method for synchronizing enhancing content with a video program using closed captioning
US6518986B1 (en) * 1997-10-17 2003-02-11 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for providing an on-screen guide for a multiple channel broadcasting system
US6034677A (en) * 1997-10-17 2000-03-07 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for displaying an electronic program guide
US6745391B1 (en) * 1997-12-10 2004-06-01 E Guide, Inc. Premium channel promotion system and method
US6928652B1 (en) * 1998-05-29 2005-08-09 Webtv Networks, Inc. Method and apparatus for displaying HTML and video simultaneously
US6698020B1 (en) * 1998-06-15 2004-02-24 Webtv Networks, Inc. Techniques for intelligent video ad insertion
US6754905B2 (en) * 1998-07-23 2004-06-22 Diva Systems Corporation Data structure and methods for providing an interactive program guide
US6505348B1 (en) * 1998-07-29 2003-01-07 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Multiple interactive electronic program guide system and methods
US7058635B1 (en) * 1998-10-30 2006-06-06 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for searching through an electronic programming guide
US7143428B1 (en) * 1999-04-21 2006-11-28 Microsoft Corporation Concurrent viewing of a video programming and of text communications concerning the video programming
US7010801B1 (en) * 1999-06-11 2006-03-07 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Video on demand system with parameter-controlled bandwidth deallocation

Cited By (161)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8892495B2 (en) 1991-12-23 2014-11-18 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-interface therefore
US9535563B2 (en) 1999-02-01 2017-01-03 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Internet appliance system and method
US7779437B2 (en) * 1999-12-21 2010-08-17 Tivo Inc. Method for enhancing digital video recorder television advertising viewership
US8719862B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2014-05-06 Tivo Inc. Method for enhancing digital video recorder television advertising viewership
US9032456B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2015-05-12 Tivo Inc. Modifying commercials for multi-speed playback
US20010049820A1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2001-12-06 Barton James M. Method for enhancing digital video recorder television advertising viewership
US20050273828A1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2005-12-08 Tivo Inc. Method for enhancing digital video recorder television advertising viewership
US8176512B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2012-05-08 Tivo Inc. Method for enhancing digital video recorder television advertising viewership
US20050076359A1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2005-04-07 Andrew Pierson Modifying commercials for multi-speed playback
US7167840B1 (en) 2000-03-15 2007-01-23 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and apparatus for distributing and selling electronic content
US9380347B2 (en) 2000-05-04 2016-06-28 Cisco Technology, Inc. Hypertext service guide menu display
US20110231877A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2011-09-22 Redling Peter M Interactive Television Advertising Method
US8484680B2 (en) 2000-05-31 2013-07-09 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Computer program product and communication device for providing interactive television advertising
US8468564B2 (en) * 2000-05-31 2013-06-18 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Computer program product and method for providing interactive television advertising
US20070288976A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2007-12-13 Redling Peter M Interactive Television Advertising Method
US20110209172A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2011-08-25 Redling Peter M Interactive Television Advertising Method
US20170017995A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2017-01-19 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Interactive television advertising method
US8006265B2 (en) * 2000-05-31 2011-08-23 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Interactive television advertising method
US9485541B2 (en) * 2000-05-31 2016-11-01 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Interactive television advertising computer program product having an icon representative of a company or product, the icon is not integrated with an electronic program guide, and the icon overlaying video content
US10395273B2 (en) * 2000-05-31 2019-08-27 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Computer program product for providing selective advertising to a television viewer using an interactive display
US8966531B2 (en) * 2000-05-31 2015-02-24 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Computer program product and device for displaying advertising on a television
US20150135235A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2015-05-14 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Interactive television advertising method
US7103908B2 (en) * 2000-07-25 2006-09-05 Diego, Inc. Method and system to save context for deferred transaction via interactive television
US20020016965A1 (en) * 2000-07-25 2002-02-07 Mai-Ian Tomsen Method and system to save context for deferred transaction via interactive television
US20020124249A1 (en) * 2001-01-02 2002-09-05 Shintani Peter Rae Targeted advertising during playback of stored content
US20020087402A1 (en) * 2001-01-02 2002-07-04 Zustak Fred J. User selective advertising
US20020124252A1 (en) * 2001-03-02 2002-09-05 Schaefer Scott R. Method and system to provide information alerts via an interactive video casting system
US20020124250A1 (en) * 2001-03-02 2002-09-05 Proehl Andrew M. Hybrid advertising broadcast method
US20020124253A1 (en) * 2001-03-02 2002-09-05 Eyer Mark Kenneth Personal information database with privacy for targeted advertising
US7577973B1 (en) * 2001-05-31 2009-08-18 Keen Personal Media, Inc. Client terminal for displaying program guide information associated with different programs within a pop-up
US20030172385A1 (en) * 2001-06-11 2003-09-11 Masahiro Takatori Television receiver and method for providing information to the same
US8161509B2 (en) * 2001-06-11 2012-04-17 Panasonic Corporation Television receiver and method for providing information to the same
US20100175084A1 (en) * 2001-07-12 2010-07-08 Ellis Michael D Interactive television system with messaging and related promotions
US20030049021A1 (en) * 2001-09-12 2003-03-13 General Instrument Corporation Apparatus for monitoring of DVD/CD usage and targeted DVD/CD sales utilizing a set top with DVD/CD capability
US11070882B2 (en) 2001-10-03 2021-07-20 Promptu Systems Corporation Global speech user interface
US10932005B2 (en) 2001-10-03 2021-02-23 Promptu Systems Corporation Speech interface
US9848243B2 (en) * 2001-10-03 2017-12-19 Promptu Systems Corporation Global speech user interface
US11172260B2 (en) 2001-10-03 2021-11-09 Promptu Systems Corporation Speech interface
US20150106836A1 (en) * 2001-10-03 2015-04-16 Promptu Systems Corporation Global speech user interface
US10257576B2 (en) 2001-10-03 2019-04-09 Promptu Systems Corporation Global speech user interface
US20030070171A1 (en) * 2001-10-06 2003-04-10 Alticast, Corp. Method for displaying an electronic program guide on a screen of a digital television
US20030110498A1 (en) * 2001-12-10 2003-06-12 General Instrument Corporation Methods, systems, and apparatus for tuning television components using an internet appliance
US20140282701A1 (en) * 2002-02-11 2014-09-18 Cisco Technology, Inc. Enabling Advertisements in Designated Periods of a Recurring Schedule
US20040010518A1 (en) * 2002-07-03 2004-01-15 Interchange Corp. Methods and system for a distributed advertiser publishing system in enhanced directory assistance services
US20040148628A1 (en) * 2003-01-24 2004-07-29 Mears Mark Gilmore System and method for advertising a currently airing program through the use of an electronic program guide interface
US7051354B2 (en) * 2003-01-24 2006-05-23 Thomson Licensing System and method for advertising a currently airing program through the use of an electronic program guide interface
US10387920B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2019-08-20 Roku, Inc. System and method for offering and billing advertisement opportunities
US10387949B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2019-08-20 Roku, Inc. System and method for providing interactive advertisement
US9615139B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2017-04-04 Tech 5 Determining device that performs processing of output pictures
US20060218578A1 (en) * 2005-03-24 2006-09-28 Amy Kyle Integrated offline product branding method
US20090205001A1 (en) * 2005-07-29 2009-08-13 Thomson Licensing Intelligent Disaster Recovery for Digital Cinema Multiplex Theaters
US20090265732A1 (en) * 2005-08-16 2009-10-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Contents providing system, and contents providing method
US9113107B2 (en) * 2005-11-08 2015-08-18 Rovi Guides, Inc. Interactive advertising and program promotion in an interactive television system
US20070107010A1 (en) * 2005-11-08 2007-05-10 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive advertising and program promotion in an interactive television system
US20070162936A1 (en) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-12 Verizon Data Services Inc. Interactive main menu graphical user interface systems and methods
US8832738B2 (en) 2006-02-02 2014-09-09 The Directv Group, Inc. Interactive mosaic channel video stream with additional programming sources
US20070220546A1 (en) * 2006-02-02 2007-09-20 Shanks David E Interactive mosaic channel video stream with additional programming sources
US20070220551A1 (en) * 2006-02-02 2007-09-20 Shanks David E Interactive mosaic channel video stream with nested menu features
US20070294730A1 (en) * 2006-03-10 2007-12-20 Feldstein David E Customizable on-screen display for data presentation
US20070214478A1 (en) * 2006-03-10 2007-09-13 Feldstein David E Dynamic determination of presentation of multiple video cells in an on-screen display
US8752089B2 (en) 2006-03-10 2014-06-10 The Directv Group, Inc. Dynamic determination of presentation of multiple video cells in an on-screen display
US20100064320A1 (en) * 2006-03-13 2010-03-11 Verizon Services Corp. Integrating data on program popularity into an on-screen program guide
US20080065990A1 (en) * 2006-03-22 2008-03-13 Harrison Fredrick W Integrated product branding method
US9084029B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2015-07-14 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. On-screen program guide with interactive programming recommendations
US8677415B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2014-03-18 Verizon Services Corp. On-screen program guide with interactive programming recommendations
US8069461B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2011-11-29 Verizon Services Corp. On-screen program guide with interactive programming recommendations
US20070240232A1 (en) * 2006-04-07 2007-10-11 Pino Angelo J Interactive Television System and Method
US9167208B2 (en) 2006-04-07 2015-10-20 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. System and method for providing supplementary interactive content
US20090089838A1 (en) * 2006-04-07 2009-04-02 Pino Jr Angelo J Template Based System, Device and Method for Providing Interactive Content
US20080229352A1 (en) * 2006-04-07 2008-09-18 Pino Angelo J System and Method for Providing Supplementary Interactive Content
US10165330B2 (en) 2006-04-07 2018-12-25 Your Choice Interactive, Inc. Template based system, device and method for providing interactive content
US9173001B1 (en) 2006-06-27 2015-10-27 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media content access systems and methods
US20070300269A1 (en) * 2006-06-27 2007-12-27 Verizon Data Services Inc. Snippet access systems and methods
US9918043B2 (en) 2006-06-27 2018-03-13 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Snippet access systems and methods
US8949895B2 (en) 2006-08-18 2015-02-03 The Directv Group, Inc. Mosaic channel video stream with personalized interactive services
US20080060006A1 (en) * 2006-08-18 2008-03-06 The Directv Group, Inc Mosaic channel video stream with personalized interactive services
WO2008024382A1 (en) 2006-08-23 2008-02-28 The Directv Group, Inc. Selective display of overlay video streams via interactive alert icons
US20080059995A1 (en) * 2006-08-23 2008-03-06 The Directv Group, Inc. Selective display of overlay video streams via interactive alert icons
US9021404B2 (en) 2006-08-25 2015-04-28 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for modifying content based on a positional relationship
US20080052624A1 (en) * 2006-08-25 2008-02-28 Verizon Data Services Inc. Systems and methods for modifying content based on a positional relationship
US8418217B2 (en) 2006-09-06 2013-04-09 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for accessing media content
US8881217B2 (en) 2006-09-06 2014-11-04 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for accessing media content
WO2008040371A1 (en) * 2006-09-29 2008-04-10 Nokia Siemens Networks Gmbh & Co. Kg Interactive service in a telecommunication network
US8464295B2 (en) 2006-10-03 2013-06-11 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Interactive search graphical user interface systems and methods
US8316320B2 (en) 2006-10-03 2012-11-20 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Expandable history tab in interactive graphical user interface systems and methods
US8566874B2 (en) 2006-10-03 2013-10-22 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Control tools for media content access systems and methods
US8973040B2 (en) 2006-10-03 2015-03-03 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Control tools for media content access systems and methods
US20080115178A1 (en) * 2006-10-30 2008-05-15 Comcast Cable Holdings, Llc Customer configurable video rich navigation (vrn)
US8316408B2 (en) 2006-11-22 2012-11-20 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Audio processing for media content access systems and methods
US8250605B2 (en) 2006-12-18 2012-08-21 Verizon Services Corp. Systems and methods for presentation of preferred program selections
US20080148317A1 (en) * 2006-12-18 2008-06-19 Verizon Services Corp. Systems and methods for presentation of preferred program selections
US8194034B2 (en) 2006-12-20 2012-06-05 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for controlling a display
US9167190B2 (en) 2006-12-21 2015-10-20 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Program guide navigation tools for media content access systems and methods
US8510780B2 (en) 2006-12-21 2013-08-13 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Program guide navigation tools for media content access systems and methods
US8028313B2 (en) 2006-12-21 2011-09-27 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Linear program guide for media content access systems and methods
US8935728B2 (en) 2006-12-21 2015-01-13 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Program guide navigation tools for media content access systems and methods
US20080163328A1 (en) * 2006-12-29 2008-07-03 Verizon Services Organization Inc. Method and system for providing attribute browsing of video assets
US8898701B2 (en) 2006-12-29 2014-11-25 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Method and system for providing attribute browsing of video assets
US8726159B2 (en) 2007-01-05 2014-05-13 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Content level navigation systems and methods
US9578000B2 (en) 2007-01-05 2017-02-21 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Content level navigation systems and methods
US20080244654A1 (en) * 2007-03-29 2008-10-02 Verizon Laboratories Inc. System and Method for Providing a Directory of Advertisements
US9237308B2 (en) * 2007-03-30 2016-01-12 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Method and system for providing a transition between linear content and non-linear content
US20080244643A1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-10-02 Verizon Laboratories Inc. System and Method for Alphanumeric Channel-Changing
US20080239169A1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-10-02 Verizon Laboratories Inc. Method and system for providing a transition between linear content and non-linear content
US20080320393A1 (en) * 2007-06-19 2008-12-25 Verizon Data Services Inc. Program guide 3d zoom
US8832553B2 (en) 2007-06-19 2014-09-09 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Program guide 3D zoom
US9959908B2 (en) 2007-06-28 2018-05-01 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media content recording and healing statuses
US9826189B2 (en) 2007-06-28 2017-11-21 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Apparatus, method, and computer program product for presenting an interactive programming guide
US8103965B2 (en) 2007-06-28 2012-01-24 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media content recording and healing statuses
US20090007173A1 (en) * 2007-06-28 2009-01-01 Verizon Laboratories Inc. Apparatus, method, and computer program product for presenting an interactive programming guide
US8739213B2 (en) 2007-06-29 2014-05-27 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. System and method for providing an interactive program guide for past current and future programming
US9038104B2 (en) 2007-06-29 2015-05-19 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. System and method for providing an interactive program guide for past, current, and future programming
US20090003796A1 (en) * 2007-06-29 2009-01-01 Verizon Laboratories Inc. Apparatus, method, and computer program product for receiving a command during a commercial
US8483546B2 (en) 2007-06-29 2013-07-09 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Apparatus, method, and computer program product for receiving a command during a commercial
US9654721B2 (en) 2007-07-10 2017-05-16 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. System and method for providing personal content recommendations
US8051447B2 (en) 2007-12-19 2011-11-01 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Condensed program guide for media content access systems and methods
US20090164906A1 (en) * 2007-12-19 2009-06-25 Verizon Data Services Inc. Vertically oriented program guide for media content access systems and methods
US10222934B2 (en) 2007-12-19 2019-03-05 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Condensed program guide for media content access systems and methods
US9118869B2 (en) 2007-12-19 2015-08-25 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Vertically oriented program guide for media content access systems and methods
US8595778B2 (en) 2008-11-12 2013-11-26 Level 3 Communications, Llc User authentication in a content delivery network
US8719886B2 (en) 2008-11-12 2014-05-06 Level 3 Communications, Llc Dynamic processing of streamed content
US20100162170A1 (en) * 2008-12-19 2010-06-24 Verizon Data Services, Llc Systems and methods for radial display of time based information
US9274505B2 (en) 2008-12-19 2016-03-01 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for radial display of time based information
US8522163B2 (en) 2008-12-19 2013-08-27 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for radial display of time based information
US11270704B2 (en) 2009-06-25 2022-03-08 DISH Technologies L.L.C. Voice enabled media presentation systems and methods
US11012732B2 (en) * 2009-06-25 2021-05-18 DISH Technologies L.L.C. Voice enabled media presentation systems and methods
US20100333163A1 (en) * 2009-06-25 2010-12-30 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Voice enabled media presentation systems and methods
US20100333142A1 (en) * 2009-06-29 2010-12-30 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Method and apparatus for creating a personalized programming guide
US20100333139A1 (en) * 2009-06-29 2010-12-30 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc Search-based media program guide systems and methods
US9241136B2 (en) 2009-06-29 2016-01-19 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Method and apparatus for creating a personalized programming guide
US8990858B2 (en) 2009-06-29 2015-03-24 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Search-based media program guide systems and methods
US20100333025A1 (en) * 2009-06-30 2010-12-30 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media Content Instance Search Methods and Systems
US9009622B2 (en) 2009-06-30 2015-04-14 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media content instance search methods and systems
US9258529B2 (en) 2009-10-15 2016-02-09 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Data distribution
US9143737B2 (en) 2009-10-15 2015-09-22 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Data distribution
US20110107374A1 (en) * 2009-10-30 2011-05-05 Verizon Patent And Licensing, Inc. Media content watch list systems and methods
US9571784B2 (en) 2009-10-30 2017-02-14 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Media content watch list systems and methods
US8327394B2 (en) 2009-11-30 2012-12-04 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Boosting factor for television content
US20110131594A1 (en) * 2009-11-30 2011-06-02 Verizon Patent And Licensing, Inc. Boosting factor for television content
US20110154399A1 (en) * 2009-12-22 2011-06-23 Verizon Patent And Licensing, Inc. Content recommendation engine
US20110162008A1 (en) * 2009-12-28 2011-06-30 Verizon Patent And Licensing, Inc. Dynamic program guide information
US8528016B2 (en) 2009-12-28 2013-09-03 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Dynamic program guide information
US8640052B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2014-01-28 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. User interface enhancements for media content access systems and methods
US9668030B2 (en) 2010-04-28 2017-05-30 Qualcomm Incorporated Synchronization of interactivity with linear advertisement in a mobile broadcast network
WO2011137188A1 (en) * 2010-04-28 2011-11-03 Qualcomm Incorporated Synchronization of interactivity with linear advertisement in a mobile broadcast network
US20130125041A1 (en) * 2011-11-10 2013-05-16 Microsoft Corporation Format Object Task Pane
US10248439B2 (en) * 2011-11-10 2019-04-02 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Format object task pane
US8813131B2 (en) * 2012-02-02 2014-08-19 Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute Method and apparatus of interactive advertising service in digital broadcast system
US20130205333A1 (en) * 2012-02-02 2013-08-08 Electronics And Telecommunications Reasearch Institute Method and apparatus of interactive advertising service in digital broadcast system
US20140122203A1 (en) * 2012-11-01 2014-05-01 Performance Marketing Brands, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing a multi-merchant electronic shopping cart for a shopping service
US9922327B2 (en) * 2012-11-01 2018-03-20 Ebates Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing a multi-merchant electronic shopping cart for a shopping service
US20140250477A1 (en) * 2013-03-04 2014-09-04 Snu R&Db Foundation Digital display device and method for controlling the same
US9386342B2 (en) * 2013-03-04 2016-07-05 Lg Electronics Inc. Digital display device and method for controlling the same
US10785526B1 (en) 2014-10-24 2020-09-22 Music Choice System for providing music content to a user
US11336948B1 (en) 2014-10-24 2022-05-17 Music Choice System for providing music content to a user
US20180310066A1 (en) * 2016-08-09 2018-10-25 Paronym Inc. Moving image reproduction device, moving image reproduction method, moving image distribution system, storage medium with moving image reproduction program stored therein
US10970755B2 (en) 2016-10-13 2021-04-06 Ebates Performance Marketing, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing a wish list user interface within a web browser that alerts users to changes in multifactor-based prices
US20180152767A1 (en) * 2016-11-30 2018-05-31 Alibaba Group Holding Limited Providing related objects during playback of video data
US10740781B2 (en) 2017-10-31 2020-08-11 Ebates Performance Marketing, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing notification of a cashback reward from a shopping portal using online screen and email analysis
US11361339B2 (en) 2017-10-31 2022-06-14 Rakuten Group, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing notification of a cashback reward from a shopping portal using online screen and email analysis
US11568468B2 (en) 2019-08-08 2023-01-31 Rakuten Group, Inc. System, method, and computer program for providing similar product recommendations for non-merchant publishers based on publisher preferences

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001046869A3 (en) 2002-04-18
US9118958B2 (en) 2015-08-25
US20100223639A1 (en) 2010-09-02
AU4711601A (en) 2001-07-03
US20030056219A1 (en) 2003-03-20
US20120054787A1 (en) 2012-03-01
US20040107437A1 (en) 2004-06-03
US20100223640A1 (en) 2010-09-02
WO2001046869A2 (en) 2001-06-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9118958B2 (en) Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US8978064B2 (en) Interactive television program guide with passive content
US6526577B1 (en) Enhanced interactive program guide
EP1947858B1 (en) Systems and methods for supplementing on-demand media
US8931008B2 (en) Promotional philosophy for a video-on-demand-related interactive display within an interactive television application
US9197938B2 (en) Contextual display of information with an interactive user interface for television
JP4906217B2 (en) Interactive television application with watch list
US8615782B2 (en) System and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
US6263501B1 (en) Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
WO2000008855A1 (en) A system and method for synchronizing television-related product content and internet-delivered information
WO2000018114A1 (en) Interactive television program guide with passive content
CA2758292C (en) Systems and methods for supplementing on-demand media
MXPA01001271A (en) A system and method for synchronizing television-related product content and internet-delivered information

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: UNITED VIDEO PROPERITES, INC., OKLAHOMA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:REICHARDT, M. SCOTT;HERRINGTON, W. BENJAMIN;REEL/FRAME:011360/0737

Effective date: 20001109

AS Assignment

Owner name: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., NEW YORK

Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:APTIV DIGITAL, INC.;GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION;GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020986/0074

Effective date: 20080502

Owner name: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,NEW YORK

Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:APTIV DIGITAL, INC.;GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION;GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020986/0074

Effective date: 20080502

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- AFTER EXAMINER'S ANSWER OR BOARD OF APPEALS DECISION

AS Assignment

Owner name: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: INDEX SYSTEMS INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GU

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC, CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: TV GUIDE, INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC, CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: ODS PROPERTIES, INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GU

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACR

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317

Owner name: ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVIS

Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION);REEL/FRAME:025222/0731

Effective date: 20100317