US20060015906A1 - Internet television program guide system - Google Patents

Internet television program guide system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20060015906A1
US20060015906A1 US11/187,086 US18708605A US2006015906A1 US 20060015906 A1 US20060015906 A1 US 20060015906A1 US 18708605 A US18708605 A US 18708605A US 2006015906 A1 US2006015906 A1 US 2006015906A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
user
page
program
search
television
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
US11/187,086
Inventor
Franklin Boyer
Timothy Demers
Donald Allison
Mark Regouby
Steven Williamson
Joanna Hensley
W. Herrington
Paul Reddy
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US11/187,086 priority Critical patent/US20060015906A1/en
Publication of US20060015906A1 publication Critical patent/US20060015906A1/en
Priority to US12/111,488 priority patent/US20080201740A1/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.
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 US13/539,805 priority patent/US20120272270A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00Details of television systems
    • H04N5/44Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
    • H04N5/445Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for displaying additional information
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/23Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
    • H04N21/235Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/262Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists
    • H04N21/26283Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
    • 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
    • H04N21/435Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
    • 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
    • H04N21/438Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving MPEG packets from an IP network
    • H04N21/4381Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells
    • 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
    • H04N21/472End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/47211End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting pay-per-view content
    • 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
    • H04N21/472End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content
    • H04N21/4722End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
    • H04N21/4725End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content using interactive regions of the image, e.g. hot spots
    • 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
    • H04N21/4782Web browsing, e.g. WebTV
    • 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]
    • H04N21/40Client 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
    • H04N21/4828End-user interface for program selection for searching program descriptors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6125Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6156Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6175Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/63Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing
    • H04N21/643Communication protocols
    • H04N21/64322IP
    • 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
    • H04N21/8146Monomedia components thereof involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
    • H04N21/8153Monomedia components thereof involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
    • 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
    • H04N21/83Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
    • H04N21/84Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
    • 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
    • H04N21/85Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/854Content authoring
    • H04N21/8549Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer
    • 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
    • H04N21/85Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
    • H04N21/858Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
    • H04N21/8586Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot by using a URL
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/16Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/162Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
    • H04N7/163Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing by receiver means only
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/16Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
    • H04N7/173Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
    • H04N7/17309Transmission or handling of upstream communications
    • H04N7/17318Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04N5/00Details of television systems
    • H04N5/44Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
    • H04N5/445Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for displaying additional information
    • H04N5/45Picture in picture, e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Definitions

  • the Prevue® channel is a scrolling television program listings service that a cable system operator may make available to subscribers over a dedicated cable channel. Viewers can tune to the appropriate television channel to view program listings for television programs that are currently being broadcast and are scheduled to be broadcast in the next few hours.
  • the Prevue® channel is a valuable service, the viewer is somewhat constrained by the passive nature of the service. For example, the viewer cannot view television listings for the next day or week.
  • passive scrolling guides and interactive set-top box guides are useful sources of television program guide information
  • millions of users with personal computers have not been able to obtain on-line television program listings.
  • users have not been able to select from diverse options that allow the user to view promotional video clips, interview segments, audio clips, and other multimedia material related to a given television program.
  • a computer system having a media library and a data server is used to provide multimedia clips and related television program guide data.
  • the multimedia material and program guide data are provided to a web server.
  • the web server provides this information to the user's multimedia system via an Internet communications link.
  • the multimedia system has a processing unit for receiving information from the Internet communications link and processing such information accordingly.
  • the multimedia system also has a video unit for receiving television signals.
  • the processing unit is based on a personal computer running a standard web browser with plug-ins.
  • the video unit is based on a television.
  • the processing unit and video unit of the multimedia system are provided by an integrated personal computer and television unit.
  • the processing unit is in an Internet capable set-top box and the video unit is based on a television.
  • Television program guide data and related multimedia information are preferably provided to the user's multimedia system in the form of one or more web pages. Because such an arrangement allows the use of the widely adopted hypertext transfer protocol (http) and emerging web standards, a user with a personal computer can access information using commonly available web browser software. Because program guide information is distributed over the Internet, the user can access this information at remote locations. For example, the user can access the television program guide service while traveling by car, bus, train, or plane, from a hotel room or business meeting, from a personal computer at work, or in any suitable environment in which there is a link to the Internet. In all arrangements (whether the user is accessing the program guide service from their home or from a remote location), the system benefits from using the established protocols and standards of the Internet.
  • the Internet television program guide is provided as a web site having a number of linked web pages, features can be easily added or deleted from the service by the service provider, without directly affecting the hardware and software of the user.
  • FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a media library and data server interconnected with a web server and various multimedia systems.
  • FIG. 2 is a generalized diagram of a user's multimedia system.
  • FIG. 3 is a system diagram similar to that of FIG. 1 showing an arrangement in which the web server is located in a cable system headend.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram of a home page for an Internet television program guide.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram of a map-based menu for identifying a geographical area of interest.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram of a map-based menu for a smaller geographical region than shown in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 7 is a web page informing the user that no service is available.
  • FIG. 8 is a web page offering alternatives to local service.
  • FIG. 9 is a web page allowing the user to provide information regarding the user's multimedia system to the service provider.
  • FIG. 10 is a web page presenting various program guide options to the user.
  • FIG. 11 is a web page containing information on community events.
  • FIG. 12 is a web page providing the user an opportunity to give feedback to a local cable system operator.
  • FIG. 13 is a web page containing information pertaining to the local cable operator's system.
  • FIG. 14 is a web page containing weather information.
  • FIG. 15 is a web page presenting various program guide options including direct links to related program guide and movie guide television channels.
  • FIG. 16 is a web page containing television program guide listings organized by time.
  • FIG. 17 is a web page presenting a menu of channel selections.
  • FIG. 18 is a web page containing television program guide listings organized by channel.
  • FIG. 19 is a web page containing icons representing category options.
  • FIG. 20 is a web page containing television program guide listings organized by category.
  • FIG. 21 is a search page containing a box for entering search text and various search field options.
  • FIG. 22 is a television program guide listing page based on the results of a search.
  • FIG. 23 is a web page presenting program guide options related to promotional clips, interview segments, and pay-per-view and premium services.
  • FIG. 24 is a web page presenting various image stills that may be selected by the user when it is desired to view related video clips.
  • FIG. 25 is a web page presenting user options regarding pay-per-view and premium services.
  • FIG. 26 is a web page containing television program listings for a selected pay-per-view channel.
  • FIG. 27 is a web page containing television program listings for a selected premium channel.
  • FIG. 28 is a web page providing information regarding upcoming pay-per-view sporting and special events.
  • FIG. 29 is a web page containing still images corresponding to available interview segments.
  • FIG. 30 is a program information web page containing information on a program selected by the user and presenting related options.
  • FIG. 31 is a web page that allows a user to enter information for ordering a pay-per-view event.
  • FIG. 32 is a web page that provides a showcase for advertisers.
  • FIG. 33 is a web page containing detailed advertising information on a selected topic or television program.
  • FIG. 34 is a site map showing the options that are selected and the links that are traversed in navigating among the television program guide web pages of FIGS. 4-33 .
  • FIG. 1 An Internet television program guide system is shown in FIG. 1 .
  • Television program information is stored in media library 12 and data server 14 .
  • Media library 12 preferably contains an array of compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM) disks, digital video disks (DVDs), or other suitable media for storing multimedia content.
  • Media library 12 contains television program clips and related interviews and reviews.
  • the television program information stored in media library 12 is primarily video-based.
  • Data server 14 maintains various databases of television program information. For example, data server 14 may have a remote media database containing descriptions of videos in media library 12 .
  • Data server 14 may also have a database containing information on standard titles, a pay per view database containing information regarding pay-per-view events, and a scheduling information database.
  • Data server 14 may have a cable system operator database containing channel lineups, information on the time zone of the operator, weather data for the operator's region, data on the zip codes in the cable system operator's area, etc. Other databases may be supported by data server 14 , as desired.
  • the television program information in data server 14 is primarily in non-video formats.
  • Media library 12 and data server 14 are interconnected with transmission server 16 via internal network 18 .
  • Media library 12 , data server 14 , network 18 , and transmission server 16 make up computer system 19 .
  • Television program information may be stored on data server 14 in a relational database format and may be stored on transmission server 16 in an object-oriented database format.
  • a building process implemented in the C ++ programming language can be used to periodically (e.g., once a day) build a temporary data set of television program information (e.g., a seven-day to one-month data set) for storage on transmission server 16 .
  • Transmission server 16 also receives information for the Internet television program guide service such as weather data, sports scores, etc., via data input 17 .
  • Television program information and related data may be transferred from transmission server 16 to web server 20 via communications line 22 .
  • Communications line 22 may be part of an internal network or may be a standard dedicated communications line.
  • Web server 20 can be connected to the Internet 24 via communications link 26 .
  • Communications link 26 is preferably a telephone line or other suitable Internet communications path.
  • transmission server 16 and web server 20 are separate devices, as shown in FIG. 1 , transmission server 16 can be used as a common data processing facility for other applications which use the type of television program data stored on transmission server 16 . If desired, the functions of transmission server 16 and web server 20 can be integrated in a signal machine.
  • Web server 20 uses a standard protocols such as the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and hypertext transfer protocol to make the television program information available over the Internet 24 to users at multimedia systems 28 , 30 , and 32 via communications links 34 , 36 , and 38 .
  • Communications links 34 , 36 , and 38 are Internet links formed from telephone lines, radio-frequency (RF) links, cable modem links, satellite dish links, combinations of links such as these, or any other suitable Internet connection paths.
  • RF radio-frequency
  • Multimedia system 28 has personal computer 40 and may have television 42 .
  • Certain program guide features require that personal computer 40 be able to control television 42 via link 41 , which may be, e.g., an infrared communications link.
  • Link 41 allows personal computer 40 to tune television 42 using control signals.
  • Television 42 receives television signals from input 44 .
  • the television signals received by input 44 and the other television signal inputs shown in FIGS. 1-3 may be provided by cable television, satellite television, broadcast television, a combination of such sources, or any other suitable source of television programming signals.
  • Internet access for multimedia system 28 is provided via Internet communications link 34 .
  • Multimedia system 30 has an integrated personal computer and television 46 , such as the Gateway 2000 Destination® PC-TV hybrid available from Gateway 2000 Inc. of North Sioux City, S. Dak.. Television signals are provided at input 48 .
  • Internet access is provided via Internet communications link 36 .
  • Multimedia system 32 has an Internet capable set-top box 50 .
  • Set-top box 50 may use the TV OnLine® set-top box application software of World Gate Corporation, which may be implemented on set-top boxes such as the CFT-2200® of General Instrument Corporation of Hatboro, Pa. and the 8600 ⁇ ® of Scientific Atlanta of Atlanta, Ga.
  • Set-top box 50 receives television signals via input 52 .
  • Internet access is provided via Internet communications link 38 .
  • Video display signals containing television and Internet information are provided to television 54 by line 56 .
  • certain data processing functions such as user-initiated searches and sorts, are typically performed on web server 20 . If desired, such functions can be performed on a suitable data processing component in multimedia systems 28 , 30 , and 32 .
  • FIG. 2 shows a generalized multimedia system arrangement that is capable of supporting controlled television tuning and video recording, if desired.
  • multimedia system 58 has a processing unit 60 , which preferably contains memory for storing instructions and a microprocessor for executing the instructions.
  • Processing unit 60 accesses the Internet via Internet link 62 .
  • Video unit 64 which may be connected to processing unit 60 by communications line 66 , contains recording unit 68 , tuner 70 , and monitor 72 . Television signals are received at input 74 .
  • Tuner 70 is used to select television programs from television signals on input 74 for viewing or recording. Tuner 70 may be controlled under the direction of control signals provided by processing unit 60 over communications link 66 . Television signals and Internet information can be viewed using monitor 72 . Recording unit 68 allows the user to make videocassette recordings of television programs. Recording unit 68 may also be controlled by control signals from processing unit 60 .
  • processing unit 60 is determined based on the execution of instructions stored in memory in processing unit 60 and on control inputs received from the user via user interface 76 .
  • Suitable user interfaces include handheld infrared remote controls, keyboards, pointing devices, and voice recognition devices.
  • Multimedia systems such as multimedia system 58 of FIG. 2 may be used in place of multimedia systems 28 , 30 , and 32 .
  • systems such as systems 28 , 30 , and 32 may be modified to incorporate features like those shown multimedia system 58 .
  • video recording units such as recording unit 68
  • certain components may be used more than once (e.g., tuner 70 may be contained within both a television component and a videocassette recorder component in system 58 ).
  • the user of such a multimedia system has the capability to access television program guide information on web server 20 .
  • Many of the features of the Internet program guide service are available using multimedia systems with the capabilities of a modern personal computer (desktop or laptop). If it is desired to use certain program guide features that rely upon controlling a tuner or recording unit, the multimedia system should also have the ability to tune to a desired television program from among the various television programs provided at inputs 44 , 48 , 52 , and 74 and have the ability to record that program automatically, under the control of commands from processing unit 60 . Additional features may also be implemented on multimedia system 58 .
  • FIG. 3 Another configuration that may be used for an Internet television program guide system is shown in FIG. 3 .
  • Internet television program guide system has media library 80 and data server 82 .
  • Media library 80 contains television program clips, interviews, and reviews.
  • the television program information stored in media library 80 is primarily video.
  • Data server 82 contains databases of television program information.
  • data server 82 may have a database containing descriptions of videos in media library 80 .
  • Data server 82 may also have a databases containing information on program titles, pay-per-view events, and television program schedules.
  • Data server 82 may have a cable system operator database containing channel lineups, information on the time zone of the operator, weather data for the operator's region, data on the zip codes in the cable system operator's area, etc.
  • Other databases may also be supported by data server 82 .
  • the television program information in data server 82 is mainly in formats other than video.
  • Media library 80 and data server 82 are interconnected with transmission server 84 via internal network 83 .
  • Media library 80 , data server 82 , and internal network 83 make up computer system 87 .
  • Television program information may be stored on data server 82 in a relational database format and may be stored on transmission server 84 in an object-oriented database format.
  • a building process implemented in the C ++ programming language may be used to periodically (e.g., once a day) build a temporary data set of television program information (e.g., a seven-day to one-month data set) for storage on transmission server 84 .
  • Transmission server 84 also receives information for the Internet television program guide service such as weather data, sports scores, etc., via data input 85 .
  • a web server 86 is provided in each cable system headend 88 .
  • Cable system headend 88 has additional component's (not shown) for distributing cable television signals to customers in the service area surrounding headend 88 .
  • Providing web server 86 in a location that is relatively close to users allows television program information to be provided to the users efficiently.
  • Television program information (including video clips and associated television program data) is transmitted from transmission server 84 to each cable system headend 88 via satellite uplink 90 and satellite downlink 92 .
  • Each web server 86 uses the Internet TCP/IP protocol to make the television program information available to users at multimedia systems 94 , 96 , and 98 via respective communications links 100 , 102 , and 104 .
  • Communications links 100 , 102 , and 104 are Internet links formed from telephone lines, radio-frequency (RF) links, cable modem links, satellite dish downlinks, combinations of links such as these, or any other suitable Internet connection paths.
  • RF radio-frequency
  • communications links 100 , 102 , and 104 may be Internet paths that pass through extensive portions of the Internet.
  • Multimedia system 94 has personal computer 106 and may have television 108 .
  • Television 108 receives television signals from input 110 .
  • Access to web server 86 is provided via Internet communications link 100 .
  • Multimedia system 96 has an integrated personal computer and television 112 , such as the Gateway 2000 Destination PC-TV hybrid. Television signals are provided at input 114 . Access to web server 86 is provided via Internet communications link 102 .
  • Multimedia system 98 has an Internet capable set-top box 116 , such as the TV OnLine® set-top box.
  • Set-top box 116 receives television signals via input 118 .
  • Access to web server 86 is provided via Internet communications link 104 .
  • Video display signals containing television and Internet information are provided to television 120 by line 122 .
  • FIGS. 1-3 for providing television program guide Internet services is illustrative and other suitable hardware arrangements may be used, if desired. Regardless of the particular hardware system that is used, however, the present invention preferably involves providing television program guide services and features to users over the Internet in the form of multiple web pages that use the standard hypertext transfer protocol (http).
  • http hypertext transfer protocol
  • web pages and associated program guide features are provided using web server 20 .
  • web pages and associated features are provided using web server 86 .
  • the program guide services may be accessed using standard web browsers operating on the appropriate processing unit in the user's multimedia system.
  • a web browser may be implemented using processing unit 60 .
  • Suitable web browsers include the Internet Explorer® web browser of Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. and the Netscape Navigator® web browser of Netscape Communications Corporation of Mountain View, Calif.
  • Such web browsers support the viewing of various types of multimedia content, such as video stills (JPEG or GIF files) and video and audio clips (AVI, MOV, and MPG files).
  • certain of these multimedia support functions may be provided as web browser plug-ins (i.e., special software modules designed to enhance the features of a web browser application).
  • a suitable video player plug-in for MOV files is the Quicktime® application of Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.
  • AVI and MPG or MPEG—Motion Picture Expert Group files may be played using the ActiveMovie® application of Microsoft Corporation.
  • FIG. 4 An illustrative welcome page 124 for the television program guide service of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 .
  • a site map is shown in FIG. 34 .
  • Web browser function keys 126 help the user at multimedia system 58 to navigate through web pages of material such as welcome page 124 . Users may also navigate by clicking on an image or an element of highlighted text with cursor 142 , which may be controlled by a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball. Other arrangements for selecting links may be used if supported by the user interface 76 that is provided in multimedia system 58 .
  • Web browser function keys 126 include back and forward keys that allow the user to navigate backward and forward along a browsing trail. Web browser function keys 126 are not shown in the other FIGS., but are shown in FIG. 4 to illustrate the types of function keys that are available with a standard web browser.
  • Welcome page 124 may contain identifying logos 128 (which may be, for example, United States trademarks). Identifying logos 128 allow a user to quickly associate a service provider, such as the assignee of the present invention, Prevue Networks, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., with the Internet television program guide service. If desired, welcome page 124 can contain summary instructions 130 that inform the user of some of the features available with the service. Other web pages (not shown) may contain links that point to welcome page 124 .
  • identifying logos 128 allow a user to quickly associate a service provider, such as the assignee of the present invention, Prevue Networks, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., with the Internet television program guide service.
  • welcome page 124 can contain summary instructions 130 that inform the user of some of the features available with the service.
  • Other web pages may contain links that point to welcome page 124 .
  • Advertisements 132 and 134 allow a service provider to generate revenues from parties who wish to advertise products using Internet television program guide system 10 ( FIG. 1 ) or 78 ( FIG. 3 ). Advertisements 132 and 134 may be video stills, may be animated, or may include full-motion video. Audio material can also be associated with advertisements 132 and 134 . For example, supplemental audio information can be provided when a user clicks on advertisement 132 or 134 . If desired, advertisements 132 and 134 may be linked to web sites provided by the advertising parties. The advertisements 132 and 134 that are displayed may periodically (e.g., once every few seconds) cycle through different advertisements for different advertisers.
  • An important aspect of the Internet television program guide service provided by system 10 ( FIG. 1 ) and system 78 ( FIG. 3 ) relates to on-line television program listings and information on upcoming movies and special events.
  • the user may be presented with a number of choices regarding the type of on-line information that is available. For example, the user may be presented with the opportunity to select between go local option 136 , go national option 138 , and go satellite option 140 . Additional features of the service may be accessed after the user has selected one of these options.
  • the user may be prompted to enter a zip code for the local area of interest in box 144 .
  • the program guide system links the user to an appropriate the local system operator's web site based on the zip code information.
  • the user can select a local area by entering information such as a cable system operator's name, the name of a city, international country and city information, etc.
  • Another way in which the user may select a local service area of interest is using a map-based graphical user interface. As shown in FIG. 5 , the user is presented with United States map 146 . The user selects a state of interest using cursor 142 .
  • map 148 of FIG. 6 the user can select between three available cable system operator regions: region 1 , region 2 , and region 3 .
  • no local service page 150 may provide the user with an opportunity to submit the user's e-mail address, cable provider information, local zip code information, and comments.
  • Information provided by the user can be used by the operator of the television program guide system to solicit participation from non-participating local cable operators.
  • pick again page 152 provides the user with another opportunity to select go national option 138 or go satellite option 140 .
  • pick again page 152 provides the user with select a city option 154 , which is associated with a less restrictive set of program information than go local option 136 ( FIG. 4 )
  • select a city option 154 the user may select a desired city using arrow key 156 (or alternatively, could type the name of the city directly into box 158 ).
  • the city information is submitted to the system by clicking on submit button 160 . Because select a city option 154 is less localized than go local option 136 , choosing select a city option 154 makes it more likely that there will be a set of program listings available for the user.
  • Registration page 162 may contain instructions prompting the user to enter an e-mail address and information concerning the user's computer equipment.
  • registration page 162 contains an identifying logo 164 and advertisements 166 and 168 .
  • Local cable site page 170 of FIG. 10 Upon completing registration page 162 , the usher is presented with local cable site page 170 of FIG. 10 , which is customized to reflect the local geographic area or city selected by the user.
  • Local cable site page 170 may contain a welcome message 172 that is customized to reflect the name of the local cable system operator.
  • a number of options 174 may be presented as hypertext links to associated web pages.
  • An image 175 is displayed that changes as the user places cursor 142 on top of each option 174 .
  • the image 175 of FIG. 10 is presented when the user positions cursor 142 over program guide option 190 .
  • Different images are displayed as cursor 142 passes over each option 174 .
  • the images 175 to be displayed are stored as bitmap images in processing unit 60 of multimedia system 58 ( FIG. 2 ). This technique of presenting context-sensitive images to illustrate the current position of the cursor over hypertext link options is preferably used throughout the Internet television program guide service.
  • Various web pages may be displayed depending on which option 174 is selected by the user. For example, selecting community events option 176 presents the user with community events page 178 ( FIG. 11 ), which contains information on local upcoming community events. If desired, the listed community events may be specific to the type of service to which the user subscribes (e.g., cable or satellite).
  • Selecting cable feedback option 180 presents the user with cable feedback page 182 ( FIG. 12 ), which allows the user to submit an e-mail address and comments to the local cable system operator.
  • Selecting cable operator option 184 takes the user to cable operator page 186 ( FIG. 13 ), which contains information related to the local cable system. For example, by clicking on icon 187 , the user may be provided with a weekly report prepared by the cable system operator.
  • customize option 185 presents the user with a customization web page containing guide features that the user can customize, such as channel line-ups and genre-specific display colors (e.g., pink for sports program listings and orange for movie program listings).
  • the customization web page may also contain user-selectable options that control how the user receives reminder messages when a desired program is about to start on the user's television. The user can direct the system to provide a pop-up reminder on the television screen, to send the user an e-mail reminder, or to remind the user via a predetermined paging number, etc.
  • Customize option 185 may be provided in any suitable portion of the program guide service, such as on a program guide listings page ( FIG. 16 ).
  • FIG. 10 Another option 174 that is available on local cable site page 170 ( FIG. 10 ) is local weather option 186 . Selecting local weather option 186 takes the user to local weather page 188 ( FIG. 14 ). If desired, a map-based menu (such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 ) or other user input arrangement can be used to provide the user with the opportunity to select additional cities for which weather information is desired.
  • Program guide option 190 allows the user to access television-program listings that can be organized by time, channel, and category and can be searched. Selecting program guide option 190 takes the user to program guide menu page 194 ( FIG. 15 ). Movie guide option 192 allows the user to access channel listings for premium and pay-per-view channels, interviews, and various promotional media. Selecting movie guide option 192 takes the user to movie guide menu page 196 ( FIG. 23 ).
  • the user may reach program guide menu page 194 ( FIG. 15 ) from go national option 138 ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ) or go satellite option 140 ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ). If the user selected go local option 136 ( FIG. 4 ) and successfully completed registration page 162 ( FIG. 9 ), the user may reach program guide menu page 194 ( FIG. 15 ) by selecting program guide option 190 on local cable site page 170 ( FIG. 10 ). The user may also reach program guide menu page 194 ( FIG. 15 ) via select a city option 154 . Each of these paths to program guide menu page 194 requires that slightly different user selections be made.
  • Go local option 136 ( FIG. 4 ) requires that a user specify a particular, local region (or cable system operator) of interest to reach local cable site page 170 ( FIG. 10 ).
  • program guide menu page 194 ( FIG. 15 ) from local cable site page 170 , the user selects program guide option 190 .
  • Go national option 138 ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ) requires that a user select a desired time zone (e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific).
  • a desired time zone e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific.
  • Go satellite option 140 ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ) requires that the user select a desired satellite provider 286 .
  • the user selects program guide option 288 .
  • Select a city option 154 requires that the user enter information specifying a particular city.
  • the user submits the city information by clicking on submit button 160 , the user is taken to registration page 162 ( FIG. 9 ).
  • the user reaches program guide menu page 194 from local cable site page, 170 ( FIG. 10 ) after completing the form on registration page 162 .
  • information is preferably retained by the system 10 or 78 that indicates which selections have been made by the user. Retaining this information allows subsequently displayed program listings and other information to be automatically customized to reflect the user's selections.
  • program guide menu page 194 may be constructed from two smaller web pages: top web page 198 and a bottom web page 200 .
  • Top web page 198 contains graphics and text-based options 202 that are common to many different system operators.
  • Bottom web page 200 may contain system specific promotional materials, such as pay-per-view video promotion 204 . Dividing program guide menu page 194 in this way allows system resources to be used more efficiently than would otherwise be possible, because the common material in top web page 198 can be used for more than one local cable system.
  • television channel options 206 and 208 may be provided that allow the user to easily access related television channel program services.
  • processing unit 60 sends control commands to video unit 68 that direct tuner 70 of video unit 64 to tune to a television channel on which the desired program service is being broadcast.
  • the user may click on program guide television channel option 206 .
  • program guide television channel option 206 processing unit 60 directs video unit 64 to select the appropriate television signal from television signal input 74 so that the Prevue® channel is displayed on monitor 72 .
  • the Prevue® channel is an example of a type of program guide service that displays a scrolling list of television program titles with a concurrent display of promotional videos and advertisements.
  • the user may click on movie guide television channel option 208 .
  • movie guide television channel option 208 processing unit 60 directs video unit 64 to select the appropriate television signal from television signal input 74 so that the Sneak Prevue® channel is displayed on monitor 72 .
  • the Sneak Prevue® channel is an example of a type of movie guide service that displays promotional videos of upcoming pay-per-view events and premium channel offerings.
  • Television channel options 206 and 208 allow user to jump directly from an Internet-based television program guide service to related program guides services provided on conventional television channels. Facilitating this type of direct link is beneficial for the user, because it allows the user to avoid the cumbersome steps of leaving the Internet-based service and manually tuning video unit 64 to the appropriate channel while attempting to remember the correct channel number of the desired television service.
  • Options 202 allow the user to choose how to display various program listings for the user's preselected region of interest (national, satellite, or local).
  • Typical options 202 include by time option 210 , by channel option 212 , by category option 214 , and search option 216 .
  • time page 218 contains program listings 220 that are organized in channel order from top to bottom and by broadcast time from left to right.
  • the programs in program listings 220 may be listed beginning with programs that are currently being broadcast. For example, if the current time is between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, program listings 220 may begin with programs that start at 1:30 PM. Alternatively, the programs in program listings 220 may be listed based on a predetermined time slot (e.g., morning, afternoon, or prime time). If desired, the closest time slot to the current time may be displayed.
  • Program listings 220 typically contain information for about two hours of programing.
  • Cursors 222 and 224 are used to navigate to earlier or later time periods, respectively.
  • Web browser cursors 226 and 228 allow the user to scroll through the program listings.
  • the user may also navigate the program listings with time navigation buttons 230 . For example, if the user would like to view program listings that begin in the morning, the user clicks on the morning navigation button 230 . If the user would like to view program listings for programs currently being broadcast, the user may click on the current navigation button 230 . Program listings for different days in the month may be viewed by selecting the appropriate day from calendar buttons 232 .
  • View buttons 234 take the user to the same web pages that are presented when the corresponding options 202 of FIG. 15 are selected. For example, by channel option 212 and channel view button 234 are both linked to by channel page 242 ( FIG. 17 ).
  • program information box 236 Another component of by time page 218 and various other web pages provided by the present system is program information box 236 .
  • the contents of program information box 236 changes dynamically, depending on which program title in program listings 220 is selected. For example, the user has clicked on the entry “Primal Fear” in program listings 220 of FIG. 16 . As a result, the contents of program information box 236 reflect this selection.
  • Program information box 236 typically contains the program title (e.g., Primal Fear), the running time of the program (e.g., 2:09), a brief description of the program (e.g., A hot shot . . . ), and a description of, the program type or genre (e.g., drama movie).
  • the program description may contain information on the actors in the program, the director, etc.
  • Program information box 236 typically provides a rating of the program, such as a star rating (e.g., three stars) or the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating for movies or the television rating for television programs. If the user desires to view additional information relating to the selected program, the user may click on closer look icon 238 (or alternatively, on any portion of box 236 ), which takes the user to program information page 240 ( FIG. 30 ).
  • a star rating e.g., three stars
  • MPAA Motion Picture Association of America
  • direct tune button 231 may be displayed.
  • processing unit 60 directs video unit 64 to select the appropriate television signal from television signal input 74 to display the selected program on monitor 72 .
  • channel page 242 of FIG. 17 is presented when the user selects by channel option 212 from program guide menu page 194 ( FIG. 15 ) or when the user clicks on a channel view button, such as channel view button 234 of by time page 218 ( FIG. 16 ).
  • channel page 242 contains channel list 244 .
  • Channel list 244 may be arranged in channel number order and may contain aviated icons 246 for certain channels.
  • a user can click on each individual channel 248 in channel list 244 to obtain a list of program information based on the selected channel.
  • a user can also click on a graphic or text link to a listed network's web site to be hyperlinked to that site.
  • channel program list page 250 When a channel 248 is selected, the user is presented with channel program list page 250 , as shown in FIG. 18 .
  • the selected channel in the example of FIG. 18 is channel 2 .
  • program listings 252 for the selected channel may be arranged in time order, beginning with the current time. If programs in program listings 252 extend into the next day, the programs may be separated by date separation bar 254 .
  • Title bar 256 contains information identifying the currently selected channel.
  • category page 258 of FIG. 19 is presented when the user selects by category option 214 from program guide menu page 194 ( FIG. 15 ) or when the user clicks on a category view button, such as category view button 234 of by time page 218 ( FIG. 16 ).
  • category page 258 contains category list 260 , which may be presented in the form of category icons 262 . A user an click an individual category icon 262 in category list 260 to obtain a list of program information based on the selected category.
  • category program list page 264 When a category is selected, the user is presented with category program list page 264 , as shown in FIG. 20 .
  • program listings 266 may be arranged in time and channel order, beginning with the current time and date. Program listings 266 contain the channel information for each program adjacent to the program title. If a user wishes to view program information for a given channel, the user may click on one of the displayed channels. The user is then presented with a program list that is restricted to programs appearing on the selected channel.
  • the program list that is displayed in category program list page 264 may be limited to programs appearing in the next 24 hour period.
  • the user may view information for later days by clicking on the appropriate day in calendar buttons 270 .
  • Search page 272 of FIG. 21 is presented when the user selects search option 216 from program guide menu page 194 ( FIG. 15 ) or when the user clicks on a search view button, such as search view button 234 in by time page 218 ( FIG. 16 ).
  • Search field options 274 allow the user to select a search field, such as title, actor, category, description, rating.
  • a search text string is entered in search text box 276 .
  • search results page 278 contains program listings 280 that, satisfy the search criteria specified using search page 272 ( FIG. 21 ).
  • search criteria bar 282 For example, the program listings 280 in FIG. 22 resulted from a search for the text string “Gibson” in the actor search field, as shown by search criteria bar 282 .
  • the user may reach movie guide menu page 196 ( FIG. 23 ) from go national option 138 ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ) or go satellite option 140 ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ). If the user selects go local option 136 ( FIG. 4 ) and successfully completes registration page 162 ( FIG. 9 ), the user may reach movie guide menu page 196 ( FIG. 23 ) by selecting movie guide option 192 on local cable site page 170 ( FIG. 10 ). Each of these paths to movie guide menu page 196 requires that slightly different user selections be made.
  • Go local option 136 ( FIG. 4 ) requires that a user specify a particular local region (or cable system operator) of interest to reach local cable site page 170 ( FIG. 10 ).
  • To reach movie guide menu page 196 ( FIG. 23 ) from local cable site page 170 the user selects movie guide option 192 .
  • Go national option 138 ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ) requires that a user select a desired time zone (e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific).
  • a desired time zone e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific.
  • Go satellite option 140 ( FIGS. 4 and 8 ) requires that the user select a desired satellite provider 286 .
  • the user selects movie guide option 292 .
  • information is preferably retained by the system 10 or 78 that indicates which selections have been made by the user. Retaining this information allows subsequently displayed program listings and other information to be automatically customized to reflect the user's selections.
  • movie guide menu page 196 contains hot picks option 294 , movie cruiser opt ion 296 , main event option 298 , and interview option 300 .
  • hot picks option 294 movie cruiser opt ion 296
  • main event option 298 main event option 298
  • interview option 300 interview option 300 .
  • Hot picks page 302 contains images 304 , 306 , 308 , and 310 of popular programs for which promotional materials are available. Images 304 and 308 typically contain program titles. Images 306 and 310 typically contain actor stills. The programs for which images 304 , 306 , 308 , and 310 are displayed may be automatically selected in accordance with their upcoming frequency on the pay-per-view services. The upcoming frequency may be calculated based on the number of expected occurrences of a given program in a predetermined period of time (e.g., seven days).
  • the predetermined period may be commenced starting with the current date and time, thereby allowing for a seamless crossing of the monthly barrier.
  • the information used to determine which program images are displayed is preferably customized based on the selections (local, national, satellite, etc.) previously made by the user.
  • program information page 240 FIG. 30
  • additional information such as video clips and interview segments on the selected program.
  • pay-per-view link 312 or pay-per-view link 314 the user is taken to pay-per view page 316 ( FIG. 26 ), which provides the user with pay-per-view program listings for the selected program.
  • movie cruiser page 318 When the user selects movie cruiser option 296 , the user is presented with movie cruiser page 318 , as shown in FIG. 25 .
  • Movie cruiser page 318 lists the pay-per-view and premium channels that are available to the user (based on previous selections). In particular, movie cruiser page 318 contains pay-per-view channel options 320 and premium channel options 322 .
  • Pay-per-view page 316 contains program listings 324 for pay-per-view events. Multiple pay-per-view programs may be simultaneously listed in a grid format or may be listed as shown in FIG. 26 for a selected pay-per-view channel (i.e., channel 35 ).
  • page 316 contains program information box 325 , which contains program information when a program from program listings 324 has been selected by the user. Clicking on box 325 (or a closer look icon in box 325 ) takes the user to program information page 240 ( FIG. 30 ).
  • Premium services page 326 contains program listings 328 for premium events. Multiple premium service programs may be simultaneously listed in a grid format or a single program may be listed as shown in FIG. 27 for a selected premium service (i.e., the Disney® channel).
  • Program information box 330 provides program information for a program that has been selected by the user. In the example of FIG. 27 , the user has clicked on “Pete's Dragon.” Clicking on program information box 330 (or a closer look icon in box 330 ) takes the user to program information page 240 ( FIG. 30 ), where the user can view additional information on the selected program (i.e., information on the movie Pete's Dragon).
  • main event page 332 When the user selects main event option 298 from movie guide menu page 196 ( FIG. 23 ), the user is presented with main event page 332 , as shown in FIG. 28 .
  • Main event page 332 lists premium or pay-per-view sports events and other special events.
  • event e.g., event 334
  • the user may be presented with an associated program information page (such as page 240 of FIG. 30 ), provided that additional information on the event is available.
  • the user may be directly presented with pay-per-view order page 3 . 36 ( FIG. 31 ).
  • interview page 338 contains still images 340 of various subjects.
  • the subjects presented on interview page 338 are customized to reflect the user's selected type of service (e.g., the user's selection of a particular cable system operator or the user's selection of national service or a particular satellite service).
  • images 340 relate to interviews for the movies and other programs currently available to the user.
  • the determination of which interview images 340 are to be made available on interview page 338 may be based on a calculation of the most frequently scheduled upcoming programs in a predetermined time period (e.g., in the upcoming week). If desired, interviews corresponding to programs not currently available to the user may also be provided.
  • the user may select a given interview by clicking on one of images 340 .
  • the user is then taken to program information page 240 ( FIG. 30 ).
  • program information page 240 contains detailed information on a selected program (e.g., the movie Birdcage).
  • Program information page 240 preferably contains image 342 , which may initially be presented as a still image of the program title (e.g., from a JPEG or GIF file). When a user clicks on image 342 , an associated video clip, is presented.
  • Program information page 240 also contains title 344 , actor information 346 , and program description 348 . Additional information may include content information 350 and genre information 352 . If desired, information may be provided on the director, year of release, and other relevant items. Additional actor information may be supplied (e.g., in the form of biographical information and related video clips accessed by clicking on actors 346 ).
  • Interview icon 354 , commentary icon 356 , and promotional clip icon 358 represent available services.
  • the user can view video clips of interviews on the selected program (i.e., the movie Birdcage) by clicking on the appropriate file-type option associated with a given service.
  • file options 360 , 362 , and 364 are associated with an interview service (represented by interview icon 354 ).
  • Clicking on file option 360 allows the user to view interview video clips using a protocol appropriate for an MOV file (e.g., using the QuickTime application).
  • Clicking on file option 362 or 364 allows the user to view interview video clip using a protocol appropriate for an AVI or MPG (MPEG) file (e.g., using the ActiveMovie application).
  • Commentary icon 356 and promotional clip icon 358 have associated file options (e.g., MOV, AVI, and MPG options) that allow the user to view commentary or promotional video clips for the selected program.
  • Program information page 240 contains information tied to the program selected by the user on previous pages.
  • the user may reach program information page 240 by various paths. For example, the user may select a program from program listings 220 in by time page 218 ( FIG. 16 ) by clicking on the desired program title.
  • the user may also select a pay-per-view or premium program from pay-per-view page 316 ( FIG. 26 ) or premium services page 326 ( FIG. 27 ) by clicking on the appropriate listing.
  • program information page 240 program information is provided for the selected program. Icons and other indicators are used to identify which services are available for the selected program. For example, if no commentary video clips are available for a given program, then the file options below commentary icon 356 may be omitted. Similarly, if no video still is available for a movie, image 342 can be omitted.
  • Program information page 240 contains program listings 366 , which provide program title, channel, and time and date information for the selected program.
  • program listings 366 provide program title, channel, and time and date information for the selected program.
  • the movie Birdcage is appearing on channel 35 (a pay-per-view channel) on three days in the next weekly period.
  • the user clicks on a pay-per-view entry in program listings 366 the user is taken to order page 336 ( FIG. 31 ).
  • order page 336 contains instructions 368 on how to order a pay-per-view event order page 336 also contains telephone number query box 370 and personal identification number box 372 .
  • the user may place an order for a pay-per-view event by clicking on place order button 374 .
  • Information entered by the user into boxes 370 and 372 is used to verify the user's identity and account status. Once the user's information has been verified, the selected pay-per-view event may be delivered to the user's multimedia system.
  • Pay-per-view event orders are processed depends on the particular hardware used to deliver services to the user.
  • Order and account verification information is generally electronically submitted to the headend cable system operator or a third party order fulfillment processor linked to the headend system.
  • Equipment in the headend processes the order automatically and arranges for the delivery of the pay-per-view event to the user.
  • the headend equipment directs equipment (such as a set-top box or similar integrated component) in the user's multimedia system to display the ordered event.
  • web server 86 at cable system headend 88 may be used to receive and process pay-per-view orders submitted using order page 336 . After processing the order, web server 86 can direct conventional pay-per-view equipment at headend 88 to authorize the display of the ordered pay-per-view event using set-top box 116 .
  • web server 86 can communicate authorization information to processing unit 60 ( FIG. 2 ) in the user's multimedia system 58 ( FIG. 2 )
  • Processing unit 60 FIG. 23 can direct video unit 64 ( FIG. 2 ) to decode and display the pay-per view event from among the received television signals 74 ( FIG. 2 ) based on the authorization information.
  • Order page 336 can be provided with user-selectable options for recording programs and for reminding the user when selected programs are about to be broadcast.
  • order page 336 may contain a clickable record button. Selecting the record option by clicking on the record button directs multimedia system 58 ( FIG. 2 ) to record the selected program (by controlling recording unit 68 of video unit 64 with processing unit 60 ) when the selected program is being aired.
  • order page 336 may contain a clickable reminder button. Selecting the reminder option by clicking on this button directs multimedia system 58 to remind the user of the upcoming selected program (e.g., 10 minutes before the scheduled broadcast time) by automatically tuning to the desired channel, by displaying a reminder message, or by issuing an audible reminder.
  • Reminder messages may also be generated by web server 20 or 86 and transmitted to multimedia system 58 by e-mail.
  • these selectable recording and reminder features can be incorporated into other pages, such as program information page 240 , one of the pages containing television program listings, or a page presented to the user after clicking on place order button 374 .
  • Advertiser showcase page 376 contains clickable images, such as images 378 , 380 , and 382 , which are linked to more detailed advertising pages. Advertiser showcase page 376 also may contain a advertiser logo image, such as image 390 . Text bar 392 contains clickable text fields that duplicate the selections available by clicking on images.
  • the advertiser logo image in advertiser showcase page 376 may be linked to the web site of the advertiser.
  • image 390 may be linked to a web site for UPN, so that if the user clicks on image 390 , the user will be taken to the UPN web site.
  • Advertisement page 394 contains detailed inrirmation related to the subject matter of the image that was selected from advertiser showcase page 376 ( FIG. 32 ). In the example of FIG. 33 , additional information is provided on the program “The Sentinel, ! because this program was selected in advertising showcase page 376 by clicking on image 382 . If desired, advertisement page 394 can contain appropriate links to further advertisement pages or to the advertiser's home page.
  • FIG. 34 is a site map of the television program guide service.
  • the service can be accessed from service provider home page 396 . Selecting the television program guide service from home page 396 takes the user to welcome page 124 . If the user selects the go local option and no service is available, no service page 150 and pick again page 152 are presented. If the user selects the go local option and service is available, the user is taken to registration page 162 . If maps 146 ( FIG. 5 ) and 148 ( FIG. 6 ) are used to define the local area of interest, the maps may be provided in path 398 between welcome page 124 and registration page 162 .
  • Selecting an advertisement by clicking on its image may typically be done on any page containing an advertisement.
  • selecting an advertisement on registration page 162 takes the user to advertiser showcase page 376 .
  • Selecting an image on advertiser showcase page 376 takes the user to advertisement page 394 .
  • Completing the registration form on registration page 162 allows the user to proceed to local cable site page 170 .
  • the user can view community events page 178 by selecting the community events option.
  • the user can access cable feedback page 182 , cable operator page 186 , or local weather page 188 .
  • program guide menu page 194 or movie guide menu page 196 depending on whether the user selected the program guide or movie guide option.
  • the user selects the go satellite option on welcome page 124 the user is taken to program guide menu page 194 or movie guide menu page 196 , depending on whether the user selected the program guide or movie guide option.
  • the user can also reach program guide menu page 194 or movie guide menu page 196 from pick again page 152 or local cable site page 170 . If the user reaches program guide menu page 194 from either pick again page 152 or local cable site page 170 , the local area of interest to the user is retained by the system, so that subsequently displayed program guide listings can be customized to the user's local area.
  • selecting the program guide channel option tunes the system directly to program guide television channel 400 .
  • selecting the movie guide channel option tunes the system to movie guide television channel 402 .
  • Selecting the time option from program guide menu page 194 takes the user to by time page 218 . If a program is selected that is currently being broadcast and is therefore available for the user to view, a direct tune option may be displayed on by time page 218 or any page containing program listings. Selecting the direct tune option tunes the user's television unit directly to selected television channel 404 .
  • Selecting the channel option from program guide menu page 194 takes the user to by channel page 242 .
  • channel program list page 250 is displayed.
  • Selecting the category option from program guide menu page 194 takes the user to by category page 258 .
  • category program list page 264 is displayed.
  • search page 272 When the user at program guide menu page 194 selects the search option, search page 272 is presented. Search page 272 allows the user to enter search terms and to initiate a search of a program database. After the search is performed, search results page 278 is displayed.
  • Selecting the movie guide option from welcome page 124 , pick again page 152 , or local cable site page 170 presents the user with movie guide menu page 196 .
  • interview option the user is presented with interview page 338 .
  • interview page 338 the user is taken to program information page 240 to view the interview.
  • hot picks option from movie guide menu page 196 the user is presented with hot picks page 302 .
  • hot picks page 302 When the user selects a hot pick from the displayed images on hot picks page 302 , the user is taken to program information page 240 to view a promotional video clip for the hot pick.
  • main event page 332 If the user selects the main event option from movie guide menu page 196 , the user is presented with main event page 332 .
  • main event page 332 When the user selects a given event from main events page 332 , the user is taken to program information page 240 to view information on that event. Alternatively, the user may be taken to order page 316 to place an order for the event.
  • Selecting the movie cruiser option from movie guide menu page 196 presents the user with movie cruiser page 318 .
  • the user can view pay-per-view page 316 by selecting the pay-per-view option.
  • the user can view premium services page 326 by selecting the premium option.
  • Programs may be selected by the user from either pay-per-view page 316 or premium services page 326 . In either case, the user is taken to program information page 240 to view additional information on the selected program.
  • Program information page 240 allows the user to view multimedia material on a given program, interview, event, etc.
  • the content of program, information page 240 depends on the path taken to reach program information page 240 and the options selected by the user.
  • Program information page 240 contains options that allow the user to select a program to view. When the user makes such a program selection, the user is presented with order page 336 .

Abstract

An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system.

Description

  • This application claims the benefit of United states provisional application No. 60/032,539, filed Dec. 10, 1996.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to the Internet, and more particularly, to techniques for providing television program guide information and services to a
  • A large number of television channels are available over cable television systems and satellite television systems. Television viewers have traditionally had to consult preprinted television program listings to determine which programs were scheduled to be broadcast on a particular day. More recently, television-based program guides have been developed that allow television viewers to view television program listings directly on their television sets.
  • For example, the Prevue® channel is a scrolling television program listings service that a cable system operator may make available to subscribers over a dedicated cable channel. Viewers can tune to the appropriate television channel to view program listings for television programs that are currently being broadcast and are scheduled to be broadcast in the next few hours. Although the Prevue® channel is a valuable service, the viewer is somewhat constrained by the passive nature of the service. For example, the viewer cannot view television listings for the next day or week.
  • As a result, more advanced television program guide services have been developed that allow the service provider to deliver television program listing data to the user's set-top box. The data is typically delivered over the television cable system infrastructure (e.g., on a given television channel during the vertical blanking interval or over an out-of band channel.) Software in the set-top box allows the viewer to display the television program listings on the viewer's television set.
  • These program guide services allow the user to manipulate the television listings by searching or sorting through the listings using criteria such as genre, channel, and broadcast time. An example of a such an interactive television program guide is the Prevue Express® guide of Prevue Networks, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., the assignee of the present, invention.
  • Although passive scrolling guides and interactive set-top box guides are useful sources of television program guide information, millions of users with personal computers have not been able to obtain on-line television program listings. In addition, users have not been able to select from diverse options that allow the user to view promotional video clips, interview segments, audio clips, and other multimedia material related to a given television program.
  • It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a television program guide system that provides television program listings from a server to a user's multimedia system over an Internet communications link.
  • It is a further object of the present invention to provide a television program guide system that allows users to click on text or still images to view promotional video clips, audio clips, interview segments, and other multimedia material related to a given television program.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an Internet television program guide system. A computer system having a media library and a data server is used to provide multimedia clips and related television program guide data. The multimedia material and program guide data are provided to a web server. The web server provides this information to the user's multimedia system via an Internet communications link.
  • The multimedia system has a processing unit for receiving information from the Internet communications link and processing such information accordingly. The multimedia system also has a video unit for receiving television signals. In a first embodiment, the processing unit is based on a personal computer running a standard web browser with plug-ins. The video unit is based on a television. In a second embodiment, the processing unit and video unit of the multimedia system are provided by an integrated personal computer and television unit. In a third embodiment, the processing unit is in an Internet capable set-top box and the video unit is based on a television.
  • The web server may be located adjacent to the computer system and the program guide data and multimedia material provided to the multimedia system via the Internet. Alternatively, the web server may be located in a cable system headend. When the web server is located in the cable system headend, program guide data and other multimedia material may be provided to the web server via a satellite link. The program guide data and multimedia material are provided to the multimedia system over an Internet communications link.
  • Television program guide data and related multimedia information are preferably provided to the user's multimedia system in the form of one or more web pages. Because such an arrangement allows the use of the widely adopted hypertext transfer protocol (http) and emerging web standards, a user with a personal computer can access information using commonly available web browser software. Because program guide information is distributed over the Internet, the user can access this information at remote locations. For example, the user can access the television program guide service while traveling by car, bus, train, or plane, from a hotel room or business meeting, from a personal computer at work, or in any suitable environment in which there is a link to the Internet. In all arrangements (whether the user is accessing the program guide service from their home or from a remote location), the system benefits from using the established protocols and standards of the Internet.
  • In addition, because the Internet television program guide is provided as a web site having a number of linked web pages, features can be easily added or deleted from the service by the service provider, without directly affecting the hardware and software of the user.
  • Using a web site platform also allows a wide range of service options to be provided. In particular, numerous media formats (animation, full motion video, sound, still images, and text) are supported and may be interconnected using various embedded hypertext transfer protocol links.
  • 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.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a media library and data server interconnected with a web server and various multimedia systems.
  • FIG. 2 is a generalized diagram of a user's multimedia system.
  • FIG. 3 is a system diagram similar to that of FIG. 1 showing an arrangement in which the web server is located in a cable system headend.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram of a home page for an Internet television program guide.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram of a map-based menu for identifying a geographical area of interest.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram of a map-based menu for a smaller geographical region than shown in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 7 is a web page informing the user that no service is available.
  • FIG. 8 is a web page offering alternatives to local service.
  • FIG. 9 is a web page allowing the user to provide information regarding the user's multimedia system to the service provider.
  • FIG. 10 is a web page presenting various program guide options to the user.
  • FIG. 11 is a web page containing information on community events.
  • FIG. 12 is a web page providing the user an opportunity to give feedback to a local cable system operator.
  • FIG. 13 is a web page containing information pertaining to the local cable operator's system.
  • FIG. 14 is a web page containing weather information.
  • FIG. 15 is a web page presenting various program guide options including direct links to related program guide and movie guide television channels.
  • FIG. 16 is a web page containing television program guide listings organized by time.
  • FIG. 17 is a web page presenting a menu of channel selections.
  • FIG. 18 is a web page containing television program guide listings organized by channel.
  • FIG. 19 is a web page containing icons representing category options.
  • FIG. 20 is a web page containing television program guide listings organized by category.
  • FIG. 21 is a search page containing a box for entering search text and various search field options.
  • FIG. 22 is a television program guide listing page based on the results of a search.
  • FIG. 23. is a web page presenting program guide options related to promotional clips, interview segments, and pay-per-view and premium services.
  • FIG. 24 is a web page presenting various image stills that may be selected by the user when it is desired to view related video clips.
  • FIG. 25 is a web page presenting user options regarding pay-per-view and premium services.
  • FIG. 26 is a web page containing television program listings for a selected pay-per-view channel.
  • FIG. 27 is a web page containing television program listings for a selected premium channel.
  • FIG. 28 is a web page providing information regarding upcoming pay-per-view sporting and special events.
  • FIG. 29 is a web page containing still images corresponding to available interview segments.
  • FIG. 30 is a program information web page containing information on a program selected by the user and presenting related options.
  • FIG. 31 is a web page that allows a user to enter information for ordering a pay-per-view event.
  • FIG. 32 is a web page that provides a showcase for advertisers.
  • FIG. 33 is a web page containing detailed advertising information on a selected topic or television program.
  • FIG. 34 is a site map showing the options that are selected and the links that are traversed in navigating among the television program guide web pages of FIGS. 4-33.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • An Internet television program guide system is shown in FIG. 1. Television program information is stored in media library 12 and data server 14. Media library 12 preferably contains an array of compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM) disks, digital video disks (DVDs), or other suitable media for storing multimedia content. Media library 12 contains television program clips and related interviews and reviews. The television program information stored in media library 12 is primarily video-based. Data server 14 maintains various databases of television program information. For example, data server 14 may have a remote media database containing descriptions of videos in media library 12. Data server 14 may also have a database containing information on standard titles, a pay per view database containing information regarding pay-per-view events, and a scheduling information database. Data server 14 may have a cable system operator database containing channel lineups, information on the time zone of the operator, weather data for the operator's region, data on the zip codes in the cable system operator's area, etc. Other databases may be supported by data server 14, as desired. The television program information in data server 14 is primarily in non-video formats.
  • Media library 12 and data server 14 are interconnected with transmission server 16 via internal network 18. Media library 12, data server 14, network 18, and transmission server 16 make up computer system 19. Television program information may be stored on data server 14 in a relational database format and may be stored on transmission server 16 in an object-oriented database format. A building process implemented in the C++ programming language can be used to periodically (e.g., once a day) build a temporary data set of television program information (e.g., a seven-day to one-month data set) for storage on transmission server 16. Transmission server 16 also receives information for the Internet television program guide service such as weather data, sports scores, etc., via data input 17.
  • Television program information and related data may be transferred from transmission server 16 to web server 20 via communications line 22. Communications line 22 may be part of an internal network or may be a standard dedicated communications line. Web server 20 can be connected to the Internet 24 via communications link 26. Communications link 26 is preferably a telephone line or other suitable Internet communications path.
  • If transmission server 16 and web server 20 are separate devices, as shown in FIG. 1, transmission server 16 can be used as a common data processing facility for other applications which use the type of television program data stored on transmission server 16. If desired, the functions of transmission server 16 and web server 20 can be integrated in a signal machine.
  • Web server 20 uses a standard protocols such as the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and hypertext transfer protocol to make the television program information available over the Internet 24 to users at multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32 via communications links 34, 36, and 38. Communications links 34, 36, and 38 are Internet links formed from telephone lines, radio-frequency (RF) links, cable modem links, satellite dish links, combinations of links such as these, or any other suitable Internet connection paths.
  • Multimedia system 28 has personal computer 40 and may have television 42. Certain program guide features require that personal computer 40 be able to control television 42 via link 41, which may be, e.g., an infrared communications link. Link 41 allows personal computer 40 to tune television 42 using control signals. Television 42 receives television signals from input 44. The television signals received by input 44 and the other television signal inputs shown in FIGS. 1-3 may be provided by cable television, satellite television, broadcast television, a combination of such sources, or any other suitable source of television programming signals. Internet access for multimedia system 28 is provided via Internet communications link 34.
  • Multimedia system 30 has an integrated personal computer and television 46, such as the Gateway 2000 Destination® PC-TV hybrid available from Gateway 2000 Inc. of North Sioux City, S. Dak.. Television signals are provided at input 48. Internet access is provided via Internet communications link 36.
  • Multimedia system 32 has an Internet capable set-top box 50. Set-top box 50 may use the TV OnLine® set-top box application software of World Gate Corporation, which may be implemented on set-top boxes such as the CFT-2200® of General Instrument Corporation of Hatboro, Pa. and the 8600×® of Scientific Atlanta of Atlanta, Ga. Set-top box 50 receives television signals via input 52. Internet access is provided via Internet communications link 38. Video display signals containing television and Internet information are provided to television 54 by line 56.
  • During operation of system 10, certain data processing functions, such as user-initiated searches and sorts, are typically performed on web server 20. If desired, such functions can be performed on a suitable data processing component in multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32.
  • Certain television guide functions require only that multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32 contain web browsing capabilities. Other functions require television tuning and video recording capabilities. FIG. 2 shows a generalized multimedia system arrangement that is capable of supporting controlled television tuning and video recording, if desired. As shown in FIG. 2, multimedia system 58 has a processing unit 60, which preferably contains memory for storing instructions and a microprocessor for executing the instructions. Processing unit 60 accesses the Internet via Internet link 62. Video unit 64, which may be connected to processing unit 60 by communications line 66, contains recording unit 68, tuner 70, and monitor 72. Television signals are received at input 74.
  • Tuner 70 is used to select television programs from television signals on input 74 for viewing or recording. Tuner 70 may be controlled under the direction of control signals provided by processing unit 60 over communications link 66. Television signals and Internet information can be viewed using monitor 72. Recording unit 68 allows the user to make videocassette recordings of television programs. Recording unit 68 may also be controlled by control signals from processing unit 60.
  • The operation of processing unit 60 is determined based on the execution of instructions stored in memory in processing unit 60 and on control inputs received from the user via user interface 76. Suitable user interfaces include handheld infrared remote controls, keyboards, pointing devices, and voice recognition devices.
  • Multimedia systems such as multimedia system 58 of FIG. 2 may be used in place of multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32. Alternatively, systems such as systems 28, 30, and 32 may be modified to incorporate features like those shown multimedia system 58. For example, if it were desired to provide a multimedia system with circuitry to handle video recording, video recording units (such as recording unit 68) could be provided in systems such as multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32. In addition, in systems such as system 58, certain components may be used more than once (e.g., tuner 70 may be contained within both a television component and a videocassette recorder component in system 58).
  • Regardless of the specific configuration of the multimedia systems used in system 10, the user of such a multimedia system has the capability to access television program guide information on web server 20. Many of the features of the Internet program guide service are available using multimedia systems with the capabilities of a modern personal computer (desktop or laptop). If it is desired to use certain program guide features that rely upon controlling a tuner or recording unit, the multimedia system should also have the ability to tune to a desired television program from among the various television programs provided at inputs 44, 48, 52, and 74 and have the ability to record that program automatically, under the control of commands from processing unit 60. Additional features may also be implemented on multimedia system 58.
  • Another configuration that may be used for an Internet television program guide system is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, Internet television program guide system has media library 80 and data server 82. Media library 80 contains television program clips, interviews, and reviews. The television program information stored in media library 80 is primarily video. Data server 82 contains databases of television program information. For example, data server 82 may have a database containing descriptions of videos in media library 80. Data server 82 may also have a databases containing information on program titles, pay-per-view events, and television program schedules. Data server 82 may have a cable system operator database containing channel lineups, information on the time zone of the operator, weather data for the operator's region, data on the zip codes in the cable system operator's area, etc. Other databases may also be supported by data server 82. The television program information in data server 82 is mainly in formats other than video.
  • Media library 80 and data server 82 are interconnected with transmission server 84 via internal network 83. Media library 80, data server 82, and internal network 83 make up computer system 87. Television program information may be stored on data server 82 in a relational database format and may be stored on transmission server 84 in an object-oriented database format. A building process implemented in the C++ programming language may be used to periodically (e.g., once a day) build a temporary data set of television program information (e.g., a seven-day to one-month data set) for storage on transmission server 84. Transmission server 84 also receives information for the Internet television program guide service such as weather data, sports scores, etc., via data input 85.
  • A web server 86 is provided in each cable system headend 88. Cable system headend 88 has additional component's (not shown) for distributing cable television signals to customers in the service area surrounding headend 88. Providing web server 86 in a location that is relatively close to users allows television program information to be provided to the users efficiently.
  • Television program information (including video clips and associated television program data) is transmitted from transmission server 84 to each cable system headend 88 via satellite uplink 90 and satellite downlink 92. Each web server 86 uses the Internet TCP/IP protocol to make the television program information available to users at multimedia systems 94, 96, and 98 via respective communications links 100, 102, and 104. Communications links 100, 102, and 104 are Internet links formed from telephone lines, radio-frequency (RF) links, cable modem links, satellite dish downlinks, combinations of links such as these, or any other suitable Internet connection paths. Although illustrated as direct links between multimedia systems 94, 96, and 98 and web server 86, communications links 100, 102, and 104 may be Internet paths that pass through extensive portions of the Internet.
  • Multimedia system 94 has personal computer 106 and may have television 108. Television 108 receives television signals from input 110. Access to web server 86 is provided via Internet communications link 100.
  • Multimedia system 96 has an integrated personal computer and television 112, such as the Gateway 2000 Destination PC-TV hybrid. Television signals are provided at input 114. Access to web server 86 is provided via Internet communications link 102.
  • Multimedia system 98 has an Internet capable set-top box 116, such as the TV OnLine® set-top box. Set-top box 116 receives television signals via input 118. Access to web server 86 is provided via Internet communications link 104. Video display signals containing television and Internet information are provided to television 120 by line 122.
  • The system hardware shown in FIGS. 1-3 for providing television program guide Internet services is illustrative and other suitable hardware arrangements may be used, if desired. Regardless of the particular hardware system that is used, however, the present invention preferably involves providing television program guide services and features to users over the Internet in the form of multiple web pages that use the standard hypertext transfer protocol (http). In the system of FIG. 1, web pages and associated program guide features (such as searching, etc.) are provided using web server 20. In the system of FIG. 3, web pages and associated features are provided using web server 86.
  • Because television program guide services are provided using web pages, the program guide services may be accessed using standard web browsers operating on the appropriate processing unit in the user's multimedia system. For example, in multimedia system 58 of FIG. 2, a web browser may be implemented using processing unit 60. Suitable web browsers include the Internet Explorer® web browser of Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. and the Netscape Navigator® web browser of Netscape Communications Corporation of Mountain View, Calif. Such web browsers support the viewing of various types of multimedia content, such as video stills (JPEG or GIF files) and video and audio clips (AVI, MOV, and MPG files). If desired, certain of these multimedia support functions may be provided as web browser plug-ins (i.e., special software modules designed to enhance the features of a web browser application). A suitable video player plug-in for MOV files is the Quicktime® application of Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. AVI and MPG (or MPEG—Motion Picture Expert Group) files may be played using the ActiveMovie® application of Microsoft Corporation.
  • An illustrative welcome page 124 for the television program guide service of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. (A site map is shown in FIG. 34.) Web browser function keys 126 help the user at multimedia system 58 to navigate through web pages of material such as welcome page 124. Users may also navigate by clicking on an image or an element of highlighted text with cursor 142, which may be controlled by a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball. Other arrangements for selecting links may be used if supported by the user interface 76 that is provided in multimedia system 58. Web browser function keys 126 include back and forward keys that allow the user to navigate backward and forward along a browsing trail. Web browser function keys 126 are not shown in the other FIGS., but are shown in FIG. 4 to illustrate the types of function keys that are available with a standard web browser.
  • Welcome page 124 may contain identifying logos 128 (which may be, for example, United States trademarks). Identifying logos 128 allow a user to quickly associate a service provider, such as the assignee of the present invention, Prevue Networks, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., with the Internet television program guide service. If desired, welcome page 124 can contain summary instructions 130 that inform the user of some of the features available with the service. Other web pages (not shown) may contain links that point to welcome page 124.
  • Advertisements 132 and 134 allow a service provider to generate revenues from parties who wish to advertise products using Internet television program guide system 10 (FIG. 1) or 78 (FIG. 3). Advertisements 132 and 134 may be video stills, may be animated, or may include full-motion video. Audio material can also be associated with advertisements 132 and 134. For example, supplemental audio information can be provided when a user clicks on advertisement 132 or 134. If desired, advertisements 132 and 134 may be linked to web sites provided by the advertising parties. The advertisements 132 and 134 that are displayed may periodically (e.g., once every few seconds) cycle through different advertisements for different advertisers.
  • An important aspect of the Internet television program guide service provided by system 10 (FIG. 1) and system 78 (FIG. 3) relates to on-line television program listings and information on upcoming movies and special events. The user may be presented with a number of choices regarding the type of on-line information that is available. For example, the user may be presented with the opportunity to select between go local option 136, go national option 138, and go satellite option 140. Additional features of the service may be accessed after the user has selected one of these options.
  • If the user desires to select go local option 136, the user may be prompted to enter a zip code for the local area of interest in box 144. If service is available, the program guide system links the user to an appropriate the local system operator's web site based on the zip code information. If desired, the user can select a local area by entering information such as a cable system operator's name, the name of a city, international country and city information, etc. Another way in which the user may select a local service area of interest is using a map-based graphical user interface. As shown in FIG. 5, the user is presented with United States map 146. The user selects a state of interest using cursor 142. If necessary, additional maps containing greater levels of detail are provided, each allowing the user to make further geographical selections. Ultimately, the user is presented with a local map (e.g., a map that allows the user to select from several available cable system operators). In map 148 of FIG. 6, the user can select between three available cable system operator regions: region 1, region 2, and region 3.
  • If no local service is available, the user may be provided with a web page such as no service page 150 of FIG. 7, in which the user is informed that local service is not presently available in the area selected by the user. No service page 150 may provide the user with an opportunity to submit the user's e-mail address, cable provider information, local zip code information, and comments. Information provided by the user can be used by the operator of the television program guide system to solicit participation from non-participating local cable operators.
  • If no local service is available, the user may also be provided with pick again page 152, as shown in FIG. 8. Pick again page 152 provides the user with another opportunity to select go national option 138 or go satellite option 140. In addition, pick again page 152 provides the user with select a city option 154, which is associated with a less restrictive set of program information than go local option 136 (FIG. 4) With select a city option 154, the user may select a desired city using arrow key 156 (or alternatively, could type the name of the city directly into box 158). After entering the desired city, the city information is submitted to the system by clicking on submit button 160. Because select a city option 154 is less localized than go local option 136, choosing select a city option 154 makes it more likely that there will be a set of program listings available for the user.
  • If service is available for the user in either the city selected in city option 154 or the localized geographic area selected in go local option 136, the user is presented with registration page 162, as shown in FIG. 9. Registration page 162 may contain instructions prompting the user to enter an e-mail address and information concerning the user's computer equipment. As with many of the other web pages provided in connection with the Internet television program, guide service of systems 10 (FIG. 1) and 78 (FIG. 3), registration page 162 contains an identifying logo 164 and advertisements 166 and 168.
  • Upon completing registration page 162, the usher is presented with local cable site page 170 of FIG. 10, which is customized to reflect the local geographic area or city selected by the user. Local cable site page 170 may contain a welcome message 172 that is customized to reflect the name of the local cable system operator.
  • A number of options 174 may be presented as hypertext links to associated web pages. An image 175 is displayed that changes as the user places cursor 142 on top of each option 174. For example, the image 175 of FIG. 10 is presented when the user positions cursor 142 over program guide option 190. Different images are displayed as cursor 142 passes over each option 174. The images 175 to be displayed are stored as bitmap images in processing unit 60 of multimedia system 58 (FIG. 2). This technique of presenting context-sensitive images to illustrate the current position of the cursor over hypertext link options is preferably used throughout the Internet television program guide service.
  • Various web pages may be displayed depending on which option 174 is selected by the user. For example, selecting community events option 176 presents the user with community events page 178 (FIG. 11), which contains information on local upcoming community events. If desired, the listed community events may be specific to the type of service to which the user subscribes (e.g., cable or satellite).
  • Selecting cable feedback option 180 presents the user with cable feedback page 182 (FIG. 12), which allows the user to submit an e-mail address and comments to the local cable system operator.
  • Selecting cable operator option 184 takes the user to cable operator page 186 (FIG. 13), which contains information related to the local cable system. For example, by clicking on icon 187, the user may be provided with a weekly report prepared by the cable system operator.
  • If the user wishes to customize the program guide service, the user may click on customize option 185 (FIG. 10). Selecting customize option 185 presents the user with a customization web page containing guide features that the user can customize, such as channel line-ups and genre-specific display colors (e.g., pink for sports program listings and orange for movie program listings). The customization web page may also contain user-selectable options that control how the user receives reminder messages when a desired program is about to start on the user's television. The user can direct the system to provide a pop-up reminder on the television screen, to send the user an e-mail reminder, or to remind the user via a predetermined paging number, etc. Customize option 185 may be provided in any suitable portion of the program guide service, such as on a program guide listings page (FIG. 16).
  • Another option 174 that is available on local cable site page 170 (FIG. 10) is local weather option 186. Selecting local weather option 186 takes the user to local weather page 188 (FIG. 14). If desired, a map-based menu (such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) or other user input arrangement can be used to provide the user with the opportunity to select additional cities for which weather information is desired.
  • Program guide option 190 allows the user to access television-program listings that can be organized by time, channel, and category and can be searched. Selecting program guide option 190 takes the user to program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15). Movie guide option 192 allows the user to access channel listings for premium and pay-per-view channels, interviews, and various promotional media. Selecting movie guide option 192 takes the user to movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23).
  • The user may reach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) from go national option 138 (FIGS. 4 and 8) or go satellite option 140 (FIGS. 4 and 8). If the user selected go local option 136 (FIG. 4) and successfully completed registration page 162 (FIG. 9), the user may reach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) by selecting program guide option 190 on local cable site page 170 (FIG. 10). The user may also reach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) via select a city option 154. Each of these paths to program guide menu page 194 requires that slightly different user selections be made.
  • Go local option 136 (FIG. 4) requires that a user specify a particular, local region (or cable system operator) of interest to reach local cable site page 170 (FIG. 10). To reach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) from local cable site page 170, the user selects program guide option 190.
  • Go national option 138 (FIGS. 4 and 8) requires that a user select a desired time zone (e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific). To reach program guide menu page 194 from welcome page 124 (FIG. 4) or pick again page 152 (FIG. 8), the user selects program guide option 284.
  • Go satellite option 140 (FIGS. 4 and 8) requires that the user select a desired satellite provider 286. To reach program guide menu page 194 from welcome page 124 (FIG. 4) or pick again page 152 (FIG. 8), the user selects program guide option 288.
  • Select a city option 154 (FIG. 8) requires that the user enter information specifying a particular city. When the user submits the city information by clicking on submit button 160, the user is taken to registration page 162 (FIG. 9). The user reaches program guide menu page 194 from local cable site page, 170 (FIG. 10) after completing the form on registration page 162.
  • Regardless of which option is used to reach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15), information is preferably retained by the system 10 or 78 that indicates which selections have been made by the user. Retaining this information allows subsequently displayed program listings and other information to be automatically customized to reflect the user's selections.
  • As shown in FIG. 15, program guide menu page 194 may be constructed from two smaller web pages: top web page 198 and a bottom web page 200. Top web page 198 contains graphics and text-based options 202 that are common to many different system operators. Bottom web page 200 may contain system specific promotional materials, such as pay-per-view video promotion 204. Dividing program guide menu page 194 in this way allows system resources to be used more efficiently than would otherwise be possible, because the common material in top web page 198 can be used for more than one local cable system.
  • If desired, television channel options 206 and 208 may be provided that allow the user to easily access related television channel program services. When the user selects options 206 or 208, processing unit 60 (FIG. 2) sends control commands to video unit 68 that direct tuner 70 of video unit 64 to tune to a television channel on which the desired program service is being broadcast.
  • For example, if the user wishes to tune video unit 64 to the Prevue® channel, the user may click on program guide television channel option 206. When program guide television channel option 206 is selected, processing unit 60 directs video unit 64 to select the appropriate television signal from television signal input 74 so that the Prevue® channel is displayed on monitor 72. The Prevue® channel is an example of a type of program guide service that displays a scrolling list of television program titles with a concurrent display of promotional videos and advertisements.
  • If the user wishes to tune video unit 64 to the Sneak Prevue® channel, the user may click on movie guide television channel option 208. When movie guide television channel option 208 is selected, processing unit 60 directs video unit 64 to select the appropriate television signal from television signal input 74 so that the Sneak Prevue® channel is displayed on monitor 72. The Sneak Prevue® channel is an example of a type of movie guide service that displays promotional videos of upcoming pay-per-view events and premium channel offerings.
  • Television channel options 206 and 208 allow user to jump directly from an Internet-based television program guide service to related program guides services provided on conventional television channels. Facilitating this type of direct link is beneficial for the user, because it allows the user to avoid the cumbersome steps of leaving the Internet-based service and manually tuning video unit 64 to the appropriate channel while attempting to remember the correct channel number of the desired television service.
  • Options 202 allow the user to choose how to display various program listings for the user's preselected region of interest (national, satellite, or local). Typical options 202 include by time option 210, by channel option 212, by category option 214, and search option 216.
  • If by time option 210 is selected, the user is presented with by time page 218, as shown in FIG. 16. By time page 218 contains program listings 220 that are organized in channel order from top to bottom and by broadcast time from left to right. In by time page 218, the programs in program listings 220 may be listed beginning with programs that are currently being broadcast. For example, if the current time is between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, program listings 220 may begin with programs that start at 1:30 PM. Alternatively, the programs in program listings 220 may be listed based on a predetermined time slot (e.g., morning, afternoon, or prime time). If desired, the closest time slot to the current time may be displayed. Program listings 220 typically contain information for about two hours of programing.
  • Cursors 222 and 224 are used to navigate to earlier or later time periods, respectively. Web browser cursors 226 and 228 allow the user to scroll through the program listings. The user may also navigate the program listings with time navigation buttons 230. For example, if the user would like to view program listings that begin in the morning, the user clicks on the morning navigation button 230. If the user would like to view program listings for programs currently being broadcast, the user may click on the current navigation button 230. Program listings for different days in the month may be viewed by selecting the appropriate day from calendar buttons 232.
  • The user can chose between various available view options by selecting the appropriate time, channel, category, or search button from among view buttons 234. View buttons 234 take the user to the same web pages that are presented when the corresponding options 202 of FIG. 15 are selected. For example, by channel option 212 and channel view button 234 are both linked to by channel page 242 (FIG. 17).
  • Another component of by time page 218 and various other web pages provided by the present system is program information box 236. The contents of program information box 236 changes dynamically, depending on which program title in program listings 220 is selected. For example, the user has clicked on the entry “Primal Fear” in program listings 220 of FIG. 16. As a result, the contents of program information box 236 reflect this selection. Program information box 236 typically contains the program title (e.g., Primal Fear), the running time of the program (e.g., 2:09), a brief description of the program (e.g., A hot shot . . . ), and a description of, the program type or genre (e.g., drama movie). The program description may contain information on the actors in the program, the director, etc. Program information box 236 typically provides a rating of the program, such as a star rating (e.g., three stars) or the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating for movies or the television rating for television programs. If the user desires to view additional information relating to the selected program, the user may click on closer look icon 238 (or alternatively, on any portion of box 236), which takes the user to program information page 240 (FIG. 30).
  • If desired, when programs are selected by a user that are currently being broadcast, direct tune button 231 may be displayed. When direct tune button 231 is clicked on by the user, processing unit 60 directs video unit 64 to select the appropriate television signal from television signal input 74 to display the selected program on monitor 72.
  • By channel page 242 of FIG. 17 is presented when the user selects by channel option 212 from program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) or when the user clicks on a channel view button, such as channel view button 234 of by time page 218 (FIG. 16). By channel page 242 contains channel list 244. Channel list 244 may be arranged in channel number order and may contain aviated icons 246 for certain channels. A user can click on each individual channel 248 in channel list 244 to obtain a list of program information based on the selected channel. A user can also click on a graphic or text link to a listed network's web site to be hyperlinked to that site.
  • When a channel 248 is selected, the user is presented with channel program list page 250, as shown in FIG. 18. The selected channel in the example of FIG. 18 is channel 2. In channel program list page 250, program listings 252 for the selected channel may be arranged in time order, beginning with the current time. If programs in program listings 252 extend into the next day, the programs may be separated by date separation bar 254. Title bar 256 contains information identifying the currently selected channel.
  • By category page 258 of FIG. 19 is presented when the user selects by category option 214 from program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) or when the user clicks on a category view button, such as category view button 234 of by time page 218 (FIG. 16). By category page 258 contains category list 260, which may be presented in the form of category icons 262. A user an click an individual category icon 262 in category list 260 to obtain a list of program information based on the selected category.
  • When a category is selected, the user is presented with category program list page 264, as shown in FIG. 20. In category program list page 264, program listings 266 may be arranged in time and channel order, beginning with the current time and date. Program listings 266 contain the channel information for each program adjacent to the program title. If a user wishes to view program information for a given channel, the user may click on one of the displayed channels. The user is then presented with a program list that is restricted to programs appearing on the selected channel.
  • If desired, the program list that is displayed in category program list page 264 may be limited to programs appearing in the next 24 hour period. The user may view information for later days by clicking on the appropriate day in calendar buttons 270.
  • Search page 272 of FIG. 21 is presented when the user selects search option 216 from program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) or when the user clicks on a search view button, such as search view button 234 in by time page 218 (FIG. 16). Search field options 274 allow the user to select a search field, such as title, actor, category, description, rating. A search text string is entered in search text box 276.
  • After search text has been entered in search text box 276 and one of search field options 274 has been selected, the requested search is performed (e.g., by web server 20 (FIG. 1) or web server 86 (FIG. 3)) and the user is provided with search results page 278 of FIG. 22. Search results page 278 contains program listings 280 that, satisfy the search criteria specified using search page 272 (FIG. 21). For example, the program listings 280 in FIG. 22 resulted from a search for the text string “Gibson” in the actor search field, as shown by search criteria bar 282.
  • The user may reach movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23) from go national option 138 (FIGS. 4 and 8) or go satellite option 140 (FIGS. 4 and 8). If the user selects go local option 136 (FIG. 4) and successfully completes registration page 162 (FIG. 9), the user may reach movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23) by selecting movie guide option 192 on local cable site page 170 (FIG. 10). Each of these paths to movie guide menu page 196 requires that slightly different user selections be made.
  • Go local option 136 (FIG. 4) requires that a user specify a particular local region (or cable system operator) of interest to reach local cable site page 170 (FIG. 10). To reach movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23) from local cable site page 170, the user selects movie guide option 192.
  • Go national option 138 (FIGS. 4 and 8) requires that a user select a desired time zone (e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific). To reach movie guide menu page 196 from welcome page 124 (FIG. 4), or pick again page 152 (FIG. 8), the user selects movie guide option 290.
  • Go satellite option 140 (FIGS. 4 and 8) requires that the user select a desired satellite provider 286. To reach movie guide menu page 196 from welcome page 124 (FIG. 4) or pick again page 152 (FIG. 8), the user selects movie guide option 292.
  • Regardless of which option is used to reach movie guide menu page 196, information is preferably retained by the system 10 or 78 that indicates which selections have been made by the user. Retaining this information allows subsequently displayed program listings and other information to be automatically customized to reflect the user's selections.
  • As shown in FIG. 23, movie guide menu page 196 contains hot picks option 294, movie cruiser opt ion 296, main event option 298, and interview option 300. When the user selects one of these options by clicking on the associated icon, the user is presented with a corresponding web page for that feature.
  • If the user selects hot picks option 294, the user is provided with hot picks page 302, as shown in FIG. 24. Hot picks page 302 contains images 304, 306, 308, and 310 of popular programs for which promotional materials are available. Images 304 and 308 typically contain program titles. Images 306 and 310 typically contain actor stills. The programs for which images 304, 306, 308, and 310 are displayed may be automatically selected in accordance with their upcoming frequency on the pay-per-view services. The upcoming frequency may be calculated based on the number of expected occurrences of a given program in a predetermined period of time (e.g., seven days). The predetermined period may be commenced starting with the current date and time, thereby allowing for a seamless crossing of the monthly barrier. The information used to determine which program images are displayed is preferably customized based on the selections (local, national, satellite, etc.) previously made by the user.
  • When the user clicks on one of images 304, 306, 308, or 310, the user is taken to program information page 240 (FIG. 30), which allows the user to obtain additional information, such as video clips and interview segments on the selected program. When a user clicks on pay-per-view link 312 or pay-per-view link 314, the user is taken to pay-per view page 316 (FIG. 26), which provides the user with pay-per-view program listings for the selected program.
  • When the user selects movie cruiser option 296, the user is presented with movie cruiser page 318, as shown in FIG. 25. Movie cruiser page 318 lists the pay-per-view and premium channels that are available to the user (based on previous selections). In particular, movie cruiser page 318 contains pay-per-view channel options 320 and premium channel options 322.
  • If the user selects one of pay-per-view options 320, the user is taken to pay-per-view page 316, as shown in FIG. 26. Pay-per-view page 316 contains program listings 324 for pay-per-view events. Multiple pay-per-view programs may be simultaneously listed in a grid format or may be listed as shown in FIG. 26 for a selected pay-per-view channel (i.e., channel 35). As with several other pages, page 316 contains program information box 325, which contains program information when a program from program listings 324 has been selected by the user. Clicking on box 325 (or a closer look icon in box 325) takes the user to program information page 240 (FIG. 30).
  • If the user selects one of premium channel options 322 on page 318 (FIG. 25), the user is taken to premium services page 326, as shown in FIG. 27. Premium services page 326 contains program listings 328 for premium events. Multiple premium service programs may be simultaneously listed in a grid format or a single program may be listed as shown in FIG. 27 for a selected premium service (i.e., the Disney® channel). Program information box 330 provides program information for a program that has been selected by the user. In the example of FIG. 27, the user has clicked on “Pete's Dragon.” Clicking on program information box 330 (or a closer look icon in box 330) takes the user to program information page 240 (FIG. 30), where the user can view additional information on the selected program (i.e., information on the movie Pete's Dragon).
  • When the user selects main event option 298 from movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23), the user is presented with main event page 332, as shown in FIG. 28. Main event page 332 lists premium or pay-per-view sports events and other special events. By clicking on an, event (e.g., event 334), the user may be presented with an associated program information page (such as page 240 of FIG. 30), provided that additional information on the event is available. Alternatively, the user may be directly presented with pay-per-view order page 3.36 (FIG. 31).
  • When the user selects interview option 300 from movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23), the user is presented with interview page 338, as shown in FIG. 29. Interview page 338 contains still images 340 of various subjects. As with other pages in the Internet program guide service, the subjects presented on interview page 338 are customized to reflect the user's selected type of service (e.g., the user's selection of a particular cable system operator or the user's selection of national service or a particular satellite service). Accordingly, images 340 relate to interviews for the movies and other programs currently available to the user. The determination of which interview images 340 are to be made available on interview page 338 may be based on a calculation of the most frequently scheduled upcoming programs in a predetermined time period (e.g., in the upcoming week). If desired, interviews corresponding to programs not currently available to the user may also be provided. The user may select a given interview by clicking on one of images 340. The user is then taken to program information page 240 (FIG. 30).
  • As shown in FIG. 30, program information page 240 contains detailed information on a selected program (e.g., the movie Birdcage). Program information page 240 preferably contains image 342, which may initially be presented as a still image of the program title (e.g., from a JPEG or GIF file). When a user clicks on image 342, an associated video clip, is presented. Program information page 240 also contains title 344, actor information 346, and program description 348. Additional information may include content information 350 and genre information 352. If desired, information may be provided on the director, year of release, and other relevant items. Additional actor information may be supplied (e.g., in the form of biographical information and related video clips accessed by clicking on actors 346).
  • Interview icon 354, commentary icon 356, and promotional clip icon 358 represent available services. The user can view video clips of interviews on the selected program (i.e., the movie Birdcage) by clicking on the appropriate file-type option associated with a given service. For example, file options 360, 362, and 364 are associated with an interview service (represented by interview icon 354). Clicking on file option 360 allows the user to view interview video clips using a protocol appropriate for an MOV file (e.g., using the QuickTime application). Clicking on file option 362 or 364 allows the user to view interview video clip using a protocol appropriate for an AVI or MPG (MPEG) file (e.g., using the ActiveMovie application). Commentary icon 356 and promotional clip icon 358 have associated file options (e.g., MOV, AVI, and MPG options) that allow the user to view commentary or promotional video clips for the selected program.
  • Program information page 240 contains information tied to the program selected by the user on previous pages. The user may reach program information page 240 by various paths. For example, the user may select a program from program listings 220 in by time page 218 (FIG. 16) by clicking on the desired program title. The user may also select a pay-per-view or premium program from pay-per-view page 316 (FIG. 26) or premium services page 326 (FIG. 27) by clicking on the appropriate listing. When the user reaches program information page 240, program information is provided for the selected program. Icons and other indicators are used to identify which services are available for the selected program. For example, if no commentary video clips are available for a given program, then the file options below commentary icon 356 may be omitted. Similarly, if no video still is available for a movie, image 342 can be omitted.
  • Program information page 240 contains program listings 366, which provide program title, channel, and time and date information for the selected program. In the example shown in FIG. 30, the movie Birdcage is appearing on channel 35 (a pay-per-view channel) on three days in the next weekly period. When the user clicks on a pay-per-view entry in program listings 366, the user is taken to order page 336 (FIG. 31).
  • As shown in FIG. 31, order page 336 contains instructions 368 on how to order a pay-per-view event order page 336 also contains telephone number query box 370 and personal identification number box 372. The user may place an order for a pay-per-view event by clicking on place order button 374. Information entered by the user into boxes 370 and 372 is used to verify the user's identity and account status. Once the user's information has been verified, the selected pay-per-view event may be delivered to the user's multimedia system.
  • The way in which pay-per-view event orders are processed depends on the particular hardware used to deliver services to the user. Order and account verification information is generally electronically submitted to the headend cable system operator or a third party order fulfillment processor linked to the headend system. Equipment in the headend processes the order automatically and arranges for the delivery of the pay-per-view event to the user. Typically, the headend equipment directs equipment (such as a set-top box or similar integrated component) in the user's multimedia system to display the ordered event.
  • In system 78 of FIG. 3, web server 86 at cable system headend 88 may be used to receive and process pay-per-view orders submitted using order page 336. After processing the order, web server 86 can direct conventional pay-per-view equipment at headend 88 to authorize the display of the ordered pay-per-view event using set-top box 116.
  • Similar techniques for delivering pay-per-view events may be used with other hardware arrangements such as those shown in FIGS. 1-3. If desired, after web server 86 has processed the user's pay-per-view order, web server 86 can communicate authorization information to processing unit 60 (FIG. 2) in the user's multimedia system 58 (FIG. 2) Processing unit 60 (FIG. 23 can direct video unit 64 (FIG. 2) to decode and display the pay-per view event from among the received television signals 74 (FIG. 2) based on the authorization information.
  • Order page 336 can be provided with user-selectable options for recording programs and for reminding the user when selected programs are about to be broadcast. For example, order page 336 may contain a clickable record button. Selecting the record option by clicking on the record button directs multimedia system 58 (FIG. 2) to record the selected program (by controlling recording unit 68 of video unit 64 with processing unit 60) when the selected program is being aired. Similarly, order page 336 may contain a clickable reminder button. Selecting the reminder option by clicking on this button directs multimedia system 58 to remind the user of the upcoming selected program (e.g., 10 minutes before the scheduled broadcast time) by automatically tuning to the desired channel, by displaying a reminder message, or by issuing an audible reminder. Reminder messages may also be generated by web server 20 or 86 and transmitted to multimedia system 58 by e-mail.
  • If desired, these selectable recording and reminder features can be incorporated into other pages, such as program information page 240, one of the pages containing television program listings, or a page presented to the user after clicking on place order button 374.
  • When a user clicks on an advertisement (typically an image) in one of the web pages associated with the program guide service, the user may be taken directly to a more detailed advertisement page. Alternatively, the user may be taken to advertiser showcase page 376, as shown in FIG. 32. Advertiser showcase page 376 contains clickable images, such as images 378, 380, and 382, which are linked to more detailed advertising pages. Advertiser showcase page 376 also may contain a advertiser logo image, such as image 390. Text bar 392 contains clickable text fields that duplicate the selections available by clicking on images.
  • The advertiser logo image in advertiser showcase page 376 may be linked to the web site of the advertiser. For example, image 390 may be linked to a web site for UPN, so that if the user clicks on image 390, the user will be taken to the UPN web site.
  • If the user clicks on an image such as images 378, 380, or 382 in advertiser showcase page 376, the user is presented with advertisement page 394, as shown in FIG. 33. Advertisement page 394 contains detailed inrirmation related to the subject matter of the image that was selected from advertiser showcase page 376 (FIG. 32). In the example of FIG. 33, additional information is provided on the program “The Sentinel, ! because this program was selected in advertising showcase page 376 by clicking on image 382. If desired, advertisement page 394 can contain appropriate links to further advertisement pages or to the advertiser's home page.
  • FIG. 34 is a site map of the television program guide service. The service can be accessed from service provider home page 396. Selecting the television program guide service from home page 396 takes the user to welcome page 124. If the user selects the go local option and no service is available, no service page 150 and pick again page 152 are presented. If the user selects the go local option and service is available, the user is taken to registration page 162. If maps 146 (FIG. 5) and 148 (FIG. 6) are used to define the local area of interest, the maps may be provided in path 398 between welcome page 124 and registration page 162.
  • Selecting an advertisement by clicking on its image may typically be done on any page containing an advertisement. In the example of FIG. 34, selecting an advertisement on registration page 162 takes the user to advertiser showcase page 376. Selecting an image on advertiser showcase page 376 takes the user to advertisement page 394. Completing the registration form on registration page 162 allows the user to proceed to local cable site page 170. From local cable site page 170, the user can view community events page 178 by selecting the community events option. By selecting the cable feedback option, the cable operator option, or the local weather option, the user can access cable feedback page 182, cable operator page 186, or local weather page 188.
  • If the user selects the go national option on welcome page 124, the user is taken to program guide menu page 194 or movie guide menu page 196, depending on whether the user selected the program guide or movie guide option. Similarly, if the user selects the go satellite option on welcome page 124, the user is taken to program guide menu page 194 or movie guide menu page 196, depending on whether the user selected the program guide or movie guide option. The user can also reach program guide menu page 194 or movie guide menu page 196 from pick again page 152 or local cable site page 170. If the user reaches program guide menu page 194 from either pick again page 152 or local cable site page 170, the local area of interest to the user is retained by the system, so that subsequently displayed program guide listings can be customized to the user's local area.
  • When the user is at program guide menu page 194, selecting the program guide channel option tunes the system directly to program guide television channel 400. Similarly, selecting the movie guide channel option tunes the system to movie guide television channel 402. Selecting the time option from program guide menu page 194 takes the user to by time page 218. If a program is selected that is currently being broadcast and is therefore available for the user to view, a direct tune option may be displayed on by time page 218 or any page containing program listings. Selecting the direct tune option tunes the user's television unit directly to selected television channel 404.
  • Selecting the channel option from program guide menu page 194 takes the user to by channel page 242. When the user selects a desired channel, channel program list page 250 is displayed. Selecting the category option from program guide menu page 194 takes the user to by category page 258. When the user selects a desired category, category program list page 264 is displayed.
  • When the user at program guide menu page 194 selects the search option, search page 272 is presented. Search page 272 allows the user to enter search terms and to initiate a search of a program database. After the search is performed, search results page 278 is displayed.
  • Selecting the movie guide option from welcome page 124, pick again page 152, or local cable site page 170 presents the user with movie guide menu page 196. If the user selects the interview option, the user is presented with interview page 338. When the user selects an interview from interview page 338, the user is taken to program information page 240 to view the interview. If the user selects the hot picks option from movie guide menu page 196, the user is presented with hot picks page 302. When the user selects a hot pick from the displayed images on hot picks page 302, the user is taken to program information page 240 to view a promotional video clip for the hot pick. If the user selects the main event option from movie guide menu page 196, the user is presented with main event page 332. When the user selects a given event from main events page 332, the user is taken to program information page 240 to view information on that event. Alternatively, the user may be taken to order page 316 to place an order for the event.
  • Selecting the movie cruiser option from movie guide menu page 196 presents the user with movie cruiser page 318. The user can view pay-per-view page 316 by selecting the pay-per-view option. The user can view premium services page 326 by selecting the premium option. Programs may be selected by the user from either pay-per-view page 316 or premium services page 326. In either case, the user is taken to program information page 240 to view additional information on the selected program.
  • Program information page 240 allows the user to view multimedia material on a given program, interview, event, etc. The content of program, information page 240 depends on the path taken to reach program information page 240 and the options selected by the user. Program information page 240 contains options that allow the user to select a program to view. When the user makes such a program selection, the user is presented with order page 336.
  • The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (21)

1-80. (canceled)
81. A method for searching for a listing in an interactive television program guide, the method comprising:
receiving a search text string;
receiving a selection of a search field from a plurality of available search fields;
searching for at least one listing among a plurality of program listings, wherein the at least one listing comprises the search text string in a field of the listing corresponding to the selected search field; and
displaying an interactive television program guide display screen that includes the at least one listing.
82. The method of claim 81 wherein the searching for the at least one listing comprises searching for a program listing.
83. The method of claim 81 wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by title.
84. The method of claim 81 wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by actor.
85. The method of claim 81 wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by category.
86. The method of claim 81 wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by description.
87. The method of claim 81 wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by rating.
88. The method of claim 81 wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by genre.
89. The method of claim 81 wherein the searching for the at least one listing comprises searching for a channel.
90. The method of claim 81 further comprising sorting the at least one listing according to user-specified criteria.
91. A system for searching for a listing in an interactive television program guide, the system comprising:
a user input device that receives input corresponding to a search text string and receives input corresponding to a selection of a search field from a plurality of available search fields;
a processor that receives the search text string and the selection of the search field and searches for at least one listing among a plurality of program listings, wherein the at least one listing comprises the search text string in a field of the listing corresponding to the selected search field; and
a user viewing device that displays an interactive television program guide display screen that includes the at least one listing.
92. The system of claim 91 wherein the at least one listing comprises a program listing.
93. The system of claim 91 wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by title.
94. The system of claim 91 wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by actor.
95. The system of claim 91 wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by category.
96. The system of claim 91 wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by description.
97. The system of claim 91 wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by rating.
98. The system of claim 91 wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by genre.
99. The system of claim 91 wherein the at least one listing comprises a channel.
100. The system of claim 91 wherein the processor sorts the at least one listing according to user-specified criteria.
US11/187,086 1996-12-10 2005-07-22 Internet television program guide system Abandoned US20060015906A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/187,086 US20060015906A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2005-07-22 Internet television program guide system
US12/111,488 US20080201740A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2008-04-29 Internet television program guide system
US13/539,805 US20120272270A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2012-07-02 Internet television program guide system

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3253996P 1996-12-10 1996-12-10
US93802897A 1997-09-18 1997-09-18
US56020700A 2000-04-27 2000-04-27
US10/287,640 US20030066085A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2002-11-01 Internet television program guide system
US10/735,093 US20040128686A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2003-12-12 Internet television program guide system
US11/115,099 US20050278768A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2005-04-26 Internet television program guide system
US11/187,086 US20060015906A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2005-07-22 Internet television program guide system

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/115,099 Continuation US20050278768A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2005-04-26 Internet television program guide system

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/111,488 Division US20080201740A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2008-04-29 Internet television program guide system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060015906A1 true US20060015906A1 (en) 2006-01-19

Family

ID=46281467

Family Applications (10)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/287,640 Abandoned US20030066085A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2002-11-01 Internet television program guide system
US10/735,093 Abandoned US20040128686A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2003-12-12 Internet television program guide system
US11/115,099 Abandoned US20050278768A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2005-04-26 Internet television program guide system
US11/187,086 Abandoned US20060015906A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2005-07-22 Internet television program guide system
US11/486,948 Abandoned US20060253869A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2006-07-13 Internet television program guide system
US11/894,621 Abandoned US20080276283A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2007-08-20 Internet television program guide system
US12/111,488 Abandoned US20080201740A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2008-04-29 Internet television program guide system
US12/771,786 Expired - Fee Related US9003451B2 (en) 1996-12-10 2010-04-30 Internet television program guide system
US13/086,026 Abandoned US20110191808A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2011-04-13 Internet television program guide system
US13/539,805 Abandoned US20120272270A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2012-07-02 Internet television program guide system

Family Applications Before (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/287,640 Abandoned US20030066085A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2002-11-01 Internet television program guide system
US10/735,093 Abandoned US20040128686A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2003-12-12 Internet television program guide system
US11/115,099 Abandoned US20050278768A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2005-04-26 Internet television program guide system

Family Applications After (6)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/486,948 Abandoned US20060253869A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2006-07-13 Internet television program guide system
US11/894,621 Abandoned US20080276283A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2007-08-20 Internet television program guide system
US12/111,488 Abandoned US20080201740A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2008-04-29 Internet television program guide system
US12/771,786 Expired - Fee Related US9003451B2 (en) 1996-12-10 2010-04-30 Internet television program guide system
US13/086,026 Abandoned US20110191808A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2011-04-13 Internet television program guide system
US13/539,805 Abandoned US20120272270A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2012-07-02 Internet television program guide system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (10) US20030066085A1 (en)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020048275A1 (en) * 1997-12-16 2002-04-25 Antonio Atwater Method and apparatus for receiving full-motion digital video multi-casts, interactive data and interactive voice via a DSL circuit
US20020088006A1 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-07-04 Natsuko Yotsumoto Information processing method and apparatus and recording medium
US20030079231A1 (en) * 1997-03-18 2003-04-24 Sony Corporation Reception method, reception device, transmission method, transmission device, transmission/reception method, transmission/reception device
US20060101503A1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-05-11 Veveo.Tv, Inc. Method and system for performing searches for television content using reduced text input
US20060101504A1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-05-11 Veveo.Tv, Inc. Method and system for performing searches for television content and channels using a non-intrusive television interface and with reduced text input
US20070169144A1 (en) * 2006-01-19 2007-07-19 Sbc Knowledge Ventures L.P. System and method for providing content over a television network
US20070214103A1 (en) * 2006-03-10 2007-09-13 Sbc Knowledge Ventures L.P. System and method for providing content over a communications network
US20070219984A1 (en) * 2006-03-06 2007-09-20 Murali Aravamudan Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on a comparison of preference signatures from multiple users
US20070244902A1 (en) * 2006-04-17 2007-10-18 Microsoft Corporation Internet search-based television
US20070255693A1 (en) * 2006-03-30 2007-11-01 Veveo, Inc. User interface method and system for incrementally searching and selecting content items and for presenting advertising in response to search activities
US20070266406A1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2007-11-15 Murali Aravamudan Method and system for performing actions using a non-intrusive television with reduced text input
US20080114743A1 (en) * 2006-03-30 2008-05-15 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query
US20080313564A1 (en) * 2007-05-25 2008-12-18 Veveo, Inc. System and method for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search
US20100153380A1 (en) * 2005-11-23 2010-06-17 Veveo, Inc. System And Method For Finding Desired Results By Incremental Search Using An Ambiguous Keypad With The Input Containing Orthographic And/Or Typographic Errors
US20100333137A1 (en) * 2009-06-30 2010-12-30 Gemstar Development Corporation Methods and systems for content scheduling across multiple devices
US7899806B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2011-03-01 Veveo, Inc. User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content
US7917927B1 (en) * 1998-12-28 2011-03-29 Thomson Licensing Method for selecting a program displayed in an advertisement in an application software program
US20110191331A1 (en) * 2010-02-04 2011-08-04 Veveo, Inc. Method of and System for Enhanced Local-Device Content Discovery
US8078884B2 (en) 2006-11-13 2011-12-13 Veveo, Inc. Method of and system for selecting and presenting content based on user identification
US8799804B2 (en) 2006-10-06 2014-08-05 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for a linear character selection display interface for ambiguous text input
US9177081B2 (en) 2005-08-26 2015-11-03 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for processing ambiguous, multi-term search queries
WO2023049135A1 (en) * 2021-09-21 2023-03-30 Gearhart Elizabeth Video directory method

Families Citing this family (295)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8352400B2 (en) 1991-12-23 2013-01-08 Hoffberg Steven M Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-factored interface therefore
US9286294B2 (en) 1992-12-09 2016-03-15 Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc Video and digital multimedia aggregator content suggestion engine
US7134131B1 (en) * 1992-12-09 2006-11-07 Sedna Patent Services, Llc Digital broadcast program billing
US7168084B1 (en) 1992-12-09 2007-01-23 Sedna Patent Services, Llc Method and apparatus for targeting virtual objects
US6769128B1 (en) 1995-06-07 2004-07-27 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access
US6388714B1 (en) 1995-10-02 2002-05-14 Starsight Telecast Inc Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
US6323911B1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2001-11-27 Starsight Telecast, Inc. System and method for using television schedule information
US8850477B2 (en) * 1995-10-02 2014-09-30 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
CN1202658C (en) 1996-03-15 2005-05-18 E盖德公司 Combination of VCR index and EPG
US6469753B1 (en) 1996-05-03 2002-10-22 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Information system
AU4175797A (en) * 1996-09-03 1998-03-26 Starsight Telecast Incorporated Schedule system with enhanced recording capability
US20030066085A1 (en) 1996-12-10 2003-04-03 United Video Properties, Inc., A Corporation Of Delaware Internet television program guide system
US6687906B1 (en) 1996-12-19 2004-02-03 Index Systems, Inc. EPG with advertising inserts
US6256785B1 (en) * 1996-12-23 2001-07-03 Corporate Media Patners Method and system for providing interactive look-and-feel in a digital broadcast via an X-Y protocol
WO1998038831A1 (en) 1997-02-28 1998-09-03 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Television control interface with electronic guide
ES2475242T3 (en) * 1997-07-21 2014-07-10 Gemstar Development Corporation Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interfaces
EP1519573B1 (en) * 1997-08-21 2009-12-02 Sony Corporation Information transmitting method and television broadcasting receiving apparatus
DE69805420T2 (en) 1997-09-18 2003-01-30 United Video Properties Inc REMINDER FOR INTERNET TELEVISION GUIDE BY ELECTRONIC MAIL
US6604240B2 (en) * 1997-10-06 2003-08-05 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television program guide system with operator showcase
US6460181B1 (en) 1997-12-29 2002-10-01 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Channels and services display
US20020112029A1 (en) * 1998-03-06 2002-08-15 Craig S. Gravina System and method for accepting and integrating entertainment information from entertainment information producers
US6792616B1 (en) * 1998-05-01 2004-09-14 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. System and method for providing a plurality of programming services in a television system
US7603684B1 (en) 1998-05-19 2009-10-13 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide system with video-on-demand browsing
US20020056098A1 (en) * 1998-06-29 2002-05-09 Christopher M. White Web browser system for displaying recently viewed television channels
CN1867068A (en) 1998-07-14 2006-11-22 联合视频制品公司 Client-server based interactive television program guide system with remote server recording
AR020608A1 (en) 1998-07-17 2002-05-22 United Video Properties Inc A METHOD AND A PROVISION TO SUPPLY A USER REMOTE ACCESS TO AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING GUIDE BY A REMOTE ACCESS LINK
CN101540883B (en) * 1998-07-17 2011-11-16 联合视频制品公司 Interactive television program guide system with remote access
US9924234B2 (en) 1998-07-23 2018-03-20 Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc Data structure and methods for providing an interactive program
AU5006699A (en) * 1998-07-23 2000-02-14 Diva Systems Corporation Interactive user interface
US6754905B2 (en) * 1998-07-23 2004-06-22 Diva Systems Corporation Data structure and methods for providing an interactive program guide
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
US8589975B2 (en) 1998-08-21 2013-11-19 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic program guide with advance notification
US6898762B2 (en) 1998-08-21 2005-05-24 United Video Properties, Inc. Client-server electronic program guide
ES2235296T3 (en) * 1998-09-11 2005-07-01 Two Way Media Limited DISTRIBUTION OF INTERACTIVE APPLICATIONS.
TW465235B (en) 1998-09-17 2001-11-21 United Video Properties Inc Electronic program guide with digital storage
EP1133875B1 (en) * 1998-11-13 2011-07-20 Comcast IP Holdings I, LLC Digital broadcast program ordering
US7313805B1 (en) * 1998-11-30 2007-12-25 Sony Corporation Content navigator graphical user interface system and method
US6859799B1 (en) 1998-11-30 2005-02-22 Gemstar Development Corporation Search engine for video and graphics
US6993721B2 (en) * 1998-11-30 2006-01-31 Sony Corporation Web channel guide graphical interface system and method
US6865746B1 (en) 1998-12-03 2005-03-08 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic program guide with related-program search feature
US6792197B1 (en) 1998-12-07 2004-09-14 Index Systems, Inc. System and method for generating video taping reminders
US7966078B2 (en) 1999-02-01 2011-06-21 Steven Hoffberg Network media appliance system and method
US6742184B1 (en) * 1999-03-29 2004-05-25 Hughes Electronics Corp. Electronic television program guide with calendar tool
US6754906B1 (en) * 1999-03-29 2004-06-22 The Directv Group, Inc. Categorical electronic program guide
US20020118954A1 (en) 2001-12-07 2002-08-29 Barton James M. Data storage management and scheduling system
US7665111B1 (en) * 1999-10-20 2010-02-16 Tivo Inc. Data storage management and scheduling system
US7543325B2 (en) 1999-03-30 2009-06-02 Tivo Inc. System for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior
US7096487B1 (en) 1999-10-27 2006-08-22 Sedna Patent Services, Llc Apparatus and method for combining realtime and non-realtime encoded content
US6754271B1 (en) 1999-04-15 2004-06-22 Diva Systems Corporation Temporal slice persistence method and apparatus for delivery of interactive program guide
US6904610B1 (en) * 1999-04-15 2005-06-07 Sedna Patent Services, Llc Server-centric customized interactive program guide in an interactive television environment
US6792615B1 (en) * 1999-05-19 2004-09-14 New Horizons Telecasting, Inc. Encapsulated, streaming media automation and distribution system
US7284261B1 (en) * 1999-10-05 2007-10-16 Intel Corporation Broadcasting and processing multiple data formats
US20030182567A1 (en) 1999-10-20 2003-09-25 Tivo Inc. Client-side multimedia content targeting system
WO2001031914A1 (en) 1999-10-27 2001-05-03 Diva Systems Corporation Picture-in-picture and multiple video streams using slice-based encoding
US8051446B1 (en) * 1999-12-06 2011-11-01 Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc. Method of creating a semantic video summary using information from secondary sources
US20020124255A1 (en) 1999-12-10 2002-09-05 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for coordinating interactive and passive advertisement and merchandising opportunities
US7228556B2 (en) 1999-12-21 2007-06-05 Tivo Inc. Distributed, interactive television program guide; system and method
EP1133157A3 (en) 1999-12-28 2004-10-27 Sony Corporation Image commercial transactions system and method, image transfer system and method, image distribution system and method, display device and method
EP1830552A1 (en) * 1999-12-28 2007-09-05 Sony Corporation Image commercial transactions system and method
EP1117255B1 (en) * 2000-01-12 2007-10-24 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Digital broadcast receiving device
US8413185B2 (en) 2000-02-01 2013-04-02 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television application with navigable cells and regions
US20020016969A1 (en) * 2000-02-03 2002-02-07 International Business Machines Corporation Media on demand system and method
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
US7979881B1 (en) * 2000-03-30 2011-07-12 Microsoft Corporation System and method for identifying audio/visual programs to be recorded
CN1448021A (en) 2000-04-10 2003-10-08 联合视频制品公司 Interactive media guide system with integrated program list
US8782705B2 (en) 2000-04-17 2014-07-15 Lg Electronics Inc. Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals
US7877769B2 (en) 2000-04-17 2011-01-25 Lg Electronics Inc. Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals
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
US6738982B1 (en) * 2000-05-04 2004-05-18 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Method and system for uniform resource identification and access to television services
US7877766B1 (en) 2000-05-04 2011-01-25 Enreach Technology, Inc. Method and system of providing a non-skippable sub-advertisement stream
US20060117340A1 (en) * 2000-05-05 2006-06-01 Ictv, Inc. Interactive cable television system without a return path
US7451474B1 (en) * 2000-05-15 2008-11-11 Unisys Corporation Set top network protocol
US6769127B1 (en) 2000-06-16 2004-07-27 Minerva Networks, Inc. Method and system for delivering media services and application over networks
US7100184B1 (en) * 2000-08-03 2006-08-29 Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Ltd. Method and apparatus for rapid access of program guide information
US7921442B2 (en) 2000-08-16 2011-04-05 The Boeing Company Method and apparatus for simultaneous live television and data services using single beam antennas
JP5006500B2 (en) * 2000-08-16 2012-08-22 ザ・ボーイング・カンパニー Method and apparatus for providing interactive data services and live broadcast television programs to mobile platforms
JP4942242B2 (en) * 2000-08-25 2012-05-30 ソニー株式会社 Information processing apparatus and method, and recording medium
US7096489B2 (en) * 2000-08-28 2006-08-22 Sony Corporation System and method for interactive television
JP3536800B2 (en) * 2000-09-07 2004-06-14 有限会社 ユリアインターナショナル TV program information retrieval system via the Internet
US8205237B2 (en) 2000-09-14 2012-06-19 Cox Ingemar J Identifying works, using a sub-linear time search, such as an approximate nearest neighbor search, for initiating a work-based action, such as an action on the internet
US7103906B1 (en) 2000-09-29 2006-09-05 International Business Machines Corporation User controlled multi-device media-on-demand system
MXPA03003138A (en) 2000-10-11 2003-07-14 United Video Properties Inc Systems and methods for providing storage of data on servers in an on-demand media delivery system.
US7975021B2 (en) 2000-10-23 2011-07-05 Clearplay, Inc. Method and user interface for downloading audio and video content filters to a media player
US6889383B1 (en) 2000-10-23 2005-05-03 Clearplay, Inc. Delivery of navigation data for playback of audio and video content
US7047273B2 (en) * 2000-11-28 2006-05-16 Navic Systems, Inc. Load balancing in set top cable box environment
US20020104098A1 (en) * 2001-01-31 2002-08-01 Zustak Fred J. Subscriber class television channel with class member programming
US8949902B1 (en) * 2001-02-06 2015-02-03 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance
BR0207769A (en) 2001-02-21 2004-09-14 United Video Properties Inc Systems and methods for interactive program guides with personal video recording features
US7970645B2 (en) * 2001-02-23 2011-06-28 Cox Communications, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing targeted advertisements
MXPA03007733A (en) * 2001-02-28 2003-12-04 Thomson Licensing Sa System and method for simplifying different types of searches in electronic program guide.
US20020144281A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-03 Yuichi Taguchi Global multi media service system and apparatus
US20030229893A1 (en) * 2001-04-26 2003-12-11 Vito Sgaraglino Multiple response means for interactive advertising and information systems
US8479238B2 (en) * 2001-05-14 2013-07-02 At&T Intellectual Property Ii, L.P. Method for content-based non-linear control of multimedia playback
US20030046698A1 (en) * 2001-06-11 2003-03-06 Yakov Kamen Methods and apparatuses for conducting a TV EPG search in various search time periods
US6990498B2 (en) * 2001-06-15 2006-01-24 Sony Corporation Dynamic graphical index of website content
WO2003005228A1 (en) * 2001-07-03 2003-01-16 Yahoo, Inc. Method and system for providing access to content associated with an event
US6983312B1 (en) * 2001-07-16 2006-01-03 At&T Corp. Method for using scheduled hyperlinks to record multimedia content
US20030018970A1 (en) * 2001-07-19 2003-01-23 Digeo, Inc. Object representation of television programs within an interactive television system
WO2003009126A1 (en) * 2001-07-19 2003-01-30 Digeo, Inc. System and method for managing television programs within an entertainment system
US7908628B2 (en) 2001-08-03 2011-03-15 Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc Video and digital multimedia aggregator content coding and formatting
US7793326B2 (en) 2001-08-03 2010-09-07 Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc Video and digital multimedia aggregator
KR100400010B1 (en) * 2001-10-15 2003-09-29 삼성전자주식회사 Method for operating electronic program guide
US20030086694A1 (en) * 2001-11-07 2003-05-08 Nokia Corporation Recording program scheduling information in an electronic calendar
EP1317143A1 (en) * 2001-11-28 2003-06-04 Deutsche Thomson-Brandt Gmbh Recording of broadcasting enhancement services
US20030177504A1 (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-09-18 Paulo Daniel Leonard System and method for synchronizing interaction of a communication network with a broadcasting network
JP4004839B2 (en) * 2002-04-15 2007-11-07 株式会社東芝 Communication apparatus and network system
US20030226147A1 (en) * 2002-05-31 2003-12-04 Richmond Michael S. Associating an electronic program guide (EPG) data base entry and a related internet website
US20030226141A1 (en) * 2002-06-03 2003-12-04 Krasnow Genessa L. Advertisement data store
WO2004004324A1 (en) * 2002-06-27 2004-01-08 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Use of rotating banners for items in grid epg
US7730510B1 (en) * 2002-09-19 2010-06-01 Microsoft Corporation Methods and systems for conditionally managing entertainment systems
US8245257B1 (en) * 2002-09-30 2012-08-14 Arris Group, Inc. System and method for dynamic electronic program guide (EPG) data downloads
JP4359810B2 (en) * 2002-10-01 2009-11-11 ソニー株式会社 User terminal, data processing method, program, and data processing system
CA2411424A1 (en) * 2002-11-08 2004-05-08 Bell Canada Method and system for effective switching between set-top box services
US20040210933A1 (en) * 2003-01-07 2004-10-21 Universal Electronics Inc. User interface for a remote control application
FR2850509A1 (en) * 2003-01-27 2004-07-30 France Telecom METHOD FOR THEMATIC RECORDING OF PROGRAMMED DIFFUSION DIGITAL CONTENTS
US7493646B2 (en) 2003-01-30 2009-02-17 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television systems with digital video recording and adjustable reminders
US7757251B2 (en) * 2003-03-18 2010-07-13 Time Warner Interactive Video Group Inc. Technique for providing program guide data through a communications network delivering programming content
US7010804B2 (en) * 2003-03-20 2006-03-07 Sony Corporation System and method for facilitating TV channel programming
US7130846B2 (en) * 2003-06-10 2006-10-31 Microsoft Corporation Intelligent default selection in an on-screen keyboard
US8438601B2 (en) 2003-07-02 2013-05-07 Rovi Solutions Corporation Resource management for a networked personal video recording system
US7454120B2 (en) 2003-07-02 2008-11-18 Macrovision Corporation Methods and apparatus for client aggregation of television programming in a networked personal video recording system
US20050050160A1 (en) * 2003-08-29 2005-03-03 Manish Upendran System and method for accessing specialized content associated with broadcast content
US7984468B2 (en) 2003-11-06 2011-07-19 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for providing program suggestions in an interactive television program guide
US8196044B2 (en) * 2004-01-05 2012-06-05 Microsoft Corporation Configuration of user interfaces
US20050160465A1 (en) * 2004-01-21 2005-07-21 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television system with automatic switching from broadcast media to streaming media
US20080163305A1 (en) * 2004-03-09 2008-07-03 Carolynn Rae Johnson System and Method for Customizing Programming Reminders
US7860497B2 (en) * 2004-03-31 2010-12-28 The Boeing Company Dynamic configuration management
US8578420B2 (en) * 2004-05-05 2013-11-05 Ati Technologies Ulc Method and apparatus for automated display of video programming guide information
US20050289593A1 (en) * 2004-05-26 2005-12-29 Skipjam Corp. Method and system for displaying and selecting content of an electronic program guide
US20050273815A1 (en) * 2004-06-04 2005-12-08 Ati Technologies Inc. Method and apparatus for the display of electronic program guide information
WO2006010126A2 (en) * 2004-07-09 2006-01-26 Videonline, Inc Internet television broadcast system
US9021529B2 (en) 2004-07-15 2015-04-28 Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc Content recordation techniques
US20060020994A1 (en) * 2004-07-21 2006-01-26 Ron Crane Television signal transmission of interlinked data and navigation information for use by a chaser program
US7590997B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2009-09-15 Broadband Itv, Inc. System and method for managing, converting and displaying video content on a video-on-demand platform, including ads used for drill-down navigation and consumer-generated classified ads
US9584868B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2017-02-28 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US7631336B2 (en) * 2004-07-30 2009-12-08 Broadband Itv, Inc. Method for converting, navigating and displaying video content uploaded from the internet to a digital TV video-on-demand platform
US9641902B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2017-05-02 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US9344765B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2016-05-17 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US11259059B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2022-02-22 Broadband Itv, Inc. System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
US7793321B2 (en) * 2004-08-13 2010-09-07 Microsoft Corporation Delivering a geographic-specific comprehensive program guide
US8086575B2 (en) 2004-09-23 2011-12-27 Rovi Solutions Corporation Methods and apparatus for integrating disparate media formats in a networked media system
US8806533B1 (en) 2004-10-08 2014-08-12 United Video Properties, Inc. System and method for using television information codes
US8117282B2 (en) 2004-10-20 2012-02-14 Clearplay, Inc. Media player configured to receive playback filters from alternative storage mediums
US20060101499A1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-05-11 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for secure sharing, gifting, and purchasing of content on television and mobile devices
US20060184427A1 (en) * 2005-02-16 2006-08-17 Jaswir Singh System and method for providing exercise programs, goods and services
JP5495556B2 (en) 2005-03-30 2014-05-21 ユナイテッド ビデオ プロパティーズ, インコーポレイテッド System and method for video rich navigation
US8229283B2 (en) * 2005-04-01 2012-07-24 Rovi Guides, Inc. System and method for quality marking of a recording
DE102005016510A1 (en) * 2005-04-08 2006-10-12 Buderus Schleiftechnik Gmbh Device for machining hardened workpieces
EP1904933A4 (en) 2005-04-18 2009-12-09 Clearplay Inc Apparatus, system and method for associating one or more filter files with a particular multimedia presentation
US9860599B2 (en) 2005-06-17 2018-01-02 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Methods, systems, and products for providing sample content
KR20070001450A (en) * 2005-06-29 2007-01-04 삼성전자주식회사 Method for providing location guide service using epg data and broadcasting receiver thereof
US8122034B2 (en) 2005-06-30 2012-02-21 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for incremental search with reduced text entry where the relevance of results is a dynamically computed function of user input search string character count
US7607161B2 (en) * 2005-07-21 2009-10-20 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Cable receiver
US8074248B2 (en) 2005-07-26 2011-12-06 Activevideo Networks, Inc. System and method for providing video content associated with a source image to a television in a communication network
US8719857B1 (en) 2005-08-24 2014-05-06 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for providing parental control features in video mosaic environments
US7779011B2 (en) 2005-08-26 2010-08-17 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for dynamically processing ambiguous, reduced text search queries and highlighting results thereof
US7646962B1 (en) 2005-09-30 2010-01-12 Guideworks, Llc System and methods for recording and playing back programs having desirable recording attributes
CN101310532B (en) * 2005-10-14 2013-03-27 联合视频制品公司 Systems and methods for recording multiple programs simultaneously with a single tuner
US8582946B2 (en) 2005-11-04 2013-11-12 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for recording programs using a network recording device as supplemental storage
US8731379B1 (en) 2005-11-04 2014-05-20 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for recording programs with a network recording device upon failure of a user's equipment
US9113107B2 (en) 2005-11-08 2015-08-18 Rovi Guides, Inc. Interactive advertising and program promotion in an interactive television system
US20070162502A1 (en) * 2005-12-29 2007-07-12 United Video Properties, Inc. Media library in an interactive media guidance application
US9681105B2 (en) 2005-12-29 2017-06-13 Rovi Guides, Inc. Interactive media guidance system having multiple devices
US8607287B2 (en) 2005-12-29 2013-12-10 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive media guidance system having multiple devices
US20070156521A1 (en) 2005-12-29 2007-07-05 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for commerce in media program related merchandise
KR100782828B1 (en) * 2005-12-29 2007-12-06 삼성전자주식회사 Method for displaying messages in digital appliances and display control device
US20070180463A1 (en) * 2006-01-19 2007-08-02 Jarman Matthew T Method and apparatus for logging and reporting television viewing
US20070260703A1 (en) * 2006-01-27 2007-11-08 Sankar Ardhanari Methods and systems for transmission of subsequences of incremental query actions and selection of content items based on later received subsequences
US20070192800A1 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-16 Sbc Knowledge Ventures, Lp Dynamic multimedia channel grouping
US7962942B1 (en) 2006-02-28 2011-06-14 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for enhanced trick-play functions
CN100531358C (en) * 2006-03-13 2009-08-19 华为技术有限公司 Electronic performance-bill server depolying system and method for set-up and oper ation
US8316394B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2012-11-20 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive media guidance application with intelligent navigation and display features
US11622154B2 (en) * 2006-06-13 2023-04-04 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Method of recommending related programs
US8667540B2 (en) * 2006-07-07 2014-03-04 Apple Partners, Lp Web-based video broadcasting system having multiple channels
US8656431B2 (en) * 2006-07-10 2014-02-18 Mark A. Cavicchia Global interactive program guide application and device
WO2008016611A2 (en) 2006-07-31 2008-02-07 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for providing media guidance planners
US8418217B2 (en) 2006-09-06 2013-04-09 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Systems and methods for accessing media content
EP2062171A4 (en) 2006-09-14 2010-10-06 Veveo Inc Methods and systems for dynamically rearranging search results into hierarchically organized concept clusters
US20080066360A1 (en) * 2006-09-15 2008-03-20 Susan Mary Simon Process and Apparatus for Displaying Audiovisual Content Through Touch-Screen Technology
US8832742B2 (en) 2006-10-06 2014-09-09 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for acquiring, categorizing and delivering media in interactive media guidance applications
US7814524B2 (en) * 2007-02-14 2010-10-12 Sony Corporation Capture of configuration and service provider data via OCR
US20080106376A1 (en) * 2006-11-06 2008-05-08 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and apparatus for purchasing content from a terminal within a vehicle
US8386126B2 (en) * 2006-11-06 2013-02-26 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing independent content to multiple terminals within a vehicle
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
US20080155615A1 (en) * 2006-12-22 2008-06-26 Guideworks, Llc Systems and methods for supporting multi-user media content access using index points
US20080163059A1 (en) 2006-12-28 2008-07-03 Guideworks, Llc Systems and methods for creating custom video mosaic pages with local content
US20080163048A1 (en) * 2006-12-29 2008-07-03 Gossweiler Iii Richard Carl System and method for displaying multimedia events scheduling information and Corresponding search results
US8205230B2 (en) * 2006-12-29 2012-06-19 Google Inc. System and method for displaying and searching multimedia events scheduling information
US8291454B2 (en) * 2006-12-29 2012-10-16 Google Inc. System and method for downloading multimedia events scheduling information for display
US8544040B2 (en) 2006-12-29 2013-09-24 Google Inc. System and method for displaying multimedia events scheduling information
EP2106665B1 (en) 2007-01-12 2015-08-05 ActiveVideo Networks, Inc. Interactive encoded content system including object models for viewing on a remote device
US9826197B2 (en) 2007-01-12 2017-11-21 Activevideo Networks, Inc. Providing television broadcasts over a managed network and interactive content over an unmanaged network to a client device
US7801888B2 (en) 2007-03-09 2010-09-21 Microsoft Corporation Media content search results ranked by popularity
US8418206B2 (en) 2007-03-22 2013-04-09 United Video Properties, Inc. User defined rules for assigning destinations of content
US8438589B2 (en) * 2007-03-28 2013-05-07 Sony Corporation Obtaining metadata program information during channel changes
US8266648B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2012-09-11 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for determining subscription data
US8972875B2 (en) 2007-04-24 2015-03-03 Google Inc. Relevance bar for content listings
US8799952B2 (en) 2007-04-24 2014-08-05 Google Inc. Virtual channels
WO2008141477A1 (en) * 2007-05-21 2008-11-27 Thomson Licensing Method and device for generating electronic service guide
US8296294B2 (en) 2007-05-25 2012-10-23 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for unified searching across and within multiple documents
US7743116B2 (en) * 2007-05-28 2010-06-22 Apple Inc. Method and user interface for accessing groups of media assets
JP2010531482A (en) * 2007-06-05 2010-09-24 イー−レーン システムズ インコーポレイテッド Media exchange system
US11570521B2 (en) 2007-06-26 2023-01-31 Broadband Itv, Inc. Dynamic adjustment of electronic program guide displays based on viewer preferences for minimizing navigation in VOD program selection
US20090019492A1 (en) * 2007-07-11 2009-01-15 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for mirroring and transcoding media content
US10097291B2 (en) * 2007-07-24 2018-10-09 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for distributing content using device-specific content delivery networks
US20090031376A1 (en) * 2007-07-24 2009-01-29 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for managing content in a content processing system having multiple content delivery networks
US8869188B2 (en) * 2007-07-24 2014-10-21 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for remotely controlling content at a set top box
US20090031367A1 (en) * 2007-07-24 2009-01-29 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for utilizing multiple content delivery networks for distributing content
US9104987B2 (en) * 2007-07-24 2015-08-11 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for associating business rules with received content in a content processing system and generating a content list therefrom
US9832424B2 (en) * 2007-07-25 2017-11-28 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for managing content lifecycle in a content processing system
US8462271B2 (en) * 2007-07-26 2013-06-11 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system of managing files within a content processing system based on publication time
JP4897603B2 (en) * 2007-07-26 2012-03-14 ソニー株式会社 Information providing system, information receiving terminal, information providing apparatus, information providing method, and program
US8964734B2 (en) * 2007-07-26 2015-02-24 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for communicating content having modified packet headers through a satellite
US8572660B2 (en) * 2007-07-26 2013-10-29 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for distributing content to a user device through a satellite network and a broadband network
US8875209B2 (en) * 2007-07-26 2014-10-28 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for receiving content in a content processing system using a workflow system
US9084025B1 (en) 2007-08-06 2015-07-14 Google Inc. System and method for displaying both multimedia events search results and internet search results
US8484685B2 (en) * 2007-08-13 2013-07-09 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. System for presenting media content
US9063934B2 (en) * 2007-08-17 2015-06-23 At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp System for identifying media content
US8001571B1 (en) 2007-08-21 2011-08-16 Google Inc. Identifying programming information of a telecommunications provider
US20090064223A1 (en) * 2007-08-27 2009-03-05 Himax Technologies Limited Dtv viewing terminal, epg service system and method for exhibiting epg
JP2009060255A (en) * 2007-08-30 2009-03-19 Toshiba Corp Program reservation device and method
US8146120B2 (en) * 2007-10-08 2012-03-27 Jaman.Com, Inc. Multi-criteria rating and searching system
US8528020B2 (en) * 2007-11-20 2013-09-03 Cedric DeLaCruz Universal and portable channel designations
US20090248478A1 (en) * 2008-03-26 2009-10-01 Google Inc. Frequency-Aware Spot Selection for Content Campaigns
US20090249400A1 (en) * 2008-03-27 2009-10-01 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for providing on-demand media content
US20090249418A1 (en) * 2008-03-28 2009-10-01 Channer Medianet, S.L. Repository for information about streaming video/audio channels
US9003465B1 (en) 2008-04-25 2015-04-07 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and system for converting content into multiple formats
US8601526B2 (en) 2008-06-13 2013-12-03 United Video Properties, Inc. Systems and methods for displaying media content and media guidance information
JP4730626B2 (en) * 2008-06-13 2011-07-20 ソニー株式会社 Content supply apparatus, content supply method, and program
US20090320074A1 (en) * 2008-06-19 2009-12-24 Toshiba America Consumer Products L.L.C. Information system and method
US20100086277A1 (en) * 2008-10-03 2010-04-08 Guideworks, Llc Systems and methods for deleting viewed portions of recorded programs
US8607278B2 (en) * 2008-11-18 2013-12-10 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Customer voting on timeslots for shows
US10063934B2 (en) 2008-11-25 2018-08-28 Rovi Technologies Corporation Reducing unicast session duration with restart TV
US8612456B2 (en) * 2008-12-11 2013-12-17 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Scheduling recording of recommended multimedia programs
US20100192181A1 (en) * 2009-01-29 2010-07-29 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. System and Method to Navigate an Electonic Program Guide (EPG) Display
US9674476B2 (en) 2009-02-12 2017-06-06 Echostar Technologies L.L.C. Personalized multimedia content driven by user preferences
US8166502B2 (en) * 2009-02-19 2012-04-24 Sony Corporation Downloading TV channel map based on location and provider
US20100306708A1 (en) * 2009-05-29 2010-12-02 Rovi Techonologies Corporation Systems and methods for handling profiles in a community
US20110016492A1 (en) * 2009-07-16 2011-01-20 Gemstar Development Corporation Systems and methods for forwarding media asset events
US9166714B2 (en) 2009-09-11 2015-10-20 Veveo, Inc. Method of and system for presenting enriched video viewing analytics
US20110070819A1 (en) * 2009-09-23 2011-03-24 Rovi Technologies Corporation Systems and methods for providing reminders associated with detected users
US9014546B2 (en) 2009-09-23 2015-04-21 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for automatically detecting users within detection regions of media devices
US20110078731A1 (en) * 2009-09-25 2011-03-31 Rovi Technologies Corporation Systems and methods for multiple media guidance application navigation
US20110081129A1 (en) * 2009-10-07 2011-04-07 Rovi Technologies Corporation Broadband recording method and apparatus for video and/or audio programs
WO2011049278A1 (en) * 2009-10-25 2011-04-28 Lg Electronics Inc. Method for processing broadcast program information and broadcast receiver
US20110154402A1 (en) * 2009-12-18 2011-06-23 Rovi Technologies Corporation Systems and methods for navigating program listings in a media guidance application
US9201627B2 (en) * 2010-01-05 2015-12-01 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for transferring content between user equipment and a wireless communications device
US10080059B2 (en) 2010-04-29 2018-09-18 Apple Partners, Lp Web-based video broadcasting system having multiple channels
US9167196B2 (en) 2010-05-19 2015-10-20 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for trimming recorded content using a media guidance application
KR101648959B1 (en) * 2010-06-04 2016-08-18 네이버 주식회사 System and method for providing advertisement to wireless network service user
FR2964286B1 (en) * 2010-08-27 2012-08-17 Alcatel Lucent METHOD AND DEVICE FOR NON-DISTURBLY TESTING THE OPERATION OF AN INFORMATION PROVIDING APPLICATION ACCESSIBLE TO CERTAIN DATES
US10210160B2 (en) 2010-09-07 2019-02-19 Opentv, Inc. Collecting data from different sources
US9699503B2 (en) * 2010-09-07 2017-07-04 Opentv, Inc. Smart playlist
WO2012034069A1 (en) 2010-09-10 2012-03-15 Veveo, Inc. Method of and system for conducting personalized federated search and presentation of results therefrom
US9021541B2 (en) 2010-10-14 2015-04-28 Activevideo Networks, Inc. Streaming digital video between video devices using a cable television system
JP5050094B2 (en) * 2010-12-21 2012-10-17 株式会社東芝 Video processing apparatus and video processing method
US8745683B1 (en) 2011-01-03 2014-06-03 Intellectual Ventures Fund 79 Llc Methods, devices, and mediums associated with supplementary audio information
US8935300B1 (en) * 2011-01-03 2015-01-13 Intellectual Ventures Fund 79 Llc Methods, devices, and mediums associated with content-searchable media
US9736524B2 (en) 2011-01-06 2017-08-15 Veveo, Inc. Methods of and systems for content search based on environment sampling
WO2012138660A2 (en) 2011-04-07 2012-10-11 Activevideo Networks, Inc. Reduction of latency in video distribution networks using adaptive bit rates
US9854318B2 (en) 2011-06-06 2017-12-26 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for sharing interactive media guidance information
US9154813B2 (en) 2011-06-09 2015-10-06 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Multiple video content in a composite video stream
WO2012173387A2 (en) * 2011-06-16 2012-12-20 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signaling information for reception of broadcast services in a digital broadcasting system
KR101874433B1 (en) * 2011-06-16 2018-07-06 삼성전자주식회사 Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving signalling information for receiving a broadcast service in a digital broadcast system
US9049073B2 (en) 2011-06-28 2015-06-02 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for initializing allocations of transport streams based on historical data
US8627364B2 (en) * 2011-09-20 2014-01-07 Lg Electronics Inc. Digital system and method of processing service data thereof
US9967621B2 (en) 2011-12-15 2018-05-08 Rovi Technologies Corporation Dynamic personalized program content
US8805418B2 (en) 2011-12-23 2014-08-12 United Video Properties, Inc. Methods and systems for performing actions based on location-based rules
US9218122B2 (en) 2011-12-29 2015-12-22 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for transferring settings across devices based on user gestures
EP2815582B1 (en) 2012-01-09 2019-09-04 ActiveVideo Networks, Inc. Rendering of an interactive lean-backward user interface on a television
US9800945B2 (en) 2012-04-03 2017-10-24 Activevideo Networks, Inc. Class-based intelligent multiplexing over unmanaged networks
US10674191B2 (en) 2012-04-06 2020-06-02 Minerva Networks, Inc Systems and methods to remotely synchronize digital data
US9123084B2 (en) 2012-04-12 2015-09-01 Activevideo Networks, Inc. Graphical application integration with MPEG objects
US9848276B2 (en) 2013-03-11 2017-12-19 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for auto-configuring a user equipment device with content consumption material
WO2014145921A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Activevideo Networks, Inc. A multiple-mode system and method for providing user selectable video content
EP3005712A1 (en) 2013-06-06 2016-04-13 ActiveVideo Networks, Inc. Overlay rendering of user interface onto source video
US9294785B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2016-03-22 Activevideo Networks, Inc. System and method for exploiting scene graph information in construction of an encoded video sequence
US9219922B2 (en) 2013-06-06 2015-12-22 Activevideo Networks, Inc. System and method for exploiting scene graph information in construction of an encoded video sequence
US9674563B2 (en) 2013-11-04 2017-06-06 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for recommending content
TWI521959B (en) 2013-12-13 2016-02-11 財團法人工業技術研究院 Method and system of searching and collating video files, method for establishing a semantic group, and program storage medium therefor
KR101548228B1 (en) * 2013-12-27 2015-08-28 주식회사 케이티 Apparatus for synchronizing user interface based on user state and method thereof
US10506279B2 (en) 2014-03-27 2019-12-10 Rovi Guides, Inc. Systems and methods for providing a sequence of video-clips in a picture-in-guide
US9788029B2 (en) 2014-04-25 2017-10-10 Activevideo Networks, Inc. Intelligent multiplexing using class-based, multi-dimensioned decision logic for managed networks
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
US9686032B2 (en) * 2014-05-30 2017-06-20 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Local channels anywhere
USD778300S1 (en) * 2015-05-21 2017-02-07 Layer3 TV, Inc. Display screen or portion thereof with a graphical user interface shown thereon
USD772913S1 (en) * 2015-05-21 2016-11-29 Layer3 TV, Inc. Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface
USD786285S1 (en) * 2015-05-21 2017-05-09 Layer3 TV, Inc. Display screen or portion thereof with an animated graphical user interface
USD771675S1 (en) * 2015-05-21 2016-11-15 Layer3 TV, Inc. Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface
US9578379B1 (en) 2015-09-29 2017-02-21 Rovi Guides, Inc. Scene-by-scene viewer ratings
US9813396B2 (en) 2015-10-30 2017-11-07 Rovi Guides, Inc. Methods and systems for managing content subscription data
US10178421B2 (en) 2015-10-30 2019-01-08 Rovi Guides, Inc. Methods and systems for monitoring content subscription usage
US10798453B2 (en) * 2016-12-06 2020-10-06 The Directv Group, Inc. Content scheduling
US10440439B2 (en) 2017-02-28 2019-10-08 The Directv Group, Inc. Method and apparatus for media content streaming and reminder notifications

Citations (86)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
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
US4280148A (en) * 1980-01-21 1981-07-21 Saxena Arjun N Audio recording apparatus and method
US4367559A (en) * 1981-02-06 1983-01-04 Rca Corporation Arrangement for both channel swapping and favorite channel features
US4375651A (en) * 1981-07-27 1983-03-01 Zenith Radio Corporation Selective video reception control system
US4381522A (en) * 1980-12-01 1983-04-26 Adams-Russell Co., Inc. Selective viewing
US4390901A (en) * 1979-12-14 1983-06-28 Edmond Keiser Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a television signal receiver
US4425579A (en) * 1981-05-22 1984-01-10 Oak Industries Inc. Catv converter with keylock to favorite channels
US4429385A (en) * 1981-12-31 1984-01-31 American Newspaper Publishers Association Method and apparatus for digital serial scanning with hierarchical and relational access
US5090049A (en) * 1990-05-22 1992-02-18 Chen Thomas N Fax message recorder and relay system and method
US5191423A (en) * 1990-11-28 1993-03-02 Funai Electric Company Limited TV channel selecting device with a memory
US5283819A (en) * 1991-04-25 1994-02-01 Compuadd Corporation Computing and multimedia entertainment system
US5325423A (en) * 1992-11-13 1994-06-28 Multimedia Systems Corporation Interactive multimedia communication system
US5412720A (en) * 1990-09-28 1995-05-02 Ictv, Inc. Interactive home information system
US5515106A (en) * 1994-01-05 1996-05-07 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a program guide for television services
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
US5523796A (en) * 1994-05-20 1996-06-04 Prevue Networks, Inc. Video clip program guide
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
US5561709A (en) * 1991-10-03 1996-10-01 Viscorp Apparatus and method for electronic device for information services
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
US5594661A (en) * 1994-09-23 1997-01-14 U. S. West Marketing Resources Group, Inc. Method for interfacing with a multi-media information system
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
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
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
US5751282A (en) * 1995-06-13 1998-05-12 Microsoft Corporation System and method for calling video on demand using an electronic programming guide
US5761606A (en) * 1996-02-08 1998-06-02 Wolzien; Thomas R. Media online services access via address embedded in video or audio program
US5768528A (en) * 1996-05-24 1998-06-16 V-Cast, Inc. Client-server system for delivery of online information
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
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
US5781734A (en) * 1994-09-28 1998-07-14 Nec Corporation System for providing audio and video services on demand
US5790201A (en) * 1996-08-08 1998-08-04 Antos; Jeffrey David Television and computer capability integration
US5790753A (en) * 1996-01-22 1998-08-04 Digital Equipment Corporation System for downloading computer software programs
US5798785A (en) * 1992-12-09 1998-08-25 Discovery Communications, Inc. Terminal for suggesting programs offered on a television program delivery system
US5801747A (en) * 1996-11-15 1998-09-01 Hyundai Electronics America Method and apparatus for creating a television viewer profile
US5805806A (en) * 1995-12-18 1998-09-08 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for providing interactive networking between televisions and personal computers
US5809214A (en) * 1995-11-16 1998-09-15 Seiko Instruments Inc. Thermal printer
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
US5873660A (en) * 1995-06-19 1999-02-23 Microsoft Corporation Morphological search and replace
US5877906A (en) * 1993-06-16 1999-03-02 Sony Corporation Device for switching between multiple recording media based on a recordable time remaining calculation
US5880768A (en) * 1995-04-06 1999-03-09 Prevue Networks, Inc. Interactive program guide systems and processes
US5903816A (en) * 1996-07-01 1999-05-11 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Interactive television system and method for displaying web-like stills with hyperlinks
US5907322A (en) * 1996-10-16 1999-05-25 Catch Tv Acquisition Corp. Television event marking system
US5907323A (en) * 1995-05-05 1999-05-25 Microsoft Corporation Interactive program summary panel
US5914712A (en) * 1995-05-08 1999-06-22 Video Jukebox Network, Inc. Interactive video system
US5923848A (en) * 1996-05-31 1999-07-13 Microsoft Corporation System and method for resolving names in an electronic messaging environment
US5929932A (en) * 1995-10-24 1999-07-27 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Program guide display controller at user terminal of television broadcasting system
US5929849A (en) * 1996-05-02 1999-07-27 Phoenix Technologies, Ltd. Integration of dynamic universal resource locators with television presentations
US5931905A (en) * 1996-02-29 1999-08-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba TV mail system
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
US5940073A (en) * 1996-05-03 1999-08-17 Starsight Telecast Inc. Method and system for displaying other information in a TV program guide
US5946386A (en) * 1996-03-11 1999-08-31 Xantel Corporation Call management system with call control from user workstation computers
US5949954A (en) * 1990-09-10 1999-09-07 Starsight Telecast, Inc. System and process for control of recording and reproducing apparatus
US6014184A (en) * 1993-09-09 2000-01-11 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access
US6016141A (en) * 1997-10-06 2000-01-18 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion
US6018372A (en) * 1997-09-04 2000-01-25 Liberate Technologies Electronic program guide with multiple day planner
US6023267A (en) * 1996-07-31 2000-02-08 Thomson Multimedia Sa Process for selecting programes, especially television programes and device and graphical interface implementing this process
US6025837A (en) * 1996-03-29 2000-02-15 Micrsoft Corporation Electronic program guide with hyperlinks to target resources
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
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
US6184877B1 (en) * 1996-12-11 2001-02-06 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for interactively accessing program information on a television
US6240555B1 (en) * 1996-03-29 2001-05-29 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment system for presenting supplemental interactive content together with continuous video programs
US6262722B1 (en) * 1997-07-08 2001-07-17 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive program guide navigator menu system
US6268849B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2001-07-31 United Video Properties, Inc. Internet television program guide system with embedded real-time data
US6335963B1 (en) * 1997-12-01 2002-01-01 Nortel Networks Limited System and method for providing notification of a received electronic mail message
US6341374B2 (en) * 1996-06-14 2002-01-22 Starsight Telecast. Inc. Television schedule system and method of operation for multiple program occurrences
US6357043B1 (en) * 1993-09-09 2002-03-12 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide with remote product ordering
US6359636B1 (en) * 1995-07-17 2002-03-19 Gateway, Inc. Graphical user interface for control of a home entertainment system
US6373528B1 (en) * 1993-09-09 2002-04-16 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method
US6388714B1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2002-05-14 Starsight Telecast Inc Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
US6411696B1 (en) * 1996-12-31 2002-06-25 Intel Corporation System for finding a user with a preferred communication mechanism
US20020112249A1 (en) * 1992-12-09 2002-08-15 Hendricks John S. Method and apparatus for targeting of interactive virtual objects
US20030005445A1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2003-01-02 Schein Steven M. Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
US6545722B1 (en) * 1998-01-09 2003-04-08 Douglas G. Brown Methods and systems for providing television related services via a networked personal computer
US20030115602A1 (en) * 1995-06-07 2003-06-19 Knee Robert Alan Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access
US6675386B1 (en) * 1996-09-04 2004-01-06 Discovery Communications, Inc. Apparatus for video access and control over computer network, including image correction
US6754904B1 (en) * 1999-12-30 2004-06-22 America Online, Inc. Informing network users of television programming viewed by other network users
US6856746B2 (en) * 1999-10-15 2005-02-15 California Institute Of Technology Titanium-indiffusion waveguides and methods of fabrication
US6865746B1 (en) * 1998-12-03 2005-03-08 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic program guide with related-program search feature
US6898762B2 (en) * 1998-08-21 2005-05-24 United Video Properties, Inc. Client-server electronic program guide
US20050138660A1 (en) * 1997-09-18 2005-06-23 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic mail reminder for an internet television program guide
US20050204388A1 (en) * 1998-06-11 2005-09-15 Knudson Edward B. Series reminders and series recording from an interactive television program guide
US20060037044A1 (en) * 1993-03-29 2006-02-16 Microsoft Corporation Pausing television programming in response to selection of hypertext link
US7165098B1 (en) * 1998-11-10 2007-01-16 United Video Properties, Inc. On-line schedule system with personalization features
US7185355B1 (en) * 1998-03-04 2007-02-27 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide system with preference profiles

Family Cites Families (388)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1554411A (en) 1975-08-09 1979-10-17 Communications Patents Ltd Control systems
NL7801367A (en) 1978-02-07 1979-08-09 Shell Int Research PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION AND SEPARATION OF P-XYLENE.
US4300040A (en) 1979-11-13 1981-11-10 Video Corporation Of America Ordering terminal
US4385210A (en) * 1980-09-19 1983-05-24 Electro-Magnetic Corporation Electro-acoustic planar transducer
US4694490A (en) 1981-11-03 1987-09-15 Harvey John C Signal processing apparatus and methods
US4965825A (en) 1981-11-03 1990-10-23 The Personalized Mass Media Corporation Signal processing apparatus and methods
DE3151492A1 (en) 1981-11-21 1983-07-07 Gorenje Körting Electronic GmbH & Co, 8217 Grassau Audio/video home system
US4908713A (en) * 1981-12-14 1990-03-13 Levine Michael R VCR Programmer
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
US4963994A (en) 1981-12-14 1990-10-16 Levine Michael R VCR programmer
US4605973A (en) * 1982-08-23 1986-08-12 Kohorn H Von System, apparatus and method for recording and editing broadcast transmissions
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
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
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
US4787063A (en) 1984-10-19 1988-11-22 Francis Muguet Acquisition and transmission system for a recorder and a computer center
EP0183625B1 (en) 1984-11-29 1990-02-28 Sony Corporation Television signal receiving apparatus
US4677501A (en) * 1985-01-14 1987-06-30 Dictaphone Corporation Method and apparatus for displaying indications of instructions in previously recorded messages
US4645873A (en) * 1985-01-23 1987-02-24 Telecue Systems Transactional telecommunication system
US4751578A (en) 1985-05-28 1988-06-14 David P. Gordon System for electronically controllably viewing on a television updateable television programming information
US4706121B1 (en) * 1985-07-12 1993-12-14 Insight Telecast, Inc. Tv schedule system and process
JPH0322770Y2 (en) 1985-09-21 1991-05-17
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
JPH0447595Y2 (en) 1986-12-05 1992-11-10
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
JP2829962B2 (en) 1988-04-28 1998-12-02 松下電器産業株式会社 Television receiver
GB2218287B (en) * 1988-05-02 1992-10-07 Hashimoto Corp Display system for use with a tv program reservation system
US4977455B1 (en) * 1988-07-15 1993-04-13 System and process for vcr scheduling
CA1337132C (en) 1988-07-15 1995-09-26 Robert Filepp Reception system for an interactive computer network and method of operation
JPH0638165Y2 (en) 1988-07-28 1994-10-05 カヤバ工業株式会社 Damper device in flow control mechanism
US5187589A (en) * 1988-07-28 1993-02-16 Pioneer Electronic Corporation Multiprogram video tape recording and reproducing device
JP3002471B2 (en) * 1988-08-19 2000-01-24 株式会社日立製作所 Program distribution 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
US5253066C1 (en) 1989-06-01 2001-05-22 United Video Properties Inc Tv recording and viewing control system
US5047867A (en) 1989-06-08 1991-09-10 North American Philips Corporation Interface for a TV-VCR system
US5038211A (en) 1989-07-05 1991-08-06 The Superguide Corporation Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving television program information
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
US5241671C1 (en) * 1989-10-26 2002-07-02 Encyclopaedia Britannica Educa Multimedia search system using a plurality of entry path means which indicate interrelatedness of information
US5353121A (en) 1989-10-30 1994-10-04 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Television schedule system
EP1335594A3 (en) 1989-10-30 2003-09-10 Starsight Telecast, Inc. A system for unattended recording of television programs
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
US5046092A (en) 1990-03-29 1991-09-03 Gte Laboratories Incorporated Video control system for transmitted programs
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
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
US5260778A (en) 1990-06-26 1993-11-09 General Instrument Corporation Apparatus for selective distribution of messages over a communications network
US5293357A (en) * 1990-09-10 1994-03-08 The Superguide Corporation Method and apparatus for controlling a television program recording device
US5790198A (en) * 1990-09-10 1998-08-04 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Television schedule information transmission and utilization system and process
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
JPH0766587B2 (en) 1990-10-20 1995-07-19 エルジー電子株式会社 Scheduled recording method for VCR
US5123046A (en) * 1990-11-05 1992-06-16 Smart Vcr Limited Partnership Vcr with cable tuner control
US5233423A (en) 1990-11-26 1993-08-03 North American Philips Corporation Embedded commericals within a television receiver using an integrated electronic billboard
US5282028A (en) 1990-11-27 1994-01-25 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Remote control for digital music terminal with synchronized communications
US5132992A (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-07-21 Paul Yurt Audio and video transmission and receiving system
US5253275A (en) 1991-01-07 1993-10-12 H. Lee Browne 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.
KR0178536B1 (en) * 1991-03-11 1999-04-15 강진구 Channel selecting method of relative program
US5210611A (en) * 1991-08-12 1993-05-11 Keen Y. Yee Automatic tuning radio/TV using filtered seek
US5488409A (en) * 1991-08-19 1996-01-30 Yuen; Henry C. Apparatus and method for tracking the playing of VCR programs
US6091884A (en) * 1991-08-19 2000-07-18 Index Systems, Inc. Enhancing operations of video tape cassette players
JPH0621907A (en) 1991-09-10 1994-01-28 New Media Corp Method and apparatus for multiple medium sending network
US5231494A (en) 1991-10-08 1993-07-27 General Instrument Corporation Selection of compressed television signals from single channel allocation based on viewer characteristics
JPH05122692A (en) 1991-10-28 1993-05-18 Pioneer Electron Corp Catv terminal equipment and catv system
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
US5283919A (en) * 1991-11-29 1994-02-08 Grant Fred W Folding trauma stretcher
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
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
JPH05314186A (en) 1992-05-06 1993-11-26 Canon Inc Automatic information source selector
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
US5689663A (en) 1992-06-19 1997-11-18 Microsoft Corporation Remote controller user interface and methods relating thereto
US5414756A (en) * 1992-06-26 1995-05-09 Smart Vcr Limited Partnership Telephonically programmable apparatus
US5317403A (en) * 1992-06-26 1994-05-31 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Favorite channel selection using extended keypress
JP3502114B2 (en) 1992-10-14 2004-03-02 株式会社日立製作所 Information service system
EP0596594B1 (en) 1992-10-26 2000-07-12 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Remote control and pointing device
US5371551A (en) 1992-10-29 1994-12-06 Logan; James Time delayed digital video system using concurrent recording and playback
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
US6463585B1 (en) 1992-12-09 2002-10-08 Discovery Communications, Inc. Targeted advertisement using television delivery systems
US7134131B1 (en) * 1992-12-09 2006-11-07 Sedna Patent Services, Llc Digital broadcast program billing
US6828993B1 (en) 1992-12-09 2004-12-07 Discovery Communications, Inc. Set top terminal that stores programs locally and generates menus
US5600364A (en) * 1992-12-09 1997-02-04 Discovery Communications, Inc. Network controller for cable television delivery systems
US6181335B1 (en) * 1992-12-09 2001-01-30 Discovery Communications, Inc. Card for a set top terminal
US5659350A (en) 1992-12-09 1997-08-19 Discovery Communications, Inc. Operations center for a television program packaging and delivery system
DE69329949T2 (en) 1992-12-09 2001-06-07 Discovery Communicat Inc NETWORK CONTROL FOR CABLE TV DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
JP3297914B2 (en) 1993-01-08 2002-07-02 ソニー株式会社 Television receiver
JPH06217271A (en) 1993-01-18 1994-08-05 Toshiba Corp Method and device for data transmission
US5382138A (en) * 1993-01-29 1995-01-17 Chilton; Daniel T. Device for emptying the sewage holding tank of a boat
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
US5515173A (en) 1993-03-05 1996-05-07 Gemstar Developement Corporation System and method for automatically recording television programs in television systems with tuners external to video recorders
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
US20020048448A1 (en) * 1993-03-29 2002-04-25 Microsoft Corporation Pausing the display of a television program as a signal including the television program is received
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
US5438355A (en) * 1993-04-16 1995-08-01 Palmer; Shelton L. Interactive system for processing viewer responses to television programming
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
US5768224A (en) 1993-05-28 1998-06-16 Sony Corporation AV system and method of establishing a connection setting for AV component devices
JP3504291B2 (en) 1993-06-04 2004-03-08 日本放送協会 Related program determination device
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
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
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
JPH0737369A (en) * 1993-07-19 1995-02-07 Sony Corp Image signal recording/reproducing device
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
US5761372A (en) 1993-09-03 1998-06-02 Sony Corporation Recording reservation central control system for one or more VTR's
JPH07123326A (en) 1993-09-03 1995-05-12 Sony Corp Concentrated recording reservation control system for one or more vtrs
US5691476A (en) 1993-09-07 1997-11-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Method for ultrasonic imaging and device for performing the method
US5781246A (en) 1993-09-09 1998-07-14 Alten; Jerry Electronic television program guide schedule system and method
US5822123A (en) 1993-09-09 1998-10-13 Davis; Bruce Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with pop-up hints
US5583763A (en) * 1993-09-09 1996-12-10 Mni Interactive Method and apparatus for recommending selections based on preferences in a multi-user system
US5585866A (en) 1993-09-09 1996-12-17 Miller; Larry Electronic television program guide schedule system and method including virtual channels
US5410344A (en) * 1993-09-22 1995-04-25 Arrowsmith Technologies, Inc. Apparatus and method of selecting video programs based on viewers' preferences
EP0644689B1 (en) 1993-09-22 2000-05-24 Sony Corporation Television set
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
CA2133877A1 (en) 1993-10-25 1995-04-26 Mark A. Malamud Quick info windows and audio information cursors
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
JPH07162776A (en) 1993-12-02 1995-06-23 Toshiba Corp Program guiding system
ES2151590T3 (en) 1993-12-02 2001-01-01 Discovery Communicat Inc NETWORK MANAGER FOR CABLE HEADS OF A CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM.
US5555376A (en) 1993-12-03 1996-09-10 Xerox Corporation Method for granting a user request having locational and contextual attributes consistent with user policies for devices having locational attributes consistent with the user request
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
JPH07212732A (en) 1994-01-24 1995-08-11 Sony Corp Receiver for two-way broadcast and reception system
US5579239A (en) 1994-02-16 1996-11-26 Freeman; Mitchael C. Remote video transmission system
EP0669761A3 (en) * 1994-02-23 1999-03-03 Hitachi, Ltd. Television signal receiving apparatus incorporating an information retrieving and reproducing apparatus
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
IL108952A0 (en) 1994-03-13 1994-06-24 Nimrod Sandlerman Video on demand system
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
JPH10501932A (en) 1994-04-08 1998-02-17 プレビュー インターナショナル, インコーポレイテッド Interactive scrolling program guide
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
US6002444A (en) 1994-05-20 1999-12-14 United Video Properties, Inc. Video clip program guide
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
US6396546B1 (en) * 1994-05-20 2002-05-28 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule 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
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
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
US5983236A (en) 1994-07-20 1999-11-09 Nams International, Inc. Method and system for providing a multimedia presentation
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
KR100409187B1 (en) * 1994-08-16 2004-03-10 소니 가부시끼 가이샤 TV signal receiver and program switching device and method and remote controller
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
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
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
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
US6029195A (en) * 1994-11-29 2000-02-22 Herz; Frederick S. M. System for customized electronic identification of desirable objects
US5623613A (en) * 1994-11-29 1997-04-22 Microsoft Corporation System for displaying programming information
US5617565A (en) * 1994-11-29 1997-04-01 Hitachi America, Ltd. Broadcast interactive multimedia system
US6008803A (en) 1994-11-29 1999-12-28 Microsoft Corporation System for displaying programming information
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
US6005561A (en) 1994-12-14 1999-12-21 The 3Do Company Interactive information delivery system
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
US5596373A (en) * 1995-01-04 1997-01-21 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for providing program oriented information in a multiple station broadcast system
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
CA2166434A1 (en) 1995-01-04 1996-07-05 Fujio Noguchi Method and apparatus for providing programming information
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
US5708767A (en) * 1995-02-03 1998-01-13 The Trustees Of Princeton University Method and apparatus for video browsing based on content and structure
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
JPH08251122A (en) 1995-03-10 1996-09-27 Sony Corp Information selection device/method
US5596705A (en) * 1995-03-20 1997-01-21 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for linking and presenting movies with their underlying source information
US5553221A (en) 1995-03-20 1996-09-03 International Business Machine Corporation System and method for enabling the creation of personalized movie presentations and personalized movie collections
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
CA2170429C (en) 1995-03-28 2000-04-25 Stephen Gregory Eick Method and apparatus for finding and selecting a desired data item from a large schedule of data items using a tv set and a controller similar to a tv-remote-control
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
US5749081A (en) * 1995-04-06 1998-05-05 Firefly Network, Inc. System and method for recommending items to a user
DE19514145A1 (en) * 1995-04-15 1996-10-17 Basf Ag Process for the preparation of a polyamide based on a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine
US5828945A (en) * 1995-04-17 1998-10-27 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Merging multi-source information in a television system
US5616876A (en) * 1995-04-19 1997-04-01 Microsoft Corporation System and methods for selecting music on the basis of subjective content
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
US5677708A (en) 1995-05-05 1997-10-14 Microsoft Corporation System for displaying a list on a display screen
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
US5654748A (en) 1995-05-05 1997-08-05 Microsoft Corporation Interactive program identification system
US5585838A (en) * 1995-05-05 1996-12-17 Microsoft Corporation Program time guide
US5861906A (en) * 1995-05-05 1999-01-19 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment network system and method for customizing operation thereof according to viewer preferences
US5914746A (en) 1995-05-05 1999-06-22 Microsoft Corporation Virtual channels in subscriber interface units
US5630119A (en) * 1995-05-05 1997-05-13 Microsoft Corporation System and method for displaying program listings in an interactive electronic program guide
US5805763A (en) 1995-05-05 1998-09-08 Microsoft Corporation System and method for automatically recording programs in an interactive viewing system
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
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
US5940738A (en) 1995-05-26 1999-08-17 Hyundai Electronics America, Inc. Video pedestal network
US5606374A (en) * 1995-05-31 1997-02-25 International Business Machines Corporation Video receiver display of menu overlaying video
DE59608151D1 (en) 1995-05-31 2001-12-13 Siemens Ag INTEGRATION OF COMPUTER NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
US5708780A (en) * 1995-06-07 1998-01-13 Open Market, Inc. Internet server access control and monitoring systems
US5793964A (en) 1995-06-07 1998-08-11 International Business Machines Corporation Web browser system
US5760821A (en) 1995-06-07 1998-06-02 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic program guide schedule localization system and method
US6181867B1 (en) 1995-06-07 2001-01-30 Intervu, Inc. Video storage and retrieval system
US5740549A (en) * 1995-06-12 1998-04-14 Pointcast, Inc. Information and advertising distribution system and method
US5818441A (en) 1995-06-15 1998-10-06 Intel Corporation System and method for simulating two-way connectivity for one way data streams
JPH099245A (en) 1995-06-22 1997-01-10 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Catv system
US5625693A (en) * 1995-07-07 1997-04-29 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Apparatus and method for authenticating transmitting applications in an interactive TV system
FR2736783B1 (en) 1995-07-13 1997-08-14 Thomson Multimedia Sa METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING AND PLAYBACK WITH LARGE CAPACITY RECORDING MEDIUM
US5675390A (en) 1995-07-17 1997-10-07 Gateway 2000, Inc. Home entertainment system combining complex processor capability with a high quality display
CA2181781C (en) * 1995-07-26 2000-02-29 Seiji Iwafune Television system for providing interactive television programs and server system for constructing the television system
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
US5815145A (en) 1995-08-21 1998-09-29 Microsoft Corporation System and method for displaying a program guide for an interactive televideo system
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
JP4332225B2 (en) 1995-08-31 2009-09-16 ソニー株式会社 Receiver
JPH0974534A (en) 1995-09-05 1997-03-18 Sony Corp Magnetic tape recording and reproducing device for video signal
US5659742A (en) 1995-09-15 1997-08-19 Infonautics Corporation Method for storing multi-media information in an information retrieval system
US5742816A (en) * 1995-09-15 1998-04-21 Infonautics Corporation Method and apparatus for identifying textual documents and multi-mediafiles corresponding to a search topic
US5819285A (en) 1995-09-20 1998-10-06 Infonautics Corporation Apparatus for capturing, storing and processing co-marketing information associated with a user of an on-line computer service using the world-wide-web.
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
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
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
US6002394A (en) * 1995-10-02 1999-12-14 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
JPH09102827A (en) 1995-10-05 1997-04-15 Sony Corp Remote controller and communication equipment
US7047241B1 (en) * 1995-10-13 2006-05-16 Digimarc Corporation System and methods for managing digital creative works
US5905865A (en) * 1995-10-30 1999-05-18 Web Pager, Inc. Apparatus and method of automatically accessing on-line services in response to broadcast of on-line addresses
US5699528A (en) 1995-10-31 1997-12-16 Mastercard International, Inc. System and method for bill delivery and payment over a communications network
US5802526A (en) 1995-11-15 1998-09-01 Microsoft Corporation System and method for graphically displaying and navigating through an interactive voice response menu
US6216264B1 (en) * 1995-11-17 2001-04-10 Thomson Licensing S.A. Scheduler apparatus employing a gopher agent
US5867226A (en) * 1995-11-17 1999-02-02 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Scheduler employing a predictive agent for use in a television receiver
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
JPH09162821A (en) 1995-12-13 1997-06-20 Toshiba Corp Multiplex broadcasting system and broadcasting transmission device/broadcasting reception device used in the same
US5833468A (en) * 1996-01-24 1998-11-10 Frederick R. Guy Remote learning system using a television signal and a network connection
US6065047A (en) * 1996-01-24 2000-05-16 America Online, Inc. System for providing subscriber with access to a content area customized for the combination of subscriber's responses to topic prompt, subtopic prompt, and action prompt
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
US5828419A (en) 1996-02-29 1998-10-27 Hughes Electronics Method and apparatus for generating television program guides utilizing icons
US5694176A (en) 1996-02-29 1997-12-02 Hughes Electronics Method and apparatus for generating television program guides with category selection overlay
US5809471A (en) 1996-03-07 1998-09-15 Ibm Corporation Retrieval of additional information not found in interactive TV or telephony signal by application using dynamically extracted vocabulary
JPH09265113A (en) * 1996-03-28 1997-10-07 Nec Corp Active matrix type liquid crystal display device and its production
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
US5915250A (en) * 1996-03-29 1999-06-22 Virage, Inc. Threshold-based comparison
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
US5809242A (en) 1996-04-19 1998-09-15 Juno Online Services, L.P. Electronic mail system for displaying advertisement at local computer received from remote system while the local computer is off-line the remote system
US5870754A (en) * 1996-04-25 1999-02-09 Philips Electronics North America Corporation Video retrieval of MPEG compressed sequences using DC and motion signatures
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
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
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
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
US6078348A (en) 1996-06-17 2000-06-20 Starsight Telecast Inc. Television schedule system with enhanced features
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
US6208384B1 (en) * 1996-07-11 2001-03-27 Douglas G. Brown Methods and systems for providing information to a television using a personal computer
US5890138A (en) 1996-08-26 1999-03-30 Bid.Com International Inc. Computer auction system
JP3797709B2 (en) 1996-07-22 2006-07-19 松下電器産業株式会社 Viewing device and recording device
US6117896A (en) * 1997-02-10 2000-09-12 Molecumetics Ltd. Methods for regulating transcription factors
US5955988A (en) 1996-08-14 1999-09-21 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Graphical user interface for establishing installation location for satellite based television system
US5933811A (en) 1996-08-20 1999-08-03 Paul D. Angles System and method for delivering customized advertisements within interactive communication systems
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
JP3557316B2 (en) 1996-09-19 2004-08-25 松下電器産業株式会社 Information display device
US5852437A (en) * 1996-09-24 1998-12-22 Ast Research, Inc. Wireless device for displaying integrated computer and television user interfaces
US5892536A (en) * 1996-10-03 1999-04-06 Personal Audio Systems and methods for computer enhanced broadcast monitoring
CN1237308A (en) 1996-10-08 1999-12-01 张艾伦 Talking remote control with display
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
US5771664A (en) * 1996-11-12 1998-06-30 Tagit Enterprises Corporation Label for bags with wire loop closures
US5828839A (en) 1996-11-14 1998-10-27 Interactive Broadcaster Services Corp. Computer network chat room based on channel broadcast in real time
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
US6687906B1 (en) 1996-12-19 2004-02-03 Index Systems, Inc. EPG with advertising inserts
US5991799A (en) * 1996-12-20 1999-11-23 Liberate Technologies Information retrieval system using an internet multiplexer to focus user selection
US5889950A (en) * 1996-12-20 1999-03-30 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for distribution of broadcast data
US6163316A (en) 1997-01-03 2000-12-19 Texas Instruments Incorporated Electronic programming system and method
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
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
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
US5818935A (en) * 1997-03-10 1998-10-06 Maa; Chia-Yiu Internet enhanced video system
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
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
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
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
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
WO1999004570A1 (en) 1997-07-18 1999-01-28 Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne Method for marking a compressed digital video signal
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
DE19740079B4 (en) 1997-09-12 2004-07-01 Ciburski, Guido Method for remote control of video recorders from the Internet
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
US6016372A (en) * 1997-10-16 2000-01-18 World Precision Instruments, Inc. Chemical sensing techniques employing liquid-core optical fibers
US6005597A (en) 1997-10-27 1999-12-21 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Method and apparatus for program selection
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
US6564378B1 (en) 1997-12-08 2003-05-13 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide system with browsing display
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
US6097441A (en) 1997-12-31 2000-08-01 Eremote, Inc. System for dual-display interaction with integrated television and internet content
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
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
CA2337463C (en) 1998-07-17 2009-10-13 United Video Properties, Inc. Television system with aided user program searching
AR019458A1 (en) 1998-07-23 2002-02-20 United Video Properties Inc AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAMMING GUIDE PROVISION THAT SERVES AS AN ENTRY
US6505348B1 (en) * 1998-07-29 2003-01-07 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Multiple interactive electronic program guide system and methods
US6437836B1 (en) 1998-09-21 2002-08-20 Navispace, Inc. Extended functionally remote control system and method therefore
US6675385B1 (en) * 1998-10-21 2004-01-06 Liberate Technologies HTML electronic program guide for an MPEG digital TV system
US7058635B1 (en) 1998-10-30 2006-06-06 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for searching through an electronic programming guide
EP1133875B1 (en) * 1998-11-13 2011-07-20 Comcast IP Holdings I, LLC Digital broadcast program ordering
US6526577B1 (en) * 1998-12-01 2003-02-25 United Video Properties, Inc. Enhanced interactive program guide
US6696373B2 (en) * 1999-01-08 2004-02-24 Bba Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. Durable hydrophilic nonwoven webs and articles formed therefrom
US6359635B1 (en) * 1999-02-03 2002-03-19 Cary D. Perttunen Methods, articles and apparatus for visibly representing information and for providing an input interface
US6611654B1 (en) 1999-04-01 2003-08-26 Koninklijke Philips Electronics Nv Time- and location-driven personalized TV
WO2001007818A1 (en) * 1999-07-23 2001-02-01 Nkt Flexibles I/S A method of securing reinforcement wires to an end termination of a pipeline or a cable, an end termination, and uses of the method and the end termination
KR100420116B1 (en) * 2000-08-31 2004-03-02 삼성전자주식회사 Circuit and method for generating processor clock for low power consumption cdma modem chip design
US20020065927A1 (en) 2000-09-05 2002-05-30 Janik Craig M. Webpad and method for using the same
EP1667444B1 (en) 2003-09-11 2017-11-08 Panasonic Corporation Content selection method and content selection device

Patent Citations (99)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
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
US4390901A (en) * 1979-12-14 1983-06-28 Edmond Keiser Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a television signal 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
US4429385A (en) * 1981-12-31 1984-01-31 American Newspaper Publishers Association Method and apparatus for digital serial scanning with hierarchical and relational access
US5090049A (en) * 1990-05-22 1992-02-18 Chen Thomas N Fax message recorder and relay system and method
US7187847B2 (en) * 1990-09-10 2007-03-06 Starsight Telecast, Inc. User interface for television schedule system
US5949954A (en) * 1990-09-10 1999-09-07 Starsight Telecast, Inc. System and process for control of recording and reproducing apparatus
US5412720A (en) * 1990-09-28 1995-05-02 Ictv, Inc. Interactive home information system
US5191423A (en) * 1990-11-28 1993-03-02 Funai Electric Company Limited TV channel selecting device with a memory
US5283819A (en) * 1991-04-25 1994-02-01 Compuadd Corporation Computing and multimedia entertainment system
US5561709A (en) * 1991-10-03 1996-10-01 Viscorp Apparatus and method for electronic device for information services
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
US5325423A (en) * 1992-11-13 1994-06-28 Multimedia Systems Corporation Interactive multimedia communication system
US6408437B1 (en) * 1992-12-09 2002-06-18 Discovery Communications, Inc. Reprogrammable terminal for suggesting programs offered on a television program delivery system
US5798785A (en) * 1992-12-09 1998-08-25 Discovery Communications, Inc. Terminal for suggesting programs offered on a television program delivery system
US20020112249A1 (en) * 1992-12-09 2002-08-15 Hendricks John S. Method and apparatus for targeting of interactive virtual objects
US20060037044A1 (en) * 1993-03-29 2006-02-16 Microsoft Corporation Pausing television programming in response to selection of hypertext link
US5877906A (en) * 1993-06-16 1999-03-02 Sony Corporation Device for switching between multiple recording media based on a recordable time remaining calculation
US6357043B1 (en) * 1993-09-09 2002-03-12 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide with remote product ordering
US6373528B1 (en) * 1993-09-09 2002-04-16 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method
US6014184A (en) * 1993-09-09 2000-01-11 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access
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
US5515106A (en) * 1994-01-05 1996-05-07 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a program guide for television services
US5523796A (en) * 1994-05-20 1996-06-04 Prevue Networks, Inc. Video clip program guide
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
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
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
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
US20040078815A1 (en) * 1995-04-06 2004-04-22 Lemmons Thomas R. Interactive program guide systems and processes
US5880768A (en) * 1995-04-06 1999-03-09 Prevue Networks, Inc. Interactive program guide systems and processes
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
US5907323A (en) * 1995-05-05 1999-05-25 Microsoft Corporation Interactive program summary panel
US5914712A (en) * 1995-05-08 1999-06-22 Video Jukebox Network, Inc. Interactive video system
US20030115602A1 (en) * 1995-06-07 2003-06-19 Knee Robert Alan 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
US5873660A (en) * 1995-06-19 1999-02-23 Microsoft Corporation Morphological search and replace
US6359636B1 (en) * 1995-07-17 2002-03-19 Gateway, Inc. Graphical user interface for control of a home entertainment system
US6388714B1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2002-05-14 Starsight Telecast Inc Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
US20020059599A1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2002-05-16 Starsight Telecast Incorporated Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
US20080184312A1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2008-07-31 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
US20080178221A1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2008-07-24 Schein Steven M System and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
US20030005445A1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2003-01-02 Schein Steven M. Systems and methods for linking television viewers with advertisers and broadcasters
US20020138840A1 (en) * 1995-10-02 2002-09-26 Schein Steven M. Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information
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
US5809214A (en) * 1995-11-16 1998-09-15 Seiko Instruments Inc. Thermal printer
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
US5761606A (en) * 1996-02-08 1998-06-02 Wolzien; Thomas R. Media online services access via address embedded in video or audio program
US5931905A (en) * 1996-02-29 1999-08-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba TV 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
US20050015815A1 (en) * 1996-03-29 2005-01-20 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment system for presenting supplemental interactive content together with continuous video programs
US20040139465A1 (en) * 1996-03-29 2004-07-15 Matthews Joseph H. 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
US6025837A (en) * 1996-03-29 2000-02-15 Micrsoft Corporation Electronic program guide with hyperlinks to target resources
US5929849A (en) * 1996-05-02 1999-07-27 Phoenix Technologies, Ltd. Integration of dynamic universal resource locators with television presentations
US20030164858A1 (en) * 1996-05-03 2003-09-04 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Method and system for displaying banner advertisements in an electronic program guide
US20030163813A1 (en) * 1996-05-03 2003-08-28 Starsight Telecast, Inc. Method and system for displaying advertisements in an electronic 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
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
US6212553B1 (en) * 1996-05-31 2001-04-03 Microsoft Corporation Method for sending and receiving flags and associated data in e-mail transmissions
US6341374B2 (en) * 1996-06-14 2002-01-22 Starsight Telecast. Inc. Television schedule system and method of operation for multiple program occurrences
US5903816A (en) * 1996-07-01 1999-05-11 Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Interactive television system and method for displaying web-like stills with hyperlinks
US6023267A (en) * 1996-07-31 2000-02-08 Thomson Multimedia Sa Process for selecting programes, especially television programes and device and graphical interface implementing this process
US5790201A (en) * 1996-08-08 1998-08-04 Antos; Jeffrey David Television and computer capability integration
US6675386B1 (en) * 1996-09-04 2004-01-06 Discovery Communications, Inc. Apparatus for video access and control over computer network, including image correction
US5907322A (en) * 1996-10-16 1999-05-25 Catch Tv Acquisition Corp. Television event marking system
US5801747A (en) * 1996-11-15 1998-09-01 Hyundai Electronics America Method and apparatus for creating a television viewer profile
US6184877B1 (en) * 1996-12-11 2001-02-06 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for interactively accessing program information on a television
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
US6411696B1 (en) * 1996-12-31 2002-06-25 Intel Corporation System for finding a user with a preferred communication mechanism
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
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
US6262722B1 (en) * 1997-07-08 2001-07-17 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive program guide navigator menu system
US6018372A (en) * 1997-09-04 2000-01-25 Liberate Technologies Electronic program guide with multiple day planner
US20050138660A1 (en) * 1997-09-18 2005-06-23 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic mail reminder for an internet television program guide
US6016141A (en) * 1997-10-06 2000-01-18 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion
US6335963B1 (en) * 1997-12-01 2002-01-01 Nortel Networks Limited System and method for providing notification of a received electronic mail message
US6545722B1 (en) * 1998-01-09 2003-04-08 Douglas G. Brown Methods and systems for providing television related services via a networked personal computer
US7185355B1 (en) * 1998-03-04 2007-02-27 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide system with preference profiles
US20050204388A1 (en) * 1998-06-11 2005-09-15 Knudson Edward B. Series reminders and series recording from an interactive television program guide
US6268849B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2001-07-31 United Video Properties, Inc. Internet television program guide system with embedded real-time data
US6898762B2 (en) * 1998-08-21 2005-05-24 United Video Properties, Inc. Client-server electronic program guide
US7165098B1 (en) * 1998-11-10 2007-01-16 United Video Properties, Inc. On-line schedule system with personalization features
US6865746B1 (en) * 1998-12-03 2005-03-08 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic program guide with related-program search feature
US20080184308A1 (en) * 1998-12-03 2008-07-31 Herrington W Benjamin Electronic program guide with related-program search feature
US6856746B2 (en) * 1999-10-15 2005-02-15 California Institute Of Technology Titanium-indiffusion waveguides and methods of fabrication
US6754904B1 (en) * 1999-12-30 2004-06-22 America Online, Inc. Informing network users of television programming viewed by other network users

Cited By (65)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030079231A1 (en) * 1997-03-18 2003-04-24 Sony Corporation Reception method, reception device, transmission method, transmission device, transmission/reception method, transmission/reception device
US8037498B2 (en) * 1997-03-18 2011-10-11 Sony Corporation Reception method, reception device, transmission method, transmission device, transmission/reception method, transmission/reception device
US9058593B2 (en) 1997-03-18 2015-06-16 Sony Corporation Reception method, reception device, transmission method, transmission device, transmission/reception method, transmission/reception device
US20020048275A1 (en) * 1997-12-16 2002-04-25 Antonio Atwater Method and apparatus for receiving full-motion digital video multi-casts, interactive data and interactive voice via a DSL circuit
US7840981B2 (en) * 1997-12-16 2010-11-23 Nokia Siemens Networks Gmbh & Co. Kg Method and apparatus for receiving full-motion digital video multi-casts, interactive data and interactive voice via a DSL circuit
US7917927B1 (en) * 1998-12-28 2011-03-29 Thomson Licensing Method for selecting a program displayed in an advertisement in an application software program
US20020088006A1 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-07-04 Natsuko Yotsumoto Information processing method and apparatus and recording medium
US7603686B2 (en) * 2000-11-30 2009-10-13 Sony Corporation Information processing method and apparatus and recording medium
US7895218B2 (en) * 2004-11-09 2011-02-22 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for performing searches for television content using reduced text input
US9135337B2 (en) 2004-11-09 2015-09-15 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for performing searches for television content using reduced text input
US20070266406A1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2007-11-15 Murali Aravamudan Method and system for performing actions using a non-intrusive television with reduced text input
US20060101503A1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-05-11 Veveo.Tv, Inc. Method and system for performing searches for television content using reduced text input
US20060101504A1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-05-11 Veveo.Tv, Inc. Method and system for performing searches for television content and channels using a non-intrusive television interface and with reduced text input
US9177081B2 (en) 2005-08-26 2015-11-03 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for processing ambiguous, multi-term search queries
US20100153380A1 (en) * 2005-11-23 2010-06-17 Veveo, Inc. System And Method For Finding Desired Results By Incremental Search Using An Ambiguous Keypad With The Input Containing Orthographic And/Or Typographic Errors
US8370284B2 (en) 2005-11-23 2013-02-05 Veveo, Inc. System and method for finding desired results by incremental search using an ambiguous keypad with the input containing orthographic and/or typographic errors
US20070169144A1 (en) * 2006-01-19 2007-07-19 Sbc Knowledge Ventures L.P. System and method for providing content over a television network
US9294729B2 (en) * 2006-01-19 2016-03-22 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. System and method for providing content over a television network
US8949231B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2015-02-03 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on activity level spikes associated with the content
US20110131161A1 (en) * 2006-03-06 2011-06-02 Veveo, Inc. Methods and Systems for Selecting and Presenting Content on a First System Based on User Preferences Learned on a Second System
US20070219984A1 (en) * 2006-03-06 2007-09-20 Murali Aravamudan Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on a comparison of preference signatures from multiple users
US9213755B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2015-12-15 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on context sensitive user preferences
US8943083B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2015-01-27 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for segmenting relative user preferences into fine-grain and coarse-grain collections
US7885904B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2011-02-08 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content on a first system based on user preferences learned on a second system
US8380726B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2013-02-19 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on a comparison of preference signatures from multiple users
US8825576B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2014-09-02 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content on a first system based on user preferences learned on a second system
US9075861B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2015-07-07 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for segmenting relative user preferences into fine-grain and coarse-grain collections
US20100121845A1 (en) * 2006-03-06 2010-05-13 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on activity level spikes associated with the content
US8583566B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2013-11-12 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on learned periodicity of user content selection
US8543516B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2013-09-24 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content on a first system based on user preferences learned on a second system
US9092503B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2015-07-28 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on dynamically identifying microgenres associated with the content
US8478794B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2013-07-02 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for segmenting relative user preferences into fine-grain and coarse-grain collections
US8438160B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2013-05-07 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on dynamically identifying Microgenres Associated with the content
US8429155B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2013-04-23 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on activity level spikes associated with the content
US9128987B2 (en) 2006-03-06 2015-09-08 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on a comparison of preference signatures from multiple users
WO2007106695A3 (en) * 2006-03-10 2008-05-29 At & T Knowledge Ventures Lp System and method for providing content over a communications network
US20070214103A1 (en) * 2006-03-10 2007-09-13 Sbc Knowledge Ventures L.P. System and method for providing content over a communications network
WO2007106695A2 (en) * 2006-03-10 2007-09-20 At & T Knowledge Ventures,L.P System and method for providing content over a communications network
US9223873B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2015-12-29 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query
US8073860B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2011-12-06 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query
US20080114743A1 (en) * 2006-03-30 2008-05-15 Veveo, Inc. Method and system for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query
US20070255693A1 (en) * 2006-03-30 2007-11-01 Veveo, Inc. User interface method and system for incrementally searching and selecting content items and for presenting advertising in response to search activities
US8417717B2 (en) 2006-03-30 2013-04-09 Veveo Inc. Method and system for incrementally selecting and providing relevant search engines in response to a user query
WO2007123852A2 (en) * 2006-04-17 2007-11-01 Microsoft Corporation Internet search-based television
WO2007123852A3 (en) * 2006-04-17 2007-12-21 Microsoft Corp Internet search-based television
US20070244902A1 (en) * 2006-04-17 2007-10-18 Microsoft Corporation Internet search-based television
US8375069B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2013-02-12 Veveo Inc. User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content
US7899806B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2011-03-01 Veveo, Inc. User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content
US8688746B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2014-04-01 Veveo, Inc. User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user relationships
US8423583B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2013-04-16 Veveo Inc. User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user relationships
US8086602B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2011-12-27 Veveo Inc. User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user navigation and selection actions associated with the content
US10146840B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2018-12-04 Veveo, Inc. User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user relationships
US9087109B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2015-07-21 Veveo, Inc. User interface methods and systems for selecting and presenting content based on user relationships
US8799804B2 (en) 2006-10-06 2014-08-05 Veveo, Inc. Methods and systems for a linear character selection display interface for ambiguous text input
US8078884B2 (en) 2006-11-13 2011-12-13 Veveo, Inc. Method of and system for selecting and presenting content based on user identification
US8549424B2 (en) 2007-05-25 2013-10-01 Veveo, Inc. System and method for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search
US20080313564A1 (en) * 2007-05-25 2008-12-18 Veveo, Inc. System and method for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search
US8826179B2 (en) 2007-05-25 2014-09-02 Veveo, Inc. System and method for text disambiguation and context designation in incremental search
US20100333137A1 (en) * 2009-06-30 2010-12-30 Gemstar Development Corporation Methods and systems for content scheduling across multiple devices
WO2011002572A1 (en) * 2009-06-30 2011-01-06 Rovi Technologies Corporation Methods and systems for content scheduling across multiple devices
US9445036B2 (en) 2009-06-30 2016-09-13 Rovi Guides, Inc. Methods and systems for content scheduling across multiple devices
US20110191331A1 (en) * 2010-02-04 2011-08-04 Veveo, Inc. Method of and System for Enhanced Local-Device Content Discovery
US9703779B2 (en) 2010-02-04 2017-07-11 Veveo, Inc. Method of and system for enhanced local-device content discovery
US20110191332A1 (en) * 2010-02-04 2011-08-04 Veveo, Inc. Method of and System for Updating Locally Cached Content Descriptor Information
WO2023049135A1 (en) * 2021-09-21 2023-03-30 Gearhart Elizabeth Video directory method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US9003451B2 (en) 2015-04-07
US20100211975A1 (en) 2010-08-19
US20080276283A1 (en) 2008-11-06
US20080201740A1 (en) 2008-08-21
US20050278768A1 (en) 2005-12-15
US20030066085A1 (en) 2003-04-03
US20110191808A1 (en) 2011-08-04
US20060253869A1 (en) 2006-11-09
US20120272270A1 (en) 2012-10-25
US20040128686A1 (en) 2004-07-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9003451B2 (en) Internet television program guide system
EP1809017B1 (en) Internet television program guide system
CA2764753C (en) Internet television program guide system
US7269838B1 (en) Internet television program guide system with embedded real-time data
MXPA99005342A (en) Internet television program guide system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
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

AS Assignment

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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

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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION