USRE43594E1 - Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time - Google Patents

Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time Download PDF

Info

Publication number
USRE43594E1
USRE43594E1 US12/016,097 US1609708A USRE43594E US RE43594 E1 USRE43594 E1 US RE43594E1 US 1609708 A US1609708 A US 1609708A US RE43594 E USRE43594 E US RE43594E
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
information
program guide
television program
user
network
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.)
Expired - Lifetime, expires
Application number
US12/016,097
Inventor
Roy J. Mankovitz
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.)
Display Vectors LLC
Original Assignee
Silverius SA LLC
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 Silverius SA LLC filed Critical Silverius SA LLC
Priority to US12/016,097 priority Critical patent/USRE43594E1/en
Assigned to SILVERIUS S.A. LLC reassignment SILVERIUS S.A. LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MANKOVITZ, ROY J.
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of USRE43594E1 publication Critical patent/USRE43594E1/en
Assigned to BENHOV GMBH, LLC reassignment BENHOV GMBH, LLC MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SILVERIUS S.A. LLC
Assigned to INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 143 LLC reassignment INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 143 LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BENHOV GMBH, LLC
Assigned to DISPLAY VECTORS LLC reassignment DISPLAY VECTORS LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20Servers 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
    • H04N21/26208Content 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 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H04M3/4872Non-interactive information services
    • 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
    • H04N21/41Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/4104Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
    • H04N21/4131Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices
    • 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]
    • H04N21/60Network 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
    • H04N21/6187Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04N7/165Centralised control of user terminal ; Registering at central
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/22Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
    • H04M3/2272Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits

Definitions

  • connections are typically made through the switching system of a telephone exchange and a user's telephone through the medium of a telephone network.
  • a loop is formed between the telephone and the exchange's switching system by way of the telephone network, and voice communication is made possible by the transmission of signals around the loop.
  • Each user's home is fitted with a home device with a speaker which is connected to the telephone network and which, when the receiver is lifted off the hook, connects the exchange device to the exchange's switching system itself to enable voice communication and, when the receiver is placed on the hook, switches the exchange device to the independent center from which broadcast data is transmitted by way of the telephone network to user's home devices.
  • the data input terminal 36 described above is similar to the RS-232 data input terminals, usually referred to as G-Link inputs, provided on television receivers equipped with the Guide Plus program guide system in the U.S. and designed to receive serial program guide data, such as the G-Link connector provided on the Sony Model SLV-M20HF VCR.
  • the decoder 34 is designed to convert the analog on-hook data signal on line 16 to a serial digital data signal compatible with the input requirements of the receiver 38 , and to filter out voice/data signals appearing on line 16 in off-hook conditions.
  • the program guide data is encrypted using a time-dependent code. It is anticipated that the current time and day information may be provided to the decoder 34 by the phone system 18 using the current methods of transmitting such time data to users receiving caller ID information whenever incoming calls are received.

Abstract

A system is disclosed for delivering information, preferably electronic television program guide information, to a user over a telecommunications network. The network includes the capability of determining whether the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook or off-hook condition, and the information is received and stored at a user site when the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook condition. Information is delivered from a guide provider to a phone company switch point over a land-based or wireless dedicated line. When the user's phone is on-hook, the guide data is sent to the user site through a splitter. The line splitter provides the signal to a data decoder circuit, the output of which is connected to a data input terminal in communication with a television receiver, VCR, cable box, or other piece of equipment for displaying the program guide data on a screen. The invention is capable of delivering complete program guide data to a user in spite of data interruptions due to telephone calls. The program schedule data is preferably transmitted as n serial packets of information, and the sequence of packets is repeated several times each day.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a reissue of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/677,424, filed Oct. 2, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,842, which claims priority from the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/157,571, filed Oct. 4, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to information delivery and, in particular, to an electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various systems have been implemented or proposed for delivering electronic television program guides (EPOs) to viewer locations. Such approaches include use of the vertical blanking interval (VBI) portion of a broadcast television station signal, use of a paging network, and through dial-up telephone. Each of these methods presents shortcomings. VBI access may be controlled by cable companies which may place restrictions on such transmissions. Paging receivers and paging airtime are relatively expensive, and dial-up telephone service ties up the user's telephone and requires potentially large telephone switching equipment resources.
In the field of telephone communications, connections are typically made through the switching system of a telephone exchange and a user's telephone through the medium of a telephone network. When the telephone receiver is lifted off the hook, a loop is formed between the telephone and the exchange's switching system by way of the telephone network, and voice communication is made possible by the transmission of signals around the loop.
As disclosed in Tsumura et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,353,337 and 5,357,505, there are known communications devices which make use of a network's idle time for the unidirectional transmission of broadcast data in the form of, for example, music data to the user's home. This type of communication device calls for the installation in a telephone exchange of an exchange device which is used to switch the telephone network selectively between the switching system-of the exchange itself and a facility installed in an independent center for the transmission of analog data in the form of speech or music. Each user's home is fitted with a home device with a speaker which is connected to the telephone network and which, when the receiver is lifted off the hook, connects the exchange device to the exchange's switching system itself to enable voice communication and, when the receiver is placed on the hook, switches the exchange device to the independent center from which broadcast data is transmitted by way of the telephone network to user's home devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides methods and apparatus for delivering information, preferably electronic television program guide information, to a user over a telecommunications network. The network includes the capability of determining whether the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook or off-hook condition, and the information is received and stored at a user site when the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook condition.
In the preferred embodiment, the information is delivered from a guide provider to a phone company switch point over a land-based or wireless dedicated line. When the user's phone is on-hook, the guide data is sent to the user site through a splitter. The line splitter provides the signal to a data decoder circuit, the output of which is connected to a data input terminal in communication with a television receiver, VCR, cable box, or other piece of equipment for displaying the program guide data on a screen.
The invention is capable of delivering complete program guide data to a user in spite of data interruptions due to telephone calls. The program schedule data is preferably transmitted as n serial packets of information, and the sequence of packets is repeated several times each day. Interspersed between the schedule data is channel mapping data which is also repetitively broadcast each day. In the event of an on-hook data interruption from an off-hook incoming/outgoing call, incomplete packet reception will be detected by a memory management system storage will cease until the phone is again on-hook. At this time, data storage will continue, and incomplete and missing packets will be picked up in the subsequent repetitive broadcasts of the schedule data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention showing how an electronic program guide can be downloaded to a user location during telephone network idle time;
FIG. 2 is an example of signals provided from a program guide provider to a phone company as a function of time; and
FIG. 3 is a drawing which shows a TV receiver equipped with a memory management system to receive packetized data and a packet buffer for temporarily storing the packets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of one embodiment 10 of the invention, showing how an electronic program guide can be downloaded to a user's home using the idle time of the telephone network. At the user's home 12 is a conventional telephone 14 connected via line 16 to a local phone company switching center 18. A switching system 20 detects whether the phone 14 is on or off-hook, and provides a control signal to a line switch 22 which connects the line 16 to the conventional voice telecommunications service at switch point 24 whenever the phone 14 is off-hook, and to an alternate switch point 26 whenever the phone 14 is on-hook. This type of switching arrangement is well known to those in the art and is used by telephone companies to send on-hook signals to user's phone systems, such as message waiting reset signals, diagnostic signals, etc.
In the present invention, electronic television program guide data is provided from a guide provider 28 to the phone company switch point 26 via a line 30, which may be a land or wireless dedicated line. Thus, when the user's phone 14 is on-hook, the guide data is sent to the user's home on line 16. A two-way splitter 32 provides the signal on line 16 to a data decoder circuit 34, the output of which is connected to a data input terminal 36 of a television receiver 38, which may be a VCR, a cable box, or a television display unit for displaying the program guide data on a screen.
One significant problem with the system described above is the fact that the stream of guide data being furnished to the home in the on-hook condition is interrupted each time the phone is taken off-hook, which occurs whenever there is an incoming or outgoing call to or from the user. Therefore, provisions must be made to enable the user to capture the necessary guide data in spite of such data interruptions. This is accomplished as follows.
The data provider system 28 includes a controller 40, a digital database 42, timer circuits 44, and a data encoder 46. The database 42 contains the program guide data for a predetermined time period, and is automatically updated as required to keep it current. The timer 44 is set to program the controller 40 to periodically and repetitively instruct the database to output the guide data to the encoder 46. The encoder 46 converts the database output into a signal compatible with the telephone system data transmission requirements, such as an audio modulated signal well known to those in the art. FIG. 2 is an example of the signals provided from the guide provider 28 on the line 30 to the phone company as a function of time.
The program schedule data is preferably transmitted as n serial packets of information, and the sequence of packets is repeated several times each day. Interspersed between the schedule data is channel mapping data which is also repetitively broadcast each day. Such packetized redundant broadcast systems are well known in the art, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,274, and as used to broadcast the StarSight and Guide Plus branded program guides in the vertical blanking interval of broadcast signals in the U.S.
As shown in FIG. 3, the TV receiver 38 is equipped with a memory management system 48 which receives the packetized data on line 36 and temporarily stores the packets in the packet buffer 52. The temporarily stored packets are analyzed for data errors, time priority codes, and other criteria to determine if they are to be shifted to RAM 50, which holds the program guide data to be displayed to the user using the display circuits 54. Only complete, error-free, and timely packets are stored in RAM, and replace out-dated packets therein using any of a multitude of memory management criteria.
From the above description, it can be seen that the system 10 is capable of delivering complete program guide data to a user in spite of data interruptions due to telephone calls. In the event of an on-hook data interruption from an off-hook incoming/outgoing call, guide data packet transmission will be interrupted, incomplete packet reception will be detected by the memory management system 48, and data storage into RAM will cease until the phone 14 is again on-hook. At this time, data storage will continue, and incomplete and missing packets will be picked up in the subsequent repetitive broadcasts of the schedule data as shown in FIG. 2. Because most home users of telephones rarely have such phones off-hook during the late night/early morning hours, it is anticipated that there will be more than adequate on-hook time for the receiver 38 to acquire the complete schedule data each day, or multiples thereof.
The data input terminal 36 described above is similar to the RS-232 data input terminals, usually referred to as G-Link inputs, provided on television receivers equipped with the Guide Plus program guide system in the U.S. and designed to receive serial program guide data, such as the G-Link connector provided on the Sony Model SLV-M20HF VCR. The decoder 34 is designed to convert the analog on-hook data signal on line 16 to a serial digital data signal compatible with the input requirements of the receiver 38, and to filter out voice/data signals appearing on line 16 in off-hook conditions. In many instances, the program guide data is encrypted using a time-dependent code. It is anticipated that the current time and day information may be provided to the decoder 34 by the phone system 18 using the current methods of transmitting such time data to users receiving caller ID information whenever incoming calls are received.
While the system of FIG. 1 shows the connections for a single user, it is contemplated that the signal delivered to the phone company 18 on the line 30 will be similarly applied to the on-hook switch points 26′ of numerous users who are subscribers of that company, so that the guide data can be received by large groups of users using the idle time of each user's phone line for delivery.

Claims (45)

1. A method of providing electronic television program guide information to a user over a telecommunications network including the capability of determining whether the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook or off-hook condition, the method comprising the steps of:
storing television program guide information at a provider site on the network;
repetitively transmitting the information over the network regardless of whether the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook or off-hook condition;
receiving at least a portion of the information at a user site when the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook condition;
storing the received information at the user site; and
updating the information as it is received.
2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of displaying the information at the user site.
3. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:
encoding the information at the provider site prior to transmitting; and
decoding the information at the user site.
4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of simultaneously transmitting the information to a plurality of user sites.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the information to a user site over the network in wireless fashion.
6. The method of claim 1, including the step of repeating the transmission of the information to maximize the amount of information delivered to the user in the event of an off-hook or other network interruption.
7. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:
transmitting the information in the form of serial data packets; and
reconstructing the packets at the user site.
8. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:
encrypting the information prior to transmission; and
decrypting the information at the user site.
9. The method of claim 1, further including the step of filtering out voice or data signals received over the network when the user's connection is in an off-hook condition.
10. A system for providing information to a user in electronic form over a telecommunications network, the network including the capability of determining whether the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook or off-hook condition, the system comprising:
an information provider including a database for storing the information and an interface enabling requested information to be repetitively delivered over the telecommunications network regardless of whether user's connection to the network is in an on-hook or off-hook condition; and
a user site including a storage device and a splitter interfaced to the network for routing the information from the provider to the storage device and updating the information when the user's connection to the network is in an on-hook condition.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information relates to a television program.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the information is television program schedule information.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein:
the user site further includes a television display; and
the storage device is interfaced to the television display enabling the user to view the program schedule information.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein:
the information is delivered in encoded form; and
the user site includes a decoder to decode the information.
15. The system of claim 10, further including:
a plurality of user sites, each equipped with a splitter interfaced to the network for receiving the information from the provider.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the network is wireless.
17. The system of claim 10, wherein the transmission of the information is repeated to maximize the amount of information delivered to the user in the event of an off-hook or other network interruption.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the information is transmitted in the form of serial data packets which are reconstructed at the user's site.
19. The system of claim 10, further including circuitry to the user's site for filtering out voice or data signals received over the network when the user's connection is in an off-hook conditions.
20. The system of claim 10, wherein the information is encrypted using a time-dependent code.
21. A method of transmitting electronic television program guide information, comprising:
receiving television program guide information at a switching center of a telecommunications network; and
repetitively transmitting the television program guide information over the telecommunications network to a user device regardless of whether the user device's connection to the network is in an idle or non-idle condition,
wherein in the non-idle condition, receipt of the television program guide information at the user device is interrupted, and
wherein the user device is configured to:
in the non-idle condition, determine that data reception is interrupted and not store the television program guide information via the user device's connection; and
in the idle condition, determine that data reception has resumed and store at least a portion of the television program guide information and update the television program guide information as it is received.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising simultaneously transmitting the television program guide information to a plurality of user devices regardless of whether the user devices' connections to the network are in idle or non-idle conditions.
23. The method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting the information in the form of serial data packets operable for reconstructing the packets at the user device.
24. The method of claim 21, further comprising encrypting the television program guide information prior to transmission.
25. The method of claim 21 wherein said repetitively transmitting is performed over a land-network.
26. A system for transmitting electronic television program guide information, comprising:
a switching center associated with a telecommunications network and configured to receive television program guide information;
said switching center being further configured to repetitively transmit the television program guide information over the telecommunications network to a user device regardless of whether the user device's connection to the network is in an idle or non-idle condition, wherein in the non-idle condition, receipt of the television program guide information at the user device is interrupted, and
wherein the user device being configured to:
in the non-idle condition, determine that data reception is interrupted and not store the television program guide information via the user device's connection; and
in the idle condition, determine that data reception has resumed and store at least a portion of the television program guide information and update the television program guide information as it is received.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein the information is delivered in encoded form.
28. The system of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the network is wireless.
29. The system of claim 28, wherein the information is transmitted in the form of serial data packets operable for reconstructing the packets at the user device.
30. The system of claim 26, wherein the information is encrypted using a time-dependent code.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein the television program guide is received over a wireless network.
32. A method of receiving electronic television program guide information, comprising:
receiving, at a user device, television program guide information from a switching center that is repetitively broadcast over a telecommunications network regardless of whether the user device's connection to the network is in an idle or non-idle condition, wherein in the non-idle condition, receipt of the television program guide information at the user device is interrupted, and wherein the user device is configured to determine that data reception is interrupted during the non-idle condition and not store the television program guide information via the user device's connection;
determining that data reception has resumed and storing at least a portion of the received television program guide information at the user device while the user device's connection to the network is in an idle condition; and
updating the television program guide information at the user device as it is received.
33. The method of claim 32, further comprising displaying the television program guide information.
34. The method of claim 32, further comprising decoding the television program guide information.
35. The method of claim 32, wherein the television program guide information is received in the form of serial data packets; further comprising reconstructing the packets at the user device.
36. The method of claim 32, further comprising decrypting the television program guide information at the user site.
37. The method of claim 32, further comprising filtering out voice or data signals received over the network when the user device's connection is in a not idle condition.
38. The method of claim 32 wherein the television program guide is received over a land network.
39. A system for receiving electronic television program guide information, comprising:
means for receiving television program guide information that is repetitively broadcast from a switching center over a telecommunications network regardless of whether the system's connection to the network is in an idle or non-idle condition, wherein in the non-idle condition, receipt of the television program guide information at the user device is interrupted, and wherein the user device is configured to determine that data reception is interrupted and not store the television program guide information via the user device's connection;
means for storing and updating the received television program guide information as it is received; and
means for routing at least a portion of the received television program guide information to the means for storing while the system's connection to the network is determined to be in an idle condition.
40. The system of claim 39, further comprising means for displaying the television program guide information.
41. The system of claim 39, further comprising means for decoding the received television program guide information.
42. The system of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of the network is wireless.
43. The system of claim 39, wherein the television program guide information is received in the form of serial data packets, further comprising means for reconstructing the television program guide information.
44. The system of claim 39, further comprising means for filtering out voice or data signals received over the network when the system's connection is in an idle condition.
45. The system of claim 39, wherein the television program guide information is encrypted using a time-dependent code, further comprising means for decrypting the television program guide information.
US12/016,097 1999-10-04 2008-01-17 Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time Expired - Lifetime USRE43594E1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/016,097 USRE43594E1 (en) 1999-10-04 2008-01-17 Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15757199P 1999-10-04 1999-10-04
US09/677,424 US6987842B1 (en) 1999-10-04 2000-10-02 Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time
US12/016,097 USRE43594E1 (en) 1999-10-04 2008-01-17 Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/677,424 Reissue US6987842B1 (en) 1999-10-04 2000-10-02 Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
USRE43594E1 true USRE43594E1 (en) 2012-08-21

Family

ID=26854259

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/677,424 Ceased US6987842B1 (en) 1999-10-04 2000-10-02 Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time
US12/016,097 Expired - Lifetime USRE43594E1 (en) 1999-10-04 2008-01-17 Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/677,424 Ceased US6987842B1 (en) 1999-10-04 2000-10-02 Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (2) US6987842B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1222816A4 (en)
AU (1) AU7990300A (en)
WO (1) WO2001026366A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7212730B2 (en) 2002-06-27 2007-05-01 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for enhanced edit list for recording options
US20050132149A1 (en) * 2003-12-11 2005-06-16 W. Daniel Hillis Spatial-to-temporal data translation and scheduling and control
US9942213B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2018-04-10 Comcast Cable Communications, Llc Systems and methods for providing secure services

Citations (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5353337A (en) * 1992-04-28 1994-10-04 Ricos Co., Ltd. Device for the transmission of data by telephone line
US5357505A (en) 1992-03-30 1994-10-18 Ricos Co., Ltd. Device for bidirectional communication on a telephone line
US5570415A (en) * 1991-08-29 1996-10-29 Sasktel Video programming and storage control using the telephone network
US5625416A (en) 1993-09-17 1997-04-29 Tseng; Ling-Yuan Video communication controller utilizing multiple data channels to deliver separate program segments
US5627875A (en) * 1994-11-22 1997-05-06 At&T Method in a telephone system for reaching a subscriber under busy/no answer conditions and ring/no answer conditions
US5635978A (en) 1994-05-20 1997-06-03 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic television program guide channel system and method
US5657072A (en) 1996-04-10 1997-08-12 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment network system and method for providing program listings during non-peak times
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
US5805154A (en) 1995-12-14 1998-09-08 Time Warner Entertainment Co. L.P. Integrated broadcast application with broadcast portion having option display for access to on demand portion
US5872837A (en) 1996-06-27 1999-02-16 Mci Worldcom, Inc. System and method for transmitting data and commands using a telephone
US6029064A (en) 1995-01-12 2000-02-22 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Mobile audio program selection system using public switched telephone network
US6137549A (en) 1997-10-10 2000-10-24 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide data distribution system with configurable queues
US6268849B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2001-07-31 United Video Properties, Inc. Internet television program guide system with embedded real-time data
US6323911B1 (en) 1995-10-02 2001-11-27 Starsight Telecast, Inc. System and method for using television schedule information
US6442755B1 (en) 1998-07-07 2002-08-27 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic program guide using markup language
US6481011B1 (en) 1998-06-16 2002-11-12 Prevue Networks, Inc. Program guide system with user designated color coding
US6546096B1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2003-04-08 Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. Proximity detector for initiating automatic callback
US6604240B2 (en) 1997-10-06 2003-08-05 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television program guide system with operator showcase
US6675385B1 (en) * 1998-10-21 2004-01-06 Liberate Technologies HTML electronic program guide for an MPEG digital TV system
US6744873B1 (en) * 2000-01-15 2004-06-01 William E. McCracken Telephone accessory device
US7171567B1 (en) * 1999-08-02 2007-01-30 Harris Interactive, Inc. System for protecting information over the internet

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5539449A (en) * 1993-05-03 1996-07-23 At&T Corp. Integrated television services system
JP3200403B2 (en) * 1996-10-14 2001-08-20 日本電信電話株式会社 Data transmission method, data transmission / reception method, and data transmission device
US6029045A (en) * 1997-12-09 2000-02-22 Cogent Technology, Inc. System and method for inserting local content into programming content
AU2487099A (en) * 1998-01-29 1999-08-16 Daniel S. Kwoh Apparatus, systems and methods for providing on-demand radio

Patent Citations (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5570415A (en) * 1991-08-29 1996-10-29 Sasktel Video programming and storage control using the telephone network
US5357505A (en) 1992-03-30 1994-10-18 Ricos Co., Ltd. Device for bidirectional communication on a telephone line
US5353337A (en) * 1992-04-28 1994-10-04 Ricos Co., Ltd. Device for the transmission of data by telephone line
US5625416A (en) 1993-09-17 1997-04-29 Tseng; Ling-Yuan Video communication controller utilizing multiple data channels to deliver separate program segments
US5635978A (en) 1994-05-20 1997-06-03 News America Publications, Inc. Electronic television program guide channel system and method
US5627875A (en) * 1994-11-22 1997-05-06 At&T Method in a telephone system for reaching a subscriber under busy/no answer conditions and ring/no answer conditions
US6029064A (en) 1995-01-12 2000-02-22 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. Mobile audio program selection system using public switched telephone network
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
US6323911B1 (en) 1995-10-02 2001-11-27 Starsight Telecast, Inc. System and method for using television schedule information
US5805154A (en) 1995-12-14 1998-09-08 Time Warner Entertainment Co. L.P. Integrated broadcast application with broadcast portion having option display for access to on demand portion
US5657072A (en) 1996-04-10 1997-08-12 Microsoft Corporation Interactive entertainment network system and method for providing program listings during non-peak times
US5872837A (en) 1996-06-27 1999-02-16 Mci Worldcom, Inc. System and method for transmitting data and commands using a telephone
US6604240B2 (en) 1997-10-06 2003-08-05 United Video Properties, Inc. Interactive television program guide system with operator showcase
US6137549A (en) 1997-10-10 2000-10-24 United Video Properties, Inc. Program guide data distribution system with configurable queues
US6481011B1 (en) 1998-06-16 2002-11-12 Prevue Networks, Inc. Program guide system with user designated color coding
US6268849B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2001-07-31 United Video Properties, Inc. Internet television program guide system with embedded real-time data
US6442755B1 (en) 1998-07-07 2002-08-27 United Video Properties, Inc. Electronic program guide using markup language
US6675385B1 (en) * 1998-10-21 2004-01-06 Liberate Technologies HTML electronic program guide for an MPEG digital TV system
US7171567B1 (en) * 1999-08-02 2007-01-30 Harris Interactive, Inc. System for protecting information over the internet
US6546096B1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2003-04-08 Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. Proximity detector for initiating automatic callback
US6744873B1 (en) * 2000-01-15 2004-06-01 William E. McCracken Telephone accessory device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US6987842B1 (en) 2006-01-17
AU7990300A (en) 2001-05-10
EP1222816A1 (en) 2002-07-17
WO2001026366A1 (en) 2001-04-12
EP1222816A4 (en) 2006-01-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1116409B1 (en) Access control means, communication device, communication system and television receiver
AU594136B2 (en) Pay-per-view catv system
US5635980A (en) System and method for customer premises broadband interface with on-hook alerting
US5751707A (en) AIN interaction through wireless digital video network
US5937329A (en) System and method for displaying local messages over a satellite television picture
EP1868382A2 (en) Broadcast program recording method, communication control device, and mobile communication device
CA2534134A1 (en) Dial-out voice notification system
KR20010043771A (en) Spectrum monitoring for pstn subscribers
CA2180752A1 (en) Service for transmitting a video film
US6920206B2 (en) Call progress information in cable telephony
KR100768142B1 (en) A process for transmitting update data by a communication centre to a plurality of terminals, a process for receiving update data dispatched by a communication centre to terminals, and a communication centre
RU2364030C2 (en) System and method of client data management in digital multimedia broadcasting
CN100561963C (en) A kind of system that realizes that content of multimedia is shared
KR100554103B1 (en) Broadcasting receiving equipment, digital broadcasting network and method for providing broadcasting service
EP0694244B1 (en) Interactive television system
USRE43594E1 (en) Electronic television program guide delivery system using telephone network idle time
CA2359452A1 (en) Wireless communications gateway for a home or small office
KR20070028483A (en) Device and method for transmission of data over a telephone line
KR20010093244A (en) Communication device for integrating voice mail services and TV functions
JPH08163538A (en) Two-way broadcast system and receiver for two-way broadcast
KR100875025B1 (en) Announcement Broadcasting System and Method in Next Generation Network
KR100574859B1 (en) Automatic dialing service method for the bi-directional broadcasting
JP3023776U (en) Communication for pet contact
JP3851447B2 (en) Broadcast receiving terminal
EP1213914A1 (en) Data collector, particularly for interactive television systems

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: SILVERIUS S.A. LLC, DELAWARE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MANKOVITZ, ROY J.;REEL/FRAME:025531/0768

Effective date: 20060419

CC Certificate of correction
FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

AS Assignment

Owner name: BENHOV GMBH, LLC, DELAWARE

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:SILVERIUS S.A. LLC;REEL/FRAME:037017/0643

Effective date: 20150811

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 12

AS Assignment

Owner name: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 143 LLC, DELAWARE

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BENHOV GMBH, LLC;REEL/FRAME:051421/0832

Effective date: 20191220

AS Assignment

Owner name: DISPLAY VECTORS LLC, NEW YORK

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS;REEL/FRAME:053368/0937

Effective date: 20191230