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Interactive television targeted message system

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-09-15
UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide targeted messaging systems for television service subscribers in a cable television system, satellite television system, broadcast television system, or the like.

Problems solved by technology

It has not been possible, however, to use existing systems to deliver messages to particular subscribers that are targeted based on criteria such as subscriber-defined program guide settings or the channels to which the subscriber has subscribed.

Method used

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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0036] An illustrative interactive television system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. A user at user equipment 12 may receive television programming and other services from television distribution facility 14 over communications path 16. Television distribution facility 14 may be a satellite television facility, a cable system headend, a broadcast facility, or any other suitable facility for distributing television programming to the user. Communications path 16 may be a satellite link, a broadcast link, a cable link, a fiber-optic link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable link. There may be numerous television distribution facilities, but only one such facility is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid overcomplicating the drawings.

[0037] Television programming may be provided over path 16 using any suitable approach. For example, television programming may be provided as analog television signals, as digital streams, or as a combination of analog signals and digital streams.

[0038] An int...

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Abstract

An interactive television system is provided in which targeted messages may be sent to users. The interactive television system may use an interactive television program guide or other interactive applications to provide interactive television services to users. An e-mail or other messaging application may be used to receive the messages. The messaging application may be separate from the program guide or other interactive television application or may be part of the program guide or other interactive television application. Messages may be targeted based on the television channels to which the user subscribes or based on which settings the user has established in the program guide or other application or based on any other suitable criteria.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60 / 167,184, filed Nov. 23, 1999.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to distributing and using electronic messages in an interactive television environment. [0003] Interactive television applications such as program guides are well known. Such guides, which are typically implemented on set-top boxes, allow users to view television program listings on their home televisions. Typical program guides allow users to view information for television programs and channels and audio programs and channels. For example, a program guide may provide information on regular television channels, premium television channels, pay-per-view television channels, and music channels. A variety of display formats are typically supported. For example, program listings may be organized by time, by channel, and by category (sports, children, comedy, movies, etc.). [0004] Other interactive television appl...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H04N7/025H04N7/03H04N7/035H04N7/16H04N7/173H04N21/258H04N21/262G06Q30/00H04N21/442H04N21/45H04N21/454H04N21/472H04N21/475H04N21/4786H04N21/4788H04N21/482H04N21/488
CPCH04N21/454H04N21/4755H04N21/4753H04N7/17318H04N7/17345H04N21/44222H04N21/25891H04N21/26283H04N21/4882H04N7/165H04N7/163H04N7/173H04N21/47214H04N21/4825H04N21/4788H04N21/4532H04N21/8126H04N21/482H04N21/4786H04N21/4826H04N21/44224
Inventor ELLIS, MICHAEL D.
Owner UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES
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