Interactive program guide system and method

a program guide and interactive technology, applied in the field of interactive television program guide systems, can solve the problems of overwhelming users, program guides that do not allow users to continue watching television, and related information in less than optimal ways

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-09-15
KNUDSON EDWARD B +7
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Interactive television systems to this point have displayed program related information in less than optimal ways.
Some program guides do not allow users to continue to watch television while viewing program guide data.
Other program guide systems display too much data for the user at once, overwhelming the user.

Method used

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  • Interactive program guide system and method
  • Interactive program guide system and method
  • Interactive program guide system and method

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0054] An illustrative system 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 12 provides program guide data from program guide data source 14 to interactive television program guide equipment 17 via communications link 18. There may be multiple program guide data sources but only one has been known to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. If desired, program guide data sources may be located at facilities separate from main facility 12, such as at local information services 15, and have their data provided to main facility 12 for localization and distribution. Data sources 14 may be any suitable computer or computer based system for obtaining data (e.g., manually from an operator, electronically via a computer network or other connection, or via storage media) and putting the data into electronic form for distribution by main facility 12. Link 18 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave...

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Abstract

An interactive television program guide system and method is provided. Time separators are displayed within lists of program listings to allow users to more easily view the program listings. On-screen arrows have their display characteristics changed according to user actions. Similar program listings are displayed only once when using search program listings. Users are provided with an opportunity to view channel information before setting channels as favorites. Information from local information services is provided in program guide display screens that are configurable by a main facility. Users are provided with an opportunity to centrally lock and unlock programs, and to bypass locks when desired.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 110,262, filed Nov. 30, 1998.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to interactive television program guide systems, and more particularly, to interactive television program guide systems with enhanced features and user interface. [0003] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Users have traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to determine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactive television program guides have been developed that allow television program information to be displayed on a user's television. Interactive television program guides, which are typically implemented on set-top boxes, allow the user to navigate through television program listings using a remote control. In a typical program guide, various groups of television program listings are di...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04N5/445H04N7/173H04N21/236H04N21/41H04N21/422H04N21/431H04N21/434H04N21/45H04N21/454H04N21/462H04N21/47H04N21/472H04N21/475H04N21/478H04N21/4782H04N21/482H04N21/488H04N21/6547H04N21/81H04N21/858
CPCG06F3/0482H04N21/8586H04N7/17318H04N7/17327H04N21/23614H04N21/4135H04N21/42204H04N21/4316H04N21/4348H04N21/4532H04N21/4542H04N21/4622H04N21/47H04N21/472H04N21/47211H04N21/47214H04N21/4755H04N21/478H04N21/4782H04N21/4828H04N21/488H04N21/6547H04N21/812H04N5/44543H04N21/431
Inventor KNUDSON, EDWARD B.ELLIS, MICHAEL D.HERRINGTON, W. BENJAMINWILLIAMSON, STEVEN C.CARPENTER, KENNETH F. JR.HAGENBUCH, DANIEL C.REYNOLDS, STEVEN J.RUDNICK, DAVID M.
Owner KNUDSON EDWARD B
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