System and method for displaying advertising, video, and program schedule listing

Abstract

A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and / or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 962,692, filed on Sep. 25, 2001, which is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 847,726, filed on Apr. 28, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 537,650, filed Oct. 2, 1995, and claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 023,651, filed on Jun. 17, 1996, and the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 837,025, filed Apr. 11, 1997, and its Appendices A, B, and C, of which are also incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to television schedule information, and more particularly to a system and method for displaying a television program guide on a television screen. [0003] As the number of television stations in a metropolitan area or on a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The present invention provides a system and method for displaying schedule information on a visual interface, such as a television screen, a computer monitor or the like. The present invention also provides a system and method for allowing the viewer to navigate and interact with a program guide that is displayed, for example, on the viewer's television screen. The program guide will usually include a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. with an input device, such as a remote control device, pointing device, mouse, keyboard, microphone or the like, the viewer can browse through the schedule information area and / or obtain more information about programs of particular interest.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a database containing each program within the television schedule. The database may be included within a computer integrally combined with the television (e.g., PCTV), a computer that is coupled to the television through suitable lines, or the database may be accessed from a remote computer, e.g., via the internet or other communication medium. Within the database, each program is associated with a variety of criteria or features, such as particular actors, actresses, directors, the type of movie (e.g., action, comedy) and the like. When the viewer selects a program as a favorite, for example, he or she will have the option of designating the criteria or reason(s) that the program is a favorite (i.e., actor, director, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, the computer will include a processor and suitable software for automatically searching the database for other programs having the same criteria. The processor may then place the programs that include the designated criteria into the selection window and provide visual indication of each program in the matrix of cells in the program guide. In this way, the program guide will automatically customize itself to the individual viewer to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Problems solved by technology

The recent development of television schedule systems, such as the above described patent to Young, have created many new challenges.

One such challenge is providing a system and method that allows the viewer to quickly and efficiently navigate through the various menus and submenus of the schedule guide and to interact with the items contained therein.

Images