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Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs

a technology of interactive television and program guide, applied in the field of interactive television program guide, can solve the problems of not having previously provided an interactive electronic television program guid

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-07-29
UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This solution enables users to access a comprehensive and customizable platform for their specific interests, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction by integrating diverse features within a unified interface, improving navigation and content discovery.

Problems solved by technology

However, there has not previously been provided an interactive electronic television program guide that collects together all program guide features related to specific categories.

Method used

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  • Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs
  • Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs
  • Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0086]An illustrative interactive television program guide system with niche hubs 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1A. Main facility 12 may contain a program guide database 14 for storing program guide information such as television program guide listings data, pay-per-view ordering information, etc. Database 14 allows system 10 to support an interactive television program guide.

[0087]Information from database 14 may be transmitted to television distribution facility 16 or to some other distribution facility that does not broadcast the television programming signals (e.g., over paging frequencies) via communications link 18. Link 18 may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a fiber-optic link, a cable link, a microwave link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications path.

[0088]Television distribution facility 16 is a facility for distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system headend. Some aspects of the ...

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PUM

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Abstract

A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility. User television equipment may be connected via two-way communications paths to transmit messages to each other.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 212,873, filed Sep. 18, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 457,102, filed Jun. 6, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 604,470, filed Jun. 26, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 141,501, filed Jun. 28, 1999. All these prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to interactive television program guides, and more particularly, to interactive television program guide features organized into niche hubs.[0003]Interactive television program guides allow users to view television program listings on their televisions. Such program guides allow users to view television program listings in different display formats and to perform various other functions. For example, a user may instr...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04N5/445H04N5/765H04N7/08H04N7/081H04N7/16H04N7/173H04N21/258H04N21/2668H04N21/462H04N21/466H04N21/475H04N21/478H04N21/4782H04N21/4786H04N21/4788H04N21/482H04N21/658H04N21/81H04N21/84H04N21/858
CPCH04N5/44543H04N21/485H04N7/165H04N7/17318H04N21/25891H04N21/2668H04N21/4622H04N21/466H04N21/4667H04N21/4755H04N21/478H04N21/4782H04N21/4786H04N21/4788H04N21/4826H04N21/6582H04N21/812H04N21/84H04N21/8586H04N21/4753H04N21/482H04N5/44591H04N21/47H04N21/4316
Inventor ELLIS, MICHAEL D.KNUDSON, EDWARD B.
Owner UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES
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