IP Library Granted Patent US 7,124,426
Granted Patent B1
US 7,124,426 · App. 09/445,207 · Granted Oct 17, 2006

Entertainment system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,124,426
App. No.
09/445,207
Granted
Oct 17, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

This invention discloses an entertainment system for providing entertainment to a user thereof, the system including an entertainment source for providing entertainment in a distributable form, entertainment distribution apparatus for distributing the entertainment and a plurality of entertainment delivery units, each entertainment delivery unit including receiving apparatus for receiving the entertainment from the entertainment source via the entertainment distribution apparatus, wherein at least one of the plurality of entertainment delivery units includes personalization apparatus adapted to receive a removable personalization element including personalization information, and the at least one of the plurality of entertainment units personalizes the entertainment based on the personalization information, and the personalization information includes at least one of the following: entertainment preference information; gaming information; and telecommunications information.

Claims (43)

1. A method for providing an electronic program guide within a moving vehicle, the vehicle moving from within a broadcast footprint of a satellite to a region outside the broadcast footprint, the method comprising:

receiving a satellite broadcast transmission transmitted from the satellite, the satellite broadcast transmission comprising at least one entertainment channel offering a program having an associated critical program time;

determining a current position of the moving vehicle;

computing a future position of the moving vehicle at the critical program time and determining whether the future position lies within the broadcast footprint, thus producing a result; and

providing an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of entertainment channel offerings, the electronic program guide being customized based on the result,

wherein the electronic program guide is customized to include the entertainment channel only if the result indicates that the future position lies within the broadcast footprint at the critical program time.

2. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the electronic program guide is customized to provide an indication that the program will not be available in its entirety only if the result indicates that the future position lies outside the broadcast footprint.

3. The method according to claim 2 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

4. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

5. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

6. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the moving vehicle comprises an airplane.

7. Apparatus for providing an electronic program guide within a moving vehicle, the vehicle moving from within a broadcast footprint of a satellite to a region outside the broadcast footprint, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving a satellite broadcast transmission transmitted from the satellite, the satellite broadcast transmission comprising at least one entertainment channel offering a program having an associated critical program time;

position determination apparatus for determining a current position of the moving vehicle;

future position computation apparatus for computing a future position of the moving vehicle at the critical program time and determining whether the future position lies within the broadcast footprint and producing a result; and

entertainment apparatus for providing an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of entertainment channel offerings, the electronic program guide being customized based on the result,

wherein the electronic program guide is customized to include the entertainment channel only if the result indicates that the future position lies within the broadcast footprint at the critical program time.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 and wherein the electronic program guide is customized to, provide an indication that the program will not be available in its entirety only if the result indicates that the future position lies outside the broadcast footprint.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7 and wherein the moving vehicle comprises an airplane.

13. Apparatus for providing an electronic program guide within a moving vehicle, the vehicle moving from within a broadcast footprint of a satellite to a region outside the broadcast footprint, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a satellite broadcast transmission transmitted from the satellite, the satellite broadcast transmission comprising at least one entertainment channel offering a program having an associated critical program time;

means for determining a current position of the moving vehicle;

means for computing a future position of the moving vehicle at the critical program time and determining whether the future position lies within the broadcast footprint and producing a result; and

means for providing an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of entertainment channel offerings, the electronic program guide being customized based on the result,

wherein the electronic program guide is customized to include the entertainment channel only if the result indicates that the future position lies within the broadcast footprint at the critical program time.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the electronic program guide is customized to provide an indication that the program will not be available in its entirety only if the result indicates that the future position lies outside the broadcast footprint.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

16. Apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

17. Apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the critical program time comprises a time before an ending time of the program.

18. Apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the moving vehicle comprises an airplane.

19. A method for providing an electronic program guide within a moving vehicle, the vehicle moving from within a broadcast footprint of a satellite to a region outside the broadcast footprint, the method comprising:

receiving a satellite broadcast transmission transmitted from the satellite, the satellite broadcast transmission comprising at least one entertainment channel offering a program having an associated critical program time;

determining a current position of the moving vehicle;

computing a future position of the moving vehicle at the critical program time and determining whether the future position lies within the broadcast footprint, thus producing a result; and

providing an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of entertainment channel offerings, the electronic program guide being customized based on the result.

20. A method for providing an electronic program guide within a moving vehicle, the vehicle moving from within a broadcast footprint of a satellite to a region outside the broadcast footprint, the method comprising:

receiving a satellite broadcast transmission transmitted from the satellite, the satellite broadcast transmission comprising at least one entertainment channel offering a program having an associated critical program time;

determining a current position of the moving vehicle;

utilizing a direction and a speed of the moving vehicle to compute a future position of the moving vehicle at the critical program time and determining whether the future position lies within the broadcast footprint, thus producing a result; and

providing an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of entertainment channel offerings, the electronic program guide being customized based on the result.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 26 APPLICATION NUMBERS ERRONEOUSLY RECORDED AGAINST ON THE ATTACHED LIST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 048513 FRAME: 0297. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Mar 18, 2021
From: NDS LIMITED
To: SYNAMEDIA LIMITED
Reel/Frame 056623/0708 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 6, 2019
From: NDS LIMITED
To: SYNAMEDIA LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048513/0297 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2018
From: BEAUMARIS NETWORKS LLC; CISCO SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL S.A.R.L.; CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.; CISCO VIDEO TECHNOLOGIES FRANCE
To: NDS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047420/0600 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Mar 29, 2011
From: J.P.MORGAN EUROPE LIMITED
To: NDS LIMITED; NEWS DATACOM LIMITED
Reel/Frame 026042/0124 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Mar 11, 2011
From: NDS HOLDCO, INC.
To: NDS LIMITED; NEWS DATACOM LIMITED
Reel/Frame 025940/0710 →