IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,938,208
Granted Patent B2
US 6,938,208 · App. 09/754,753 · Granted Aug 30, 2005

Electronic program guide with graphic program listings

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,938,208
App. No.
09/754,753
Granted
Aug 30, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electronic program guides in which program listings may be graphically presented and in which sponsors and celebrities of those programs may be identified are provided. The electronic programs guides may be passive television program guides, interactive television program guides, and/or on-line television program guides. Television show text information, logos and/or trademarks, celebrity images, affiliation indicators, and advertisements may be present in the program listings to enhance the electronic program guides.

Claims (70)

1. A method of presenting an electronic program guide, comprising:

receiving program guide data; and

presenting the program guide data as program listings for a plurality of television programs, wherein the title or name of at least one of the plurality of television programs is graphically branded to emulate the title or name of the television program as it appears in a broadcast.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the television programs comprises a logo that corresponds to the television program being displayed in the program listings.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the television programs comprises a celebrity image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the television programs comprises an affiliation indicator.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a network affiliate.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a sports team affiliate.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a corporate affiliate.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies an event affiliate.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a guide affiliate.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a sponsor.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting text information in at least one of the program listings.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting an informational icon in at least one of the program listings.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting an information tray with the program listings.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising presenting a legend in the information tray.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising presenting weather information in the information tray.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising presenting news information in the information tray.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising presenting an advertising element in the information tray.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting the television programs as buttons.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a guide provider logo and presenting channel indicators which are similar in style to the guide provider logo.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an advertisement within the program listings.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the advertisement includes a logo for a television program.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the advertisement includes a celebrity image.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the advertisement includes an affiliation indicator.

24. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a promotion within the program listings.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the promotion includes a logo for a television program.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the promotion includes a celebrity image.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the promotion includes an affiliation indicator.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic program guide is a passive television program guide.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic program guide is an interactive television program guide.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic program guide is an online television program guide.

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program listing are organized in a grid.

32. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program listings are organized in a list.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program listings are selectable.

34. A system for presenting an electronic program guide, comprising:

program guide provider equipment that transmits program guide data; and

program guide display equipment that receives the program guide data and presents the program guide data as program listings for a plurality of television programs, wherein the title or name of at least one of the plurality of television programs is graphically branded to emulate the title or name of the television program as it appears in a broadcast.

35. The system of claim 34 , wherein at least one of the television programs comprises a logo that corresponds to the television program being displayed in the program listings.

36. The system of claim 34 , wherein at least one of the television programs comprises a celebrity image.

37. The system of claim 34 , wherein at least one of the television programs comprises an affiliation indicator.

38. The system of claim 37 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a network affiliate.

39. The system of claim 37 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a sports team affiliate.

40. The system of claim 37 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a corporate affiliate.

41. The system of claim 37 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies an event affiliate.

42. The system of claim 37 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a guide affiliate.

43. The system of claim 37 , wherein the affiliation indicator identifies a sponsor.

44. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program guide display equipment presents text information in at least one of the program listings.

45. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program guide display equipment presents an informational icon in at least one of the program listings.

46. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program guide display equipment presents an information tray with the program listings.

47. The system of claim 46 , wherein the program guide display equipment presents a legend in the information tray.

48. The system of claim 46 , wherein the program guide display equipment presents weather information in the information tray.

49. The system of claim 46 , wherein the program guide display equipment presents news information in the information tray.

50. The system of claim 46 , wherein the program guide display equipment presents an advertising element in the information tray.

51. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program guide display equipment presents the program listings as buttons.

52. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program guide display equipment displays a guide provider logo and presents channel indicators which are similar in style to the guide provider logo.

53. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program guide display equipment displays an advertisement within the program listings.

54. The system of claim 53 , wherein the advertisement includes a logo for a television program.

55. The system of claim 53 , wherein the advertisement includes a celebrity image.

56. The system of claim 53 , wherein the advertisement includes an affiliation indicator.

57. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program guide display equipment displays a promotion within the program listings.

58. The system of claim 57 , wherein the promotion includes a logo for a television program.

59. The system of claim 57 , wherein the promotion includes a celebrity image.

60. The system of claim 57 , wherein the promotion includes an affiliation indicator.

61. The system of claim 34 , wherein the electronic program guide is a passive television program guide.

62. The system of claim 34 , wherein the electronic program guide is an interactive television program guide.

63. The system of claim 34 , wherein the electronic program guide is an online television program guide.

64. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program listings are organized in a grid.

65. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program listings are organized in a list.

66. The system of claim 34 , wherein the program listings are selectable.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 20, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 034763/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 20, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034763/0028 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 20, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 034762/0973 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033396/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC, A BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANY; ROVI CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027039/0168 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.); ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION); ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED); ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025222/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2008
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; INDEX SYSTEMS INC; MACROVISION CORPORATION; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 020986/0074 →