IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,137,135
Granted Patent B2
US 7,137,135 · App. 10/092,928 · Granted Nov 14, 2006

Electronic program guide with interactive areas

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,137,135
App. No.
10/092,928
Granted
Nov 14, 2006
Kind
B2
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 move a pointer over different interactive areas of the guide and the function performed when the area is activated is displayed in a contextual help window. Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with the guide. Additionally, a video window is interactive and provides tuning functions.

Claims (38)

1. A method for displaying on a screen an interactive electronic program guide (IPG) comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the screen as a grid of two-dimensional cells, the displayed grid having a plurality of channels displayed in a first dimension and time displayed in a second dimension;

simultaneously displaying with the program listings an action control glyph in a second area of the screen;

selectively marking one of the cells corresponding to one of the displayed plurality of channels;

activating the action control glyph responsive to a user command; and

responsive to the activation of the action control glyph, rotating the grid of two-dimensional cells so that the one of the displayed plurality of channels is displayed in the second dimension and time is displayed in the first dimension.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a title of a program in each cell.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of selecting a title of a program from the displayed grid and recording the selected program when it is telecast.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of selecting a title of a program from the displayed grid and tuning to the selected program when it is telecast.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the displayed rotated grid includes an additional cell on the time dimension displaying an additional program for the displayed channel.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of displaying a second action control glyph in the second area and activating the second action control glyph to rotate the grid of two-dimensional cells back to its original format so that the plurality of channels are displayed back in the first dimension and time is displayed back in the second dimension.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a contextual help window and displaying contextual help data associated with an interactive area in the contextual help window as the cursor moves to the interactive area.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the contextual help window is displayed in a fixed location within the IPG.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of displaying contextual help data comprises of displaying text data for informing a user of actions that can be done.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a video window within the IPG for a currently-tuned television program.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a video window within the IPG for a future-scheduled television program.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of accessing a related Internet site from the IPG.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of purchasing a pay-per-view channel.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of purchasing a merchandise.

15. An interactive electronic program guide (IPG) displayed on a screen comprising:

a plurality of television program listings displayed in a first area of the screen as a grid of two-dimensional cells, the displayed grid having a plurality of channels displayed in a first dimension and time displayed in a second dimension;

an action control glyph simultaneously displayed with the program listings in a second area of the screen;

an input device for selectively marking one of the cells corresponding to one of the displayed plurality of channels and activating the action control glyph responsive to a user command; and

a display processor for rotating the grid of two-dimensional cells so that the one of the displayed plurality of channels is displayed in the second dimension and time is displayed in the first dimension responsive to the activation of the action control glyph.

16. The IPG of claim 15 wherein the input device is one or more of a keyboard, a remote controller, a pointer device, and a voice activated device.

17. The IPG of claim 16 further comprising means for selecting a title of a program from the displayed grid and recording the selected program when it is telecast.

18. The IPG of claim 16 further comprising means for selecting a title of a program from the displayed grid and tuning to the selected program when it is telecast.

19. The IPG of claim 15 wherein each cell includes a title of a program.

20. The IPG of claim 15 wherein the displayed rotated grid includes an additional cell on the time dimension displaying an additional program for the displayed channel.

21. The IPG of claim 15 further comprising a second action control glyph displayed in the second area to rotate the grid of two-dimensional cells back to its original format so that the plurality of channels are displayed back in the first dimension and time is displayed back in the second dimension.

22. The IPG of claim 15 further comprising a contextual help window to display contextual help data associated with an interactive area as the cursor moves to the interactive area.

23. The IPG of claim 22 wherein the contextual help window is displayed in a fixed location within the IPG.

24. The IPG of claim 22 wherein the contextual help data is text data for informing a user of actions that can be done.

25. The IPG of claim 15 further comprising a video window displayed within the IPG for displaying a currently-tuned television program.

26. The IPG of claim 15 further comprising a video window within the IPG for displaying a future-scheduled television program.

27. The IPG of claim 15 further comprising an Internet connection for accessing a related Internet site from the IPG.

28. The IPG of claim 15 further comprising means for purchasing a pay-per-view channel.

29. The IPG of claim 15 further comprising means for purchasing a merchandise.

Assignments (8)
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 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 23, 2015
From: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035953/0835 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2015
From: SCHEIN, STEVEN MICHAEL; LEFTWICH, JIM; FOLKER, DAVID M.; HUNWICK, KEITH
To: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 036010/0016 →
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 →