IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,793,322
Granted Patent B2
US 7,793,322 · App. 10/383,311 · Granted Sep 7, 2010

Electronic program guide with super-program sequence

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,793,322
App. No.
10/383,311
Granted
Sep 7, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.

Claims (32)

1. A system in which programs and associated program data are displayed for users by an interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment, comprising:

a digital storage device in the user television equipment for digitally storing the programs and associated program data using the interactive television program guide;

means for defining a super-program sequence based on a user selection of at least one digitally stored program or at least one segment of a digitally stored program; and

means for displaying the user selection with associated program data according to the defined super-program sequence on the user television equipment using the interactive television program guide.

2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the defining means further comprises means for displaying a super-program screen on the user television equipment using the interactive television program guide.

3. The system defined in claim 2 wherein the super-program screen comprises:

an area indicating programs stored on the digital storage device; and

means for providing a user with an opportunity to select a program to be included in the super-program sequence.

4. The system defined in claim 2 wherein:

the super-program screen further comprises an area for providing a user with an opportunity to define play segments; and

the display means further comprises means for displaying play segments of the programs and associated program data according to the super-program sequence on the user television equipment using the interactive television program guide.

5. The system defined in claim 4 wherein the area for providing a user with an opportunity to define play segments comprises:

a play segment indicator; and

one or more markers for defining the play segment.

6. The system defined in claim 2 wherein the super-program screen further comprises a video feedback area.

7. The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for transferring the digitally stored programs according to the defined super-program to a secondary storage device using the interactive television program guide.

8. A method in which programs and associated program data are displayed for users by an interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment, comprising the steps of:

digitally storing the programs and associated program data using the interactive television program guide;

defining a super-program sequence based on a user selection of at least one digitally stored program or at least one segment of a digitally stored program; and

displaying the user selection with associated program data according to the defined super-program sequence on the user television equipment using the interactive television program guide.

9. The method defined in claim 8 further comprising the step of displaying a super-program screen on the user television equipment using the interactive television program guide.

10. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

indicating programs stored on the digital storage device; and

providing a user with an opportunity to select a program to be included in the super-program sequence.

11. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

providing a user with an opportunity to define play segments; and

displaying play segments of the programs and associated program data according to the super-program sequence on the user television equipment using the interactive television program guide.

12. The method defined in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

displaying a play segment indicator; and

providing one or more markers for defining the play segment.

13. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising the step of providing a video feedback area.

14. The method defined in claim 8 further comprising the step of transferring the digitally stored programs according to the defined super-program to a secondary storage device using the interactive television program guide.

Assignments (18)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069085/0138 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2015
From: HASSELL, JOEL G.; KNUDSON, EDWARD B.; HEDGES, L. JOE; ELLIS, MICHAEL D.; BEREZOWSKI, DAVID M.
To: PREVUE NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035976/0632 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 19, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035978/0311 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 19, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035978/0653 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 19, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035978/0660 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2015
From: TV GUIDE NETWORKS, INC.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035869/0910 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2015
From: PREVUE NETWORKS, INC.
To: TV GUIDE NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035935/0339 →
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 →