IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,189,996
Granted Patent B2
US 8,189,996 · App. 10/627,426 · Granted May 29, 2012

Program guide system for recording television programs

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,189,996
App. No.
10/627,426
Granted
May 29, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.

Claims (36)

1. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

means for displaying the interactive television program guide;

means for providing a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive program guide;

means for receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility;

means for offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

means for, at the user equipment, (a) removing the copy protection from the selected program, (b) providing the selected program without copy protection, and (c) directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

means for offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

means for providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

2. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

3. A method for using an interactive program guide system using user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

displaying the interactive television program guide;

providing a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide;

receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

removing using the user equipment the copy protection from the selected program, providing the selected program without copy protection, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

5. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

communications circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

display circuitry configured to display the interactive television program guide;

circuitry configured to receive a program with copy protection from a television distribution facility;

circuitry implemented in the user equipment configured to remove copy protection from received programs; and

control circuitry configured to (1) provide a user with a first opportunity to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide, (2) direct the display circuitry to display a message offering the user the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording, (3) direct the tuner circuitry to tune to the selected program with copy protection, (4) direct the circuitry to remove the copy protection from the selected program and provide the selected program without copy protection and a video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection, (5) direct the display circuitry to display a message offering the user the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing, and (6) direct the tuner circuitry to provide the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

6. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 5 wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

7. A machine-readable medium for implementing an interactive television program guide comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

providing a first opportunity for a user to select a program for recording and a second opportunity to select the program for viewing from the interactive television program guide;

receiving the selected program with copy protection from a television distribution facility;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program without copy protection when the program is selected for recording;

removing using the user equipment the copy protection from the selected program, providing the selected program without copy protection, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program without copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program without copy protection;

offering the selected program for purchase at a price for the program with copy protection when the program is selected for viewing; and

providing the selected program with copy protection when the program is purchased at the price for the program with copy protection.

8. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 7 further having machine program logic recorded thereon for offering the program wherein the price for the program without copy protection is more than the price for the program with copy protection.

Assignments (19)
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 →
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 Jul 14, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036086/0608 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: NEWS AMERICA PUBLICATIONS INC.
To: TV GUIDE MAGAZINE GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 036103/0762 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: ELLIS, MICHAEL D.; KNUDSON, EDWARD B.; THOMAS, WILLIAM L.; DAVIS, BRUCE L.
To: TCI-TVGOS, INC.; NEWS AMERICA PUBLICATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 036084/0539 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: TCI-TVGOS, INC.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036084/0552 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: TV GUIDE MAGAZINE GROUP, INC.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 036084/0608 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036084/0668 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 036084/0692 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036086/0546 →
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 →