IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,552,459

Granted Patent B2

US 7,552,459 · App. 10/744,500 · Granted Jun 23, 2009

Information system

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,552,459
App. No.: 10/744,500
Granted: Jun 23, 2009
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.

Claims (106)

1. A method of arranging and managing information for an on-screen electronic program guide having a display screen comprising the steps of:

receiving television schedule information in a data stream;

displaying some of the television schedule information as a plurality of TV program listings in a guide format in a first area of the screen;

receiving a first user input for selecting a TV program from the displayed plurality of TV program listings;

simultaneous with the TV program listings, displaying promotional information other than TV program listings in a second area of the screen with the TV program listings, wherein:

the second area of the screen is in a fixed position on the screen;

the promotional information is displayed not in response to a user's selection of the TV program; and

the displayed promotional information is responsive to inputs from the viewer;

receiving a second user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from the first area of the screen to the promotional information displayed in the second area of the screen; and

2. The method of claim 1 , in which the TV program listings indicate program title, time, and channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selectively marking the program listings in the first area with the on-screen cursor to select a program listing.

4. The method of claim 1 , in which the promotional information displayed in the second area changes as the cursor is moved from the second area.

5. The method of claim 1 , in which the promotional information is information about at least one future-scheduled TV program.

6. The method of claim 5 , in which the future-scheduled TV program is a pay-per-view program and the function is authorizing payment for the pay-per-view program.

7. The method of claim 5 , in which the function is storing the time and channel of the future-scheduled TV program for later recording or viewing.

8. The method of claim 1 , in which the function is establishing a link to an Internet website and launching an application for displaying information related to the information displayed in the second area from the Internet website in the second area of the screen.

9. The method of claim 1 , in which the function is establishing a link to an Internet website and displaying information related to the information displayed in the second area from the Internet website in a fourth area of the screen.

10. The method of claim 1 , in which the promotional information is information about a TV program currently being broadcasted.

11. The method of claim 10 , in which the function is tuning to a TV program currently being broadcasted for viewing.

12. The method of claim 1 , in which the promotional information is text, still images, or video.

13. The method of claim 1 , in which the promotional information is an advertisement about a product or service.

14. The method of claim 1 , in which the promotional information is a message directed to at least one user of the on-screen electronic program guide.

15. The method of claim 1 , in which the second area of the screen is positioned amongst the list of TV program schedules in the first area.

16. The method of claim 1 , in which the second area of the screen is positioned relative to the top of the first area of the screen.

17. The method of claim 1 , in which the second area of the screen is positioned relative to a specific TV program schedule.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a plurality of icons representing different subject matters in a third area of the screen selectable by the on-screen cursor.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising selecting an icon to display information about a subject matter represented by the selected icon.

20. The method of claim 5 , in which the function is displaying detailed information about the future-scheduled TV program.

21. An electronic program guide system comprising:

a display screen;

a microprocessor;

a data stream for receiving television schedule information including information about television programs;

means for displaying some of the television schedule information as a plurality of TV program listings in a first area of the screen;

an input device for receiving a first user input for selecting a TV program from the displayed plurality of TV program listings;

means for simultaneous with the TV program listings, displaying promotional information other than TV program listings in a second area of the screen with the TV program listings, wherein:

the second area of the screen is in a fixed position on the screen;

the promotional information is displayed not in response to a user's selection of the TV program; and

the displayed promotional information is responsive to inputs from the viewer;

means for receiving a second user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from the first area of the screen to the promotional information displayed in the second area of the screen; and

means for selecting, using the on-screen cursor, the displayed promotional information after the promotional information is displayed to activate a function related to the promotional information displayed in the second area.

22. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for arranging and managing information for an on-screen electronic program guide having a display screen, comprising the steps of:

receiving television schedule information in a data stream;

displaying some of the television schedule information as a plurality of TV program listings in a first area of the screen;

receiving a first user input for selecting a TV program from the displayed plurality of TV program listings;

simultaneous with the TV program listings, displaying promotional information other than TV program listings in a second area of the screen, wherein:

the second area of the screen is in a fixed position on the screen;

the promotional information is displayed not in response to a user's selection of the TV program; and

the displayed promotional information is responsive to inputs from the viewer;

receiving a second user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from the first area of the screen to the promotional information displayed in the second area of the screen; and

23. A method of arranging and managing information for an electronic program guide having a display screen comprising:

receiving television schedule information and promotional information in a data stream;

displaying some of the television schedule information as a plurality of TV program listings in a grid guide format in a first area of the screen;

generating promotional information other than TV program listings at a TV viewer's site;

simultaneous with the TV program listings, displaying the promotional information in a second area of the screen, wherein the promotional information is displayed not in response to the viewer's selection of the displayed TV program listings and the displayed promotional information is responsive to inputs from the viewer;

receiving a user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from the first area of the screen to the promotional information displayed in the second area of the screen; and

selecting, using the on-screen cursor, the displayed promotional information after the promotional information is displayed to activate a function related to the promotional information displayed in the second area, wherein the function is establishing a link to an Internet website and launching an application for displaying information related to the information displayed in the second area from the Internet website in the second area of the screen.

24. The method of claim 23 , in which the promotional information is an advertisement about a product or service.

25. The method of claim 23 , in which the promotional information is information about at least one future-scheduled TV program and the function is storing the time and channel of the future-scheduled TV program for later recording or viewing.

26. A method of displaying promotional information for an on-screen electronic program guide having a display screen comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in the display screen in a guide format;

selecting promotional information other than displayed television schedule information items for display;

simultaneous with the displayed television schedule information items, displaying the selected promotional information;

receiving a user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from one of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items to the displayed promotional information; and

selecting the displayed promotional information to activate a function related to the displayed promotional information, wherein the function is establishing a link to an Internet website and launching an application for displaying information related to the information displayed in the second area from the Internet website in the second area of the screen.

27. The method of claim 26 , in which the promotional information is information about at least one future-scheduled television program.

28. The method of claim 27 , in which the future-scheduled television program is a pay-per-view program and the function is authorizing payment for the pay-per-view program.

29. The method of claim 27 , in which the function is storing the time and channel of the future-scheduled television program for later recording or viewing.

30. The method of claim 26 , in which the function is establishing a link to an Internet website and displaying information related to the information displayed in the second area from the Internet website in a fourth area of the screen.

31. The method of claim 26 , in which the promotional information is information about a television program currently being broadcasted.

32. The method of claim 31 , in which the function is tuning to a television program currently being broadcasted for viewing.

33. The method of claim 26 , in which the promotional information is an advertisement about a product or service.

34. The method of claim 26 , in which the promotional information is a message directed to at least one user of the on-screen electronic program guide.

35. A method of arranging and managing information for an on-screen electronic program guide having a display screen comprising the steps of:

receiving television schedule information in a data stream;

displaying some of the television schedule information as a plurality of TV program listings in a guide format in a first area of the screen;

receiving a first user input for selecting a TV program from the displayed plurality of TV program listings;

simultaneous with the TV program listings, displaying promotional information other than TV program listings in a second area of the screen with the TV program listings, wherein the promotional information is displayed not in response to a user's selection of the TV program and the displayed promotional information is responsive to inputs from the viewer;

receiving a second user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from the first area of the screen to the promotional information displayed in the second area of the screen, wherein the promotional information displayed in the second area changes as the cursor is moved from the second area; and

36. An electronic program guide system comprising:

a display screen;

a microprocessor;

a data stream for receiving television schedule information including information about television programs;

means for displaying some of the television schedule information as a plurality of TV program listings in a first area of the screen;

an input device for receiving a first user input for selecting a TV program from the displayed plurality of TV program listings;

means for simultaneous with the TV program listings, displaying promotional information other than TV program listings in a second area of the screen with the TV program listings, wherein the promotional information is displayed not in response to a user's selection of the TV program and the displayed promotional information is responsive to inputs from the viewer;

means for receiving a second user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from the first area of the screen to the promotional information displayed in the second area of the screen, wherein the promotional information displayed in the second area changes as the cursor is moved from the second area; and

37. A method of arranging and managing information for an on-screen electronic program guide having a display screen comprising the steps of:

receiving television schedule information in a data stream;

displaying some of the television schedule information as a plurality of TV program listings in a guide format in a first area of the screen;

receiving a first user input for selecting a TV program from the displayed plurality of TV program listings;

receiving a second user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from the first area of the screen to the promotional information displayed in the second area of the screen; and

38. An electronic program guide system comprising:

a display screen;

a microprocessor;

a data stream for receiving television schedule information including information about television programs;

means for displaying some of the television schedule information as a plurality of TV program listings in a first area of the screen;

an input device for receiving a first user input for selecting a TV program from the displayed plurality of TV program listings;

means for receiving a second user input to navigate an on-screen cursor from the first area of the screen to the promotional information displayed in the second area of the screen; and

means for selecting, using the on-screen cursor, the displayed promotional information is displayed to activate a function related to the promotional information displayed in the second area, wherein the function is establishing a link to an Internet website and launching an application for displaying information related to the information displayed in the second area from the Internet website in the second area of the screen.

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 Jan 22, 2015

From: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.

Reel/Frame 034784/0625 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2015

From: KLOSTERMAN, BRIAN LEE; SCHEIN, STEVEN

To: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

Reel/Frame 034784/0602 →

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 →

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 →

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 →