IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,713,595
Granted Patent B2
US 8,713,595 · App. 10/846,124 · Granted Apr 29, 2014

Interactive program guide systems and processes

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,713,595
App. No.
10/846,124
Granted
Apr 29, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

Claims (48)

1. A method for controlling a first tuner and a second tuner with an interactive television program guide, said method comprising:

receiving television programs and program schedule information;

storing the program schedule information in a memory;

causing a display device to display a program guide display with said interactive television program guide;

receiving a user selection to record, with a video recorder, a first television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide;

receiving a user selection to view a second television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; and

directing an output of said first tuner of said first television program selected to be recorded to said video recorder and an output of said second tuner of said second television program selected to be viewed to said display device with said interactive television program guide, such that said first television program selected to be recorded is recorded by said video recorder at the same time that said second television program selected to be viewed is displayed by said display device, and wherein a set-top box includes two tuners, one each for said video recorder and said display device, said two tuners comprising said first tuner and said second tuner.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein causing said display device to display a program guide display comprises causing said display device to display a program listing that corresponds to said first television program.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving a user selection to record said first television program comprises receiving a user selection from a remote control when said program listing is highlighted by a cursor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a user selection to record said first television program comprises receiving a user selection to record a future television program.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising scheduling said future television program for recording with said interactive television program guide in response to receiving said user selection, wherein directing said output of said first tuner to said video recorder comprises directing said output of said first tuner to said video recorder at a start of said future television program.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a user selection to record said first television program comprises receiving a user selection to record a currently-telecast television program, wherein directing said output of said first tuner to said video recorder comprises directing said output of said first tuner to said video recorder in response to receiving said user selection.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adding said first television program to a recording list with said interactive television program guide in response to receiving said user selection; and

causing said display device to display said recording list with said interactive television program guide.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising deleting said first television program from said recording list with said interactive television program guide.

9. User equipment having an interactive television program guide implemented thereon, said user equipment comprising a display device, a first tuner, a second tuner, a memory, a set-top box, and a video recorder, said interactive television program guide configured to:

receive television programs and program schedule information;

store the program schedule information in said memory;

cause said display device to display a program guide display;

receive a user selection to record, with said video recorder, a first television program indicated on said program guide display;

receive a user selection to view a second television program indicated on said program guide display; and

direct an output of said first tuner of said first television program selected to be recorded to said video recorder and an output of said second tuner of said second television program selected to be viewed to said display device, such that said first television program selected to be recorded is recorded by said video recorder at the same time that said second television program selected to be viewed is displayed by said display device, and wherein said set-top box includes two tuners, one each for said video recorder and said display device, said two tuners comprising said first tuner and said second tuner.

10. The user equipment of claim 9 wherein said interactive television program guide is configured to cause said display device to display a program guide display comprising a program listing that corresponds to said first television program.

11. The user equipment of claim 10 wherein said interactive television program guide is configured to receive said user selection from a remote control when said program listing is highlighted by a cursor.

12. The user equipment of claim 9 wherein said interactive television program guide is configured to receive a user selection to record a future television program.

13. The user equipment of claim 12 wherein said interactive television program guide is configured to schedule said future television program for recording in response to receiving said user selection and to direct said output of said first tuner to said video recorder at a start of said first television program.

14. The user equipment of claim 9 wherein said interactive television program guide is configured to receive a user selection to record a currently-telecast television program and to direct said output of said first tuner to said video recorder in response to receiving said user selection.

15. The user equipment of claim 9 wherein said interactive television program guide is further configured to:

add said first television program to a recording list in response to receiving said user selection; and

cause said display device to display said recording list.

16. The user equipment of claim 15 wherein said interactive television program guide is further configured to delete said first television program from said recording list.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide that controls a first tuner and a second tuner, said machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving television programs and program schedule information;

storing the program schedule information in a memory;

causing a display device to display a program guide display with said interactive television program guide;

receiving a user selection to record, with a video recorder, a first television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide;

receiving a user selection to view a second television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; and

directing an output of said first tuner of said first television program selected to be recorded to said video recorder and an output of said second tuner of said second television program selected to be viewed to said display device with said interactive television program guide, such that said first television program selected to be recorded is recorded by said video recorder at the same time that said television second program selected to be viewed is displayed by said display device, and wherein a set-top box includes two tuners, one each for said video recorder and said display device, said two tuners comprising said first tuner and said second tuner.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein causing said display device to display a program guide display comprises causing said display device to display a program listing that corresponds to said first television program.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein receiving a user selection to record said first television program comprises receiving a user selection from a remote control when said program listing is highlighted by a cursor.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 wherein receiving a user selection to record said first television program comprises receiving a user selection to record a future television program.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 20 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for scheduling said future television program for recording with said interactive television program guide in response to receiving said user selection, wherein directing said output of said first tuner to said video recorder comprises directing said output of said first tuner to said video recorder at a start of said future television program.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 wherein receiving a user selection to record said first television program comprises receiving a user selection to record a currently-telecast television program, wherein directing said output of said first tuner to said video recorder comprises directing said output of said first tuner to said video recorder in response to receiving said user selection.

23. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

adding said first television program to a recording list with said interactive television program guide in response to receiving said user selection; and

causing said display device to display said recording list with said interactive television program guide.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 23 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for deleting said first television program from said recording list with said interactive television program guide.

Assignments (9)
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 20, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 034762/0973 →
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 →
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 →