IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,250,614
Granted Patent B1
US 8,250,614 · App. 11/394,634 · Granted Aug 21, 2012

Systems and methods for providing an on-demand media portal and grid guide

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,250,614
App. No.
11/394,634
Granted
Aug 21, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

A media-on-demand (MOD) portal application allows users to view and access from a single display interface MOD content provided by multiple media providers, such as vendors and service providers. The MOD portal application may provide grid display screens showing program listings of available media content. The grids may include rows and columns, where each row and each column includes program listings associated with a particular category. In one illustrative grid, each row includes programming from a single media vendor and each column includes programming of a particular genre. A media guidance application is also provided which automatically determines if a user does not watch an MOD program the user has ordered. The media guidance application may automatically make the unwatched program available to the user at a later time, for example by automatically recording the program or by allowing the user to access the program at the later time.

Claims (27)

1. A method automatically making available to a user for viewing media that has been ordered and has not been fully watched, the method comprising:

allowing a user to order a media program for viewing, wherein the user is able to start playback of the ordered media program on-demand during a limited viewing period following the ordering of the program;

determining that the user has not watched the ordered on-demand media program during the limited viewing period; and

in response to determining that the user has not watched the ordered media program during the limited viewing period,

automatically accessing the ordered on-demand media program from a vendor of the ordered on-demand media program; and

receiving the ordered on-demand media program without requiring the user to reorder the media program after the limited viewing period has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the on-demand media program is automatically made available for viewing after the limited viewing period has elapsed by recording the program.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the on-demand program is recorded before the limited viewing period has elapsed.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the on-demand media program is automatically made available for viewing after the limited viewing period has elapsed by allowing the user to watch the on-demand program after the limited viewing period has elapsed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the user has not watched the ordered program comprises determining that display of the program was obscured during a period of time during the showing of the on-demand program.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the user has not watched the ordered on-demand program comprises determining that play of the program was stopped during the showing of the on-demand program.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the user has not watched the ordered on-demand program comprises determining that a user tuned away from the program during the showing of the on-demand program.

8. An interactive media guide system that automatically makes available to a user for viewing media that has been ordered and has not been fully watched, the system comprising:

an interactive media guidance application implemented at least partially on circuitry configured to:

allow a user to order a media program for viewing, wherein the user is able to start playback of the ordered media program on-demand during a limited viewing period following the ordering of the program;

determine that the user has not watched the ordered on-demand media program during the limited viewing period; and

in response to determining that the user has not watched the ordered media program during the limited viewing period,

automatically access the ordered on-demand media program from a vendor of the ordered media program; and

receive the ordered on-demand media program without requiring the user to reorder the media program after the limited viewing period has elapsed.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the on-demand media program is automatically made available for viewing after the limited viewing period has elapsed by having the circuitry further configured to record the on-demand program.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to record the on-demand program before the limited viewing period has elapsed.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the on-demand media program is automatically made available for viewing after the limited viewing period has elapsed by allowing the user to watch the on-demand program after the limited viewing period has elapsed.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine that display of the on-demand program was obscured during a period of time during the showing of the on-demand program.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine that play of the on-demand program was stopped during the showing of the on-demand program.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine that a user tuned away from the program during the showing of the on-demand program.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the limited viewing period comprises a rental period.

16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the limited viewing period comprises a rental period.

Assignments (18)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2024
From: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
To: ADEIA GUIDES INC.
Reel/Frame 069085/0198 →
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 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035893/0241 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0245 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0270 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2006
From: REICHARDT, MATHEW SCOTT
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES INC.
Reel/Frame 018192/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2006
From: ELLIS, MICHAEL D.; THOMAS, WILLIAM L.; ELKHADIRI, SIMO; KERSHAW, KEVIN
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES INC.
Reel/Frame 018131/0598 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2006
From: ELLIS, MICHAEL D.; THOMAS, WILLIAM L.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 017715/0736 →