IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,827,582
Granted Patent B2
US 7,827,582 · App. 11/894,666 · Granted Nov 2, 2010

Program guide system with video-on-demand browsing

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,827,582
App. No.
11/894,666
Granted
Nov 2, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and a program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program, and set a desired broadcast time for that program.

Claims (43)

1. A method for using an interactive television program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment having a main display screen, the method comprising:

displaying a program on the main display screen;

allowing a viewer to invoke a partial screen program guide display including a first program listing, wherein the first listing is related to a regularly broadcast program;

allowing the viewer to invoke display of a second program listing within the partial screen program guide, wherein the second listing is related to a video-on-demand program;

indicating that a program related to at least one program listing displayed in the partial screen program guide is available on-demand;

allowing the viewer to select the program indicated to be available on-demand; and

allowing the viewer to place an order for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein invoking the display of the second program listing replaces the first program listing with the second program listing within the partial screen program guide.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first program listing and the second program listing are displayed simultaneously within the partial screen program guide.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication is provided with the first program listing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication is provided with the second program listing.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one program listing displayed in the partial screen program guide is organized by available categories.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising allowing the viewer to browse through the available categories in the partial screen program guide display.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising displaying at least one video-on-demand program listing in the partial screen program guide related to the browsed available categories.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the viewer with more detailed information about the program indicated to be available on-demand when the viewer presses a control key.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a video clip preview of the program indicated to be available on-demand.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the order is placed for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand while the video clip preview is simultaneously provided.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the video clip preview is provided in a partial screen video window while the partial screen program guide is displayed.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the video clip preview is provided in a partial screen video window while the program is displayed.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising requiring the viewer to enter a parental control code when the order is placed for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an order confirmation display screen in response to the order being placed.

16. An interactive television program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment, the system comprising:

a display configured to display a program on a main display screen;

the viewer television equipment configured to:

allow a viewer to invoke a partial screen program guide to display on the display, wherein the partial screen program guide includes a first program listing, wherein the first listing is related to a regularly broadcast program;

allow the viewer to invoke display of a second program listing within the partial screen program guide, wherein the second listing is related to a video-on-demand program;

indicate that a program related to at least one program listing displayed in the partial screen program guide is available on-demand;

allow the viewer to select the program indicated to be available on-demand; and

allow the viewer to place an order for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein invoking the display of the second program listing replaces the first program listing with the second program listing within the partial screen program guide.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first program listing and the second program listing are displayed simultaneously within the partial screen program guide.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the indication is provided with the first program listing.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the indication is provided with the second program listing.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one program listing displayed in the partial screen program guide is organized by available categories.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to allow the viewer to browse through the available categories in the partial screen program guide display.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to display at least one video-on-demand program listing in the partial screen program guide related to the browsed available categories.

24. The system of claim 16 , wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to provide the viewer with more detailed information about the program indicated to be available on-demand when the viewer presses a control key.

25. The system of claim 16 , wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to provide a video clip preview of the program indicated to be available on-demand.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the order is placed for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand while the video clip preview is simultaneously provided.

27. The system of claim 25 , wherein the video clip preview is provided in a partial screen video window while the partial screen program guide is displayed.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the video clip preview is provided in a partial screen video window while the program is displayed.

29. The system of claim 16 , wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to require the viewer to enter a parental control code when the order is placed for the selected program indicated to be available on-demand.

30. The system of claim 16 , wherein the viewer television equipment is further configured to display an order confirmation display screen in response to the order being placed.

Assignments (12)
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: 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 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 20, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 034762/0973 →
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 10, 2013
From: PREVUE NETWORKS, INC.
To: TV GUIDE NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029608/0725 →
CONFIRMATORY ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jan 10, 2013
From: TV GUIDE NETWORKS, INC.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 029608/0734 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2013
From: ELLIS, MICHAEL D.
To: PREVUE NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029604/0931 →
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 →