IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,181,200
Granted Patent B2
US 8,181,200 · App. 11/894,687 · Granted May 15, 2012

Method and system for displaying advertising, video, and program schedule listing

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,181,200
App. No.
11/894,687
Granted
May 15, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Claims (58)

1. A method of displaying program items, the method comprising:

receiving, with user equipment, a first user input, the first user input designating a user specified program as a favorite;

receiving, with the user equipment, a second user input, the second user input comprising at least one criterion identifying why the user specified program has been designated as a favorite;

determining one or more additional programs that match the at least one criterion; and

displaying a program item for each of the one or more additional programs.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one criterion comprises one or more of a particular actor, a particular actress, a particular genre, and a particular director.

3. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

displaying a plurality of criteria, including the at least one criterion, and wherein receiving the second user input comprises receiving a user selection of one of the displayed plurality of criteria.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein displaying the plurality of criteria comprises:

providing at least one media category;

receiving a user selection of the at least one media category; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the at least one media category, presenting one or more criteria associated with the program that are in the at least one media category.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the media category is performers, and wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one actor or actress involved in the program.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a displayed program item is marked to indicate that a corresponding program from the one or more additional programs matches the at least one criterion.

7. A method of customizing a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving, with user equipment, a first user input, the first user input designating a user specified program as a favorite;

receiving, with the user equipment, a second user input, the second user input comprising at least one criterion identifying why the program user specified has been designated as a favorite;

determining one or more additional programs that match the at least one criterion; and

customizing the user interface based on the one or more additional programs.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein customizing the user interface comprises displaying a program listing for each of the one or more additional programs in a favorites list screen.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein customizing the user interface comprises marking a program listing corresponding to a program from the one or more additional programs.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a third user input, the third user input comprising at least one additional criterion identifying why the program has been designated as a favorite.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

storing program information for each of a plurality of programs in a database, wherein the plurality of programs includes the one or more additional programs, and wherein determining the one or more additional programs comprises searching the database for a program having program information associated with the at least one criterion.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

periodically monitoring for new programs that are associated with the at least one criterion, and customizing the user interface based on the new programs.

13. A system for displaying program items, the system comprising a display device, a user input device, and processing circuitry configured to:

receive a first user input, the first user input designating a user specified program as a favorite;

receive a second user input, the second user input comprising at least one criterion identifying why the user specified program has been designated as a favorite;

determine one or more additional programs that match the at least one criterion; and

display a program item for each of the one or more additional programs.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one criterion comprises one or more of a particular actor, a particular actress, a particular genre, and a particular director.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to display a plurality of criteria, the plurality of criteria including the at least one criterion, and wherein receiving the second user input comprises receiving, from the user input device, a selection of the at least one criterion from the plurality of criteria.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to display at least one media category;

receive from the user input device a user selection of the at least one media category; and

in response to receiving the user selection of the at least one media category, present one or more criteria associated with the program that are in the at least one media category.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the media category is performers, and wherein the one or more criteria comprises at least one actor or actress involved in the program.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to mark a displayed program item to indicate that a corresponding program from the one or more additional programs matches the at least one criterion.

19. A system for customizing a user interface, the system comprising a display device, a user input device, and processing circuitry configured to:

receive a first user input, the first user input designating a user specified program as a favorite;

receive a second user input, the second user input comprising at least one criterion identifying why the user specified program has been designated as a favorite;

determine one or more additional programs that match the at least one criterion; and

customize the user interface based on the one or more additional programs.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to display program listings corresponding to the one or more additional programs in a favorites list screen.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to mark a program listing corresponding to a program from the one or more additional programs, and display the marked program listing on the display device.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive a third user input, the third user input comprising at least one additional criterion identifying why the program has been designated as a favorite.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

store program information for each of a plurality of programs in a database;

search the database for at least one program having program information associated with the at least one criterion; and

customize the user interface based on the at least one program.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

periodically monitor for new programs that are associated with the at least one criterion, and customize the user interface based on the new programs.

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 Jul 17, 2015
From: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036123/0945 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2015
From: SCHEIN, STEVEN M.; LEFTWICH, JAMES J.; FOLKER, DAVID M.; HUNWICK, KEITH; ALBA, THERESA; KING, MOLLY K.
To: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.
Reel/Frame 036123/0794 →
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 →