IP Library Granted Patent US 9,462,351
Granted Patent B2
US 9,462,351 · App. 14/723,328 · Granted Oct 4, 2016

Interactive television program guide with selectable languages

Inventors: Michael D. Ellis (Boulder, CO); W. Benjamin Herrington (Tulsa, OK); Steven C. Williamson (Tulsa, OK); Kevin B. Easterbrook (Gilbert, AZ); Joshua A. Rosenthol (Andover, MA); David M. Rudnick (Denver, CO)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
H04N21/4856H04N5/44543H04N21/233H04N21/439H04N21/4312H04N21/4334H04N21/4755H04N21/482H04N21/8106
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,462,351
App. No.
14/723,328
Granted
Oct 4, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An interactive television program guide is provided. The interactive television program guide provides a user with the opportunity to select a language for playing television programming and displaying program guide text. Television program audio in the desired language may be obtained from a SAP or digital audio track and played in the selected language. Television related information in the desired language may be obtained from a digital track. If television program audio or related information is not provided in the selected language, the program guide may use a default language. The program guide may coordinate program guide display screen text with languages available for television programs when the programs are broadcast to users.

Claims (40)

1. A method for providing media content in multiple languages, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user device, a user selection of a preferred language;

receiving, at the user device, a user request to view media content;

determining, at a server, whether the media content is available in the preferred language; and

without requiring further user interaction, transmitting, from the server to the user device, the media content in an alternate language based on determining the media content is not available in the preferred language.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content is media guidance data related to a media program.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the media program is a first media program, the method further comprising generating for display the media guidance data related to the first media program in the alternate language simultaneously with media guidance data related to a second media program in the preferred language.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

transmitting the media program with an audio track in the alternate language based on determining the media guidance data related to the media program is not available in the preferred language.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the media program is available with audio tracks in both the alternate language and the preferred language.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content is a media program that includes an audio track.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

transmitting media guidance data related to the media program in the alternate language based on determining the media program is not available in the preferred language.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the media guidance data is available in both the alternate language and the preferred language.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user selection is a first user selection, the method further comprising:

receiving, prior to the user request to view media content, a second user selection of the alternate language; and

storing an indication of the alternate language; and

wherein transmitting the media content in the alternate language comprises retrieving the media content in the alternate language based on the stored indication.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically selecting the alternate language by identifying a plurality of languages in which the media content is available and determining which of the plurality of languages is related to the preferred language.

11. A system for providing media content in multiple languages, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

receive, at a user device, a user selection of a preferred language;

receive, at the user device, a user request to view media content;

determine, at a server, whether the media content is available in the preferred language; and

without requiring further user interaction, transmit, from the server to the user device, the media content in an alternate language based on determining the media content is not available in the preferred language.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the media content is media guidance data related to a media program.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the media program is a first media program, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display the media guidance data related to the first media program in the alternate language simultaneously with media guidance data related to a second media program in the preferred language.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

transmit the media program with an audio track in the alternate language based on determining the media guidance data related to the media program is not available in the preferred language.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the media program is available with audio tracks in both the alternate language and the preferred language.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the media content is a media program that includes an audio track.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

transmit media guidance data related to the media program in the alternate language based on determining the media program is not available in the preferred language.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the media guidance data is available in both the alternate language and the preferred language.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the user selection is a first user selection, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive, prior to the user request to view media content, a second user selection of the alternate language; and

store an indication of the alternate language; and

wherein the control circuitry configured to transmit the media content in the alternate language is further configured to retrieve the media content in the alternate language based on the stored indication.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

automatically select the alternate language by identifying a plurality of languages in which the media content is available and determining which of the plurality of languages is related to the preferred language.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded May 28, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035730/0756 →
MERGER Recorded May 28, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035730/0763 →
MERGER Recorded May 28, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035730/0778 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2015
From: ELLIS, MICHAEL D.; HERRINGTON, W. BENJAMIN; WILLIAMSON, STEVEN C.; EASTERBROOK, KEVIN B.; ROSENTHOL, JOSHUA A.; RUDNICK, DAVID M.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035730/0798 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 14281414 · May 19, 2014
Continuation 13909955 · Jun 4, 2013
Continuation 13043950 · Mar 9, 2011
Continuation 12341823 · Dec 22, 2008
Continuation 11353394 · Feb 13, 2006
Continuation 09354602 · Jul 16, 1999
Provisional Application 60110262 · Nov 30, 1998
Related Publication 20150256896A1 · Sep 10, 2015