IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,543,321
Granted Patent B2
US 7,543,321 · App. 10/967,672 · Granted Jun 2, 2009

Multiple database, user-choice-compiled program and event guide

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 7,543,321
App. No.
10/967,672
Granted
Jun 2, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic programming guide generator utilizes filters to select only programming filtered to display in an electronic programming guide display.

Claims (54)

1. A method for managing program listings comprising:

storing available program listings in at least one database, wherein the program listings comprise a plurality of program/event entries, wherein each program/event entry corresponds one-to-one to a specific program included in the program listings;

selecting a first subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a first filter comprising a predetermined list of program/event entries, wherein the first subset is selected by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the predetermined list of program/event entries of the first filter;

generating electronic program guide listings comprising the selected first subset of the plurality of program/event entries; and

displaying the generated electronic program guide listings.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a second filter comprising a second predetermined list of program/event entries, wherein the second subset is selected by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the second predetermined list of program/event entries of the second filter; and

generating the electronic program guide listings comprising the selected first subset and the selected second subset of the plurality of program/event entries.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a second filter comprising a second predetermined list of program/event entries, wherein the second subset is selected by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the second predetermined list of program/event entries of the second filter, and wherein the first subset and the second subset both include at least one same program/event entry from the plurality of program/event entries; and

generating the electronic program guide listings comprising each same program/event entry included in both the first subset and said second subset.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to selecting the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries, creating the first filter using the predetermined list of program/event entries in the at least one database.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the program listings and the first filter in a consumer device from a source external to the consumer device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first filter is an editable filter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first filter comprising the predetermined list of program/event entries is received from a third party other than a local service provider or a user.

8. A system for managing program listings comprising:

a memory configured to store:

a database of available program listings comprising a plurality of program/event entries, wherein each program/event entry corresponds one-to-one to a specific program included in the program listings, and

a first filter comprising a predetermined list of program/event entries;

a processor configured to:

select a first subset of the plurality of program/event entries using the first filter, wherein the first subset is selected by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the predetermined list of program/event entries of the first filter,

generate electronic program guide listings comprising the selected first subset of the plurality of program/event entries; and

a display device configured to display the generated electronic program guide listings.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the memory is further configured to store a second filter comprising a second predetermined list of program/event entries; and

the processor is further configured to:

select a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using the second filter by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the second predetermined list of program/event entries of the second filter, and

generate the electronic program guide listings comprising the selected first subset and the selected second subset of the plurality of program/event entries.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the memory is further configured to store a second filter comprising a second predetermined list of program/event entries; and

the processor is further configured to:

select a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using the second filter by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the second predetermined list of program/event entries of the second filter, and wherein the first subset and the second subset both include at least one same program/event entry from the plurality of program/event entries, and

generate the electronic program guide listings comprising each same program/event entry included in both the first subset and said second subset.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to selecting the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries, create the first filter using the predetermined list of program/event entries in the database.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising a consumer device configured to store the program listings and the first filter from a source external to the consumer device.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the first filter is an editable filter.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the first filter comprising the predetermined list of program/event entries is received from a third party other than a local service provider or a user.

15. A system for managing program listings comprising:

means for storing available program listings in at least one database, wherein the program listings comprise a plurality of program/event entries, wherein each program/event entry corresponds one-to-one to a specific program included in the program listings;

means for selecting a first subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a first filter comprising a predetermined list of program/event entries, wherein the first subset is selected by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the predetermined list of program/event entries of the first filter;

means for generating electronic program guide listings comprising the selected first subset of the plurality of program/event entries; and

means for displaying generated electronic program guide listings.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for selecting a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a second filter comprising a second predetermined list of program/event entries, wherein the second subset is selected by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the second predetermined list of program/event entries of the second filter; and

means for generating the electronic program guide listings comprising the selected first subset and the selected second subset of the plurality of program/event entries.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for selecting a second subset of the plurality of program/event entries using a second filter comprising a second predetermined list of program/event entries, wherein the second subset is selected by comparing the program/event entries of the available program listings with the second predetermined list of program/event entries of the second filter, and wherein the first subset and the second subset both include at least one same program/event entry from the plurality of program/event entries; and

means for generating the electronic program guide listings comprising each same program/event entry included in both the first subset and said second subset.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

prior to the means for selecting the first subset of the plurality of program/event entries, means for creating the first filter using the predetermined list of program/event entries in the at least one database.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for storing the program listings and the first filter in a consumer device from a source external to the consumer device.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the first filter is an editable filter.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the first filter comprising the predetermined list of program/event entries is received from a third party other than a local service provider or a user.

Assignments (7)
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: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034761/0675 →
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 →