IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,071,872
Granted Patent B2
US 9,071,872 · App. 14/313,348 · Granted Jun 30, 2015

Interactive television systems with digital video recording and adjustable reminders

Inventor: Michael D. Ellis (Boulder, CO)
Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
H04N21/4583H04N5/44543H04N21/2747H04N21/4147H04N21/4335H04N21/4438H04N21/47214H04N21/4821H04N21/472
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 9,071,872
App. No.
14/313,348
Filed
Jun 24, 2014
Granted
Jun 30, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2427
USPC
725/93
Abstract

An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming.

Claims (44)

1. A method of providing a broadcast program to a user of an interactive program guide, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a broadcast program wherein the broadcast program has a scheduled broadcast start time;

determining if the user is watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time; and

in response to determining that the user is not watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time, causing a recording of the selected broadcast program to be displayed after the scheduled broadcast start time.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request for the recording of the selected broadcast program for the user's later viewing, wherein the recording is requested if the user is not watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the causing the recording to be displayed comprises:

recording the broadcast program using a video recorder; and

receiving a request from the user to view the recorded broadcast program at a time after the scheduled broadcast start time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the causing the recording to be displayed comprises:

receiving a request from the user to set a reminder for viewing the program at a time after the scheduled broadcast start time.

5. A system of providing a broadcast program to a user of an interactive program guide comprising control circuitry configured to:

receive a user selection of a broadcast program, wherein the broadcast program has a scheduled broadcast start time;

determine if the user is watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time; and

in response to determining that the user is not watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time, cause a recording of the selected broadcast program to be displayed after the scheduled broadcast start time.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a request for the recording of the selected broadcast program for the user's later viewing, wherein the recording is request if the user is not watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry configured to cause the recording to be displayed is further configured to:

record the broadcast program using a video recorder; and

receive a request from the user to view the recorded program at a time after the scheduled broadcast start time.

8. The system of claim 5 , the control circuitry configured to cause the recording to be displayed is further configured to:

receive a request from the user to set a reminder for viewing the program at a time after the scheduled broadcast start time.

9. A method of providing a broadcast program to a user of an interactive program guide, the method comprising:

receiving a user selection of a broadcast program, wherein the broadcast program has a scheduled broadcast start time;

determining whether, at the scheduled broadcast start time, the user is watching the selected broadcast program; and

in response to determining, at the scheduled broadcast start time, that the user is not watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time, causing a recording of the selected broadcast program to be displayed after the scheduled broadcast start time.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving a request for the recording of the selected broadcast program for the user's later viewing, wherein the recording is requested if the user is not watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the causing the recording to be displayed comprises:

recording the broadcast program using a video recorder; and

receiving a request from the user to view the recorded broadcast program at a time after the scheduled broadcast start time.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the causing the recording to be displayed comprises:

receiving a request from the user to set a reminder for viewing the program at a time after the scheduled broadcast start time.

13. A system of providing a broadcast program to a user of an interactive program guide comprising control circuitry configured to:

receive a user selection of a broadcast program wherein the broadcast program has a scheduled broadcast start time;

determine whether, at the scheduled broadcast start time, the user is watching the selected broadcast program; and

in response to determining, at the scheduled broadcast start time, that the user is not watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time, cause a recording of the selected broadcast program to be displayed after the scheduled broadcast start time.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a request for the recording of the selected broadcast program for the user's later viewing, wherein the recording is request if the user is not watching the selected broadcast program at the scheduled broadcast start time.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry configured to cause the recording to be displayed is further configured to:

record the broadcast program using a video recorder; and

receive a request from the user to view the recorded program at a time after the scheduled broadcast start time.

16. The system of claim 13 , the control circuitry configured to cause the recording to be displayed is further configured to:

receive a request from the user to set a reminder for viewing the program at a time after the scheduled broadcast start time.

Assignments (11)
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 Mar 19, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035211/0255 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 19, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035211/0302 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 19, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035211/0292 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2014
From: ELLIS, MICHAEL D.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033173/0676 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 13866247 · Apr 19, 2013
Continuation 13112078 · May 20, 2011
Continuation 12827046 · Jun 30, 2010
Continuation 12350393 · Jan 8, 2009
Continuation 10357001 · Jan 30, 2003
Related Publication 20140310750A1 · Oct 16, 2014