US6732369B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for contextually linking television program information
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
•
Filing: 1997-04-11
•
Granted: 2004-05-04
•
Expires: 2017-04-11
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven M. Schein
- 👤 Sean A. O'Brien
- 👤 James Jay Leftwich
- 👤 Susan Broughton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/443; H04N21/4435; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/236; H04N21/2362; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/262; H04N21/2625; H04N21/26266; H04N21/41; H04N21/414; H04N21/4143; H04N21/422; H04N21/4227; H04N21/433; H04N21/4332; H04N21/4334; H04N21/434; H04N21/4345; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/44224; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/458; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N21/47214; H04N21/475; H04N21/4753; H04N21/4755; H04N21/478; H04N21/47815; H04N21/4782; H04N21/4786; H04N21/482; H04N21/4821; H04N21/4828; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N21/8126; H04N21/8133; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0884; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N21/42204; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45; H04N5/765; H04N5/775
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An intelligent electronic program guide system including a display screen comprising: a database local to a viewer for storing television schedule information including information about television programs and a plurality of subject matters associated with each television program; means local to a viewer for displaying on the display screen some of the schedule information in guide format; means local to the viewer for automatically generating a user preference file including a favorite subject matter about the television programs that a viewer would likely be interested in; means local to a viewer for automatically searching the database for matching a television program that includes the identified favorite subject matter; means local to a viewer for tagging the matched television program stored in the local database that includes the generated favorite subject matter; and means local to the viewer for automatically activating a function of the local program guide system responsive to the tagged television program.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
An intelligent electronic program guide system including a display screen comprising: a database local to a viewer for storing television schedule information including information about television programs and a plurality of subject matters associated with each television program; means local to a viewer for displaying on the display screen some of the schedule information in guide format; means local to the viewer for automatically generating a user preference file including a favorite subject matter about the television programs that a viewer would likely be interested in; means local to a viewer for automatically searching the database for matching a television program that includes the identified favorite subject matter; means local to a viewer for tagging the matched television program stored in the local database that includes the generated favorite subject matter; and means local to the viewer for automatically activating a function of the local program guide system responsive to the tagged television program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The program guide system of claim 1 wherein the favorite subject matter includes one or more of actor's name, actress's name, director's name, and type of program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The program guide system of claim 1 wherein means for automatically generating a favorite subject matter comprises means for monitoring and storing the viewer's selections of television programs, and means for heuristically learning the viewer's favorite subject matter according to the viewer's selections of television programs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The program guide system of claim 1 wherein means for automatically activating a function of the program guide system comprises means for automatically tuning to the tagged television program at the scheduled telecast time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The program guide system of claim 1 wherein means for automatically activating a function of the program guide system comprises means for automatically programming a recording device to record a portion of the tagged television program at the scheduled telecast time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The program guide system of claim 1 wherein means for automatically activating a function of the program guide system comprises means for automatically reminding the viewer to view the tagged television program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The program guide system of claim 1 wherein means for automatically activating a function of the program guide system comprises means for automatically downloading a copy of the tagged television program to a digital storage medium at the scheduled telecast time.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for displaying and managing information in an interactive television guide system having a display screen comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a database local to a viewer including information about television programs and a plurality of subject matters associated with each television program; locally to a viewer, displaying on the display screen some of the schedule information in guide format; locally to the viewer, automatically generating a user preference file including a favorite subject matter that a viewer would likely be interested in; locally to the viewer, automatically searching the database for matching a television program that includes the identified favorite subject matter; locally to the viewer, tagging the matched television program stored in the local database that includes the generated favorite subject matter; and locally to the viewer, automatically activating a function of the local program guide system responsive to the tagged television program.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for displaying and managing information in an interactive television guide system having a display screen comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a database local to a viewer including information about television programs and a plurality of subject matters associated with each television program; locally to a viewer, displaying on the display screen some of the schedule information in guide format; locally to the viewer, automatically generating a user preference file including a favorite subject matter that a viewer would likely be interested in; locally to the viewer, automatically searching the database for matching a television program that includes the identified favorite subject matter; locally to the viewer, tagging the matched television program stored in the local database that includes the generated favorite subject matter; and locally to the viewer, automatically activating a function of the local program guide system responsive to the tagged television program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the favorite subject matter includes one or more of actor's name, actress's name, director's name, and type of program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of automatically generating a favorite subject matter comprises monitoring and storing the viewer's selections of television programs, and heuristically learning the viewer's favorite subject matter according to the viewer's selections of television programs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of automatically activating a function of the program guide system comprises automatically tuning to the tagged television program at the scheduled telecast time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of automatically activating a function of the program guide system comprises automatically programming a recording device to record a portion of the tagged television program at the scheduled telecast time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of automatically activating a function of the program guide system comprises automatically reminding the viewer to view the tagged television program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of automatically activating a function of the program guide system comprises automatically downloading a copy of the tagged television program to a digital storage medium at the scheduled telecast time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4691351A
Cited
US4751578A
Cited
US4959719A
Cited
US5047867A
Cited
US5396546A
Cited
US5774357A
Cited
US5589892A
Cited
US5781246A
Cited
US5410344A
Cited
US5572442A
Cited
US5686954A
Cited
US5576755A
Cited
US5534911A
Cited
US5754939A
Cited
US5758257A
Cited
US5596373A
Cited
US5880768A
Cited
US5666645A
Cited
US5699107A
Cited
US5861906A
Cited
US5585838A
Cited
US5760821A
Cited
US5758259A
Cited
US5867226A
Cited
US5722041A
Cited
US5778181A
Cited
US5657072A
Cited
US5940073A
Cited
US5889950A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-04 | 2007-11-03 | 2008-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-04 | 2011-11-03 | 2012-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-04 | 2015-11-03 | 2016-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |