US5576755A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for verification of electronic television program guide data
Assignee: Telecommunications of Colorado Inc
•
Filing: 1994-10-28
•
Granted: 1996-11-19
•
Expires: 2014-10-28
Abstract
Abstract The system and method of the present invention provides for automated checking of the program listings data in a database of television program schedule listings used in an electronic program guide ("EPG"). The integrity of the program listings data is verified prior to transmission of the data to a cable or other pay television system (or prior to transmission to viewers). The verification system may be used to check the entire database or a user-defined subset of the database for one or more of the following: missing stations, schedule gaps and overlaps, missing titles, missing copy, missing fields, missing movie ratings, lengthy titles, lengthy copy, editorial errors, and inappropriate language. In this manner, the EPG provider ensures the integrity of the EPG data and substantially reduces the time required to manually check all of the data in the program listings database. The verification system may be easily integrated with other processing steps performed on the EPG data prior to being transmitted to cable and multi-system operators.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Davis
- 👤 Paul Darata
- 👤 Michael Morris
- 👤 Michele S. Schwartz
- 👤 Debbie Collins
- 👤 John H. Dasch
- 👤 Jonathan S. Zucker
- 👤 Mitchell S. Gorman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/12; H04H60/00; H04H60/02; H04H60/07; H04H60/68; H04H60/72; H04N; H04N17/00; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/262; H04N21/26283; H04N21/266; H04N21/2665; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0887; H04N7/10; H04N7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A data verification system for automatically verifying the integrity of a database of program schedule information for an electronic television program guide comprising: storage means for storing a database of television program schedule listings, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations; means for selecting a station from said plurality of stations for verification of one or more of said data fields for said selected station; means for selecting a time range for said verification of said one or more data fields; data processing means for automatically analyzing said data fields for said selected station in said database for at least one of schedule gaps and schedule overlaps in the schedule data for said station, and editing means for editing said data fields for said selected station in said database.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A data verification system for automatically verifying the integrity of a database of program schedule information for an electronic television program guide comprising: storage means for storing a database of television program schedule listings, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations; means for selecting a station from said plurality of stations for verification of one or more of said data fields for said selected station; means for selecting a time range for said verification of said one or more data fields; data processing means for automatically analyzing said data fields for said selected station in said database for at least one of schedule gaps and schedule overlaps in the schedule data for said station, and editing means for editing said data fields for said selected station in said database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising transmitting means for transmitting said database to a remote location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said data processing means further automatically analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said database for at least one of missing titles, copy, and fields.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said data processing means further automatically analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said database for at least one of lengthy titles and lengthy copy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said data processing means further automatically analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said database for editorial errors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said data processing means further automatically analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said database for inappropriate language.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said transmission means transmits said database to a plurality of cable systems.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein transmission means transmits said database to a plurality of television viewers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said data fields for said selected station in said database comprise schedule times and run times for a plurality of television programs and said data processing means determines if either of the following inequalities is substantially met: T.sub.n+1 >T.sub.n +RT.sub.n T.sub.n+1 <T.sub.n +RT.sub.n where T n denotes the schedule time and RT n the run time for the nth listing in the database for said selected station, and T n+1 denotes the schedule time for the n+1th listing in the database for said selected station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a display device for listing the start time and end time of said gaps and/or overlaps.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
A data verification system for automatically verifying the integrity of a database of program schedule information for an electronic television program guide comprising: storage means for storing a database of television program schedule listings, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations; means for selecting a station list file for comparison against said plurality of television stations in said database; data processing means for automatically comparing said station list file against said data fields for said plurality of stations in said database to determine if each station in said file is included in said database; and editing means for editing said database.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
A data verification system for automatically verifying the integrity of a database of program schedule information for an electronic television program guide comprising: storage means for storing a database of television program schedule listings, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations; means for selecting a station list file for comparison against said plurality of television stations in said database; data processing means for automatically comparing said station list file against said data fields for said plurality of stations in said database to determine if each station in said file is included in said database; and editing means for editing said database.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said data processing means further automatically analyzes said data fields for said stations in said station list file for at least one of missing titles, copy, and fields.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said data processing means further automatically analyzes said data fields for said stations in said station list file for at least one of lengthy titles and lengthy copy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said data processing means further automatically analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said station list file for editorial errors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said data processing means further automatically analyzes said data fields for said stations in said station list file for inappropriate language.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 11 further comprising a display device for listing each station in said file not included in said database.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an electronic program guide system for television programs, a system for automatically verifying the integrity of the data contained in a database of television program schedule information comprising: storage means for storing a database of television program schedule information, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations; means for selecting a station from said plurality of stations for verification of one or more of said data fields for said selected station; means for selecting a time range for said verification of said one or more data fields; a data processor for automatically analyzing said data fields for said station to locate gaps in the schedule data for said television station included in said program schedule information, and a display device for displaying information identifying said gaps.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
133 words
In an electronic program guide system for television programs, a system for automatically verifying the integrity of the data contained in a database of television program schedule information comprising: storage means for storing a database of television program schedule information, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations; means for selecting a station from said plurality of stations for verification of one or more of said data fields for said selected station; means for selecting a time range for said verification of said one or more data fields; a data processor for automatically analyzing said data fields for said station to locate gaps in the schedule data for said television station included in said program schedule information, and a display device for displaying information identifying said gaps.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said data processor automatically locates schedule overlaps in said data fields for said selected station in said database and said display device displays information identifying said schedule overlaps.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said data processor automatically locates missing titles in said data fields for said selected station in said database and said display device displays information identifying the locations of said missing titles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said data processor automatically locates missing fields in said data fields for said selected station in said database and said display device displays information identifying the locations of said missing fields.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 17 further comprising means for transmitting said database to a plurality of remote locations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said plurality of remote locations comprise cable systems.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an electronic program guide system for television programs, a system for automatically verifying the integrity of the data contained in a database of television program schedule information comprising: storage means for storing a database of television program schedule information, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations means for selecting a station list file for comparison with said plurality of television stations in said database; a data processor for automatically comparing said station list file against said data fields for said plurality of stations in said database to determine if each station in said file is included in said database; and a display device for displaying information identifying stations in said file not included in said database.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
124 words
In an electronic program guide system for television programs, a system for automatically verifying the integrity of the data contained in a database of television program schedule information comprising: storage means for storing a database of television program schedule information, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations means for selecting a station list file for comparison with said plurality of television stations in said database; a data processor for automatically comparing said station list file against said data fields for said plurality of stations in said database to determine if each station in said file is included in said database; and a display device for displaying information identifying stations in said file not included in said database.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said data processor automatically locates missing titles in said data fields for said plurality of stations and said display device displays information identifying the locations of said missing titles.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said data processor automatically locates missing fields in said data fields for said plurality of stations and said display device displays information identifying the locations of said missing fields.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for automatically verifying the integrity of a database of program schedule information for an electronic television program guide comprising: providing a database of television program listings data to a data processor, said database comprising data fields for program titles, program start times, and program run times for a plurality of television stations, selecting a station from said plurality of stations for verification of one or more of said data fields for said selected station; selecting a time range for said verification of said one or more data fields; automatically analyzing said data fields for said selected station in said database for at least one of schedule gaps and schedule overlaps, listing said schedule gaps and/or schedule overlaps, and editing said database to correct said gaps and/or overlaps.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process for automatically verifying the integrity of a database of program schedule information for an electronic television program guide comprising: providing a database of television program listings data to a data processor, said database comprising data fields for program titles, program start times, and program run times for a plurality of television stations, selecting a station from said plurality of stations for verification of one or more of said data fields for said selected station; selecting a time range for said verification of said one or more data fields; automatically analyzing said data fields for said selected station in said database for at least one of schedule gaps and schedule overlaps, listing said schedule gaps and/or schedule overlaps, and editing said database to correct said gaps and/or overlaps.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said data processor further analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said database for at least one of missing titles, copy, and fields.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said data processor further automatically analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said database for at least one of lengthy titles and lengthy copy.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said data processor further automatically analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said database for editorial errors.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said data processor further automatically analyzes said data fields for said selected station in said database for inappropriate language.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 26 further comprising transmitting said database to a plurality of cable systems.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 26 further comprising transmitting said database to a plurality of television viewers.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
90 words
The process of claim 26 wherein said data fields for said selected station in said database comprise schedule times and run times for a plurality of television programs and said data processor determines if either of the following inequalities is substantially met: T.sub.n+1 >T.sub.n +RT.sub.n T.sub.n+1 <T.sub.n +RT.sub.n where T n denotes the schedule time and RT n the run time for the nth listing in the database for said selected station, and T n+1 denotes the schedule time for the n+1th listing in the database for said selected station.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 26 further comprising listing the start time and end of said schedule gaps and/or overlaps.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for delivering an electronic television program guide to a plurality of remote locations comprising: receiving television program listings from a plurality of information providers, formatting said program listings, providing said formatted program listings to a database of program schedule information, automatically analyzing said formatted listings to locate missing stations, missing titles, schedule gaps, and schedule overlaps, storing information identifying said located missing stations, missing titles, schedule gaps, and schedule overlaps, editing said formatted program listings in response to said stored information, extracting a portion of said formatted and edited program listings from said database, and transmitting said extracted portion to a remote location.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for delivering an electronic television program guide to a plurality of remote locations comprising: receiving television program listings from a plurality of information providers, formatting said program listings, providing said formatted program listings to a database of program schedule information, automatically analyzing said formatted listings to locate missing stations, missing titles, schedule gaps, and schedule overlaps, storing information identifying said located missing stations, missing titles, schedule gaps, and schedule overlaps, editing said formatted program listings in response to said stored information, extracting a portion of said formatted and edited program listings from said database, and transmitting said extracted portion to a remote location.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for automatically verifying the integrity of the data for an electronic television program guide comprising: storing a database of television program schedule listings, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations, selecting a station list file, automatically comparing said station list file against said plurality of data fields to determine if each said station in said file is included in said database, editing said database to correct for any stations in said file not included in said database, and transmitting said edited database to a plurality of remote locations.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for automatically verifying the integrity of the data for an electronic television program guide comprising: storing a database of television program schedule listings, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations, selecting a station list file, automatically comparing said station list file against said plurality of data fields to determine if each said station in said file is included in said database, editing said database to correct for any stations in said file not included in said database, and transmitting said edited database to a plurality of remote locations.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 36 further comprising automatically analyzing said plurality of said fields for said stations in said station list file for at least one of missing titles, copy, and fields.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 36 further comprising automatically analyzing said plurality of said fields for said stations in said station list file for at least one of lengthy titles and lengthy copy.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 36 further comprising automatically analyzing said plurality of said fields for said stations in said station list file for editorial errors.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 36 further comprising automatically analyzing said plurality of said fields for said stations in said station list file for inappropriate language.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 36 further comprising listing the missing stations.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for automatically verifying the integrity of the data contained in a database of television program schedule information for an electronic television program guide comprising: storing a database of television program schedule information, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations, selecting a station from said plurality of stations for verification of one or more of said data fields for said station, selecting a time range for said verification, automatically analyzing said data fields for said selected station to locate gaps in the schedule data for said television station included in said program schedule information, and displaying information identifying said gaps.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for automatically verifying the integrity of the data contained in a database of television program schedule information for an electronic television program guide comprising: storing a database of television program schedule information, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations, selecting a station from said plurality of stations for verification of one or more of said data fields for said station, selecting a time range for said verification, automatically analyzing said data fields for said selected station to locate gaps in the schedule data for said television station included in said program schedule information, and displaying information identifying said gaps.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 42 further comprising automatically locating schedule overlaps in said data fields for said selected station in said database and displaying information identifying said schedule overlaps.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 42 further comprising automatically locating missing titles in said data fields for said selected station in said database and displaying information identifying the locations of said missing titles.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 42 further comprising automatically locating missing fields in said data fields for said selected station in said database and displaying information identifying the locations of said missing fields.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 42 further comprising editing said database and transmitting it to a plurality of remote locations.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 46 wherein said plurality of remote locations comprise cable systems.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an electronic program guide system for television programs, a method for automatically verifying the integrity of the data contained in a database of television program schedule information comprising: storing a database of television program schedule information, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations, selecting a station list file, automatically comparing said station list file against said plurality of data fields to determine if each said station in said file is included in said database, and displaying information identifying the stations in said station list file not included in said database.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an electronic program guide system for television programs, a method for automatically verifying the integrity of the data contained in a database of television program schedule information comprising: storing a database of television program schedule information, said database comprising a plurality of data fields for a plurality of television stations, selecting a station list file, automatically comparing said station list file against said plurality of data fields to determine if each said station in said file is included in said database, and displaying information identifying the stations in said station list file not included in said database.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 48 further comprising locating missing titles in said plurality of fields for said stations in said station list file and displaying information identifying the locations of said missing titles.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 48 further comprising locating missing fields in said plurality of fields for said stations in said station list file and displaying information identifying the locations of said missing fields.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-19 | 2000-05-20 | 2000-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-19 | 2004-05-20 | 2004-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-19 | 2008-05-20 | 2008-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |