US5585866A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic television program guide schedule system and method including virtual channels
Assignee: TCI-TVGOS Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1996-12-17
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract An electronic program schedule system having virtual channels which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and virtual channel programming. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and generates and displays a plurality of virtual channels, each virtual channel being accessible as a channel and associated with a service delivered on a subset of the channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry Miller
- 👤 Edward B. Knudson
- 👤 Bruce Davis
- 👤 Paul Darata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/68; H04H60/72; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/30; A63F13/33; A63F13/338; H04H60/35; H04H60/38; H04H60/41; H04H60/43; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; H04N21/25; H04N21/254; H04N21/2543; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4314; H04N21/434; H04N21/4345; H04N21/4348; H04N21/435; H04N21/443; H04N21/4438; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4524; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47214; H04N21/4722; H04N21/475; H04N21/4755; H04N21/482; H04N21/4821; H04N21/4826; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N5/50; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0884; H04N7/0887; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N7/165; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354; A63F13/50; A63F13/53; A63F13/533; A63F13/60; A63F13/61; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/30; A63F2300/308; A63F2300/40; A63F2300/409; A63F2300/50; A63F2300/55; A63F2300/5506; H04N21/4316; H04N5/445; H04N5/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
An electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, said guide comprising: user control means for issuing control commands, including channel-control commands comprising a channel up command for selecting a higher numbered channel in a channel tuning sequence; a data processor for receiving said control commands and for generating video control commands; a video display generator adapted to receive video control commands from said data processor for generating and displaying a plurality of said virtual channels, each of said virtual channels associated with a service received on a subset of service channels, each of said virtual channels identifying the subset of service channels on which its associated service is received; wherein a first subset of service channels is located between first and second virtual channels in said channel tuning sequence, and said data processor causes said receiver to select said second virtual channel in response to said channel up command received by said data processor while said first virtual channel is displayed by said receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
An electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, said guide comprising: user control means for issuing control commands, including channel-control commands comprising a channel up command for selecting a higher numbered channel in a channel tuning sequence; a data processor for receiving said control commands and for generating video control commands; a video display generator adapted to receive video control commands from said data processor for generating and displaying a plurality of said virtual channels, each of said virtual channels associated with a service received on a subset of service channels, each of said virtual channels identifying the subset of service channels on which its associated service is received; wherein a first subset of service channels is located between first and second virtual channels in said channel tuning sequence, and said data processor causes said receiver to select said second virtual channel in response to said channel up command received by said data processor while said first virtual channel is displayed by said receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The programming guide according to claim 1 wherein each of said virtual channels also identifies the programs or information currently being received on each of the service channels in said identified subset.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The programming guide according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said service is selected from a group consisting of video programming, audio programming, near video on demand, video on demand, electronic game programming and news information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The programming guide according to claims 1 or 2 wherein each of said virtual channels is selectable by issuing a user control command to tune said receiver to any channel in said subset of service channels on which said associated service is received.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The programming guide according to claims 1 or 2 further comprising selection means for allowing a user to select a service channel in said first subset while said first virtual channel is displayed by said receiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The programming guide according to claim 5 wherein said data processor causes said receiver to tune to said selected service channel in response to a user control command to tune to said selected service channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The programming guide according to claim 5 wherein said selection means comprises a moveable cursor displayed on said receiver and controllable with said user control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The programming guide according to claim 5 wherein said service is selected from a group consisting of video programming, audio programming, near video on demand, video on demand, electronic game programming and news information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The programming guide according to claim 5 further comprising means for identifying a programs or information currently being received on said selected channel while said receiver remains tuned to said first virtual channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The programming guide according to claim 9 wherein said program or information includes video or text.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programming guide according to claim 10 wherein said identified program or information is displayed in partial overlaying relationship with said first virtual channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programming guide according to claim 10 wherein said identified program is displayed in a window in a portion of said first virtual channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The programming guide according to claim 9 wherein said program or information comprises an audio program or information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The programming guide according to claim 1 wherein said data processor controls said video display generator to cause each of said virtual channels also to identify a program or information scheduled to be delivered on each of the service channels in said identified subset for a time period other than the current time period in response to a user time-control command.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, a process for accessing information on said service channels comprising: providing a channel tuning sequence comprising a first subset of service channels located between first and second virtual channels said sequence; selecting said first virtual channel for display on said receiver; generating and displaying said first virtual channel on said receiver, said first virtual channel associated with a first service received on said first subset of said service channels and identifying said first subset of service channels on which its associated service is received; issuing a channel up command for selecting a higher numbered channel in said tuning sequence; receiving said channel up command and generating a video control command in response thereto; generating and displaying-said second virtual channel in said sequence in response to said video control command, said second virtual channel associated with a second service received on a second subset of service channels and identifying the second subset of service channels on which its associated service is received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, a process for accessing information on said service channels comprising: providing a channel tuning sequence comprising a first subset of service channels located between first and second virtual channels said sequence; selecting said first virtual channel for display on said receiver; generating and displaying said first virtual channel on said receiver, said first virtual channel associated with a first service received on said first subset of said service channels and identifying said first subset of service channels on which its associated service is received; issuing a channel up command for selecting a higher numbered channel in said tuning sequence; receiving said channel up command and generating a video control command in response thereto; generating and displaying-said second virtual channel in said sequence in response to said video control command, said second virtual channel associated with a second service received on a second subset of service channels and identifying the second subset of service channels on which its associated service is received.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process according to claim 15 wherein each of said virtual channels also identifies the programs or information currently being received on each of the service channels in said subsets.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process according to claims 15 or 16 wherein said service is selected from a group consisting of video programming, audio programming, near video on demand, video on demand, electronic game programming, and news information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process according to claims 15 or 16 further comprising issuing a channel control command to tune said receiver to a channel in said second subset of service channels on which said associated service is received and selecting said second virtual channel associated with said subset in response thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process according to claims 15 or 16 further comprising selecting a service channel in said second subset while said second virtual channel is selected by said receiver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 19 wherein said receiver tunes to said selected service channel in response to a user control command to tune to said selected service channel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process according to claim 19 wherein said selected service channel is selected using a moveable cursor displayed on said receiver.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process according to claim 19 wherein said service is selected from a group consisting of video programming, audio programming, near video on demand, video on demand, electronic game programming, and news information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process according to claim 19 further comprising identifying a program or information currently being received on said selected channel while said second virtual channel remains selected by said receiver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process according to claim 23 wherein said program or information includes video or text.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 24 wherein said identified program or information appears in partial overlaying relationship with said second virtual channel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 24 wherein said program or information appears in a window in a portion of said second virtual channel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 23 wherein said program or information is an audio program or information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process according to claim 15 wherein said second virtual channel identifies a program or information scheduled to be received on each of the service channels in said second subset for a time period other than the current time period in response to a user time-control command.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
191 words
In an electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, a process for accessing information on said service channels comprising: providing a channel tuning sequence comprising a first subset of service channels located between first and second virtual channels in said sequence; selecting said second virtual channel for display on said receiver; generating and displaying said second virtual channel on said receiver, said second virtual channel associated with a second service received on a second subset of service channels and identifying said second subset of service channels on which its associated service is received; issuing a channel down command for selecting a lower numbered channel in said tuning sequence; receiving said channel down command and generating a video control command in response thereto; generating and displaying said first virtual channel in said sequence in response to said video control command, said first virtual channel associated with a first service received on said first subset of service channels and identifying said first subset of service channels on which its associated service is received.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
191 words
In an electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, a process for accessing information on said service channels comprising: providing a channel tuning sequence comprising a first subset of service channels located between first and second virtual channels in said sequence; selecting said second virtual channel for display on said receiver; generating and displaying said second virtual channel on said receiver, said second virtual channel associated with a second service received on a second subset of service channels and identifying said second subset of service channels on which its associated service is received; issuing a channel down command for selecting a lower numbered channel in said tuning sequence; receiving said channel down command and generating a video control command in response thereto; generating and displaying said first virtual channel in said sequence in response to said video control command, said first virtual channel associated with a first service received on said first subset of service channels and identifying said first subset of service channels on which its associated service is received.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-17 | 2000-06-17 | 2000-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-17 | 2004-06-17 | 2004-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-17 | 2008-06-17 | 2008-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |