Television schedule information transmission and utilization system and process

Claim 2

In a television schedule information transmission system including a direct broadcast satellite, a central data processing system having means for transmitting television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite to the direct broadcast satellite, and subscriber data processing systems having means for receiving the television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite from the direct broadcast satellite, the improvement which comprises a plurality of regional data processing systems, each located in a region of a predetermined territory, a means for transmitting television schedule data for the predetermined territory to said plurality of regional data processing systems, said plurality of regional data processing systems each including means for receiving the television schedule data for the predetermined territory, means, coupled to said means for receiving the television schedule data for the territory, for selecting the television schedule data for the region in which each of said plurality of regional data processing system is located and means, coupled to said means for selecting the television schedule data for the region, for transmitting the television schedule data for the region to a plurality of said subscriber data processing systems in each of the regions.

Claim 3

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 1 in which each of said plurality of subscriber data processing systems includes means for receiving the television schedule data for the region from the one of said plurality of regional data processing systems for the region, means, coupled to said means for receiving the television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite and to said means for receiving the television schedule data for the region, for storing at least a portion of the television schedule data received by the subscriber data processing system from said direct broadcast satellite and the one of said plurality of regional data processing systems, means, coupled to said means for storing, for assembling portions of the stored television schedule data received by the subscriber data processing system for display to a user of the subscriber data processing system and a display coupled to said means for assembling portions of the schedule information data to display the assembled portions of the schedule information data.

Claim 4

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 1 in which said system additionally includes at least one intermediate data processing system between at least one of said plurality of regional data processing systems and a portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in a region in which said at least one of said plurality of regional data processing systems is located, said intermediate data processing system including means for receiving the television schedule data for the region from said at least one of said plurality of regional data processing systems, means, coupled to said means for receiving the television schedule data for the region, for selecting television schedule data for the portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in the region from the television schedule data for the region and means, coupled to said means for selecting television schedule data for the portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems, for transmitting the television schedule data for the portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in the region, said means for transmitting being coupled to the portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems.

Claim 5

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 3 in which said at least one intermediate data processing system is a cable operator data processing system.

Claim 6

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 1 in which the schedule information data is transmitted in the form of commands, the commands including instructions for the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in each region and television schedule information used by the commands to assemble portions of the television schedule information to display the portions of the schedule information data.

Claim 7

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 5 in which the schedule information commands for the predetermined territory include region commands each identifying channels which are available in one of the regions in the territory and a region identification, each of said regional data processing systems having a region identification for comparing with the region identification of each region command to recognize region commands intended for that regional data processing system.

Claim 8

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 1 in which said means for transmitting schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite is configured to transmit the television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite as commands, said means for transmitting television schedule data for the predetermined territory is configured to transmit the television schedule data for the predetermined territory as commands and said means for transmitting the television schedule data for the region is configured to transmit the television schedule data for the region as commands, said plurality of subscriber data processing systems in each of the regions includes a means for determining if certain of the television schedule data in the commands has already been acquired by the subscriber data processing system, and in which the certain of the television schedule information is acquired if it has not already been acquired.

Claim 9

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 7 in which the certain of the television schedule information includes show titles.

Claim 10

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 8 in which the show titles include character strings that have previously been acquired.

Claim 11

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 7 in which the certain of the television schedule information includes missing data for future time periods.

Claim 12

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 1 in which each of said plurality of subscriber data processing systems in each of the regions includes a memory for storing database items comprising the television schedule data, each of the database items having a handle as an index into a handle table identifying memory locations corresponding to the handle.

Claim 13

In a television schedule information transmission system, the method which comprises transmitting television schedule data including day, time and channel of television programs for a direct broadcast satellite to the direct broadcast satellite, receiving the television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite from the direct broadcast satellite at a subscriber data processing system, transmitting television schedule data including day, time and channel of television programs for a predetermined territory to a plurality of regional data processing systems each located in a region of the territory, receiving the television schedule data for the predetermined territory in a regional data processing system located in a region of the predetermined territory, selecting the television schedule data for the region in which the regional data processing system is located and transmitting the television schedule data for the region to the subscriber data processing system for use by a user along with the television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite to select television programs for reception.

Claim 14

In a television schedule information transmission system, the method which comprises transmitting television schedule data including day, time and channel of television programs for a direct broadcast satellite to the direct broadcast satellite, receiving the television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite from the direct broadcast satellite at a subscriber data processing system, transmitting television schedule data including day, time and channel of television programs for a predetermined territory to a plurality of regional data processing systems each located in a region of the territory, receiving the television schedule data for the predetermined territory in a regional data processing system located in a region of the predetermined territory, selecting the television schedule data for the region in which the regional data processing system is located and transmitting the television schedule data for the region to the subscriber data processing system for use by a user along with the television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite to select television programs for reception.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of receiving the television schedule data for the region from the regional data processing system for the region at the subscriber data processing system, storing at least a portion of the television schedule data received by the subscriber data processing system from the direct broadcast satellite and the regional data processing system, assembling portions of the stored television schedule data received by the subscriber data processing system for display to a user of the subscriber data processing system and displaying the assembled portions of the television schedule data.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 in which the television schedule data received by the subscriber data processing system from the direct broadcast satellite and the regional data processing system is stored as database items comprising the television schedule data, each of the database items having a handle as an index into a handle table identifying memory locations corresponding to the handle.

Claim 17

The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the steps of receiving the television schedule data for the region at an intermediate data processing system between the regional data processing system and the subscriber data processing system, selecting a portion of the television schedule data for the subscriber data processing system from the television schedule data for the region and transmitting the portion of the television schedule data for the subscriber data processing system to the subscriber data processing system.

Claim 18

The method of claim 12 in which the television schedule data is transmitted in the form of commands, the commands including instructions for the subscriber data processing system and television schedule data used by the commands to assemble portions of the television schedule data to display the portions of the television schedule data.

Claim 19

The method of claim 16 in which the television schedule data commands include a region command identifying channels which are available in the region and a region identification, the regional data processing system having a region identification for comparing with the region identification of the region command to recognize the region command intended for the regional data processing system.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 additionally comprising the steps of determining if certain of the television schedule data in the commands has already been acquired by the subscriber data processing system, and acquiring the certain of the television schedule data if it has not already been acquired.

Claim 21

A television schedule information system, comprising: (a) a central data processing system; (b) a data source coupled to the central data processing system, the data source having: (1) television schedule data including day, time and channel of television programs for direct broadcast satellite and for a predetermined territory; (c) the central data processing system comprising: (1) a formatter that changes the television schedule data received from the data source into formatted television schedule data conforming to a predetermined format; and (2) a central transmitter coupled to the formatter which transmits the formatted television schedule data received from the formatter; (d) a direct broadcast satellite which receives the formatted television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite from the central transmitter; (e) a plurality of regional data processing systems, each regional data processing system receiving the formatted television schedule data for the predetermined territory for the central transmitter and comprising: (1) a data selector which selects a regional portion of the formatted television schedule data for the predetermined territory; and (2) a regional transmitter coupled to the data selector which transmits the regional portion of the formatted television schedule data to a corresponding region; (f) a plurality of subscriber data processing systems located in each region, comprising: (1) a data receiver which receives the formatted television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite from the direct broadcast satellite and at least part of the regional portion of the formatted schedule data supplied by the regional transmitter; (2) a data selector coupled to the data receiver to select at least some of the formatted television schedule data from the direct broadcast satellite and at least some of the regional portion of the formatted television schedule data from the regional transmitter; (3) a memory coupled to the data selector which stores the formatted television schedule data selected by the data selector; (4) a data assembler coupled to the memory which assembles portions of the formatted television schedule data stored in the memory; and (5) a display coupled to the data assembler that displays the assembled portions of the schedule data.

Claim 22

A television schedule information system, comprising: (a) a central data processing system; (b) a data source coupled to the central data processing system, the data source having: (1) television schedule data including day, time and channel of television programs for direct broadcast satellite and for a predetermined territory; (c) the central data processing system comprising: (1) a formatter that changes the television schedule data received from the data source into formatted television schedule data conforming to a predetermined format; and (2) a central transmitter coupled to the formatter which transmits the formatted television schedule data received from the formatter; (d) a direct broadcast satellite which receives the formatted television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite from the central transmitter; (e) a plurality of regional data processing systems, each regional data processing system receiving the formatted television schedule data for the predetermined territory for the central transmitter and comprising: (1) a data selector which selects a regional portion of the formatted television schedule data for the predetermined territory; and (2) a regional transmitter coupled to the data selector which transmits the regional portion of the formatted television schedule data to a corresponding region; (f) a plurality of subscriber data processing systems located in each region, comprising: (1) a data receiver which receives the formatted television schedule data for the direct broadcast satellite from the direct broadcast satellite and at least part of the regional portion of the formatted schedule data supplied by the regional transmitter; (2) a data selector coupled to the data receiver to select at least some of the formatted television schedule data from the direct broadcast satellite and at least some of the regional portion of the formatted television schedule data from the regional transmitter; (3) a memory coupled to the data selector which stores the formatted television schedule data selected by the data selector; (4) a data assembler coupled to the memory which assembles portions of the formatted television schedule data stored in the memory; and (5) a display coupled to the data assembler that displays the assembled portions of the schedule data.

Claim 23

The television schedule information system of claim 19 in which said system additionally includes: (g) at least one intermediate data processing system between at least one of the plurality of regional data processing systems and a portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in a region in which said at least one of said plurality of regional data processing systems is located, said intermediate data processing system including: (1) an intermediate receiver which receives the regional portion of the formatted television schedule data from the regional transmitter; (2) an intermediate data selector coupled to the intermediate receiver which selects a part of the formatted television schedule data for the portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in the region from the regional portion of the formatted television schedule data; and (3) an intermediate transmitter coupled to said intermediate data selector which transmits the part of the formatted television schedule data for the portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in the region, said intermediate transmitter being coupled to the portion of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems.

Claim 24

The television schedule information system of claim 20 in which said at least one intermediate data processing system is a cable operator data processing system.

Claim 25

The television schedule information system of claim 19 in which the formatted television schedule data is transmitted in the form of commands, the commands including instructions for the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in each region and television schedule data used by the commands to assemble portions of the television schedule data to display the portions of the television schedule data.

Claim 26

The television schedule information system of claim 22 in which the formatted television schedule data commands for the predetermined territory include region commands each identifying channels which are available in one of the regions in the territory and a region identification, each of the regional data processing systems having a region identification for comparing with the region identification of each region command to recognize region commands intended for that regional data processing system.

Claim 27

The television schedule information system of claim 22 in which each of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems in each of the regions includes: (3) a comparator coupled to the data selector which determines if certain of the formatted television schedule data in the commands has already been acquired by the subscriber data processing system, and in which the certain of the formatted television schedule data is acquired by a subscriber data processing system in said plurality of subscriber data processing systems if it has not already been acquired.

Claim 28

The television schedule information system of claim 24 in which the certain of the formatted television schedule data includes show titles.

Claim 29

The television schedule information system of claim 25 in which the show titles include character strings that have previously been acquired.

Claim 30

The television schedule information system of claim 24 in which the certain of the formatted television schedule data includes missing data for future time periods.

Claim 31

The television schedule information transmission system of claim 19 in which the memory in each of said plurality of subscriber data processing systems stores database items comprising the formatted television schedule data, each of the database items having a handle as an index into a handle table identifying memory locations corresponding to the handle.

Claim 32

A television schedule information system, comprising: (a) a central data processing system with a transmitter which transmits first and second television schedule data including day, time and channel of television programs for a direct broadcast satellite and for a predetermined territory, respectively; (b) a direct broadcast satellite which receives the first television schedule data from the transmitter of the central data processing system and re-transmits the first television schedule data; (c) a plurality of regional data processing systems each of which receives the second television schedule data, selects second television schedule data corresponding to a region of the receiving regional data processing system and transmits the second schedule data for the region to the region; (d) a plurality of subscriber data processing systems, each of which receives the first television schedule data from the direct broadcast satellite and second television schedule data from one of the regional data processing systems and assembles the first and second television schedule data for display; and (e) a television coupled to one of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems which displays at least some of the first and second assembled schedule data.

Claim 33

A television schedule information system, comprising: (a) a central data processing system with a transmitter which transmits first and second television schedule data including day, time and channel of television programs for a direct broadcast satellite and for a predetermined territory, respectively; (b) a direct broadcast satellite which receives the first television schedule data from the transmitter of the central data processing system and re-transmits the first television schedule data; (c) a plurality of regional data processing systems each of which receives the second television schedule data, selects second television schedule data corresponding to a region of the receiving regional data processing system and transmits the second schedule data for the region to the region; (d) a plurality of subscriber data processing systems, each of which receives the first television schedule data from the direct broadcast satellite and second television schedule data from one of the regional data processing systems and assembles the first and second television schedule data for display; and (e) a television coupled to one of the plurality of subscriber data processing systems which displays at least some of the first and second assembled schedule data.

Claim 34

The television schedule information system of claim 29 in which at least some of the subscriber data processing systems receive the second television schedule data from: (f) an intermediate data processing system coupled between the one of the regional data processing systems and the at least some of the subscriber data processing systems.

Claim 35

The television schedule information system of claim 30 in which the intermediate data processing system is a cable operator data processing system.

Claim 36

The television schedule information system of claim 29 in which a memory in each of the subscriber data processing systems stores database items comprising the first and second television schedule data, each of the database items having a handle as an index into a handle table identifying memory locations corresponding to the handle.