US6061097A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive television program guide with selectable non-program options
Assignee: TV Guide International Inc
•
Filing: 1997-05-22
•
Granted: 2000-05-09
•
Expires: 2017-05-22
Abstract
Abstract An interactive program guide system is provided. The program guide system displays a program guide grid on a user's television equipment. The grid contains rows of television program listings for various channels. Columns in the grid are associated with the scheduled start times of the listed programs. The grid also contains non-program listings. Non-program listings rows contain selectable non-program options, such as options related to weather or sports information. The user can select a given one of the selectable non-program options by positioning a highlight region on one of the options and pressing an appropriate key on a remote control. When the system receives the corresponding command from the remote control, the system displays additional information for the selected non-program option on the user's display screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin D. Satterfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:54
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/775; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0884; H04N7/0887; H04N5/7755
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
User equipment for use in an interactive program guide system in which information for television program listings and selectable non-program options is provided to a distribution facility, comprising: means for receiving the information from the distribution facility; and means for simultaneously displaying the television program listings in one row of a grid and a plurality of simultaneously available selectable non-program options in another row of the grid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
User equipment for use in an interactive program guide system in which information for television program listings and selectable non-program options is provided to a distribution facility, comprising: means for receiving the information from the distribution facility; and means for simultaneously displaying the television program listings in one row of a grid and a plurality of simultaneously available selectable non-program options in another row of the grid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying additional information when one of the selectable non-program options is selected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 wherein the means for receiving further comprises means for receiving information from a cable system headend.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 wherein the means for receiving further comprises means for receiving information from a satellite television distribution facility.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 wherein the means for receiving further comprises a set-top box.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 wherein the means for simultaneously displaying further comprises means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of rows of television program listings in the grid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 wherein the means for simultaneously displaying further comprises means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of rows of non-program options in the grid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 wherein the means for simultaneously displaying further comprises means for simultaneously displaying the television program listings and selectable weather options.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 wherein the means for simultaneously displaying further comprises means for simultaneously displaying the television program listings and selectable sports options.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 wherein the means for simultaneously displaying further comprises means for simultaneously displaying the television program listings and selectable local events options.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 further comprising means for positioning a highlight region on one of the selectable non-program options.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 further comprising means for scrolling the grid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The user equipment defined in claim 1 further comprising means for panning the television program listings without panning the non-program options.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for using user equipment in an interactive program guide system in which information for television program listings and selectable non-program options is provided to a distribution facility, comprising the steps of: receiving the information from the distribution facility; and simultaneously displaying the television program listings in one row of a grid and a plurality of simultaneously available selectable non-program options in another row of the grid.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for using user equipment in an interactive program guide system in which information for television program listings and selectable non-program options is provided to a distribution facility, comprising the steps of: receiving the information from the distribution facility; and simultaneously displaying the television program listings in one row of a grid and a plurality of simultaneously available selectable non-program options in another row of the grid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method defined in claim 14 further comprising the step of displaying additional information when one of the selectable non-program options is selected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the step of receiving further comprises the step of receiving information from a cable system headend.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the step of receiving further comprises the step of receiving information from a satellite television distribution facility.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 14 further comprising the step of receiving the information with a set-top box.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the step of simultaneously displaying further comprises the step of displaying a plurality of rows of television program listings in the grid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the step of simultaneously displaying further comprises the step of simultaneously displaying a plurality of rows of non-program options in the grid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the step of simultaneously displaying further comprises the step of simultaneously displaying the television program listings and selectable weather options.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the step of simultaneously displaying further comprises the step of simultaneously displaying the television program listings and selectable sports options.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 14 wherein the step of simultaneously displaying further comprises the step of simultaneously displaying the television program listings and selectable local events options.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 14 further comprising the step of positioning a highlight region on one of the selectable non-program options.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 14 further comprising the step of scrolling the grid.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 14 further comprising the step of panning the television program listings without panning the non-program options.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
75 words
User equipment for use in an interactive program guide system in which information for television program listings and selectable non-program options is provided to a distribution facility, comprising: a monitor; and control circuitry that receives the information from the distribution facility, wherein the control circuitry is configured to simultaneously display the television program listings in one row of a grid and a plurality of simultaneously available selectable non-program options in another row of the grid.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
75 words
User equipment for use in an interactive program guide system in which information for television program listings and selectable non-program options is provided to a distribution facility, comprising: a monitor; and control circuitry that receives the information from the distribution facility, wherein the control circuitry is configured to simultaneously display the television program listings in one row of a grid and a plurality of simultaneously available selectable non-program options in another row of the grid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display additional information when one of the selectable non-program options is selected.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive information from a cable system headend.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive information from a satellite television distribution facility.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry includes a set-top box.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to simultaneously display a plurality of rows of television program listings in the grid.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a plurality of rows of non-program options in the grid.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to simultaneously display the television program listings and selectable weather options.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to simultaneously display the television program listings and selectable sports options.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to simultaneously display the television program listings and selectable local events options.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to position a highlight region on one of the selectable non-program options.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to scroll the grid.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The user equipment defined in claim 27 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to pan the television program listings without panning the non-program options.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB212600A
Cited
DE2338380A1
Cited
US4031548A
Cited
GB1554411A
Cited
US4081753A
Cited
US4170782A
Cited
US4203130B1
Cited
US4203130A
Cited
GB2034995A
Cited
US4329684A
Cited
US4305101A
Cited
US4598288A
Cited
US4390901A
Cited
US4394691A
Cited
US4488179A
Cited
US4381522A
Cited
US4425579A
Cited
US4375651A
Cited
US4963994A
Cited
US4908713A
Cited
US4429385A
Cited
US4635121A
Cited
JPS59141878A
Cited
US4495654A
Cited
US4527194A
Cited
JPS6061935A
Cited
DE3337204A1
Cited
US4754326A
Cited
US4641205A
Cited
US4689022A
Cited
WO1986001359A1
Cited
US4787063A
Cited
US4691351A
Cited
US4712105A
Cited
US4751578A
Cited
US4706121B1
Cited
US4706121A
Cited
US4802114A
Cited
US4807052A
Cited
US4737993A
Cited
US4916329A
Cited
US4841368A
Cited
US4977455A
Cited
US4977455B1
Cited
US5027400A
Cited
WO1990007844A1
Cited
GB2232031A
Cited
US5253066C1
Cited
US5253066A
Cited
US5047867A
Cited
US5038211A
Cited
WO1991005436A1
Cited
US5099319A
Cited
US5283639A
Cited
US5151789A
Cited
US5353121A
Cited
US5479268A
Cited
US5412720A
Cited
US5123046A
Cited
US5172413A
Cited
US5210611A
Cited
US5404393A
Cited
US5465385A
Cited
GB2264409A
Cited
US5323240A
Cited
US5223924A
Cited
US5532918A
Cited
WO1994013107A1
Cited
US5444499A
Cited
US5594509A
Cited
WO1995001056A1
Cited
US5481296A
Cited
US5585866A
Cited
US5589892A
Cited
US5410344A
Cited
US5465113A
Cited
US5650826A
Cited
WO1995028799A1
Cited
WO1995032585A1
Cited
WO1995032583A1
Cited
US5635978A
Cited
US5596479A
Cited
WO1996009721A1
Cited
WO1996013935A1
Cited
WO1996017473A1
Cited
US5596373A
Cited
US5553083A
Cited
US5553083B1
Cited
WO1996031980A1
Cited
US5585838A
Cited
WO1996041478A1
Cited
US5940073A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-09 | 2003-11-08 | 2004-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-09 | 2007-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-09 | 2011-11-08 | 2012-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |