US6130726A — Program guide on a remote control display

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

A remote control device comprising: a memory for storing an electronic programming guide, said electronic programming guide comprising a plurality of data fields for each of a plurality of program channels at each of a plurality of times; a display for generating images representative of selected portions of said electronic programming guide; a user input device for enabling input of channel selection and program guide navigation instructions into said remote control device; an infrared transmitter circuit for transmitting channel selection control signals to a channel selecting apparatus; and a microprocessor coupled to said memory, said display, said user input device and said infrared transmitter circuit, wherein said microprocessor is configured to cause delivery of channel selection signals to said infrared transmitter circuit and to select portions of said electronic programming guide to be displayed on said display in response to signals received from said user input device, wherein said channel selection signals comprise specific channel identification macros, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to effect storage of channel selection history data within said memory at predetermined intervals.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 177 words

A remote control device comprising: a memory for storing an electronic programming guide, said electronic programming guide comprising a plurality of data fields for each of a plurality of program channels at each of a plurality of times; a display for generating images representative of selected portions of said electronic programming guide; a user input device for enabling input of channel selection and program guide navigation instructions into said remote control device; an infrared transmitter circuit for transmitting channel selection control signals to a channel selecting apparatus; and a microprocessor coupled to said memory, said display, said user input device and said infrared transmitter circuit, wherein said microprocessor is configured to cause delivery of channel selection signals to said infrared transmitter circuit and to select portions of said electronic programming guide to be displayed on said display in response to signals received from said user input device, wherein said channel selection signals comprise specific channel identification macros, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to effect storage of channel selection history data within said memory at predetermined intervals.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 201 words

A remote control device comprising: a memory for storing data representative of an electronic programming guide, said electronic programming guide comprising a plurality of data fields for each of a plurality of program channels at each of a plurality of times, a display for depicting images representative of selected portions of said electronic program guide, a user input device for enabling entry of channel selection and program guide navigation instructions into said remote control device, a radio frequency receiver circuit for receiving signals comprising electronic programming guide data from a radio frequency source, an infrared transmitter circuit for transmitting channel selection control signals to a channel selection apparatus, and a microprocessor coupled to said memory, said display, said user input device, said radio frequency receiver circuit, and said infrared transmitter circuit, said microprocessor being configured to select portions of said electronic programming guide for depiction on said display in response to program navigation guide signals received from said user input device, to deliver signals representing channel selection macros to said infrared transmitter circuit in response to channel selection signals received from said user input device, and to cause channel selection history data to be stored within said memory at predetermined intervals.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 201 words

A remote control device comprising: a memory for storing data representative of an electronic programming guide, said electronic programming guide comprising a plurality of data fields for each of a plurality of program channels at each of a plurality of times, a display for depicting images representative of selected portions of said electronic program guide, a user input device for enabling entry of channel selection and program guide navigation instructions into said remote control device, a radio frequency receiver circuit for receiving signals comprising electronic programming guide data from a radio frequency source, an infrared transmitter circuit for transmitting channel selection control signals to a channel selection apparatus, and a microprocessor coupled to said memory, said display, said user input device, said radio frequency receiver circuit, and said infrared transmitter circuit, said microprocessor being configured to select portions of said electronic programming guide for depiction on said display in response to program navigation guide signals received from said user input device, to deliver signals representing channel selection macros to said infrared transmitter circuit in response to channel selection signals received from said user input device, and to cause channel selection history data to be stored within said memory at predetermined intervals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The remote control device of claim 2, wherein a unique identification bit sequence is stored within said memory, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to effect downloading of said unique identification bit sequence and said channel selection history data to a data storage device in a predetermined manner.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 253 words

An electronically addressable remote control with graphic display comprising: a real time clock for generating signals indicative of a current time, a memory for storing data descriptive of an electronic programming guide, advertising data and serial number identification data, said electronic programming guide comprising a plurality of data fields for each of a plurality of program channels at each of a plurality of times, a user input device for entering channel selection and program guide navigation instructions into said remote control, a display for generating images in representative of selected sections of said electronic programming guide and selected advertisements defined by said advertising data, a radio frequency receiver circuit for receiving signals comprising said electronic programming guide and advertising data and selectively enabling delivery of said electronic programming guide and advertising data to said memory, an infrared transmitter circuit for transmitting channel selection signals to a channel selection apparatus, and a microprocessor coupled to said real time clock, said memory, said user input device, said display, said radio frequency receiver circuit and said infrared transmitter circuit, said microprocessor being configured to control said delivery of said electronic programming guide and advertising data from said radio frequency receiver circuit to said memory based upon a correlation between address data included within a received signal and said serial number identification data, and said microprocessor being configured to select sections of said electronic programming guide for display in response to said signals generated by said real time clock and signals received from said user input device.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 253 words

An electronically addressable remote control with graphic display comprising: a real time clock for generating signals indicative of a current time, a memory for storing data descriptive of an electronic programming guide, advertising data and serial number identification data, said electronic programming guide comprising a plurality of data fields for each of a plurality of program channels at each of a plurality of times, a user input device for entering channel selection and program guide navigation instructions into said remote control, a display for generating images in representative of selected sections of said electronic programming guide and selected advertisements defined by said advertising data, a radio frequency receiver circuit for receiving signals comprising said electronic programming guide and advertising data and selectively enabling delivery of said electronic programming guide and advertising data to said memory, an infrared transmitter circuit for transmitting channel selection signals to a channel selection apparatus, and a microprocessor coupled to said real time clock, said memory, said user input device, said display, said radio frequency receiver circuit and said infrared transmitter circuit, said microprocessor being configured to control said delivery of said electronic programming guide and advertising data from said radio frequency receiver circuit to said memory based upon a correlation between address data included within a received signal and said serial number identification data, and said microprocessor being configured to select sections of said electronic programming guide for display in response to said signals generated by said real time clock and signals received from said user input device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 165 words

A remote control device with advertising and program guide display comprising: a housing having mounted therein means for receiving signals including advertising and program guide data, means for storing said advertising and program guide data, means for depicting selected subsets of said advertising and program guide data, means for selecting said subsets of said advertising and program guide data to be depicted, and means for communicating channel selection signals to a channel selecting apparatus, wherein said means for receiving and means for storing together comprise one of either a radio frequency receiver circuit or infrared receiver circuit, a microprocessor, a memory and a program for enabling said microprocessor to effect storage within said memory of said advertising and program guide received by said receiver circuit, and wherein said program enables said microprocessor to selectively store received advertising and program guide data based upon a correspondence between serial number identification data stored within said memory and address data included within said advertising and programming guide data.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 165 words

A remote control device with advertising and program guide display comprising: a housing having mounted therein means for receiving signals including advertising and program guide data, means for storing said advertising and program guide data, means for depicting selected subsets of said advertising and program guide data, means for selecting said subsets of said advertising and program guide data to be depicted, and means for communicating channel selection signals to a channel selecting apparatus, wherein said means for receiving and means for storing together comprise one of either a radio frequency receiver circuit or infrared receiver circuit, a microprocessor, a memory and a program for enabling said microprocessor to effect storage within said memory of said advertising and program guide received by said receiver circuit, and wherein said program enables said microprocessor to selectively store received advertising and program guide data based upon a correspondence between serial number identification data stored within said memory and address data included within said advertising and programming guide data.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 93 words

A remote control device with advertising and program guide display comprising: a housing having mounted therein means for receiving signals including advertising and program guide data, means for storing said advertising and program guide data, means for depicting selected subsets of said advertising and program guide data, means for selecting said subsets of said advertising and program guide data to be depicted, means for communicating channel selection signals to a channel selecting apparatus, and means for storing within said remote control and thereafter downloading to a remote storage device program selection history data.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 93 words

A remote control device with advertising and program guide display comprising: a housing having mounted therein means for receiving signals including advertising and program guide data, means for storing said advertising and program guide data, means for depicting selected subsets of said advertising and program guide data, means for selecting said subsets of said advertising and program guide data to be depicted, means for communicating channel selection signals to a channel selecting apparatus, and means for storing within said remote control and thereafter downloading to a remote storage device program selection history data.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 80 words

The remote control device of claim 6, wherein said means for storing and downloading comprises a microprocessor, a user input device, a memory, a data link and a program for enabling said microprocessor to effect storage within said memory of channel selection macro and time data responsive to signals received from said user input device, and for enabling said microprocessor to effect downloading of said channel selection macro and time data to said remote storage device via said data link.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The remote control device of claim 7, wherein said data link comprises a modem, a RS-232 port, a RF data link or an infrared data link.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 127 words

A remote control for operating a consumer electronic device, said remote control comprising: a housing mounting a visual display; a keyboard including a plurality of keys; electrical circuitry in said housing including a microprocessor, at least one of an IR or RF receiver coupled to said microprocessor for receiving program data, keyboard circuitry coupled between said microprocessor and said keyboard, memory means coupled to said microprocessor, and IR transmitting means coupled to said microprocessor; and program guide software stored in said memory means for displaying on said visual display, upon actuation of one or more of said keys, a one day program guide contained in the program data received by said receiver, wherein said program guide software includes means for querying a host device for date/time information.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 127 words

A remote control for operating a consumer electronic device, said remote control comprising: a housing mounting a visual display; a keyboard including a plurality of keys; electrical circuitry in said housing including a microprocessor, at least one of an IR or RF receiver coupled to said microprocessor for receiving program data, keyboard circuitry coupled between said microprocessor and said keyboard, memory means coupled to said microprocessor, and IR transmitting means coupled to said microprocessor; and program guide software stored in said memory means for displaying on said visual display, upon actuation of one or more of said keys, a one day program guide contained in the program data received by said receiver, wherein said program guide software includes means for querying a host device for date/time information.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 56 words

The remote control of claim 9 further comprising means for displaying on the visual display an advertisement to replace the batteries with a specific brand of battery, wherein the program guide information data received is in a compressed format and said program guide software includes instructions for decompressing said program guide information data and displaying it.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The remote control of claim 9 further comprising motion detection means for placing the remote control in a given state when it is picked up by a user.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The remote control of claim 9 further comprising an interactive application program, which is, capable of running on said remote control for setting up said remote control using names of manufacturers instead of model numbers or arbitrary code numbers.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 111 words

A method for gathering data indicative of one or more television viewing habits of a plurality of television viewers, said method comprising the steps of: providing one or more viewers with remote control units capable of operating channel selection devices of the viewers, configuring said remote control units to force tune said channel selection devices as said one or more viewers use said remote control devices to select channels for viewing, enabling said remote control units to store in memory program selection history data for a predetermined period of time, and enabling said remote control units to download said program selection history data to a program history database at predetermined intervals.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 111 words

A method for gathering data indicative of one or more television viewing habits of a plurality of television viewers, said method comprising the steps of: providing one or more viewers with remote control units capable of operating channel selection devices of the viewers, configuring said remote control units to force tune said channel selection devices as said one or more viewers use said remote control devices to select channels for viewing, enabling said remote control units to store in memory program selection history data for a predetermined period of time, and enabling said remote control units to download said program selection history data to a program history database at predetermined intervals.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said program selection history data comprises a date stamp, a time stamp and a program channel selection stamp.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said remote control units are capable of bidirectional communication with a host system, said host system maintains said program history database, and said remote control units download said program selection history data to said program history database automatically at said predetermined intervals.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 15, wherein said predetermined intervals comprise daily or weekly intervals.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 83 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said step of enabling said remote control units to download said program selection history data to a program history database includes the steps of establishing a communication link between said remote control devices and respective personal computer units, delivering said program selection history data from said remote control units to said personal computing units, and causing said personal computing units to download said program selection history data to a host system that maintains said program history database.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 128 words

A method for gathering data indicative of one or more content selection preferences of a plurality of content recipients, said method comprising the steps of: providing said content recipients with remote control units capable of interacting with and controlling a plurality of television channel selection devices and internet content selection devices of said content recipients, configuring said remote control units to force tune said channel selection devices and said internet content selection devices as said content recipients use said remote control devices to select content for viewing, enabling said remote control units to store in memory content selection history data for a predetermined period of time, and enabling said remote control units to download said content selection history data to a content selection history database at predetermined intervals.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 128 words

A method for gathering data indicative of one or more content selection preferences of a plurality of content recipients, said method comprising the steps of: providing said content recipients with remote control units capable of interacting with and controlling a plurality of television channel selection devices and internet content selection devices of said content recipients, configuring said remote control units to force tune said channel selection devices and said internet content selection devices as said content recipients use said remote control devices to select content for viewing, enabling said remote control units to store in memory content selection history data for a predetermined period of time, and enabling said remote control units to download said content selection history data to a content selection history database at predetermined intervals.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said remote control units are capable of bi-directional communication with a host system, said host system maintains said content selection history database, and said remote control units download said content selection history data to said content selection history database automatically at said predetermined intervals.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said predetermined intervals comp rise daily or weekly intervals.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-10-10	2004-04-10	2004-10-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-10-10	2008-04-10	2008-10-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-10-10	2012-04-10	2012-10-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Program guide on a remote control display

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