US6133909A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for searching a guide using program characteristics
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-12
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Granted: 2000-10-17
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Expires: 2017-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for obtaining information from an electronic program guide is provided. The electronic program guide can be provided by a television system, a set-top box, a VCR, or a computer system. The interactive system allows the user to quickly identify programs which may be of particular interest, thereby avoiding the necessity of searching through the entire program guide. In one embodiment, after the user identifies a specific program as a favorite, the system asks the user a series of questions in order to identify the particular characteristics of the program which makes it a favorite. Based upon the user's responses, the system identifies all programs which contain the desired characteristics. In another embodiment, whenever the user watches a program the interactive system, operating in the background, searches for and marks all programs which may be of interest to the user. In another embodiment, the user can directly employ the interactive system to search for programs containing desirable characteristics. In this embodiment the user enters certain attributes into the system, for example, particular actors or directors. The system then identifies programs within the available electronic program guide which may meet the user's requirements.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Michael Schein
- 👤 James Jay Leftwich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47214; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/482; H04N21/80; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0887; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of determining potentially desirable programs in a television system, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a specific program listing from a electronic program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings, wherein said program guide is displayed to a user; designating said specific program listing as a favorite program to set the specific program listing to be a first selection criterion; identifying at least one selection criterion used in selecting said specific program from said program guide to determine a second selection criterion in response to setting the first selection criterion; and applying the determined second selection criterion to said plurality of program listings within said program guide to determine potentially desirable programs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of determining potentially desirable programs in a television system, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a specific program listing from a electronic program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings, wherein said program guide is displayed to a user; designating said specific program listing as a favorite program to set the specific program listing to be a first selection criterion; identifying at least one selection criterion used in selecting said specific program from said program guide to determine a second selection criterion in response to setting the first selection criterion; and applying the determined second selection criterion to said plurality of program listings within said program guide to determine potentially desirable programs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said selection criterion is selected from the group consisting of performer, director, film location, series, individual program, category, and cinematography.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of identifying at least one specific performer associated with said favorite program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of identifying at least one specific director associated with said favorite program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of identifying a specific category associated with said favorite program, wherein said specific category is selected from the group consisting of comedy, drama, suspense, talk-show, horror, musical, action, childrens, adult, and classic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of marking the program listing corresponding to said potentially desirable programs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said step of marking is performed using a technique selected from the group consisting of placing a notation next to said program listing, using a distinguishable typeface for said program listing, placing an outline around said program listing, and using a distinguishable color for said program listing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said applying step is automatically repeated each time said program guide is updated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of compiling and storing said identified selection criterion in a database each time one of said program listings from said program guide is selected and designated as a favorite program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said compiled and stored selection criterion is modifiable by adding or deleting additional selection criterion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of correlating said compiled and stored selection criterion with a specific user, said user selected from a plurality of users.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying a user of said television system prior to a start time of said determined potentially desirable program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording said determined potentially desirable program on a VCR, said VCR coupled to said television system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of compiling a list of said potentially desirable programs.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of identifying potentially desirable programs in a television system, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a specific program listing from an electronic program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings, wherein said program guide is displayed on a screen coupled to said television system, and wherein each listing of said program guide is characterized by an independent set of program features; designating said specific program listing as a favorite program to set said specific program listing to be a first selection criterion; identifying a specific set of program features associated with said favorite program to determine a second selection criterion in response to setting the first selection criterion; comparing each set of program features associated with each program listing in said program guide to the determined second selection criterion; and identifying each program listing as representing one of said potentially desirable programs in which a set of program features corresponding to a program listing of the plurality of program listings is equivalent to the determined second selection criterion.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of identifying potentially desirable programs in a television system, said method comprising the steps of: selecting a specific program listing from an electronic program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings, wherein said program guide is displayed on a screen coupled to said television system, and wherein each listing of said program guide is characterized by an independent set of program features; designating said specific program listing as a favorite program to set said specific program listing to be a first selection criterion; identifying a specific set of program features associated with said favorite program to determine a second selection criterion in response to setting the first selection criterion; comparing each set of program features associated with each program listing in said program guide to the determined second selection criterion; and identifying each program listing as representing one of said potentially desirable programs in which a set of program features corresponding to a program listing of the plurality of program listings is equivalent to the determined second selection criterion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15, wherein equivalent is defined as having at least one program feature of said set of program features in common with at least one program feature of said specific set of program features.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of searching an electronic program guide coupled to a television system, wherein said program guide contains a plurality of program listings, and wherein each program listing of said program guide is characterized by an independent set of program features, said method comprising the steps of: setting a program listing from the plurality of program listings to be a first selection criterion; determining a second selection criterion based on and in response to the first selection criterion being set; entering at least one desired program feature from the second selection criterion including the group consisting of performer, director, producer, title, film location, and year of release; comparing each program feature associated with each program listing in said program guide to the at least one desired program feature; and identifying each program listing as a potentially desirable program in which at least one program feature associated with each program listing is equivalent to the at least one desired program feature.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of searching an electronic program guide coupled to a television system, wherein said program guide contains a plurality of program listings, and wherein each program listing of said program guide is characterized by an independent set of program features, said method comprising the steps of: setting a program listing from the plurality of program listings to be a first selection criterion; determining a second selection criterion based on and in response to the first selection criterion being set; entering at least one desired program feature from the second selection criterion including the group consisting of performer, director, producer, title, film location, and year of release; comparing each program feature associated with each program listing in said program guide to the at least one desired program feature; and identifying each program listing as a potentially desirable program in which at least one program feature associated with each program listing is equivalent to the at least one desired program feature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of marking said identified program listing corresponding to said potentially desirable program.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said entering step is performed using an alpha-numeric keypad.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of claim 17, wherein a specific name is associated with each of said desired features, and wherein said specific name is entered with an alpha-numeric keypad, said method further comprising the steps of: comparing a portion of said entered specific name to a database coupled to said data processor, said database containing a plurality of names associated with said program features characterizing said plurality of program listings; and displaying each of said program listings in which at least a portion of one of said names associated with said program features which characterize said displayed program listing is equivalent to said portion of said entered specific name.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
173 words
A television system comprising: a data processor coupled to said television system; a database coupled to said data processor, said database containing a program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings; a screen coupled to said television system capable of display said program guide; a user input device coupled to said data processor for setting a specific program listing to be a favorite program as a first selection criterion; wherein said data processor is configured to generate a displayable list of selection criteria in response to the specific program listing being set to be the favorite program and to allow at least one specific selection criterion to be identified and determined to be a second selection criterion based on the setting of the favorite program as the first selection criterion; and wherein said data processor is configured to compare the at least one specific selection criteria to said plurality of program listings to determine potentially desirable programs, said potentially desirable programs meeting the identified at least one specific selection criterion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
173 words
A television system comprising: a data processor coupled to said television system; a database coupled to said data processor, said database containing a program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings; a screen coupled to said television system capable of display said program guide; a user input device coupled to said data processor for setting a specific program listing to be a favorite program as a first selection criterion; wherein said data processor is configured to generate a displayable list of selection criteria in response to the specific program listing being set to be the favorite program and to allow at least one specific selection criterion to be identified and determined to be a second selection criterion based on the setting of the favorite program as the first selection criterion; and wherein said data processor is configured to compare the at least one specific selection criteria to said plurality of program listings to determine potentially desirable programs, said potentially desirable programs meeting the identified at least one specific selection criterion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The television system of claim 21, wherein said displayable list of selection criteria is selected from the group consisting of performer, director, film location, series, individual program, category, and cinematography.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The television system of claim 21, wherein said data processor is configured to generate a second displayable list of selection criteria in response to the identification of said specific selection criterion, wherein said second displayable list of selection criteria is a subset of said identified specific selection criterion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The television system of claim 21, wherein said data processor is configured to generate a display of said potentially desirable programs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The television system of claim 21, wherein said data processor is configured to generate an alternate program guide in which said program listings representing said potentially desirable programs are distinguishable from said program listings not representing said potentially desirable programs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The television system of claim 21, wherein said data processor is configured to compile and store said identified specific selection criterion in said database each time a specific program listing is designated as a favorite program.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The television system of claim 26, wherein said compiled and stored selection criterion is correlated to a specific user.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The television system of claim 21, wherein said data processor is configured to record said potentially desirable program on a VCR coupled to said television system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
197 words
A television system comprising: a data processor coupled to said television system; a database coupled to said data processor, said database containing a program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings, wherein each program listing of said program guide is characterized by an independent set of program features, said program features stored in said database; a screen coupled to said television system capable of displaying said program guide; and a user input device coupled to said data processor for designating a specific program listing as a favorite program to set the specific program listing to a first selection criterion, wherein said data processor, in response to the designation of the favorite program and setting the first selection criterion, is configured to compare said set of program features corresponding to the favorite program as a second selection criterion with said set of program features corresponding to each of said program listings in said program guide to determine potentially desirable programs, said potentially desirable programs having at least one program feature of said set of program features in common with at least one program feature of said set of program features corresponding to the favorite program.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
197 words
A television system comprising: a data processor coupled to said television system; a database coupled to said data processor, said database containing a program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings, wherein each program listing of said program guide is characterized by an independent set of program features, said program features stored in said database; a screen coupled to said television system capable of displaying said program guide; and a user input device coupled to said data processor for designating a specific program listing as a favorite program to set the specific program listing to a first selection criterion, wherein said data processor, in response to the designation of the favorite program and setting the first selection criterion, is configured to compare said set of program features corresponding to the favorite program as a second selection criterion with said set of program features corresponding to each of said program listings in said program guide to determine potentially desirable programs, said potentially desirable programs having at least one program feature of said set of program features in common with at least one program feature of said set of program features corresponding to the favorite program.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
223 words
A television system comprising: a data processor coupled to said television system; a data base coupled to said data processor, said database containing a program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings, wherein each program listing of said program guide is characterized by an independent set of program features, the program features stored in said database; a screen coupled to said television system capable of displaying said program guide; and a user input device coupled to said data processor, the user input device capable of setting a program listing from the plurality of program listings to be a first selection criterion; wherein the data processor, in response to the setting of the first selection criterion, determines a second selection criterion and the user input device capable of inputting at least one program feature from the second selection criterion; wherein the second selection criterion is from the group consisting of performer, director, producer, title, film location, and year of release; wherein the data processor is configured to compare the at least one program feature with the set of program features corresponding to each of the program listings in the program guide to determine potentially desirable programs, said potentially desirable programs having at least one program feature of the set of program features in common with the at least one program feature.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
223 words
A television system comprising: a data processor coupled to said television system; a data base coupled to said data processor, said database containing a program guide, said program guide containing a plurality of program listings, wherein each program listing of said program guide is characterized by an independent set of program features, the program features stored in said database; a screen coupled to said television system capable of displaying said program guide; and a user input device coupled to said data processor, the user input device capable of setting a program listing from the plurality of program listings to be a first selection criterion; wherein the data processor, in response to the setting of the first selection criterion, determines a second selection criterion and the user input device capable of inputting at least one program feature from the second selection criterion; wherein the second selection criterion is from the group consisting of performer, director, producer, title, film location, and year of release; wherein the data processor is configured to compare the at least one program feature with the set of program features corresponding to each of the program listings in the program guide to determine potentially desirable programs, said potentially desirable programs having at least one program feature of the set of program features in common with the at least one program feature.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
101 words
The television system of claim 30, further comprising an alpha-numeric keypad for entering a specific name associated with each of said desired program features, said data processor configured to compare a portion of said entered specific name to said database, said database containing a plurality of names associated with said program features characterizing said plurality of program listings, wherein said data processor generates a display of said program listings in which at least a portion of one of said names associated with said program features which characterize said displayed program listing is equivalent to said portion of said entered specific name.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |