US6160546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Program guide systems and methods
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
•
Filing: 1998-05-01
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Granted: 2000-12-12
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Expires: 2018-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A television program guide system is provided which includes a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to a plurality of associated television units. Each television distribution facility receives a global video stream which includes a stream of promotional videos from a main facility, receives program listings and program listings group information for the program listings from the main facility, and provides a video signal over the given channel to television units. At each television unit, the promotional information is displayed in the promotional information region and the program listings are displayed in the program listings region in accordance with the program listings group information. The display format is controllable from a main facility.
Inventors
- 👤 John Garret Thompson
- 👤 David Michael Berezowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25808; H04N21/25825; H04N21/25841; H04N21/266; H04N21/2668; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316; H04N21/482
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for providing promotional information and program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen, comprising: a main facility for providing at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, and program listings group information, wherein the program listings group information serves as a template for determining groupings of channels; a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, and program listings group information from the main facility, and providing a video signal over the given channel wherein the promotional information is displayed on the display screen and the program listings are displayed in groups on the display screen based on the program listings group information without user intervention.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for providing promotional information and program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen, comprising: a main facility for providing at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, and program listings group information, wherein the program listings group information serves as a template for determining groupings of channels; a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, and program listings group information from the main facility, and providing a video signal over the given channel wherein the promotional information is displayed on the display screen and the program listings are displayed in groups on the display screen based on the program listings group information without user intervention.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein: each of the plurality of television distribution facilities further receives a display specification for determining the graphic attributes of the display screen of each television unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system defined in claim 2 wherein: each of the plurality of television distribution facilities further receives a temporal specification for synchronizing the program listings group information and the display specification.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein: the global video stream contains video advertisements, each television distribution facility providing the video advertisements to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein: local promotional information is provided to each television distribution facility, each television distribution facility providing the local promotional information to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system defined in claim 5 wherein: the local promotional information is a local video advertisement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system defined in claim 5 wherein: the local promotional information is a logo.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein: the program listings region contains scrolling program listings.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for providing promotional information and program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen, the method comprising: providing at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, and program listings group information that serves as a template for determining groupings of channels, from a main facility to a plurality of television distribution facilities, each television distribution facility being connected to a plurality of associated television units; receiving the at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, and program listings group information from the main facility at each television distribution facility; and providing a video signal over the given channel wherein the promotional information is displayed on the display screen and the program listings are displayed in groups on the display screen based on the program listings group information without user intervention.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for providing promotional information and program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen, the method comprising: providing at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, and program listings group information that serves as a template for determining groupings of channels, from a main facility to a plurality of television distribution facilities, each television distribution facility being connected to a plurality of associated television units; receiving the at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, and program listings group information from the main facility at each television distribution facility; and providing a video signal over the given channel wherein the promotional information is displayed on the display screen and the program listings are displayed in groups on the display screen based on the program listings group information without user intervention.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 9 further comprising: receiving at each television distribution facility a display specification for determining the graphic attributes of the display screen of each television unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 9 further comprising: receiving at each television distribution facility a temporal specification for synchronizing the program listings group information and the display specification.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 9 further comprising: providing the promotional videos from the global video stream to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 9 further comprising: providing local promotional information to each television distribution facility, each television distribution facility providing the local promotional information to each associated television unit for display in the promotional information region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 13 wherein: the local promotional information is a local video advertisement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 13 wherein: the local promotional information is a logo.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined in claim 9 further comprising: scrolling the program listings in the program listings region.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for providing promotional information and program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen, comprising: a main facility for providing at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, program listings group information that serves as a template for determining groupings of channels, and a display specification; a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, program listings group information that serves as a template for determining groupings of channels, and display specification from the main facility, and providing a video signal over the given channel wherein: the program listings are displayed in groups on the display screen based on the program listings group information without user intervention and the graphic attributes of the display screen are determined by the display specification and correspond to the groups of program listings.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for providing promotional information and program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen, comprising: a main facility for providing at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, program listings group information that serves as a template for determining groupings of channels, and a display specification; a plurality of television distribution facilities, each connected to a plurality of associated television units, each television distribution facility receiving the at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, program listings group information that serves as a template for determining groupings of channels, and display specification from the main facility, and providing a video signal over the given channel wherein: the program listings are displayed in groups on the display screen based on the program listings group information without user intervention and the graphic attributes of the display screen are determined by the display specification and correspond to the groups of program listings.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for providing promotional information and program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen, the method comprising: providing at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, program listings group information that serves as a template for determining groupings of channels, and a display specification from a main facility to a plurality of television distribution facilities, each television distribution facility being connected to a plurality of associated television units; receiving the at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, program listings group information and display specification from the main facility at each television distribution facility; and providing a video signal over the given channel wherein: the program listings are displayed in groups on the display screen based on the program listings group information without user intervention; and the graphic attributes of the display screen are determined by the display specification and correspond to the groups of program listings.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for providing promotional information and program listings on a given channel to viewer television units, each television unit having a display screen, the method comprising: providing at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, program listings group information that serves as a template for determining groupings of channels, and a display specification from a main facility to a plurality of television distribution facilities, each television distribution facility being connected to a plurality of associated television units; receiving the at least one global stream of promotional videos, program listings, program listings group information and display specification from the main facility at each television distribution facility; and providing a video signal over the given channel wherein: the program listings are displayed in groups on the display screen based on the program listings group information without user intervention; and the graphic attributes of the display screen are determined by the display specification and correspond to the groups of program listings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising: coordinating the display specification with selected ones of: colors, graphic icons, and video images.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-12 | 2004-06-12 | 2004-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-12 | 2008-06-12 | 2008-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-12 | 2012-06-12 | 2012-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |