Patent US6209129B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6209129B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Passive television program guide system with local information
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
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Filing: 1998-08-25
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2018-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A program guide system is provided in which local information may be distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment. The local information contain information that is directed toward the particular users in a local area. The local information may be displayed automatically by cycling global information and local information.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott D. Carr
- 👤 Brian J. Castle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/251; H04N21/252; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/266; H04N21/2665; H04N21/2668; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/60; H04N21/65; H04N21/658; H04N21/6582; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A system in which local advertisements are distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment, comprising: a front end database for storing local information provided from partners; a front end data manager; a back end data manager, wherein the front end data manager accesses the front end database at periodic intervals to retrieve and transmit the local information to the back end data manager; a back end database, wherein the back end data manager transmits the local information to the back end database for storage; a data transmission facility configured to distribute the local information to the television distribution facility; and television distribution equipment configured to use a passive television program guide to display the local information on the user television equipment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A system in which local advertisements are distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment, comprising: a front end database for storing local information provided from partners; a front end data manager; a back end data manager, wherein the front end data manager accesses the front end database at periodic intervals to retrieve and transmit the local information to the back end data manager; a back end database, wherein the back end data manager transmits the local information to the back end database for storage; a data transmission facility configured to distribute the local information to the television distribution facility; and television distribution equipment configured to use a passive television program guide to display the local information on the user television equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein the television distribution facility further comprises television distribution equipment configured to transmit the local information from the television distribution facility to the user television equipment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein the data transmission facility further comprises data transmission equipment configured to transmit the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein the data transmission facility further comprises data transmission equipment configured to transmit the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream that contains global advertisements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein the data transmission facility further comprises data transmission equipment configured to transmit the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream, wherein the television distribution facility further comprises television distribution equipment configured to transmit the local information from the television distribution facility to the user television equipment.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for using a system in which local information are distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user equipment, comprising: storing local information provided from partners in a front end database; accessing the front end database at periodic intervals; retrieving and transmitting the local information; storing the local-information in a back end database; distributing the local information to the television distribution facility; and using a passive television program guide to display the local information on the user television equipment.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for using a system in which local information are distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user equipment, comprising: storing local information provided from partners in a front end database; accessing the front end database at periodic intervals; retrieving and transmitting the local information; storing the local-information in a back end database; distributing the local information to the television distribution facility; and using a passive television program guide to display the local information on the user television equipment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein distributing the local information further comprises transmitting the local information from the television distribution facility to the user television equipment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein distributing the local information further comprises transmitting the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein distributing the local information further comprises transmitting the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream that contains global advertisements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein distributing the local information further comprises: transmitting the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream; and transmitting the local information from the television distribution facility to the user television equipment.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
131 words
A system in which advertisements are distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment, comprising: a front end database for storing local information provided from partners; a front end data manager; a back end data manager, wherein the front end data manager accesses the front end database at periodic intervals to retrieve and transmit the local information to the back end data manager; a back end database, wherein the back end data manager transmits the local information to back end database for storage; a data transmission facility configured to distribute a selected group of the advertisements to selected groups of television distribution facilities; and television distribution equipment configured to use a passive television program guide to display the selected group of advertisements on the user television equipment.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
131 words
A system in which advertisements are distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment, comprising: a front end database for storing local information provided from partners; a front end data manager; a back end data manager, wherein the front end data manager accesses the front end database at periodic intervals to retrieve and transmit the local information to the back end data manager; a back end database, wherein the back end data manager transmits the local information to back end database for storage; a data transmission facility configured to distribute a selected group of the advertisements to selected groups of television distribution facilities; and television distribution equipment configured to use a passive television program guide to display the selected group of advertisements on the user television equipment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system defined in claim 11 further comprising back office equipment configured to provide the advertisements with content tags indicating the content of the advertisements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system defined in claim 11 further comprising: back office equipment configured to provide the advertisements with content tags indicating the content of the advertisements; and television distribution equipment configured to display only those advertisements with desired content tags.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system defined in claim 11 further comprising back office equipment configured to select blocking criteria that are used to determine which of the advertisements are displayed.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for using a system in which local information are distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment, comprising: storing local information provided from partners in a front end database; accessing the front end database at periodic intervals; retrieving and transmitting the local information; storing the local information in a back end database; distributing a selected group of the advertisements to selected groups of television distribution facilities; and using a passive television program guide to display the selected group of advertisements on the user television equipment.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for using a system in which local information are distributed to a television distribution facility for transmission to user television equipment, comprising: storing local information provided from partners in a front end database; accessing the front end database at periodic intervals; retrieving and transmitting the local information; storing the local information in a back end database; distributing a selected group of the advertisements to selected groups of television distribution facilities; and using a passive television program guide to display the selected group of advertisements on the user television equipment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 15 wherein distributing the local information further comprises transmitting the local information from the television distribution facility to the user television equipment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 15 wherein distributing the local information further comprises transmitting the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 15 wherein distributing the local information further comprises transmitting the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream that contains global advertisements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method defined in claim 15 wherein distributing the local information further comprises: transmitting the local information to the television distribution facility as part of a global data stream; and transmitting the local information from the television distribution facility to the user television equipment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |