US6233734B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for controlling the broadcast and recording of television programs and for distributing information to be displayed on a television screen
Assignee: Videoguide Inc
•
Filing: 1999-03-02
•
Granted: 2001-05-15
•
Expires: 2019-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed for providing programming and other information to television viewers for enabling them to control their respective television receivers. A central broadcasting computer and associated memory gathers and stores the information to be provided, and broadcasts it in a viewing area. An information receiver positioned in close proximity to the television is linked to said central broadcasting computer to receive signals representing said information from said central broadcasting computer. The received signals are converted video displays viewable on the television receiver's screen, and the user can use the displays to control the television receiver and other devices, such as video cassette recorders, used with the television receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas B. Macrae
- 👤 Thomas E. Westberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/44; H04N21/4402; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/222; H04N21/2221; H04N21/25; H04N21/262; H04N21/26283; H04N21/41; H04N21/414; H04N21/4147; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/433; H04N21/4332; H04N21/4334; H04N21/44008; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/47; H04N21/475; H04N21/4755; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6106; H04N21/6131; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for presenting television program listings to television viewers comprising the steps of: transmitting information including program schedule listings from a variety of sources to a central computer that stores the transmitted information in its own databases; transmitting the stored information over a wide area network to a plurality of pager terminals that cover a specific geographic region; converting the information at the pager terminals into program listings data suitable for broadcasting from the pager terminals; broadcasting the television program listing data from the pager terminals; receiving the data in the vicinity of each of the plurality of television receivers that have a display screen; storing the received data in a memory associated with each television receiver; and processing the data for display of television program listings.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for presenting television program listings to television viewers comprising the steps of: transmitting information including program schedule listings from a variety of sources to a central computer that stores the transmitted information in its own databases; transmitting the stored information over a wide area network to a plurality of pager terminals that cover a specific geographic region; converting the information at the pager terminals into program listings data suitable for broadcasting from the pager terminals; broadcasting the television program listing data from the pager terminals; receiving the data in the vicinity of each of the plurality of television receivers that have a display screen; storing the received data in a memory associated with each television receiver; and processing the data for display of television program listings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , in which the broadcasting step broadcasts the television program listings during the night.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , in which the broadcasting step brodacasts the television program listings part of the time, depending upon usage of the pager terminals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , in which the data is broadcast in the 931 MHz frequency band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , in which the data is broadcast in analog form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 , in which the data is converted to digital form before the storing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 , in which the broadcasting step broadcasts the television program listings during the night.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of displaying the processed television program listings on the screen as an electronic program guide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 , additionally comprising the step of displaying a television program on the screen instead of the electronic program guide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for alternatively displaying television program listings and a television program, the apparatus comprising: a television monitor having a display screen; first means for intercepting a television signal from a first transmission link; means for selecting a television program from the intercepted television signal; second means independent of the first means for intercepting from a second transmission link a pager signal that carries television program listing data; means for storing the television program listing data in memory; means for displaying some of the program listings of the stored data on the screen; and means for substituting the selected television program on the screen for the displayed program listings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for alternatively displaying television program listings and a television program, the apparatus comprising: a television monitor having a display screen; first means for intercepting a television signal from a first transmission link; means for selecting a television program from the intercepted television signal; second means independent of the first means for intercepting from a second transmission link a pager signal that carries television program listing data; means for storing the television program listing data in memory; means for displaying some of the program listings of the stored data on the screen; and means for substituting the selected television program on the screen for the displayed program listings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , in which the displaying means comprises means for processing the data for display of television program listings on the screen and means for connecting the processing means to the monitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , in which the monitor, the first means, the selecting means, and the substituting means are housed in a television set; the second means, the storing means, and the processing means are housed in a set top box; and the connecting means includes a cable from the set top box to the television set.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting is in a TCP/IP communications format.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5508815A
Cited
US4751578A
Cited
US4706121A
Cited
US4706121B1
Cited
US4961109A
Cited
US5321514A
Cited
US5371795A
Cited
US5016273A
Cited
US5253066C1
Cited
US5253066A
Cited
US5489894A
Cited
US5210611A
Cited
US5781246A
Cited
US5589892A
Cited
US5729549A
Cited
US5689799A
Cited
US5818441A
Cited
US5812931A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-14 | 2004-11-13 | 2005-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-14 | 2008-11-13 | 2009-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-14 | 2012-11-13 | 2013-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |