US6247176B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Television schedule system and method of operation for multiple program occurrences
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-30
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Granted: 2001-06-12
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Expires: 2019-06-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved television guide system. According to one embodiment of the invention, television guide information is provided that includes multiple occurrences of a single show. The guide system of the present invention allows the user to identify a show and, thereafter, identify when the identified show will be played again. Accordingly, the user may more easily select shows for viewing or recordation.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven M. Schein
- 👤 David P. Warden
- 👤 Molly K. King
- 👤 Theresa A. Alba
- 👤 Robert E. Russman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/4828; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/8126; H04N21/8133; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N21/41; H04N21/4104; H04N21/4135
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of generating a television guide information for a viewer for use in a television guide system having a television unit and at least one television signal source, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a television program guide comprising listings of television programs stored in an electronic program guide database; receiving viewer selection of a particular show from the television program guide; identifying for the viewer other times when the particular show will be shown and other sources of the particular show; and displaying to the viewer the identified other times and the other sources of the particular show.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of generating a television guide information for a viewer for use in a television guide system having a television unit and at least one television signal source, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a television program guide comprising listings of television programs stored in an electronic program guide database; receiving viewer selection of a particular show from the television program guide; identifying for the viewer other times when the particular show will be shown and other sources of the particular show; and displaying to the viewer the identified other times and the other sources of the particular show.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the other instances include an Internet source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the other instances include information about the particular show.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: storing the viewer selection of the particular show if other instances of the show are not found; and alerting the viewer when another instance of the show is added to the electronic program guide database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: receiving viewer selection of one of the displayed instances; and recording a program represented by the selected instance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: receiving viewer selection of one of the instances of the particular show; and automatically switching an input of the television unit to a television signal carrying the other instance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising and receiving the television program guide information from an Internet source.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of generating a television guide information for a viewer for use in a television guide system having a television unit and at least one television signal source, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a consolidated television program guide, the program guide comprising listings of television programs stored in an electronic program guide database, the program guide further comprising a source identifier for each listing; receiving viewer selection of a particular show from the guide; searching the electronic program guide database for all other instances of the particular show; displaying to the viewer all the other instances of the particular show; receiving viewer selection of one of the instances of the particular show; and automatically switching an input of the television unit to a television signal carrying the selected instance.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of generating a television guide information for a viewer for use in a television guide system having a television unit and at least one television signal source, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a consolidated television program guide, the program guide comprising listings of television programs stored in an electronic program guide database, the program guide further comprising a source identifier for each listing; receiving viewer selection of a particular show from the guide; searching the electronic program guide database for all other instances of the particular show; displaying to the viewer all the other instances of the particular show; receiving viewer selection of one of the instances of the particular show; and automatically switching an input of the television unit to a television signal carrying the selected instance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of: mixing and sorting the television guide information in a desired order; and generating a display with the television guide information presented in the desired order in the consolidated television program guide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the other instances include an Internet source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the other instances include information about the particular show.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of: storing the viewer selection of the particular show if other instances of the show are not found; and alerting the viewer when another instance of the show is added to the electronic program guide database.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of: receiving viewer selection of one of the displayed instances; and recording a program represented by the selected instance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising and receiving the television program guide information from an Internet source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A television guide system for generating television guide information for a viewer, the system capable of receiving television signals from a plurality of sources, the system comprising: a memory storing an electronic program database comprising listings of television programs and a source identifier for each listing; a display, coupled to the memory, for displaying some of the program listings in a guide format; a remote control for selecting one of the displayed program listings; and a microprocessor, coupled to said memory, for receiving an indicator signal associated with the selected program listing from the remote control, the microprocessor further searching the electronic program database for all other times and all other sources of the program represented by the program listing, the other times and the other sources for being displayed to the viewer on the display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
A television guide system for generating television guide information for a viewer, the system capable of receiving television signals from a plurality of sources, the system comprising: a memory storing an electronic program database comprising listings of television programs and a source identifier for each listing; a display, coupled to the memory, for displaying some of the program listings in a guide format; a remote control for selecting one of the displayed program listings; and a microprocessor, coupled to said memory, for receiving an indicator signal associated with the selected program listing from the remote control, the microprocessor further searching the electronic program database for all other times and all other sources of the program represented by the program listing, the other times and the other sources for being displayed to the viewer on the display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the microprocessor mixes and sorts the program listings in a desired order, and the display displays some of the program listings in the desired order in a television guide format.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 15 further comprising: a controller, coupled to the memory, for receiving the indicator signal from the remote control, the indicator signal being associated with one of the instances selected from the display; an emitter, coupled to the controller, for transmitting a control signal, the control signal automatically coupling a television signal from the source corresponding to the selected instance to the input of a television appliance, wherein the coupled signal carries the program represented by the selected listing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 17 , in which the appliance is a television unit and the emitter couples the television signal to the television unit for display on a television monitor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 17 , in which the appliance is a VCR and the emitter couples the television signal to the VCR for recording.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 15 further comprising a coordinator configured to receive the television program guide information from an Internet source.
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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) | 2004-06-11 | 2004-12-11 | 2005-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-11 | 2008-12-11 | 2009-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-11 | 2012-12-11 | 2013-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |