US6323911B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for using television schedule information
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
•
Filing: 1997-04-28
•
Granted: 2001-11-27
•
Expires: 2017-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven M. Schein
- 👤 James J. Leftwich
- 👤 David M. Folker
- 👤 Keith Hunwick
- 👤 Theresa Alba
- 👤 Molly K. King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/44224; H04N21/45; H04N21/466; H04N21/4667; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; H04L; H04L25/00; H04L25/02; H04L25/06; H04L25/061; H04L25/063; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/41; H04N21/418; H04N21/4181; H04N21/4182; H04N21/422; H04N21/42203; H04N21/42204; H04N21/42206; H04N21/42212; H04N21/42213; H04N21/42214; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4314; H04N21/4316; H04N21/433; H04N21/4334; H04N21/434; H04N21/4345; H04N21/443; H04N21/4438; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/458; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47202; H04N21/47211; H04N21/47214; H04N21/4722; H04N21/475; H04N21/4753; H04N21/4755; H04N21/478; H04N21/47815; H04N21/4782; H04N21/482; H04N21/4821; H04N21/4828; H04N21/485; H04N21/4858; H04N21/488; H04N21/4882; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N21/8126; H04N21/8133; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N21/85; H04N21/854; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0887; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N7/165; H04N21/42208; H04N21/42209; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45; H04N5/765; H04N5/775
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A television schedule system for displaying television schedule information on a display screen comprising: an on-screen program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, an on screen cursor can be moved over the plurality of television program listings; a program area for displaying a live video of a first currently telecast television program; a third area for displaying a live video of a second currently telecast of a television program other than the first currently telecast program wherein, the live video of the second currently telecast of a television program changes as the cursor is moved over a different television program listing and wherein, the on-screen program guide, the program area, and the third area are simultaneously displayed on the screen to permit a viewer to browse through the second currently telecast program while viewing the first currently telecast television program; and an input device for switching the sound between the first currently telecast television program and the second currently telecast television program.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A television schedule system for displaying television schedule information on a display screen comprising: an on-screen program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, an on screen cursor can be moved over the plurality of television program listings; a program area for displaying a live video of a first currently telecast television program; a third area for displaying a live video of a second currently telecast of a television program other than the first currently telecast program wherein, the live video of the second currently telecast of a television program changes as the cursor is moved over a different television program listing and wherein, the on-screen program guide, the program area, and the third area are simultaneously displayed on the screen to permit a viewer to browse through the second currently telecast program while viewing the first currently telecast television program; and an input device for switching the sound between the first currently telecast television program and the second currently telecast television program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the currently telecast television program is a last watched program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the currently telecast television program is a highlighted television program listing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising an input device for activating and deactivating the on-screen program guide, the program area, and the third area, and for moving through television program listing within the on-screen program guide to selectively highlight a television program listing to change the data displayed in the third area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the on-screen program guide includes times and channels for each television program and means for scrolling through the times and the channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the on-screen program guide includes a message area for displaying a message to a user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 6 further comprising means for activating the message area to obtain more information associated with the message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the on-screen program guide includes a matrix of cells, each cell containing information associated with a television program and a length that is proportional to a duration of the television program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising visual display means within each cell for displaying an amount of time left in the associated television program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the visual display means comprises means for highlighting a portion of each cell, the highlighted portion representing an amount of time left in the associated television program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising means for continuously reducing the length of the highlighted portion to indicate the amount of time left in the associated program.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: a database containing information about each television program within the television schedule, the database including a plurality of criteria, each television program being associated with one or more criteria; and means for searching the database to match television programs that include a selected criterion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising means for automatically placing the matched television programs into a selection window and means for providing a visual indication for each matched program in the on-screen program guide.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for displaying television schedule information on a screen comprising the steps of: displaying a program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, a television program listing can be selectively highlighted; displaying, in a program area, the live video of a first currently telecast television program; displaying, in a third area, a live telecast of a second television program, other than the first currently telecast program wherein, the program guide, the program area, and the third area are displayed on the screen simultaneously to permit a viewer to browse through the second currently telecast program while viewing the first currently telecast television program; changing the display of the live video of the second currently telecast of a television program as the cursor is moved over a different television program listing; and switching the sound between the first currently telecast television program and the second currently telecast television program by an input device.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for displaying television schedule information on a screen comprising the steps of: displaying a program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, a television program listing can be selectively highlighted; displaying, in a program area, the live video of a first currently telecast television program; displaying, in a third area, a live telecast of a second television program, other than the first currently telecast program wherein, the program guide, the program area, and the third area are displayed on the screen simultaneously to permit a viewer to browse through the second currently telecast program while viewing the first currently telecast television program; changing the display of the live video of the second currently telecast of a television program as the cursor is moved over a different television program listing; and switching the sound between the first currently telecast television program and the second currently telecast television program by an input device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the currently telecast television program is a last watched program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the currently telecast television program is a highlighted television program listing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of displaying a program guide includes displaying times and channels for each television program and scrolling through the time and the channels for highlighting a program.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the step of displaying a program guide includes displaying a message to a user in a message area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of activating the message area to obtain more information associated with the message.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the on-screen program guide includes a matrix of cells, each cell containing information associated with a television program and a length that is proportional to a duration of the television program.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of visually displaying an amount of time left in the associated television program.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the visually displaying step comprises the step of highlighting a portion of each cell, the highlighted portion representing an amount of time left in the associated television program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of continuously reducing the length of the highlighted portion to indicate the amount of time left in the associated program.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of searching a database to match television programs that include a selected criterion, the database containing information about each television program within the television schedule, and including a plurality of criteria, each television program being associated with one or more criteria.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of automatically placing the matched television programs into a selection window and providing a visual indication for each matched program in the displayed program guide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
194 words
A television schedule system for displaying television schedule information on a display screen comprising: an on-screen program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, a television program title can be selectively highlighted; a program area for displaying a live telecast of a last watched television program; a third area for displaying a live telecast of a second television program, other than the currently telecast program wherein, the live video of the second currently telecast of a television program changes as the cursor is moved over a different television program listing and wherein, the on-screen program guide, the program area, and the third area are simultaneously displayed on the screen; and an input device for moving through television program listing within the on-screen program guide to selectively point to a television program listing to change the live telecast of the highlighted television program displayed in the third area to permit a viewer to browse through the second currently telecast program while viewing the first currently telecast television program and wherein, the input device is capable of switching the sound between the last watched television program and the second currently telecast television program.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
194 words
A television schedule system for displaying television schedule information on a display screen comprising: an on-screen program guide including a plurality of television program listings in which, a television program title can be selectively highlighted; a program area for displaying a live telecast of a last watched television program; a third area for displaying a live telecast of a second television program, other than the currently telecast program wherein, the live video of the second currently telecast of a television program changes as the cursor is moved over a different television program listing and wherein, the on-screen program guide, the program area, and the third area are simultaneously displayed on the screen; and an input device for moving through television program listing within the on-screen program guide to selectively point to a television program listing to change the live telecast of the highlighted television program displayed in the third area to permit a viewer to browse through the second currently telecast program while viewing the first currently telecast television program and wherein, the input device is capable of switching the sound between the last watched television program and the second currently telecast television program.
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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) | 2004-11-26 | 2005-05-28 | 2005-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-26 | 2009-05-28 | 2009-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-26 | 2013-05-28 | 2013-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |