Patent US6412110B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6412110B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic program guide with interactive areas
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
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Filing: 1999-11-17
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Granted: 2002-06-25
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Expires: 2019-11-17
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 move a pointer over different interactive areas of the guide and the function performed when the area is activated is displayed in a contextual help window. Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with the guide. Additionally, a video window is interactive and provides tuning functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Michael Schein
- 👤 Jim Leftwich
- 👤 David M. Folker
- 👤 Keith Hunwick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/482; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0884; H04N7/0887; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316; H04N21/443; H04N21/4438
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An interactive EPG comprising: a display screen including interactive areas, a contextual help widow continuously displayed within the EPG and a pointer on the screen configured to invoke EPG functions; a display controller for processing display data for displaying on the display screen; a memory for storing EPG data including contextual help information about what action needs to be done; an input device for receiving commands; and a processor, coupled to the memory and the input device for displaying contextual help information about what action needs to be done in the continuously displayed contextual help window responsive to movement of the pointer over the interactive areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An interactive EPG comprising: a display screen including interactive areas, a contextual help widow continuously displayed within the EPG and a pointer on the screen configured to invoke EPG functions; a display controller for processing display data for displaying on the display screen; a memory for storing EPG data including contextual help information about what action needs to be done; an input device for receiving commands; and a processor, coupled to the memory and the input device for displaying contextual help information about what action needs to be done in the continuously displayed contextual help window responsive to movement of the pointer over the interactive areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The EPG of claim 1 , wherein the display data includes data for causing the display controller to display data including interactive areas in the forms of glyphs and where the stored data includes data for causing the display controller to recursively vary the configuration of the display when a viewer activates the glyphs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The EPG of claim 1 , wherein the stored data includes data for causing the display controller to display data including an interactive title mode area and wherein the stored data includes data for causing selectable display controlling icons to be displayed in the interactive title mode display area when the pointer is positioned over the interactive title mode area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The EPG of claim 3 , wherein a first display controlling icon is a program guide icon that, when selected, causes the display controller to display a program guide display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The EPG of claim 3 , wherein a second display controlling icon is a news services icon which, when selected, causes the display controller to display a list of new services.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
An interactive electronic program guide (IPG) with contextual help capability displayed on a screen for facilitating interaction with the IPG comprising: a plurality of interactive areas within the IPG configured to invoke IPG actions; a contextual help window continuously displayed within the IPG for displaying contextual help information about what action needs to be done; a memory for storing IPG data including contextual help data; a display processor coupled to the memory for displaying the IPG data including the interactive areas and displaying the contextual help information about what action needs to be done on the continuously displayed contextual help window; and an on-screen cursor responsive to user commands for moving within the IPG for displaying a respective contextual data in the continuously displayed contextual help window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
An interactive electronic program guide (IPG) with contextual help capability displayed on a screen for facilitating interaction with the IPG comprising: a plurality of interactive areas within the IPG configured to invoke IPG actions; a contextual help window continuously displayed within the IPG for displaying contextual help information about what action needs to be done; a memory for storing IPG data including contextual help data; a display processor coupled to the memory for displaying the IPG data including the interactive areas and displaying the contextual help information about what action needs to be done on the continuously displayed contextual help window; and an on-screen cursor responsive to user commands for moving within the IPG for displaying a respective contextual data in the continuously displayed contextual help window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The IPG of claim 6 wherein the contextual help data is text data informing a user of actions that can or need to be done.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The IPG of claim 6 wherein one of the plurality of interactive areas is a video window for displaying a currently-tuned television program.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The IPG of claim 6 wherein the input device is one or more of a keyboard, a remote controller, a pointer device, or a voice activated device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The IPG of claim 6 wherein the plurality of interactive areas include means for recording a program or tuning to a television channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The IPG of claim 6 wherein the plurality of interactive areas include one or more of means for accessing a related Internet site, means for purchasing a pay-per-view channel, or means for purchasing merchandise.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for displaying on a screen an interactive electronic program guide (IPG) including a contextual help window and a plurality of interactive areas, the method comprising the steps of: storing IPG data including contextual help information about what action needs to be done associated with a respective interactive area; displaying the IPG on the screen in a guide format; continuously displaying the contextual help window within the IPG; responsive to a user command, moving a cursor to an interactive area; and displaying contextual help information about what action needs to be done associated with the interactive area in the continuously displayed contextual help window.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for displaying on a screen an interactive electronic program guide (IPG) including a contextual help window and a plurality of interactive areas, the method comprising the steps of: storing IPG data including contextual help information about what action needs to be done associated with a respective interactive area; displaying the IPG on the screen in a guide format; continuously displaying the contextual help window within the IPG; responsive to a user command, moving a cursor to an interactive area; and displaying contextual help information about what action needs to be done associated with the interactive area in the continuously displayed contextual help window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of displaying contextual help data comprises displaying text data for informing a user of actions that can or need to be done.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of displaying the IPG comprises displaying a video window for a currently-tuned television program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting a television program from the IPG and recording the selected program when it is telecast.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting a television program from the IPG and tuning to the selected program when it is telecast.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising accessing a related Internet site by activating an area in the IPG.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising purchasing a pay-per-view channel.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for displaying on a screen an interactive electronic program guide (IPG) including a contextual help window and a plurality of interactive areas, the method comprising the steps of: storing IPG data including contextual help information about what action needs to be done; displaying the IPG on the screen; continuously displaying the contextual help window within the IPG; and responsive to a user command, displaying contextual help information about what action needs to be done in the continuously displayed contextual help window.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for displaying on a screen an interactive electronic program guide (IPG) including a contextual help window and a plurality of interactive areas, the method comprising the steps of: storing IPG data including contextual help information about what action needs to be done; displaying the IPG on the screen; continuously displaying the contextual help window within the IPG; and responsive to a user command, displaying contextual help information about what action needs to be done in the continuously displayed contextual help window.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of displaying contextual help data comprises displaying text data for informing a user of actions that can or need to be done.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of displaying the IPG comprises displaying a video window for a currently-tuned television program.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising selecting a television program from the IPG and recording the selected program when it is telecast.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising selecting a television program from the IPG and tuning to the selected program when it is telecast.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising accessing a related Internet site by activating an area in the IPG.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising displaying a confirmation of an action performed by a user in a text window.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising the steps of automatically searching for other airings of a currently selected program and displaying a listing of the other airings of a currently selected program.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising displaying a confirmation of an action performed by a user in a text window.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of automatically searching for other airings of a currently selected program and displaying a listing of the other airings of a currently selected program.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The EPG of claim 2 , wherein a first glyph is a find other glyph for automatically searching for and displaying a listing of other airings of a currently selected 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) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |