US6601238B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Providing a link to programs in a program guide
Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings SAS
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Filing: 1998-12-22
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Granted: 2003-07-29
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Expires: 2018-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and a system for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on an electronic program guide (EPG) is described. A matched program and its respective program source is first determined. This first matched program from the respective program source is then highlighted in the EPG. Additionally, an icon for a respective program source is displayed indicating a future or a previously matched program from the respective program source.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh Boyd Morrison
- 👤 Mark Sheridan Westlake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/44224; H04N21/45; H04N21/454; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/482; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/4314; H04N21/4316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on a program guide grid comprising the steps of: determining a first matched program and its associated program source; displaying a program guide grid having a plurality of displayed program sources on a first axis wherein the displayed program sources includes the associated program source for the first matched program, a displayed time interval on a second axis and programs associated with the plurality of displayed program sources for the displayed time interval; highlighting said first matched program within said displayed program guide grid; and indicating within the displayed program guide grid for each displayed program source whether the displayed program source has at least one other matched program schedule outside the displayed time interval.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on a program guide grid comprising the steps of: determining a first matched program and its associated program source; displaying a program guide grid having a plurality of displayed program sources on a first axis wherein the displayed program sources includes the associated program source for the first matched program, a displayed time interval on a second axis and programs associated with the plurality of displayed program sources for the displayed time interval; highlighting said first matched program within said displayed program guide grid; and indicating within the displayed program guide grid for each displayed program source whether the displayed program source has at least one other matched program schedule outside the displayed time interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicating step and the highlighting step occur simultaneously.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicating step comprises the step of indicating the number of the matched programs, associated with the displayed program source, scheduled outside the displayed time interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the indicating step further comprises the step of indicating the direction in time of the matched programs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicating step comprises the step of displaying an icon for those displayed program sources having the at least one other matched program, the icon indicating a time and date outside the displayed time interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of said icon; advancing the program guide grid having the plurality of displayed program sources on the first axis, to a second displayed time interval on the second axis wherein the second displayed time interval includes the time and date of the selected icon and programs associated with the plurality of displayed program sources for the second displayed time interval; and highlighting the matched program in the program guide grid associated with the selected icon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: indicating the first matched program occurring in the first time interval when the program guide grid is advanced to the second displayed time interval; and indicating within the program guide grid for each displayed program source whether the displayed program source has the at least one other matched program beyond the second displayed time interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the indicating steps and the highlighting step occur simultaneously.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for processing program guide information comprising the steps of: receiving said program guide information; receiving a user-entered request; determining the occurrence of programs matching the user-entered request; displaying a program guide grid identifying a plurality of program sources on a first axis, time information on a second axis and a plurality of programs associated with the program sources for a displayed time interval of said time information axis wherein the plurality of programs includes a first program matching said user-entered request; highlighting said first program matching in said displayed program guide grid; and simultaneously with the highlighting step, displaying within said displayed program guide grid an indicator for each respective program source having another matched program scheduled outside said displayed time interval.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for processing program guide information comprising the steps of: receiving said program guide information; receiving a user-entered request; determining the occurrence of programs matching the user-entered request; displaying a program guide grid identifying a plurality of program sources on a first axis, time information on a second axis and a plurality of programs associated with the program sources for a displayed time interval of said time information axis wherein the plurality of programs includes a first program matching said user-entered request; highlighting said first program matching in said displayed program guide grid; and simultaneously with the highlighting step, displaying within said displayed program guide grid an indicator for each respective program source having another matched program scheduled outside said displayed time interval.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of displaying within the displayed program guide grid further comprises the step of indicating, for each respective program source, the number of the matched programs, associated therewith scheduled outside the displayed time interval.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the indicating step further comprises the step of indicating the direction in time of the matched programs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the indicating step comprises the step of displaying with said indicator for those displayed program sources having the at least one other matched program a time and date outside the displayed time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of said indicator; advancing the program guide grid having the plurality of displayed program sources on the first axis, to a second displayed time interval on the second axis wherein the second displayed time interval includes the time and date of the selected indicator and programs associated with the plurality of displayed program sources for the updated displayed time interval; and highlighting the matched program in the program guide grid associated with the selected indicator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: indicating the first matched program occurring in the first time interval when the program guide grid is advanced to the second displayed time interval; and indicating within the program guide grid for each displayed program source whether the displayed program source has the at least one other matched program beyond the second displayed time interval.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for processing program guide information comprising: means for receiving slid program guide information; means for receiving a user-entered request; means for determining the occurrence of programs matching the user-entered request; means for displaying a program guide grid identifying a plurality of program sources on a first axis, time information on a second axis and a plurality of programs associated with the program sources for a displayed time interval of said time information axis wherein the plurality of programs includes a first program matching said user-entered request; means for highlighting said first program matching in said displayed program guide grid; and means for displaying within said displayed program guide grid, simultaneously with the highlighted first program, an indicator for each respective program source having another matched program scheduled outside said displayed time interval.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for processing program guide information comprising: means for receiving slid program guide information; means for receiving a user-entered request; means for determining the occurrence of programs matching the user-entered request; means for displaying a program guide grid identifying a plurality of program sources on a first axis, time information on a second axis and a plurality of programs associated with the program sources for a displayed time interval of said time information axis wherein the plurality of programs includes a first program matching said user-entered request; means for highlighting said first program matching in said displayed program guide grid; and means for displaying within said displayed program guide grid, simultaneously with the highlighted first program, an indicator for each respective program source having another matched program scheduled outside said displayed time interval.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the means for displaying within the displayed program guide grid comprises means for indicating, for each respective program source, the number of the matched programs associated therewith scheduled outside the displayed time interval.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the indicating means comprises means for indicating the direction in time of the matched programs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the means for displaying within the displayed program guide comprises means for displaying with said indicator for those displayed program sources having the at least one other matched program a time and date outside the displayed time interval.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising: means for receiving a selection of said indicator; means for advancing the program guide grid having the plurality of displayed program sources on the first axis, to a second displayed time interval on the second axis wherein the second displayed time interval includes the time and date of the selected indicator and programs associated with the plurality of displayed program sources for the updated displayed time interval; and means for highlighting the matched program in the program guide grid associated with the selected indicator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the means for displaying within the displayed program guide grid comprises: means for indicating the first matched program occurring in the first time interval when the program guide grid is advanced to the second displayed time interval; and means for indicating within the program guide grid for each displayed program source whether the displayed program source has the at least one other matched program beyond the second displayed time interval.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-28 | 2007-01-27 | 2007-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-28 | 2011-01-27 | 2011-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-28 | 2015-01-27 | 2015-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |