US6766526B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Smart channel entry system
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
•
Filing: 1999-12-03
•
Granted: 2004-07-20
•
Expires: 2019-12-03
Abstract
Abstract An interactive system is provided in which information is displayed in response to the entry of the digits of a channel number. The interactive system may be implemented on a television, a computer, or a radio system. The displayed information may be program listings information such as the channel designator or the program currently airing on the channel. The displayed information may also be a list of channels. The list of channels may be associated with the entered digits, may be component channels, or channels of the same type and may be sorted by various techniques such as numerically, by favorite channels, by type, etc. The interactive system may allow a user to specify a source identifier to channels from different sources and display the channels with the source identifier when they are entered.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Ellis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N21/4828; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/485; H04N21/4858; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for facilitating the selection of a desired channel in a system that has a display device, wherein the desired channel is defined by a multiple-digit number, comprising: enabling a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; displaying program listings information associated with a first channel corresponding to the first digit; enabling the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and displaying program listings information associated with a second channel corresponding to a second channel number formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the second channel is displayed in place of the program listings information associated with the first channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for facilitating the selection of a desired channel in a system that has a display device, wherein the desired channel is defined by a multiple-digit number, comprising: enabling a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; displaying program listings information associated with a first channel corresponding to the first digit; enabling the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and displaying program listings information associated with a second channel corresponding to a second channel number formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the second channel is displayed in place of the program listings information associated with the first channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the displayed program listings information includes a channel designator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the displayed program listings information includes a title of a program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the program listings information is displayed on the user input device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the desired channel is a television channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the desired channel is a Web page.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the desired channel is a radio station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined in claim 1 further comprising: allowing the user to tune to the desired channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method defined in claim 1 further comprising: allowing the user to numerically navigate from the channel represented by the entered first digit or the entered first and second digits to available channels on the system; and displaying program listings information in response to each navigation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein the user may navigate through the available channels with up and down keys.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
A machine-readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for facilitating the selection of a desired channel in a system that has a display device, wherein the desired channel is defined by a multiple-digit number, the machine-readable instructions configured to: enabling a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; display program listings information associated with a first channel corresponding to the first digit; enable the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and display program listings information associated with a second channel corresponding to a second channel number formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the second channel is displayed in place of the program listings information associated with the first channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
A machine-readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for facilitating the selection of a desired channel in a system that has a display device, wherein the desired channel is defined by a multiple-digit number, the machine-readable instructions configured to: enabling a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; display program listings information associated with a first channel corresponding to the first digit; enable the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and display program listings information associated with a second channel corresponding to a second channel number formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the second channel is displayed in place of the program listings information associated with the first channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 wherein the displayed program listings information includes a channel designator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 wherein the displayed program listings information includes a title of a program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 wherein the program listings information is displayed on the user input device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 wherein the desired channel is a television channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 wherein the desired channel is a Web page.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 wherein the desired channel is a radio station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 , the machine-readable instructions further configured to: allow the user to tune to the desired channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 , the machine-readable instructions further configured to: allow the user to numerically navigate from the channel represented by the entered first digit or the entered first and second digits to available channels on the system; and display program listings information in response to each navigation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 19 wherein the user is allowed to navigate through the available channels with up and down keys.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
130 words
A system that facilitates the selection of a desired channel in a system that has a display device, wherein the desired channel is defined by a multiple-digit number, the system comprising: means for enabling a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; means for displaying program listings information associated with a first channel corresponding to the first digit; means for enabling the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and means for displaying program listings information associated with a second channel corresponding to a second channel number formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the second channel is displayed in place of the program listings information associated with the first channel.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
130 words
A system that facilitates the selection of a desired channel in a system that has a display device, wherein the desired channel is defined by a multiple-digit number, the system comprising: means for enabling a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; means for displaying program listings information associated with a first channel corresponding to the first digit; means for enabling the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and means for displaying program listings information associated with a second channel corresponding to a second channel number formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the second channel is displayed in place of the program listings information associated with the first channel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system defined in claim 21 wherein the displayed program listings information includes a channel designator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system defined in claim 21 wherein the displayed program listings information includes a title of a program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system defined in claim 21 wherein the program listings information is displayed on the user input device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system defined in claim 21 wherein the desired channel is a television channel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system defined in claim 21 wherein the desired channel is a Web page.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system defined in claim 21 wherein the desired channel is a radio station.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system defined in claim 21 further comprising: means for allowing the user to tune to the desired channel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system defined in claim 21 further comprising: means for allowing the user to numerically navigate from the channel represented by the entered first digit or the entered first and second digits to available channels on the system; and means for displaying program listings information in response to each navigation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system defined in claim 29 wherein the user is allowed to navigate through the available channels with up and down keys.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method defined in claim 1 further comprising: enabling the user to delete the entry of the second digit with the user input device; and displaying program listings information associated with the first channel corresponding to the first digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the first channel is displayed in place of the program listing information associated with the second channel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
69 words
The machine-readable medium defined in claim 11 , the machine-readable instructions further configured to: enable the user to delete the entry of the second digit with the user input device; and display program listings information associated with the first channel corresponding to the first digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the first channel is displayed in place of the program listing information associated with the second channel.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system defined in claim 21 further comprising: means for enabling the user to delete the entry of the second digit with the user input device; and means for displaying program listings information associated with the first channel corresponding to the first digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the first channel is displayed in place of the program listing information associated with the second channel.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
124 words
A system comprising user equipment that has a display device and facilitates the selection of a desired channel, wherein the desired channel is defined by a multiple-digit number, the user equipment configured to: enable a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; display program listings information associated with a first channel corresponding to the first digit; enable the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and display program listings information associated with a second channel corresponding to a second channel number formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the second channel is displayed in place of the program listings information associated with the first channel.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
124 words
A system comprising user equipment that has a display device and facilitates the selection of a desired channel, wherein the desired channel is defined by a multiple-digit number, the user equipment configured to: enable a user to enter a first digit with a user input device; display program listings information associated with a first channel corresponding to the first digit; enable the user to enter a second digit with the user input device; and display program listings information associated with a second channel corresponding to a second channel number formed by combining the first digit followed by the second digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the second channel is displayed in place of the program listings information associated with the first channel.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the displayed program listings information includes a channel designator.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the displayed program listings information includes a title of a program.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the program listings information is displayed on the user input device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the desired channel is a television channel.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the desired channel is a Web page.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the desired channel is a radio station.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the user equipment is further configured to: allow the user to tune to the desired channel.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the user equipment is further configured to: allow the user to numerically navigate from the channel represented by the entered first digit or the entered first and second digits to available channels on the system; and display program listings information in response to each navigation.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as defined in claim 42 wherein the user is allowed to navigate through the available channels with up and down keys.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system as defined in claim 34 wherein the user equipment is further configured to: enable the user to delete the entry of the second digit with the user input device; and display program listings information associated with the first channel corresponding to the first digit, wherein the program listings information associated with the first channel is displayed in place of the program listing information associated with the second channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4706121A
Cited
US4706121B1
Cited
US4725888A
Cited
US4959720A
Cited
US5068734A
Cited
US5068734B1
Cited
US5191423A
Cited
US5315392A
Cited
US5497185A
Cited
US5416508A
Cited
US5477262A
Cited
US5317403A
Cited
US5428400A
Cited
US5589892A
Cited
US5844633A
Cited
US5512955A
Cited
US5652628A
Cited
US5629733A
Cited
US5699106A
Cited
US5828945A
Cited
US5550576A
Cited
US5818541A
Cited
US6388714B1
Cited
US6166778A
Cited
US6130726A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-07-20 | 2008-01-19 | 2008-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-07-20 | 2012-01-19 | 2012-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-07-20 | 2016-01-19 | 2016-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |