US6799326B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive television program guide system with local advertisements
Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc
•
Filing: 2002-07-01
•
Granted: 2004-09-28
•
Expires: 2022-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A program guide system is provided in which local advertisements may be distributed to interactive television program guides implemented on the user television equipment associated with a television distribution facility such as a cable system headend. The local advertisements contain information that is directed toward the particular users in a local area. The local advertisements may be displayed when a user selects a related global advertisement. The local advertisements may also be displayed automatically by cycling global advertisements and local advertisements. Advertisements may be blocked based on content or time shifted. Policies regarding advertisement usage may be enforced.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter C. Boylan, III
- 👤 William L. Thomas
- 👤 Joel G. Hassell
- 👤 Michael D. Ellis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/24; H04N7/52; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/02; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/222; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; H04N21/236; H04N21/23614; H04N21/23617; H04N21/25; H04N21/266; H04N21/2668; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/435; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/454; H04N21/4542; H04N21/458; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/47815; H04N21/482; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N2007/1739
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A system in which a television distribution facility is used to distribute advertisements to user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, comprising: means for providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information, wherein the advertisement usage information indicates whether the television distribution facility can time-shift a particular advertisement; and means for preventing the television distribution facility from time-shifting the particular advertisement when the advertisement usage information prohibits time-shifting the particular advertisement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A system in which a television distribution facility is used to distribute advertisements to user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, comprising: means for providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information, wherein the advertisement usage information indicates whether the television distribution facility can time-shift a particular advertisement; and means for preventing the television distribution facility from time-shifting the particular advertisement when the advertisement usage information prohibits time-shifting the particular advertisement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information comprises means for providing the advertisements with usage policy flags at a main facility.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for distributing and displaying the advertisements in accordance with policy flags.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information comprises means for distributing an advertisement usage policy message to the television distribution facility.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for distributing and displaying the advertisements in accordance with an advertisement usage policy message.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for using a system in which a television distribution facility is used to distribute advertisements to user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, comprising the steps of: providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information, wherein the advertisement usage information indicates whether the television distribution facility can time-shift a particular advertisement; and preventing the television distribution facility from time-shifting the particular advertisement when the advertisement usage information prohibits time-shifting the particular advertisement.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for using a system in which a television distribution facility is used to distribute advertisements to user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, comprising the steps of: providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information, wherein the advertisement usage information indicates whether the television distribution facility can time-shift a particular advertisement; and preventing the television distribution facility from time-shifting the particular advertisement when the advertisement usage information prohibits time-shifting the particular advertisement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein the step of providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information comprises the step of providing the advertisements with usage policy flags at a main facility.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 6 further comprising the step of distributing and displaying the advertisements in accordance with policy flags.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein the step of providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information comprises the step of distributing an advertisement usage policy message to the television distribution facility.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 6 wherein the step of enforcing the advertisement usage policy comprises the step of distributing and displaying the advertisements in accordance with an advertisement usage policy message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A computer readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for use in a system in which a television distribution facility is used to distribute advertisements to user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, the machine-readable instructions comprising: providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information, wherein the advertisement usage information indicates whether the television distribution facility can time-shift a particular advertisement; and preventing the television distribution facility from time-shifting the particular advertisement when the advertisement usage information prohibits time-shifting the particular advertisement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
A computer readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for use in a system in which a television distribution facility is used to distribute advertisements to user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, the machine-readable instructions comprising: providing the advertisements with advertisement usage information, wherein the advertisement usage information indicates whether the television distribution facility can time-shift a particular advertisement; and preventing the television distribution facility from time-shifting the particular advertisement when the advertisement usage information prohibits time-shifting the particular advertisement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer readable medium defined in claim 11 , wherein the machine-readable instructions that provide the advertisements with advertisement usage information further comprises providing the advertisements with usage policy flags at a main facility.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable medium defined in claim 11 , further comprising distributing and displaying the advertisements in accordance with policy flags.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer readable medium defined in claim 11 , wherein the machine-readable instructions that provide the advertisements with advertisement usage information further comprises distributing an advertisement usage policy message to the television distribution facility.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer readable medium defined in claim 11 , further comprising distributing and displaying the advertisements in accordance with an advertisement usage policy message.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
82 words
A system in which a television distribution facility is used to distribute advertisements to user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, comprising: a main facility that provides the advertisements with advertisement usage information to the television distribution facility, wherein the advertisement usage information indicates whether the television distribution facility can time-shift a particular advertisement; and wherein the television distribution facility is prevented from time-shifting the particular advertisement when the advertisement usage information prohibits time-shifting the particular advertisement.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
82 words
A system in which a television distribution facility is used to distribute advertisements to user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is implemented, comprising: a main facility that provides the advertisements with advertisement usage information to the television distribution facility, wherein the advertisement usage information indicates whether the television distribution facility can time-shift a particular advertisement; and wherein the television distribution facility is prevented from time-shifting the particular advertisement when the advertisement usage information prohibits time-shifting the particular advertisement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system defined in claim 16 , wherein the main facility receives the advertisements with usage policy flags.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system defined in claim 16 , wherein the television distribution facility distributes the advertisements to the user television equipment for display in accordance with policy flags.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system defined in claim 16 , wherein the main facility distributes an advertisement usage policy message to the television distribution facility.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the television distribution facility distributes the advertisements to the user television equipment for display in accordance with an advertisement usage policy message.
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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) | 2007-09-28 | 2008-03-29 | 2008-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-09-28 | 2012-03-29 | 2012-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-09-28 | 2016-03-29 | 2016-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |