| INDEX SYSTEMS, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
| 20110197231 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING EPG DATABASE FOR MODIFYING ADVERTISEMENTS - A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110141375 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND DOWNLOADING SETUP INFORMATION - Multiple channel maps are embedded in a television transmission and the appropriate channel corresponding to the particular television service used by the viewer is downloaded for use with the television receiver. Each channel map is accompanied by a channel map identifier which identifies the source of the television transmission and a geographic identifier. The source of a television transmission is automatically detected by monitoring the radio-frequency spectrum allocations of telecast stations. The geographic area identifier is determined by comparison with a user inputted geographic area identifier. The channel map having a channel map identifier corresponding to the detected television transmission source and the user inputted geographic area identifier is downloaded and stored for future use. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20100223643 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING ADVERTISEMENTS BETWEEN SCHEDULE LISTINGS - In one embodiment, the invention is a system and method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG). The system displays television schedule information in rows of schedule information items including the time and channel for least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items. An advertisement is selected for display from a plurality of advertisements, and the selected advertisement is displayed between two rows of the schedule information items simultaneously with the displayed television schedule information items. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100175080 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING ADVERTISING AND T-COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH CONTENT STORED ON A STORAGE MEDIUM - In one embodiment, the present invention is an improved interactive television system and method for t-commerce. In this embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for facilitating transactions by a user through a television system including a playback device. The method includes providing a first storage medium with pre-recorded content stored on the recording medium; storing an interactive advertisement on the first storage medium; generating a trigger for the interactive advertisement; displaying the interactive advertisement on the television system in response to the trigger when the first storage medium is played by the playback device; prompting the user to respond to the interactive advertisement; generating a transaction request from the user response; and transmitting the transaction request through the television system. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20090297124 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DOWNLOADING RECORDER PROGRAMMING DATA IN A VIDEO SIGNAL - Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling recording of video programs. In one embodiment an apparatus for controlling the recording of video programs includes a device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal received from a television signal source, a device for determining whether the retrieved recorder identifier matches a first identifier for the apparatus, a device for storing the recorder programming data, if the retrieved recorder identifier matches the first identifier for the apparatus, and a device for using the stored recorder programming data to control recording. The device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal includes a vertical blanking interval decoder. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090210906 | VIDEO TAPE INDEXING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A video tape indexing system in which program broadcast identification information is entered into the system for use in recording the program. When the program is recorded, the system stores indexing information in an index memory. The system monitors a broadcast channel for electronic program guide information that includes titles and usually channel, date, time and length for the titles. The system matches the channel, date, time and length information from the broadcast channel with the identification information entered for the program to be recorded. The title in the broadcast channel associated with the channel, date, time and length information is then associated with the indexing information for the program. | 08-20-2009 |