| United Video Properties, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120131613 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION GUIDE WITH SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120124624 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control interactive media guidance applications running on user equipment. The wireless communications device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the interactive media guidance or other applications. The wireless communications device may function as a remote controller for user equipment. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120114303 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SUBTITLES ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control user equipment and interactive media guidance applications. In an exemplary embodiment, users can play a program with subtitles in one language on user equipment while simultaneously playing the same program with subtitles in another language on the wireless communications device. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120105720 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SUBTITLES ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control user equipment and interactive media guidance applications. In an exemplary embodiment, users can play a program with subtitles in one language on user equipment while simultaneously playing the same program with subtitles in another language on the wireless communications device. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120096493 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH DIGITAL STORAGE - An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120093488 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION GUIDE WITH SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120084814 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING REMOTE ACCESS TO INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATIONS - Methods and systems for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application are provided. In particular, a method includes the steps of receiving user equipment identification information and receiving a user request from a user device indicating instructions for the user equipment. The user request is cross-referenced with an action request in a user equipment format selected from a plurality of formats to be compatible with the user equipment. The action request is transmitted for receipt by the user equipment for enabling execution of the indicated instructions. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120079525 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH REMOTE ACCESS - An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120072956 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING PAUSE-TIME CONTENT - Interactive media systems and methods are provided for substituting pause-time content in place of media that has been paused. The user may pause media such as real-time media, video-on-demand media, near video-on-demand, or recorded media. If the user pauses real-time media or near video-on-demand media, the interactive media application may store the media. The interactive media application may also provide the user with the ability to rewind, resume play of, and fast-forward the media. The pause-time content may be audio or video media and may be an advertisement, trivia, program summaries or any other suitable pause-time content. The interactive media application may provide customized pause-time content specific to the user or specific to the media paused by using media data associated with the media. The interactive media application may also prevent the user from accessing features (e.g., fast-forward) of the system. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120066719 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH REMOTE ACCESS - An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120060189 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH REMOTE ACCESS - An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120059696 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS TO USER DEVICES USING AN ADVERTISEMENT GATEWAY - An advertisement gateway that provides an interface for multiple user devices and multiple advertisement sources to communicate is presented. The advertisement gateway is capable of translating advertisement requests from a user device in a particular format into another format that is compatible with an advertisement source. Conversely, the advertisement gateway can translate advertisement responses from an advertisement source in a particular format into another format that is compatible with the requesting device. In this manner, the advertisers only have to develop an advertisement using a single protocol and format (i.e., the protocol to communicate with the advertisement source) and still be able to provide their advertisements to a wide variety of user devices. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120047533 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS IN AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE - An interactive television program guide application is provided that queries a user regarding the user's interest in television programs and suggests television programs to the user based on the user's responses. The interactive television program guide application identifies a television program that is potentially of interest to the user. The interactive television program guide application then queries the user regarding the user's interest using questions that are formulated based on attributes associated with the identified television program. Using the user's responses to the questions, the interactive television program guide application identifies and suggests one or more television programs to the user. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120036533 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH REMOTE ACCESS - An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120036532 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH REMOTE ACCESS - An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033950 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING AGGREGATIONS OF EPISODES OF SERIES PROGRAMMING IN ORDER - A viewer of an episode of a series such as a television series may wish to access episodes of the series that the viewer missed when they were originally broadcast. Interactive applications may receive the viewer's indication of interest to record missed episodes of the incomplete series, which may include instructions regarding recording options for including the missed episodes in a series aggregation. Interactive applications may identify the episodes to be included in the series aggregation, and record the missed episodes, which may then be stored and organized to create a series aggregation, in the order that they were first broadcast with episodes that the viewer may already have available. Interactive applications may present the episodes of the series aggregation in the order that they were originally broadcast, by providing the viewer with options on how to access the episodes. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120017244 | INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH DATABASE CONFIGURABILITY - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment containing a memory. The system allocates the memory among different categories of program guide data used by the program guide. When new channels are added to the channel line-up, the program guide adjusts its memory allocation accordingly. When it is desired to install a new non-program-guide application on the user television equipment in addition to the program guide, memory can be reallocated to accommodate the new application. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120017243 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH PASSIVE CONTENT - A hybrid passive-interactive program guide is generated by combining the features of an interactive program guide with the passive video portion of a passive program guide. The interactive guide may replace passive listings with interactive listings, replace passive features with interactive features, provide supplemental advertisements, or replace passive tagging information with interactive tagging information. Users may be provided with an opportunity to purchase a program or product being advertised, to view listings for segments aired in the video portion of the passive guide, to schedule reminders for listings or video segments that are displayed by the passive guide, or to schedule video segments and related information for recording. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120005707 | COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIA PROVIDING A PROGRAM GUIDE VIEWED WITH A PERCEIVED TRANSPARENCY OVER A TELEVISION PROGRAM - A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote superimposes portions of a scroll program guide over a basic programming signal for display on the viewer's display screen. A tuner has an input for receiving TV signals in a plurality of cable channels and an output for passing a signal of any selected one of said channels. A computer has an input for receiving any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote and an output for controlling the tuner to pass the signal of the selected one of the channels in response to one of the plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote. The computer receives and stores a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide data and generates a scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of the scroll input picture image signal. A combiner superimposes output picture image signal over the passed signal to provide a display signal for input to the viewer's display screen. The computer is responsive to control signals from the remote to cause the combiner to change the weight of the output picture image signal in relation to the passed signal. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110276995 | IMPROVED ELECTRONIC TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SCHEDULE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information from the memory and displays a portion of the program schedule information in overlaying relationship with a television program appearing on a television channel in at least one mode of operation of the television programming guide. The data processor controls the video display generator with video control commands, issued in response to the user control commands, to display program schedule information for any chosen one of the plurality of television programs in overlaying relationship with at least one television program then appearing on any chosen one of the plurality of channels on the television receiver. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110258663 | INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES - Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110243534 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING PAUSE-TIME CONTENT - Interactive media systems and methods are provided for substituting pause-time content in place of media that has been paused. The user may pause media such as real-time media, video-on-demand media, near video-on-demand, or recorded media. If the user pauses real-time media or near video-on-demand media, the interactive media application may store the media. The interactive media application may also provide the user with the ability to rewind, resume play of, and fast-forward the media. The pause-time content may be audio or video media and may be an advertisement, trivia, program summaries or any other suitable pause-time content. The interactive media application may provide customized pause-time content specific to the user or specific to the media paused by using media data associated with the media. The interactive media application may also prevent the user from accessing features (e.g., fast-forward) of the system. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110225616 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING AND ADJUSTABLE REMINDERS - An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110225613 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH SELECTABLE LANGUAGES - An interactive television program guide is provided. The interactive television program guide provides a user with the opportunity to select a language for playing television programming and displaying program guide text. Television program audio in the desired language may be obtained from a SAP or digital audio track and played in the selected language. Television related information in the desired language may be obtained from a digital track. If television program audio or related information is not provided in the selected language, the program guide may use a default language. The program guide may coordinate program guide display screen text with languages available for television programs when the programs are broadcast to users. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110209180 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM THAT SERVES AS A PORTAL - A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide application and non-program-guide applications are at least partially implemented on user television equipment. A program guide program application interface is provided that is used to maintain a consistent user interface between the program guide application and the non-program-guide applications. Non-program-guide applications may be launched by the program guide application. The user may select certain non-program-guide applications as favorites and may set parental controls for certain non-program-guide applications. The program guide application may run in the background while a non-program-guide application operates. While the non-program-guide application operates, the program guide may check for events that require immediate attention. When such an event is detected, operation of the non-program-guide application may be suspended and the user may be asked whether the detected event should take place or whether operation of the non-program-guide application should be resumed. The applications may be located at a remote location such as on a server at a cable system headend or on a server on the Internet. The program application interface may perform authentication and access rights determination functions. Reminders may be set for the content of non-program-guide applications. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110202958 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING REMOTE ACCESS TO INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications are provided. In particular, the systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications provided herein generally relate to enhancing remote access capabilities by providing algorithms and techniques for managing and correcting disparities that may be found between program listings data used by the interactive media guidance application and the remote access server. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110197232 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PRESENTING AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Methods and devices for presenting an interactive media guidance application are provided. In some embodiments, methods for presenting an interactive media guidance application in a user equipment device are provided, the methods comprising: determining a location of the user equipment device; determining a destination of the user equipment device; determining an arrival time for the user equipment device to be located at the destination; selecting, as guide listings, listings corresponding to media available at the destination at/after the arrival time; and presenting the guide listings on the user equipment device. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110197222 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING PROMOTIONS WITH RECORDED PROGRAMS - The invention provides systems and methods for providing promotions with recorded programs. These systems and methods provide for selecting a program to record, selecting a promotion, recording the selected program; and recording the promotion with the program or inserting the promotion during playback of the recorded program. The invention also provides a receiver for receiving signals and/or data (e.g., programs, promotions, program guides, etc.) on a single broadcast channel or on a plurality of broadcast channels, one or more memory storage units for storing signals and/or data, and a processor for selecting a program, selecting a promotion, causing selected programs to be recorded, and controlling the insertion of promotions into a program during recording of the program or during playback of the program. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110191808 | INTERNET TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM - An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110191806 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH COMBINATION CATEGORY SEARCH - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110185392 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE DEVICES - When selecting a television program for recording, a user may configure the delivery of the selected television program and associated data and interactive applications to different user equipment devices in a home network, which may have different capabilities. Because the user equipment devices in the home network may have different capabilities, the user may wish to deliver different types and amount of content, different amounts of data, and different versions of interactive applications to the user equipment devices in the home network. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110179454 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMERCE IN MEDIA PROGRAM RELATED MERCHANDISE - The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for delivering a media program and purchase opportunities related to the media program to user equipment. A media program and its related merchandise information can be located at a distribution facility. The distribution facility can tailor the purchase opportunities it provides to the user equipment based on the user equipment's equipment category. When user equipment receives purchase opportunities, the user equipment can select the opportunities based on which types of merchandise are supported by the user equipment. The user equipment and/or a distribution facility may be able to determine the location of the user equipment. When the distribution facility provides merchandise information for physical merchandise to the user equipment, the merchandise information can be selected to include physical merchandise that are available for purchase at stores that are, for example, near the location of the user equipment. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110179129 | TELEVISION MESSAGE SYSTEM - A television message system is provided that allows users at user television equipment devices that are connected to a television distribution facility to transmit messages to each other relating to a television program or other suitable subject. The television message system permits users to participate in evaluations, contests, promotions, and surveys related to a television program while watching that television program. The television message system also permits users to compose and send a message to a television program entity. The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient. The gift may be an electronic gift certificate for pay-per-view programming. The television message system may be based on an interactive television program guide or a set-top box application implemented on a set-top box. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110176787 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED RECORDING OPTIONS OF MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods for providing enhanced recording options for media content are provided. The systems and methods permit users to view or otherwise access samples of media content before deciding whether to record additional episodes of the media content or to perform other media guidance application functions. An interactive media guidance application implemented at least partially on a user's equipment displays at least one media content listing. A user may then select to record a sample or portion of the media content listing. After the user has subsequently viewed at least a portion of the recorded media content, the interactive media guidance application may provide an option to record an entire version of the recorded sample, record another episode of the media content, record an entire series of the media content, erase the recorded sample, or perform other media guidance application functions. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110173664 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRAINED SELECTION OF FAVORITE CHANNELS - An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110173657 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDE WITH MEDIA GUIDANCE INTERFACE - Systems and methods for providing guidance to users for finding media are described. Such systems and methods may be provided in interactive media guides such as program guides, web browsers, or other suitable interactive media guides. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110171941 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING AUDIBLE REMINDERS ON MOBILE USER EQUIPMENT - A mobile user equipment may provide audible reminders for a user identified video. A user may set a triggering event for a video. Upon detecting the triggering event, an audible reminder for the video may be generated. The sound associated with the audible reminder may be such that, when heard by the user, it identifies the video to the user. The user may become aware of the broadcast of the video by hearing the audible reminder and without looking at the mobile device. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110167452 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH TEMPLATES FOR MANAGING VENDOR-SPECIFIC VIDEO-ON-DEMAND CONTENT - An interactive television system is provided in which a user can use an interactive television application to access and request media-on-demand programming from one or more specific vendors. The interactive television application may display vendor-specific interface screens that allow the user to access and request content from a particular vendor. The application may generate a vendor-specific interface screen by incorporating vendor-specific interface elements into an interface template. The template may include vendor-invariant interface elements and attributes for the incorporated elements. The generated vendor-specific interface screen may then be displayed on the user equipment. The system may also include a remote server to provide vendor-specific interface elements and templates to the application, and memory on the user equipment where these elements and templates may be stored. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110167450 | INTERNET TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH EMBEDDED REAL-TIME DATA - An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access television program listings containing embedded real-time data over an Internet communications link. The television program listing may be for a sporting event that is currently being broadcast and the real-time data may be the current score of the event, the current weather where the event is taking place, or any other suitable real-time information on the event. The real-time data may be presented in the form of video stills, video clips, textual information, audio clips, or suitable combinations of such media. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings to search for a desired program. If desired, the user can obtain additional information on a selected program by accessing an associated web page. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110167120 | ELECTRONIC-MAIL REMINDER FOR AN INTERNET TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE - An Internet television program guide electronic-mail (e-mail) reminder system is provided. The system allows a user at a multimedia system to order and receive e-mail message reminders of scheduled television events over the Internet. The user can order e-mail reminders after selecting a program from the program listings or by supplying (a program title directly) specific user program preferences without having to consult the program listings. The user can specify when and how often the reminders will be generated and received. If desired, the user can view a list of all currently requested e-mail reminders. Entries can be added to the list or the user can cancel a previously ordered reminder. The user can order e-mail reminders for scheduled pay-per-view programs using the system. The user can also have reminder information periodically updated and available directly on the user's multimedia system. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110167084 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVANCED INFORMATION SEARCHING IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - The present invention relates to an interactive media guidance application that provides improved searching functionality for media information, such as media program listings, media programming information, celebrity information, and other related media information. Search objects may be defined in the entertainment context and applied to media information to enable efficient searching. Different types of media information may be categorized to enable proper organization of search results. A search object query may be performed based on a user entered search expression and the results may be a vertical slice through the organized categories of media information. User submitted tags may also be applied to the media information and used to search the media information. Atomic searching may be enabled for more generic search expressions, whereby an atomic search object is associated with a personalized atomic search algorithm comprised of individual searches. The search algorithm is determined by receiving both user metrics and editorial input. Context sensitive searching may also be provided by defining search objects with different context settings and determining a context setting of the user initiated search. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110162011 | PROGRAM GUIDE WITH A DIGITAL STORAGE DEVICE - An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110162010 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH ON-DEMAND DATA SUPPLEMENTATION - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which data that must be available quickly to the user is stored locally in a receiver whereas data that is not readily needed but available on-demand is stored remotely where mass storage is available. Locally-stored data may include frequently-requested information that the user needs quick access to. Supplemental information stored remotely may include information for which a slight delay following a request for a particular item of information by the user is acceptable. The program guide may display locally-stored information either continuously as the user is browsing the guide or as soon as the user requests it. The program guide may request supplemental information that is stored remotely when the user requests it or as soon as it is clear the user may want to view it. Accordingly, the program guide may anticipate which information the user will need and may store it locally in advance of the user actually requesting it, thereby reducing any delays in viewing the information. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110162000 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH TITLE AND DESCRIPTION BLOCKING - A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment. Potentially objectionable material such as the titles and descriptions of adult programs may be blocked. When adult program listing blocking is invoked, the program guide replaces adult program listings with unobjectionable material such as a blank region, a generic unobjectionable program listing, or an unobjectionable title based on the channel being blocked. The user may invoke blocking of titles, descriptions, or both titles or descriptions. Blocking may be based on the rating of the program listings. Access may be provided to blocked program listings by entering a parental control code. The user may temporarily disable adult program listing blocking. The user may also set parental control locks for any type of potentially objectionable programming and may temporarily disable such locks. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110161996 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PURCHASING AND RECORDING POPULAR PAY PROGRAMS IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA DELIVERY SYSTEM - A system and method for automatically purchasing and recording popular pay program is disclosed. The pay programs are selected based on defined criteria and popularity. The most popular pay program that meets defined criteria will be automatically recorded and purchased. Notifications and confirmations are provided before purchase of pay programs. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110131607 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RELOCATING MEDIA - A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110131601 | IMPROVED ELECTRONIC TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SCHEDULE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information from the memory and displays a portion of the program schedule information in overlaying relationship with a television program appearing on a television channel in at least one mode of operation of the television programming guide. The data processor controls the video display generator with video control commands, issued in response to the user control commands, to display program schedule information for any chosen one of the plurality of television programs in overlaying relationship with at least one television program then appearing on any chosen one of the plurality of channels on the television receiver. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110126246 | Systems and Methods for Communicating and Enforcing Viewing and Recording Limits for Media-On-Demand - Systems and methods for communicating and enforcing viewing and recording limits for media-on-demand are provided. The system may provide a guidance application that allows users to select on-demand media offerings. The delivery of the on-demand media offerings may be managed based on the length of program, the bandwidth required, the available bandwidth, the time of delivery, pricing and other factors. The system may manage the delivery of on-demand offerings by assigning a number of different types of viewing rights to a user when an on-demand offering is selected. The system may warn a user of insufficient rights and enforce selected viewing rights. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110126227 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FORCED ADVERTISING - Methods and systems for forced advertising are provided. These methods and systems determine when a forced advertisement is to be presented, determine what forced advertisement is to be presented, and control how the forced advertisement is to be presented. A forced advertisement may be received prior to the time at which the forced advertisement is to be presented or when needed. The forced advertisement may be presented when certain broadcast advertisements are being broadcast, at certain times of the day, or at certain times within a program. The forced advertisements may be selected based upon content of a replaced broadcast advertisement, content of a nearby program, or independently of any broadcast-related factors. Finally, forced advertisements may be presented so that a television viewer cannot escape viewing the advertisement by changing channels or turning off the television. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110106910 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MIRRORING AND TRANSCODING MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods for mirroring and transcoding media content are provided. In some embodiments, media content stored on a user equipment device is mirrored on a remote server, and the mirrored copy is transcoded and provided to other user devices in a media content format that is appropriate for the user devices. By so doing, the present invention not only provides a convenient and easy way for users to backup media content and access the media content from virtually any device, but also reduces the complexity and costs associated with maintaining reliable and consistent access to media content across various user devices. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110099573 | PROGRAM GUIDE APPLICATION INTERFACE SYSTEM - A program guide system is provided that supports a program guide application and multiple non-guide applications. The program guide system has a program guide application interface that allows the non-guide applications to use both device resources and program guide resources. The application interface maintains a list of registered applications and directs control requests from various applications to the current primary application. The application interface also has a user interface input director that directs keystrokes and other user input commands to the appropriate application. If a keystroke for the program guide application is detected while a non-guide application is running, the program guide application is invoked. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110093894 | PROGRAM GUIDE APPLICATION INTERFACE SYSTEM - A program guide system is provided that supports a program guide application and multiple non-guide applications. The program guide system has a program guide application interface that allows the non-guide applications to use both device resources and program guide resources. The application interface maintains a list of registered applications and directs control requests from various applications to the current primary application. The application interface also has a user interface input director that directs keystrokes and other user input commands to the appropriate application. If a keystroke for the program guide application is detected while a non-guide application is running, the program guide application is invoked. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110088060 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING USER VALUES FOR DEMOGRAPHIC CATEGORIES - An interactive television program guide system for determining user input values for demographic categories is provided. The system includes user television equipment having a receiver for receiving program guide information for the interactive television program guide, a user input receiver for receiving user input from user interface, such as a remote control, a microprocessor which utilizes the user input received to determine user values for demographic categories, and memory for storing the user values determined. In one illustrative use of the system for targeting advertisements to a user of the interactive television program guide, the receiver also receives advertisements, where the advertisements have preselected values for specified demographic categories. The user television equipment, preferably using microprocessor, compares the preselected values for the specified demographic categories associated with the advertisements with values of corresponding demographic categories stored in memory to determine which advertisements should be displayed. Those advertisements determined to be displayable based upon the comparison are then displayed. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110067067 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH BLACKOUT FEATURES - An interactive television program guide for supporting programming blackouts is provided. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may unschedule the reminding and recording of blacked-out programs that have been scheduled by a user for reminding or recording. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may prevent a user from scheduling blacked-out programs for reminding and recording. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may prevent a user from ordering blacked-out pay-per-view programs. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may provide blackout information in information displays. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may provide replacement media for blacked-out programs. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110041152 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH VIDEO WINDOW BROWSING - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program, a program guide display, and a program guide video window. A viewer may use the program guide video window to browse video of programs shown on the program guide display while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The program guide display may display video on demand (VOD) programs, programs to be broadcast in the future, and programs currently being broadcast on other channels. The viewer may browse through programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to swap audio and video signals back and forth between programs shown in the video window and programs shown on the background screen. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110004906 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRAINED SELECTION OF FAVORITE CHANNELS - An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110004905 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH VIDEO-ON-DEMAND BROWSING - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and &program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program; and set a desired broadcast time for that program. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100325673 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH PAY PROGRAM PACKAGE PROMOTION - A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100319041 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING AND ADJUSTABLE REMINDERS - An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100319039 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING AND ADJUSTABLE REMINDERS - An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100319032 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH COMBINATION CATEGORY SEARCH - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100319026 | CLIENT SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REMOTE SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100319013 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH TARGETED ADVERTISING - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which targeted advertisements may be presented to a user and targeted actions taken in the program guide based on the user's interests. The program guide monitors the user's interactions with the program guide to determine the user's interests. Interactions that may be monitored include interactions that indicate the categories of programming that interest the user (e.g., movies, sports, children's programming, etc.), setting a reminder for a program, purchasing a program, requesting information on a program, browsing program listings for a particular time or channel, etc. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100316350 | PROGRAM GUIDE WITH A DIGITAL STORAGE DEVICE - An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to select a program for recording onto the digital storage device. The program guide may then provide the user a list of programs that includes at least one listing for a recorded program. The user may select a recorded program listing and the program guide will transfer the corresponding program from the digital storage device to a secondary storage device. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100313224 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REMOTE SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100313221 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REMOTE SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100311399 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING AUDIBLE REMINDERS ON MOBILE USER EQUIPMENT - A mobile user equipment may provide audible reminders for a user identified video. A user may set a triggering event for a video. Upon detecting the triggering event, an audible reminder for the video may be generated. The sound associated with the audible reminder may be such that, when heard by the user, it identifies the video to the user. The user may become aware of the broadcast of the video by hearing the audible reminder and without looking at the mobile device. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100310230 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REMOTE SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100310227 | PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used. The PVR extensions and PVR APIs may be configured to provide a seamless integration of functionality associated with the PVR-compliant device and the PVR device. A full port of the IPG may be implemented in both the PVR-compliant device and the PVR device. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100287591 | SERIES REMINDERS AND SERIES RECORDING FROM AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE - An interactive media guidance system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. Options may be provided that allow the user to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all or selected channels for some or all episodes including reruns, new episodes, network or syndicated episodes, on all or only on selected days. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100287590 | SERIES REMINDERS AND SERIES RECORDING FROM AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE - An interactive television program guide system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. In addition, other options may be provided that allow the user to determine, for example, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all channels on which the program airs or only on a selected channels, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for all episodes including reruns or only new episodes, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for network or syndicated episodes, and whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all days or only on selected days of the week. Before the scheduled broadcast time of each episode of each selected program series, the system sends a reminder message to the user that reminds the user of the program episode or sends a record command to a videocassette recorder to initiate recording of the episode. The system allows a user to view a list of all currently requested program reminders and scheduled program recordings. The user may update, change, or cancel any entry in either list or the system may automatically update the lists to match new broadcast schedule information. If the user sets a reminder or schedules a recording that conflicts with an existing reminder or recording, the system may inform the user of the conflict and allow the user to resolve the conflict or the system may resolve the conflict. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100284666 | SERIES REMINDERS AND SERIES RECORDING FROM AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE - An interactive media guidance system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. Options may be provided that allow the user to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all or selected channels for some or all episodes including reruns, new episodes, network or syndicated episodes, on all or only on selected days. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100251303 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE DEVICES WITHIN A HOUSEHOLD - An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings); etc. The operation of applications such as web browser applications; home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100251301 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REMOTE SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100251284 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REMOTE SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100223642 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REAL-TIME DATA SOURCES - A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times. When data has expired it may be removed from the database. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100223640 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COORDINATING INTERACTIVE AND PASSIVE ADVERTISEMENT AND MERCHANDISING OPPORTUNITIES - Systems and methods for providing enhanced advertising and merchandising opportunities are described. Advertisements may be provided for passive programming such as television programs, commercials, pay-per-view programs, passive video products, or other suitable passive programming. Interactive advertisements may be provided in interactive applications such as interactive television program guides, web browsers, home shopping applications, operating systems, or other suitable interactive applications. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100223639 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COORDINATING INTERACTIVE AND PASSIVE ADVERTISEMENT AND MERCHANDISING OPPORTUNITIES - Systems and methods for providing enhanced advertising and merchandising opportunities are described. Advertisements may be provided for passive programming such as television programs, commercials, pay-per-view programs, passive video products, or other suitable passive programming. Interactive advertisements may be provided in interactive applications such as interactive television program guides, web browsers, home shopping applications, operating systems, or other suitable interactive applications. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100220976 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING CUT-OFFS IN PROGRAM RECORDING - A media recording system may be provided. The recording system may include features for reducing recording cut-off of a particular media event due to changes in the start time and end time of what is scheduled to be recorded. The recording system may provide a user with an opportunity to select a program by for example, selecting a listing, to have that program automatically recorded at a scheduled time for presentation to viewers. Changes in the schedule of programs may be compensated manually or automatically when the recording system receives information about actual or predicted time changes. In a manual mode, a user may adjust start or end times based on time change information that is displayed. For an automatic mode, the recording system may automatically compensate for predicted or actual time changes that are known by automatically adjusting the start and end times of recording. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100215341 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING CUT-OFFS IN PROGRAM RECORDING - A media recording system may be provided. The recording system may include features for reducing recording cut-off of a particular media event due to changes in the start time and end time of what is scheduled to be recorded. The recording system may provide a user with an opportunity to select a program by for example, selecting a listing, to have that program automatically recorded at a scheduled time for presentation to viewers. Changes in the schedule of programs may be compensated manually or automatically when the recording system receives information about actual or predicted time changes. In a manual mode, a user may adjust start or end times based on time change information that is displayed. For an automatic mode, the recording system may automatically compensate for predicted or actual time changes that are known by automatically adjusting the start and end times of recording. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100205635 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH PROGRAMMING-RELATED LINKS - An interactive television system with programming-related links is provided. The system may include user television equipment on which interactive program guide and non-program-guide applications may be implemented. Information that is displayed in a display screen for a non-program-guide application may be related to programming. A display screen or overlay for programming that is related to the information may be displayed when a user selects the displayed information. The display or overlay for the programming may include advertisements, video, graphics, options, or programming descriptions. The display screen or overlay may have been displayed by the program guide application. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100198691 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMERCE IN MEDIA PROGRAM RELATED MERCHANDISE - The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for delivering a media program and purchase opportunities related to the media program to user equipment. A media program and its related merchandise information can be located at a distribution facility. The distribution facility can tailor the purchase opportunities it provides to the user equipment based on the user equipment's equipment category. When user equipment receives purchase opportunities, the user equipment can select the opportunities based on which types of merchandise are supported by the user equipment. The user equipment and/or a distribution facility may be able to determine the location of the user equipment. When the distribution facility provides merchandise information for physical merchandise to the user equipment, the merchandise information can be selected to include physical merchandise that are available for purchase at stores that are, for example, near the location of the user equipment. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100192192 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXPORTING DIGITAL CONTENT USING AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION APPLICATION - The present invention relates to methods and systems for extracting digital content using an interactive television application. The interactive television application may allow the user to record programs on a set-top box. The interactive television application may also allow the user to extract the audio from one of the recorded programs and transfer the extracted audio to removable media (e.g., a CD-R). The interactive television application also be configured to perform a future transfer of digital content to removable media. The future transfer may occur without requiring any further user interaction. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100192179 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH NICHE HUBS - A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility. User television equipment may be connected via two-way communications paths to transmit messages to each other. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100192177 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING PAUSE-TIME CONTENT - Interactive media systems and methods are provided for substituting pause-time content in place of media that has been paused. The user may pause media such as real-time media, video-on-demand media, near video-on-demand, or recorded media. If the user pauses real-time media or near video-on-demand media, the interactive media application may store the media. The interactive media application may also provide the user with the ability to rewind, resume play of, and fast-forward the media. The pause-time content may be audio or video media and may be an advertisement, trivia, program summaries or any other suitable pause-time content. The interactive media application may provide customized pause-time content specific to the user or specific to the media paused by using media data associated with the media. The interactive media application may also prevent the user from accessing features (e.g., fast-forward) of the system. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100192172 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH MONITORING OF ADVERTISEMENT USAGE AND USER ACTIVITIES - A program guide system is provided in which interactive television program guide advertisement usage is monitored. Advertisement usage may be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are transmitted from a television distribution facility to user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are received by the user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored at the time at which advertisements are displayed by a program guide. Less important data may be filtered from the collected advertisement usage data. Other activities that may be monitored include the viewing activities of the user, which program guide screens are displayed, and which non-program-guide applications are used. Real-time ratings information (e.g., real-time ratings of the popularity of certain television programs, video games, or other applications) may be provided to users in real time. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100188420 | COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIA PROVIDING A PROGRAM GUIDE VIEWED WITH A PERCEIVED TRANSPARENCY OVER A TELEVISION PROGRAM - A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote superimposes portions of a scroll program guide over a basic programming signal for display on the viewer's display screen. A tuner has an input for receiving TV signals in a plurality of cable channels and an output for passing a signal of any selected one of said channels. A computer has an input for receiving any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote and an output for controlling the tuner to pass the signal of the selected one of the channels in response to one of the plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote. The computer receives and stores a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide data and generates a scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of the scroll input picture image signal. A combiner superimposes output picture image signal over the passed signal to provide a display signal for input to the viewer's display screen. The computer is responsive to control signals from the remote to cause the combiner to change the weight of the output picture image signal in relation to the passed signal. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100186038 | MEDIA LIBRARY IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Systems and methods for selecting content for a media library using an interactive media guidance application are provided. The user may search for content to select by entering search terms in a search page and selecting content from search results in a search results page. The user may also select content by directly entering identification for the content, selecting content from a message suggesting content, or by selecting content from interactive media guidance application pages. The content may include content that is currently available and bookmarks for content that is not yet available. For such bookmarks, when the content becomes available, the interactive media guidance application may notify the user and/or add the actual content to the media library. The user may access the media library from any user device and perform any suitable operation with the content of the media library (e.g., download content to a user device or playback content). | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100186028 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR METADATA-LINKED ADVERTISEMENTS - Systems and methods for providing metadata-selected advertisements are provided. These systems and methods may receive metadata and other media, select an object, read metadata attached to or associated with the selected object, select an advertisement based on the metadata, and display the selected advertisement. In addition, monitoring, collecting, and recording of predefined data concerning metadata selected advertisements may be provided. The invention also provides a receiver for receiving signals and/or data (e.g., programs, advertisements, program guides, metadata, etc.) and a processor for accepting a user's input signal, selecting an object, reading metadata attached to or associated with a selected object, selecting an advertisement, and displaying the selected advertisement. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100186025 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING THE DISTRIBUTION OF ON-DEMAND MEDIA - Systems and methods for managing the distribution of on-demand media in an interactive television application are provided. An interactive television application may receive a request for on-demand media from a user. The interactive television application may provide an option to the user for the transmission of the on-demand media. Such options may include, for example, an option to request a reduced-bandwidth version of the on-demand media, an option to schedule a future time for presentation of the on-demand media, an option to download the on-demand media to a recording device, and an option to check the availability of the on-demand media. A reduced price for transmission of the on-demand media may be provided to the user. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100180302 | ELECTRONIC TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SCHEDULE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH SCAN FEATURE - An electronic program schedule system which utilizes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information from the memory and displays a portion of the program schedule information in overlaying relationship with a television program appearing on a television channel in at least one mode of operation of the television programming guide. The data processor controls the video display generator with video control commands, issued in response to the user control commands, to display program schedule information for any chosen one of the plurality of television programs in overlaying relationship with at least one television program then appearing on any chosen one of the plurality of channels on the television receiver. The system includes a scan feature to permit the user to scan program schedule listings for multiple programs in any of the operational modes of the system with the issuance of a single user control command. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100175090 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING AGGREGATIONS OF EPISODES OF SERIES PROGRAMMING IN ORDER - A viewer of an episode of a series such as a television series may wish to access episodes of the series that the viewer missed when they were originally broadcast. Interactive applications may receive the viewer's indication of interest to record missed episodes of the incomplete series, which may include instructions regarding recording options for including the missed episodes in a series aggregation. Interactive applications may identify the episodes to be included in the series aggregation, and record the missed episodes, which may then be stored and organized to create a series aggregation, in the order that they were first broadcast with episodes that the viewer may already have available. Interactive applications may present the episodes of the series aggregation in the order that they were originally broadcast, by providing the viewer with options on how to access the episodes. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100175086 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING TRANSPORT CONTROL - A transport control interface may be provided by an interactive television program guide application to provide information, control or both for live and recorded video programming. The transport control interface may indicate to the user the time duration of a live or recorded program and any time segments of the program that have been recorded. The transport control interface may automatically adjust the start and end time shown to accommodate various factors such as continuous viewing on a particular channel, multiple recorded segments, buffer size, etc. Various information associated with the live or recorded video programming may be displayed in the transport control interface. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100175078 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH TARGETED ADVERTISING - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which targeted advertisements may be presented to a user and targeted actions taken in the program guide based on the user's interests. The program guide monitors the user's interactions with the program guide to determine the user's interests. Interactions that may be monitored include interactions that indicate the categories of programming that interest the user (e.g., movies, sports, children's programming, etc.), setting a reminder for a program, purchasing a program, requesting information on a program, browsing program listings for a particular time or channel, etc. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100162140 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A GUIDE TO ON-LINE EVENTS - Systems and methods for providing a guide to on-line content are provided. The guide may allow users to more easily find desirable on-line content such as on-line events. On-line events may include, for example, on-line events of formats such as chat sessions, simulchats, Webcasts, television programming enhancements, limited availability on-demand content, or any other suitable format of on-line event. The guide may provide users with the ability to filter listings for on-line events so that only listings of user-specified criteria are displayed. The guide may allow providers of on-line events to provide event information for use in providing on-line event listings or other guidance features. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100154001 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH OPERATOR SHOWCASE - A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment such as a set-top box. The program guide provides an operator showcase in the form of one or more operator showcase television listings screens, each of which contains a set of television listings information. The sets of television listings information are generated by querying a database of television listings data in a database in the set-top box. Each database query is based on content criteria previously selected by the cable system operator or other service provider. The service provider is also able to define the format with which the television listings information is displayed in the television listings screens. A title and logos may also be selected by the service provider for each screen. The operator showcase television listings screens may therefore by customized and branded by the service provider. The user may access multiple operator showcase television listings screens using a centralized operator showcase menu. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100154000 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING REAL-TIME SERVICES IN AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE APPLICATION - An interactive television program guide application is provided that displays real-time information to a user. The interactive television program guide application may display alerts for indicating to the user the availability of real-time information. The interactive television program guide application may also display program listings with real-time information. In response to the user selecting a program listing, the interactive television program guide application may provide the user with an indication that real-time content related to the selected listing is available. In some embodiments, the real-time content is not the program corresponding to the selected program listing. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100153997 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH TEMPLATES FOR MANAGING VENDOR-SPECIFIC VIDEO-ON-DEMAND CONTENT - An interactive television system is provided in which a user can use an interactive television application to access and request media-on-demand programming from one or more specific vendors. The interactive television application may display vendor-specific interface screens that allow the user to access and request content from a particular vendor. The application may generate a vendor-specific interface screen by incorporating vendor-specific interface elements into an interface template. The template may include vendor-invariant interface elements and attributes for the incorporated elements. The generated vendor-specific interface screen may then be displayed on the user equipment. The system may also include a remote server to provide vendor-specific interface elements and templates to the application, and memory on the user equipment where these elements and templates may be stored. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100153986 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH CONFLICT MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES - An interactive television system is provided in which a user can use an interactive television application to establish time-based settings. The user may set television program reminders, advance-order pay-per-view programs, schedule programs for recording, and establish parental controls to prevent television viewing during certain times on certain channels. The interactive television application may be used to support video recorder functions such as personal video recorder functions implemented locally on the user's set-top box or other equipment and network-based video recorder functions implemented using servers at cable television headends and other network locations. The interactive television application may also be used to deliver video-on-demand content. When the user requests that video be delivered, conflicts may arise between the requested video delivery and the previously-established time-based settings. The interactive television application may provide the user with on-screen options that allow the user to select how to resolve these conflicts. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100150528 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING CUT-OFFS IN PROGRAM RECORDING - A media recording system may be provided. The recording system may include features for reducing recording cut-off of a particular media event due to changes in the start time and end time of what is scheduled to be recorded. The recording system may provide a user with an opportunity to select a program by for example, selecting a listing, to have that program automatically recorded at a scheduled time for presentation to viewers. Changes in the schedule of programs may be compensated manually or automatically when the recording system receives information about actual or predicted time changes. In a manual mode, a user may adjust start or end times based on time change information that is displayed. For an automatic mode, the recording system may automatically compensate for predicted or actual time changes that are known by automatically adjusting the start and end times of recording. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100150525 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC SWITCHING FROM BROADCAST MEDIA TO STREAMING MEDIA - An interactive television system is provided in which a user may perform playback control functions while watching a broadcast television program. When the user requests such a function, a television distribution facility may transmit an interactive streaming media version of the program to the user's equipment. The user equipment switches the broadcast television program with the interactive streaming media version. The interactive streaming media version, once displayed on the given user's user equipment, may be controlled by the user with playback control functions. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100146546 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE FOR MOBILE NAVIGATION DEVICE, DESTINATION INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD, AND DEVICE - Provided is a method for providing target information related to a medium program. The method includes: a step that a user medium device receives a medium program containing destination information related to the medium program; a step that the user medium device extracts the destination information from the received medium program; a step that the user medium device transmits at least a part of the extracted destination information so that a user position identification device further performs processing on it; and a step that the user position identification device processes at least a part of the transmitted destination information. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100146543 | INTERACTIVE SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING USER VALUES FOR DEMOGRAPHIC CATEGORIES - An interactive television program guide system for determining user input values for demographic categories is provided. The system includes user television equipment having a receiver for receiving program guide information for the interactive television program guide, a user input receiver for receiving user input from user interface, such as a remote control, a microprocessor which utilizes the user input received to determine user values for demographic categories, and memory for storing the user values determined. In one illustrative use of the system for targeting advertisements to a user of the interactive television program guide, the receiver also receives advertisements, where the advertisements have preselected values for specified demographic categories. The user television equipment, preferably using microprocessor, compares the preselected values for the specified demographic categories associated with the advertisements with values of corresponding demographic categories stored in memory to determine which advertisements should be displayed. Those advertisements determined to be displayable based upon the comparison are then displayed. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100138884 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA CONTENT DELIVERY USING ENHANCED WIRELESS BACKCHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS - Systems and methods are provided for granting access rights to specific media processing equipment. Such access rights may be provided to specific media processing equipment using an interactive wireless device as a backchannel. The interactive wireless device may be operative to retrieve, from an entitlement key source, an entitlement key corresponding to programming of interest and provide that entitlement key to the media processing equipment, thereby enabling the media processing equipment to access the programming of interest. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100131976 | PROMOTIONAL PHILOSOPHY FOR A VIDEO-ON-DEMAND-RELATED INTERACTIVE DISPLAY WITHIN AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION APPLICATION - Systems and methods for providing an interactive display having indicators of video-on-demand programs are described. The systems and methods select indicators for inclusion in the interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100122292 | PROGRAM GUIDE APPLICATION INTERFACE SYSTEM - A program guide system is provided that supports a program guide application and multiple non-guide applications. The program guide system has a program guide application interface that allows the non-guide applications to use both device resources and program guide resources. The application interface maintains a list of registered applications and directs control requests from various applications to the current primary application. The application interface also has a user interface input director that directs keystrokes and other user input commands to the appropriate application. If a keystroke for the program guide application is detected while a non-guide application is running, the program guide application is invoked. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100121714 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVANCED INFORMATION SEARCHING IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - The present invention relates to an interactive media guidance application that provides improved searching functionality for media information, such as media program listings, media programming information, celebrity information, and other related media information. Search objects may be defined in the entertainment context and applied to media information to enable efficient searching. Different types of media information may be categorized to enable proper organization of search results. A search object query may be performed based on a user entered search expression and the results may be a vertical slice through the organized categories of media information. User submitted tags may also be applied to the media information and used to search the media information. Atomic searching may be enabled for more generic search expressions, whereby an atomic search object is associated with a personalized atomic search algorithm comprised of individual searches. The search algorithm is determined by receiving both user metrics and editorial input. Context sensitive searching may also be provided by defining search objects with different context settings and determining a context setting of the user initiated search. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100115557 | PRESENTING MEDIA GUIDANCE SEARCH RESULTS BASED ON RELEVANCY - Systems and methods for presenting search results based on relevancy in an interactive media guidance application are disclosed. After performing a user-initiated or automatic search for media content, the interactive media guidance application determines which of the hits are most relevant to the user. The guidance application then displays, or visually identifies, the relevant items. Some embodiments employ using different display arrangements based on the number of relevant items. Some embodiments display the relevant items in recommendation lists or hot lists. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100017814 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERING PROMOTIONAL CONTENT FOR PRESENTATION IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - In some embodiments, methods for delivering promotional content for presentation in a first interactive media guidance application on a first user equipment device are provided, the methods comprising: receiving data corresponding to a plurality of user actions in a second interactive media guidance application; associating at least one of a plurality of weights with each of the plurality of user actions; based upon the plurality of user actions and the at least one of the plurality of weights associated with each user action, determining the likelihood of a user watching at least one of a certain program, a certain type of program, and a certain channel; selecting promotional content for presentation in the first interactive media guidance application based on the determination; and transmitting the promotional content selected to the first user equipment device with program content. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100005496 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE DEVICES - An interactive media guidance application implemented on a user equipment device may allow a user to create a group of user equipment devices that may be located in different homes or home networks. The interactive media guidance application may allow the user to add user equipment devices located in the user's home. The interactive media guidance application may also allow the user to invite user equipment devices located in other homes or home networks to join the group or accept requests from user equipment devices located in other homes or home networks to join the group. The interactive media guidance applications implemented on the user equipment devices in the group may allow users to select content to be stored. The content may be shared with the user equipment devices in the group. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20090320071 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH COMBINATION CATEGORY SEARCH - An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090313658 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING MEDIA CONTENT AND MEDIA GUIDANCE INFORMATION - A system comprises television equipment and a number of portable electronic devices. The television equipment includes a large display and control circuitry. The control circuitry receives media content and media guidance data for display on the display. The control circuitry also includes communication components for communicating with the portable electronic devices. The portable electronic devices are operable for displaying video and communicating with the television equipment. A method comprises the steps of receiving media guidance information with a first portable electronic device; transmitting at least some of the media guidance information from the first portable electronic device to the control circuitry of the television equipment; and displaying the media guidance information from the first portable electronic device on the display of the television equipment while simultaneously displaying media content or media guidance information received from a source other than the first portable electronic device. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090310937 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDES WITH PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDING FEATURES - Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented. Other PVR related features are also provided. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090249400 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ON-DEMAND MEDIA CONTENT - A media guidance application having a media content search function is implemented on a plurality of user equipment devices. Search-related communications from users are received and analyzed to identify a media content not currently available via the media guidance application. Once a media content has been identified from at least a threshold number of search-related communications, the media content is offered via the media guidance application. An alert or notice may then be sent to users of the media guidance application, and especially those users who requested the media content, to notify them of the availability of the media content. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090249390 | Methods and Systems for Forced Advertising - Methods and systems for forced advertising are provided. These methods and systems determine when a forced advertisement is to be presented, determine what forced advertisement is to be presented, and control how the forced advertisement is to be presented. A forced advertisement may be received prior to the time at which the forced advertisement is to be presented or when needed. The forced advertisement may be presented when certain broadcast advertisements are being broadcast, at certain times of the day, or at certain times within a program. The forced advertisements may be selected based upon content of a replaced broadcast advertisement, content of a nearby program, or independently of any broadcast-related factors. Finally, forced advertisements may be presented so that a television viewer cannot escape viewing the advertisement by changing channels or turning off the television. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090235298 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONIZING TIME-SHIFTED MEDIA CONTENT AND RELATED COMMUNICATIONS - A method for assigning attributes to media content. A media content is first displayed on a television, computer, or other display. A communication created by a user while viewing the media content is then received. The communication is then analyzed, and at least a portion of the communication is linked to a portion of the media content. The communication is also analyzed to identify relevant keywords which are then saved as attributes of the media content. The assigned word or phrase can be used to recommend the media content to other viewers or to find the media content in response to a search function. A method for synchronizing communications with time-shifted media content is also disclosed. A media content such as a television program is displayed during a time period other than its original broadcast time. Communications created by users while watching the media content are then received. The received communications are time-stamped so they can be synchronized with the run-time of the media content. The communications may be analyzed to select and display targeted advertising. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090178074 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH BLACKOUT FEATURES - An interactive television program guide for supporting programming blackouts is provided. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may unschedule the reminding and recording of blacked-out programs that have been scheduled by a user for reminding or recording. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may prevent a user from scheduling blacked-out programs for reminding and recording. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may prevent a user from ordering blacked-out pay-per-view programs. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may provide blackout information in information displays. In some embodiments, the interactive television program guide may provide replacement media for blacked-out programs. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090172736 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH ACCESS TO MULTIPLE DATA PATHS - Systems and methods for an interactive media guidance application with access to multiple data sets are provided. One of the data sets may be selected to generate a media guidance application display screen. A data set may be selected based on the data source or data path from which the data set was received. A data set may also be selected based on a quality measure value associated with the data set. Portions of two or more data sets may also be merged to form a combined data set. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090172544 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION WITH ACCESS TO MULTIPLE DATA SETS - Systems and methods for an interactive media guidance application with access to multiple data sets are provided. One of the data sets may be selected to generate a media guidance application display screen. A data set may be selected based on the data source or data path from which the data set was received. A data set may also be selected based on a quality measure value associated with the data set. Portions of two or more data sets may also be merged to form a combined data set. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090165051 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PRESENTING AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Methods and devices for presenting an interactive media guidance application are provided. In some embodiments, methods for presenting an interactive media guidance application in a user equipment device are provided, the methods comprising: determining a location of the user equipment device; determining a destination of the user equipment device; identifying, as local guide listings, listings corresponding to media available at the location of the user equipment device; identifying, as unavailable guide listings, the local guide listings corresponding to media that will not be available at the destination; and presenting the unavailable guide listings on the user equipment device. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090165049 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PRESENTING AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Methods and devices for presenting an interactive media guidance application are provided. In some embodiments, methods for presenting an interactive media guidance application in a user equipment device are provided, the methods comprising: determining a location of the user equipment device; determining a destination of the user equipment device; determining an arrival time for the user equipment device to be located at the destination; selecting, as guide listings, listings corresponding to media available at the destination at/after the arrival time; and presenting the guide listings on the user equipment device. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090165048 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PRESENTING GUIDE LISTINGS AND GUIDANCE DATA IN THREE DIMENSIONS IN AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATION - Methods and devices for presenting guide listings and guidance data in three dimensions in an interactive media guidance application are provided. In some embodiments, methods for presenting guide listings and guidance data in three dimensions in an interactive media guidance application are provided, the methods comprising: presenting guide listings in a two-dimensional configuration; receiving a user selection of at least one of the guide listings in the two-dimensional configuration; identifying guidance data related to the selection; and presenting the guidance data so that the guidance data appears to be in a third dimension relative to the two-dimensional configuration. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090158350 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED RECORDING OPTIONS OF MEDIA CONTENT - Systems and methods for providing enhanced recording options for media content are provided. The systems and methods permit users to view or otherwise access samples of media content before deciding whether to record additional episodes of the media content or to perform other media guidance application functions. An interactive media guidance application implemented at least partially on a user's equipment displays at least one media content listing. A user may then select to record a sample or portion of the media content listing. After the user has subsequently viewed at least a portion of the recorded media content, the interactive media guidance application may provide an option to record an entire version of the recorded sample, record another episode of the media content, record an entire series of the media content, erase the recorded sample, or perform other media guidance application functions. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090158347 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH SELECTABLE LANGUAGES - An interactive television program guide is provided. The interactive television program guide provides a user with the opportunity to select a language for playing television programming and displaying program guide text. Television program audio in the desired language may be obtained from a SAP or digital audio track and played in the selected language. Television related information in the desired language may be obtained from a digital track. If television program audio or related information is not provided in the selected language, the program guide may use a default language. The program guide may coordinate program guide display screen text with languages available for television programs when the programs are broadcast to users. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090158311 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS THAT MOTIVATE TUNING TO A TRANSMISSION CHANNEL FOR A TIME PERIOD - Systems and methods are provided for motivating a user to watch a television channel for a predetermined period of time and enabling access to a media asset related to a program provided on the channel. A tuner is tuned to a transmission channel and a program is received concurrently with a portion of a media asset. The viewing behavior is monitored to determine whether the user tunes to a different transmission channel before a predetermined time period elapses. When the user tunes to a different transmission channel before the predetermined time period elapses, access to the media asset is prevented. When the user stays tuned to the particular transmission channel for the predetermined time period, access to the media asset is enabled. The media asset may be transmitted to a portable user device, such as a mobile phone. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090150937 | CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REMOTE SERVER RECORDING - An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090138922 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING STORAGE OF DATA ON SERVERS IN AN ON-DEMAND MEDIA DELIVERY SYSTEM - A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090133078 | Systems and methods for automatically purchasing and recording popular pay programs in an interactive media delivery system - A system and method for automatically purchasing and recording popular pay program is disclosed. The pay programs are selected based on defined criteria and popularity. The most popular pay program that meets defined criteria will be automatically recorded and purchased. Notifications and confirmations are provided before purchase of pay programs. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090133070 | Enabling a friend to remotely modify user data - The present invention allows users to interact with people, who have interacted with other people, and obtain media files and recommendations from those having common interests, thereby creating interactive media communities and spawning electronic social networks based on media and other types of electronic entertainment. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090133069 | Maintaining a user profile based on dynamic data - The present invention allows users to interact with people, who have interacted with other people, and obtain media files and recommendations from those having common interests, thereby creating interactive media communities and spawning electronic social networks based on media and other types of electronic entertainment. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090119716 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEMS WITH DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING AND ADJUSTABLE REMINDERS - An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090119328 | Bookmarks for program note information - Systems and methods for saving information related to selected media content are provided. The user may select a particular media item (e.g., a television program) and view information associated with the selected media. In response to a user request to save or bookmark the information associated with the media for future retrieval, the interactive media guidance application may save the viewed information (e.g., set a flag or setting to prevent the information from being deleted from a source). The user may later view listings of bookmarked information, select a listing, and display again the saved information. In some embodiments, the user may direct the interactive media guidance application to perform an interactive media guidance application operation (e.g., view, record, reminder or purchase) on a program related to the saved information or on a listing of bookmarked information (e.g., move, delete, copy, or set priority). | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090077589 | TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH AIDED USER PROGRAM SEARCHING - A system having an adaptive browse feature and an adaptive flip feature is provided. The adaptative browse and flip features may be selected to receive program viewing suggestions. The system may provide a suggestion by displaying an adaptive browse region or adaptative flip region including a program suggestion. The system identifies programs to suggest based on a user=s viewing activity. The system uses different algorithms that are user-selectable and user-adjustable to identify program suggestions. The system may query a program guide database to build a list of programs having attributes similar to the attributes of the current program or the last viewed program. The system may use an adaptive learning algorithm such as a neural network. The neural network may be trained by the program guide by monitoring user-viewing activity. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090069038 | Cross-platform messaging - Systems and methods are provided for displaying a short message service (SMS) message on user media equipment, in which the user media equipment includes a set-top box and a display. In some embodiments, the set-top box receives an SMS message, wherein the SMS message includes information identifying a triggering event for displaying the SMS message. The SMS message is stored until the occurrence and detection of the identified triggering event. In response to detecting the occurrence of the identified triggering event, the SMS message is displayed on at least a portion of the display of the user media equipment. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090060469 | Systems and methods for recording popular media in an interactive media delivery system - In many aspects, systems and methods for recording popular media among a subset of users of an interactive media delivery system using interactive media guidance applications are provided. The systems and methods for recording the popular media generally relate to determining and selecting for recording the popular media according to popularity criteria. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090060468 | Systems and methods for recording popular media in an interactive media delivery system - In many aspects, systems and methods for recording popular media among a subset of users of an interactive media delivery system using interactive media guidance applications are provided. The systems and methods for recording the popular media generally relate to determining and selecting for recording the popular media according to popularity criteria. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090019485 | INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH NICHE HUBS - A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility. User television equipment may be connected via two-way communications paths to transmit messages to each other. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090013348 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXPORTING DIGITAL CONTENT USING AN INTERACTIVE TELEVISION APPLICATION - The present invention relates to methods and systems for extracting digital content using an interactive television application. The interactive television application may allow the user to record programs on a set-top box. The interactive television application may also allow the user to extract the audio from one of the recorded programs and transfer the extracted audio to removable media (e.g., a CD-R). The interactive television application also be configured to perform a future transfer of digital content to removable media. The future transfer may occur without requiring any further user interaction. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20080307460 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REAL-TIME DATA SOURCES - A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times. When data has expired it may be removed from the database. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080301732 | Systems and methods for personalizing an interactive media guidance application - Systems and methods are provided for the personalization of an interactive media guidance application based on recording-related actions performed by at least one of a first user equipment device and a second user equipment device in a media network. For example, a central data system is used to receive information from the first user equipment device indicating a first action associated with recording a program. The central data system is also adapted to receive information from the second user equipment device indicating a second action associated with recording a program. Subsequently, the system generates a profile based on the received information from the first and second user equipment devices and personalizes an interactive media guidance application implemented on the first and second user equipment devices based on the generated profile. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080282285 | INTERACTIVE MEDIA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING PAUSE-TIME CONTENT - Interactive media systems and methods are provided for substituting pause-time content in place of media that has been paused. The user may pause media such as real-time media, video-on-demand media, near video-on-demand, or recorded media. If the user pauses real-time media or near video-on-demand media, the interactive media application may store the media. The interactive media application may also provide the user with the ability to rewind, resume play of, and fast-forward the media. The pause-time content may be audio or video media and may be an advertisement, trivia, program summaries or any other suitable pause-time content. The interactive media application may provide customized pause-time content specific to the user or specific to the media paused by using media data associated with the media. The interactive media application may also prevent the user from accessing features (e.g., fast-forward) of the system. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080281601 | USER SPEECH INTERFACES FOR INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE APPLICATIONS - A user speech interface for interactive media guidance applications, such as television program guides, guides for audio services, guides for video-on-demand (VOD) services, guides for personal video recorders (PVRs), or other suitable guidance applications is provided. Voice commands may be received from a user and guidance activities may be performed in response to the voice commands. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080276284 | Systems and methods for recording overlapping media content during scheduling conflicts - In many aspects, systems and methods for recording overlapping media content using interactive media guidance applications are provided. The systems and methods for recording overlapping media content generally relate to cropping overlapping portions of the media content thereby allowing a user to enjoy most of the recording while only forgoing a portion of the beginning or the end of a program. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080273856 | Systems and methods for recording overlapping media content during scheduling conflicts - In many aspects, systems and methods for recording overlapping media content using interactive media guidance applications are provided. The systems and methods for recording overlapping media content generally relate to cropping overlapping portions of the media content thereby allowing a user to enjoy most of the recording while only forgoing a portion of the beginning or the end of a program. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080263600 | Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications - Methods and systems for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application are provided. In particular, a method includes the steps of receiving user equipment identification information and receiving a user request from a user device indicating instructions for the user equipment. The user request is cross-referenced with an action request in a user equipment format selected from a plurality of formats to be compatible with the user equipment. The action request is transmitted for receipt by the user equipment for enabling execution of the indicated instructions. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080263599 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM WITH REAL-TIME DATA SOURCES - A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times. When data has expired it may be removed from the database. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080244653 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING AN INTERACTIVE USER INTERFACE - A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays portions of a scroll program guide on the viewer's display screen. A tuner receives TV radio frequency or optical transmission signals in a plurality of cable channels and passes a viewer usable signal to a signal combiner. A computer receives control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It controls the tuner to pass the viewer usable signal in response to one of the control signals. Program information, such as TV program schedule information, may be displayed, and a user may select at least some of the displayed program information to be presented with additional program information related to the selected program information. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080235731 | User defined rules for assigning destinations of content - A media guidance application is provided by which users can define rules for assigning user equipment devices as destinations for media content. For example, a user may define a rule by which selected media content having attributes that satisfy a user-defined condition are downloaded, recorded, or streamed to a particular, user-specified user equipment device. The user may define and manage rules using media guidance menus, and may restrict other users from accessing the rules (e.g., parents restricting children). | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080216120 | PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM FOR RECORDING TELEVISION PROGRAMS - An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080209465 | Systems and methods for supplementing on-demand media - Systems and methods for providing supplemental content with on-demand media in an interactive television application are described. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080201740 | INTERNET TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM - An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system. | 08-21-2008 |
