| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20090113479 | PROGRAM TABLE DISPLAY DEVICE, PROGRAM TABLE DISPLAY METHOD, AND BROADCAST RECEIVING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, in creating an electronic program table having a channel axis along which a plurality of broadcasting stations are arranged in one direction and a time axis arranged in a direction orthogonal to the channel axis, an area shown by the channel axis and the time axis corresponding to a display area for the program information, the plurality of broadcasting stations arranged along the channel axis are placed in an order based on a pre-standardized order of companies. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20100077434 | Three Dimensional Light Electronic Programming Guide - A method and apparatus of displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). In one embodiment, an EPG is displayed in a three dimensional virtual mesh, in which independent objects representing television programs are situated. The simplified nature of the three dimensional EPG reduces the amount of processing necessary to display it. In addition, the virtual mesh may be displayed isometrically, so that hardware requirements are further reduced and it may be possible to use a software only three dimensional graphics pipeline. If a user has a set top box (STB) with a hardware accelerated graphics pipeline, the EPG may be displayed in a full three dimensional perspective view. A user can navigate the mesh to find television programs that they wish to view. A user can assign values to types of television programs that they prefer, and these programs will be displayed more prominently. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20090158339 | CONFIGURABLE OPTIONS FOR ACCESSIBLE ON-DEMAND INFORMATION - A method for providing a television service enhancement includes receiving a first user input requesting a television service, providing the user with an option to receive an enhancement to the television service for a charge, and receiving a second user input selecting the option to receive the enhancement to the television service. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090158337 | MOSAIC VIDEO CONTENT SELECTION MECHANISM - Mechanisms are provided for allowing a user to dynamically obtain program guide data and select video content in an efficient and effective manner. A guide generator is configured to obtain program guide information from multiple sources including content providers. The guide generator compiles a real-time most watched program guide by determining viewing patterns associated with various channels and video clips. Channels and video clips requested most frequently are listed first. A real-time most watched program guide including data such as program titles, times, icons, and links is then provided and displayed as needed on client devices. Potentially limitless amounts of program guide data can be provided on a client device while still allowing a user to efficiently and effectively select video content. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090158336 | Content Retrieval System - A method of restoring electronic program guide metadata following the replacement of a previous electronic program guide application with a new electronic guide application includes recording a program and program identifying information, cross referencing program identifying information with raw electronic program listings to extract corresponding program metadata, and associating the corresponding program metadata with the recorded program such that the metadata can be displayed and used by the new electronic guide application. A system for restoring metadata associated with recorded programs includes a content record containing program identifying information, a listing containing archived metadata, and an indexing processor to extract metadata corresponding to said content record. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20100107195 | Program preference setting method and system for a broadcasting video program - A program preference setting method and system for broadcasting video program are disclosed. The preference setting method and system are generally applied to an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) for the digital television program. More particularly, a program preference setting system is provided to be embedded in the digital broadcast program receiving and playing device. One or more keywords may be set to the electronic program guide. Through comparison between the keyword(s) and the content of EPG, the positive comparison result is found for scheduling a program sequence. Further, a reminder corresponding to the program sequence may be set in a certain period through the system, and shown on the screen for user's convenience. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20090125943 | Program guide optimization system - A method and system of optimizing strings comprised in program guide data for transmission is described. The method includes sharing, in the program guide data, a plurality of strings, each string among the plurality of strings including a shared sorting key, implementing an order access of a sorted sharing index, wherein the program guide data and the shared sorting key are comprised in the same data storage structure. Related methods and apparatus are also described. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20130091522 | METHOD TO DISPLAY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCREEN - The present invention is directed toward a system and method for simultaneously displaying one or more social media content items together with the display of programming content, such as a television show. Specifically, the present invention provides a system and method by which contemporary and/or time-shifted social media commentary, pertaining to broadcast programming content, may be displayed concurrently with the displayed programming content. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20120192233 | DYNAMIC ITEM HIGHLIGHTING SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for highlighting a program listing in a set of program listings based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may indicate that the a broadcaster has agreed to pay a service provider in return for the service provider ensuring that a program listing, corresponding to the program of the broadcaster, is highlighted in a program page that displays a set of program listings, such as television program listings. If there are multiple program listings, listed in a program page, that are to be highlighted, then details of the respective contracts may be used to determine which program listing to highlight. Such details may include the total contract value, a ratio of contract value-to-page view, and/or the time of contract formation. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20090271825 | METHOD OF STORING AND DISPLAYING BROADCAST CONTENTS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR - Provided are method of storing broadcast contents, a method of displaying stored broadcast contents and an apparatus therefor. In method of storing the broadcast contents by analyzing the received broadcast contents, grouping the contents that are similar to each other, and arranging the contents sequentially in time, the method includes classifying a broadcasting signal received from an external broadcast contents provider into an unit segment of a first item, determining at least one keyword representing the first item that is classified into the unit segment, storing the first item as a sub-ordinate item of a first sub contents group according to the determined keywords, and arranging the first sub contents group including the stored first item sequentially in time, so that the progress of specific broadcast contents can be easily identified by each time slot. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090260035 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AND NAVIGATING A GRAPHICAL TWO-DIMENSIONAL ARRAY OF A PLURALITY OF AVAILABLE CHANNELS - The subject application is directed to a system and method for displaying and navigating a graphical two-dimensional array of a plurality of available channels on an associated display unit. A two-dimensional array of channel boxes is first generated on an associated display. Input signals are then received corresponding to a respective plurality of available channels. At least one of the received input signals is then parsed to acquire channel identification data indicating at least one channel associated with the parsed signal. Image data associated with the indicated channel is then captured. Thereafter, at least one channel box is populated in the array with the acquired identification data and the captured image data. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090049477 | Apparatua and method of browsing content - The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of browsing content and in particular, to an apparatus and method of browsing content that allows a user to easily browse desired content | 02-19-2009 |
| 20110283322 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT LISTINGS ACCORDING TO A DESTINATION LOCATION - Systems and methods are provided for allowing a user to obtain media content listings associated with a particular geographical location. The media content listings may be selected automatically according to, for example, media consumption data that tracks media content accessed by other users. The media content listings may be those that are associated with the most popular media content accessed in the geographic location by users who are not from that geographic location (e.g., they may be visiting from the same geographic location in which the current user is currently located or resides). | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110296463 | RANKING SEARCH RESULTS - Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for ranking search results are presented. According to one or more aspects, two or more search results may be ranked based on the extent to which each search result matches at least one search criterion and based on the amount of time that content corresponding to each search result will remain available. Content with less availability time remaining may be ranked higher than content with more availability time remaining. The ranking may also be based on a genre of the content being ranked, and availability may be weighted differently in ranking content of different genres. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20090125942 | Method and Apparatus for Providing Program Guide - A method and apparatus provide an on-screen program guide that uses its space in an efficient manner by shifting program information within the program guide by relatively small time increments. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a memory operative to store data that enables the program guide. A processor is operative to enable display of a portion of the program guide including program information covering a first time interval including a current time. The program guide has time information in a first axis and channel information in a second axis. The processor is further operative to cause the program information to be shifted along the first axis by a second time interval if an elapsed time equals the second time interval. The second time interval is less than thirty minutes. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090178080 | STORAGE MEDIUM STORING AN INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - An information processing apparatus has a plurality of display information, with respect to selected display information, displays a content part including a plurality of contents, and displays an index part of the other display information. In a case that an electronic program guide is displayed, as a content part, a program guide including a plurality of program information is displayed, and as an index part, date tubs are displayed. When a search condition is designated, it is determined whether or not program information matching the search condition is present. In the displayed program guide, a display manner of the program information matching the search condition is changed, and with respect to the index part, a display manner of the date tub corresponding to the program information matching the search condition is changed, for example. | 07-09-2009 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 20100058390 | CONTENT ITEM RECOMMENDATION - A content item recommendation system comprises a recommender ( | 03-04-2010 |
| 20090144775 | CLIENT AND SERVER SYSTEM - An internet on-demand system for television presents internet content and traditional television programming as part of a single coherent interface. The system includes a server and a client capable of providing a dynamic graphical user interface. The system can display an internet gateway interface which actively scrolls through and highlights links to selected web pages which are organized according to templates corresponding to their content. The web pages are presented on the graphical user interface as channels as part of the same milieu as channels of traditional television programming. The user can select a channel from a rotary menu wheel or via channel-up, channel-down buttons on the remote control device. An intelligent agent passively filters selected web pages for a user to explore based on the user's past pattern of usage of the client. The server queries the client regarding its available data stream connections, including telephone modems, cable modems, wireless telecommunications and digital satellite broadcasting, regarding its ability to detect embedded data in TV signals, in order to determine the most efficient delivery of different types of data through all of the available bandwidth connections for both directions of data flow. The efficient delivery of data allows the client to present text, graphics, video, audio and other multimedia information from a web page over the internet as a coordinated presentation. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20100122295 | METHOD FOR DEFINING TELEVISION CONTENT LINEUP - The present disclosure is directed to a method for defining a content lineup for a television. The method may comprise receiving a list of scheduled contents from at least one television channel; adding a plurality of user-selected contents to the content lineup having a start time and an end time, further comprising: receiving a selection for a first content from the list of scheduled contents for playing at the start time; determining a second start time based on the start time and a duration of the first content; receiving a selection for a second content from the list of scheduled contents for playing at the second start time; and playing the plurality of user-selected contents according to the content lineup during a period from the start time to the end time. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20090007179 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE FOR PAST CURRENT AND FUTURE PROGRAMMING - Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system and method for providing a program guide for past programming comprising receiving a user command to retrieve program data, retrieving the program data from a data source, and outputting, to a display device, the program data in response to receiving the user command. The program data may comprise information relating to previously-aired programming. | 01-01-2009 |
| 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 |
| 20090158338 | VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A video processing apparatus includes: a video receiving unit which receives at least one of a plurality of video contents from a predetermined video supplying source; a video processing unit which processes the video contents to be displayed in a display unit; a communicating unit which receives a watching order information of the video contents from a server; and a control unit which displays an order of the plurality of video contents in the display unit based on the received watching order information. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090144774 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NEIGHBORHOOD OPTIMIZATION FOR CONTENT RECOMMENDATION - A cost function is stochastically optimized using, e.g., simulated annealing to render a neighborhood of entities based on which content recommendations can be provided to a user of a home entertainment system. The cost function represents a normalized sum of rating similarity scores from entities of the neighborhood that are related to content items viewed by the user. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20080216121 | Device For Processing Electronic Program Guide Data to be Displayed by an Electronic Equipment Within Pages Associated to Time References - An EPG data processing device (D), for an electronic equipment (EE), comprises a processing means (PM) arranged i) to access to sets of data defining respectively channel programmes and each comprising at least first data representative of a channel name and a channel programme name, second data defining a channel programme starting time, and third data representative of a channel programme ending time, ii) either to determine amongst the accessed data sets which respectively follow each data set contributing to a displayed page of data the one which comprises the earliest ending time, in order to define a time reference just before this earliest ending time and associate this time reference to a following page of data to be displayed, or to determine amongst the accessed data sets which respectively precede each data set contributing to a displayed page of data the one which comprises the latest starting time, in order to define a time reference just after this latest ending time and associate this time reference to a preceding page of data to be displayed, iii) then to select amongst the accessed data sets each data set comprising second and third data defining a time interval including the defined time reference, and iv) finally to deliver these selected data sets in order they could be respectively displayed on different dedicated lines of a page associated to the determined time reference. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080209473 | Method and Apparatus for Building an Electronic Program Guide Based on Channel Profiles - A method and apparatus for building an electronic programming guide based on statistical information about the history of broadcasted programs where the programming information is obtained on the basis of currently available schedule information and where a broadcast system spreads programming information across a plurality of transport streams. Each time a user changes a channel, a new transport stream potentially becomes available, and current scheduling information is taken from that stream to update a profile of programming for that particular stream. New programming information that is transmitted on other channels is stored whenever the user selects one of those channels. In this manner, an electronic programming guide is eventually built based on the programming information available on the channels accessed by the user. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20090282438 | Community Content Ratings System - Community content ratings are provided to users for one or more multimedia programs. The community content ratings are generated from appropriateness data collected from members of one or more community groups. The members of the community groups may be selected automatically based on stored profiles that include demographic data. Alternatively, community group membership may occur by choice and at the request of potential members. The community content ratings may be presented using appropriateness indicators (e.g., checkmarks or numerical scores) that are presented to a user in response to the user selecting the multimedia program from an electronic programming guide. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090300681 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE AND DEVICE THEREFOR - A device for displaying an electronic program guide includes a program guide display unit configured to display an electronic program guide in which a program channel including scheduled broadcast television program entries and a content channel including content entries stored in a storage device are arranged parallel to each other, a determination unit configured to determine a program entry selected by a user from the displayed electronic program guide, and a changing unit configured to change the content channel in the displayed electronic program guide based on the selected program entry. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100005491 | Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals - According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20080282291 | TV content search system and method with multi-field search and display - A search based TV interface system and method is disclosed. Search results are dynamically displayed based on search parameters and/or time. A dynamically adjusted grid may be provided which collapses to a list if a minimum grid size is not met. Search results may also be dynamically displayed organized by category. | 11-13-2008 |
| 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 |
| 20080235730 | Perspective Function For Simple Program Guide - An electronic program guide ( | 09-25-2008 |
| 20100138864 | ENHANCED CHANNEL SURFING - When a viewer initiates channel surfing, a surfing guide is presented to the viewer. The surfing guide provides multiple channel regions, where each channel region is associated with a different channel that is available to the viewer. Each channel region will include a channel window in which an image or video content from the corresponding channel is displayed. When the surfing guide is being displayed to the viewer, the channel window in at least one of the channel regions will include video content, which is derived from a low bandwidth video stream for the associated channel. Each channel region may also have a channel information area in which textual information about the corresponding channel is provided to the viewer. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100138865 | PRESENTING CONTENT - A method of presenting content to a viewer is described. The method includes: receiving a schedule of content at a client operable by the viewer, the schedule of content including a directed graph, the directed graph including a plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is connected to one or more other nodes in the plurality of nodes by one or more paths, wherein each path represents content presentable to the viewer; traversing the directed graph by following a route between nodes and along paths of the directed graph, wherein at each node the client determines a path to follow according to state information accessible by the client; and presenting content to the viewer as each path is followed. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20090138914 | INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM, RECEIVING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROVIDING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROVIDING METHOD AND PROGRAM - The information providing device includes the program listing information transmitting portion to transmit program listing information indicating a plurality of currently viewable programs to the receiving device, the related information storage portion to store related information including a plurality of pieces of information concerning a program edited to be sequentially displayed in association with the program, the program designation information receiving portion to receive program designation information designating a selected channel or a program selected or determined based on the program listing information from the receiving device, the related information extracting portion to extract related information corresponding to a program designated by the program designation information from the related information storage portion, and the related information transmitting portion to transmit the extracted related information to the receiving device. The information providing device which effectively provides the information concerning the currently viewable programs with simple operation is thereby provided. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20080256577 | Display device, display program storage medium, and display method - A display device includes: a data acquisition section which acquires plural data with which dates and/or times are associated; and a date and/or time acquisition section which acquires dates and/or times associated with the plurality of data. The display device further includes: a data classification section which classifies the plural data to plural groups which belong to plural time regions which do not overlap with each other, based on the length of intervals between the dates and/or times acquired by the date and/or time acquisition section; and a display section which classifies plural icons which show the plural data to the groups and displays the plural icons. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20090049476 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR SELECTING BROADCAST PROGRAM AND AV APPARATUS THEREFOR - A method for providing a GUI for selecting a broadcast program, and an AV apparatus are provided. According to the method for providing a GUI, a user selection regarding the broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected is set according to a user operation that is input in an area containing graphics representing broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected by a user. Therefore, if a user makes errors in selecting broadcast programs, for example, if a user selects two or more broadcast programs that cannot be simultaneously selected, the errors may be corrected more easily, instantly and intuitively. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090019490 | PROGRAM SELECTION SUPPORT DEVICE - A program selection support device | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090260036 | MULTIPLE DATABASE, USER-CHOICE-COMPILED PROGRAM AND EVENT GUIDE - An electronic programming guide generator utilizes filters to select only programming filtered to display in an electronic programming guide display. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090260034 | TV USER INTERFACE FOR VIEWING SELECTED SUB-GROUPS OF CHANNELS - Intuitive user interfaces are disclosed for a TV showing a favorites channel pane that can transition to a channel history pane, etc. in response to remote control commands. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090144773 | Systems and Methods for Segmenting Electronic Program Guide Information - An approach to providing EPG information segments the EPG information into a plurality of segmented EPGs, i.e., subsets of the EPG information. The EPG information for all channels may be segmented into EPGs for separate local channels, i.e., channels received by client devices within a particular geographical region or broadcast area, and a “home” or universal EPG. Alternatively or additionally, the EPG information for all channels may be segmented into EPGs, for example, based on channel content or category. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090025035 | Control apparatus, control method and program - A control apparatus that controls the programmed recording of a program includes an EPG data obtaining section obtaining EPG data, an EPG display control section causing a display device to display an EPG, and a programming section programming a program by creating programming data including a recording ending time based on a user's operation on the EPG, wherein the programming section defines a distribution ending time when the distribution of a target program, which is a program to be programmed, is to be ended as the recording ending time if the distribution ending time is available, or defines, as the recording ending time, the time after a predetermined estimated time stored in a storage section, which stores information, from a distribution starting time when the distribution of the target program is to be started if the distribution ending time of the target program is not available. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20110145863 | PUSHING A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE TO A REMOTE DEVICE WITH DISPLAY RULES PROVIDED BY THE REMOTE DEVICE - A graphical user interface (“GUI”) can be presented on a remote control accessory device that has user input and display devices. The GUI can be defined and managed by a portable media device that is controlled using the GUI. The portable media device can provide the accessory with a GUI image to be displayed. The accessory can send information to the portable media device indicative of a user operation of an input device in response to the displayed image. The portable media device can process this input to identify the action requested by the user and take the appropriate action, which can include updating the GUI image provided to the accessory. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20100154002 | SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING TELEVISION PROGRAM DATA - A system for collecting program data from television systems is provided. The program data is collected at a main facility that distributes the program data to television distribution facilities for use in passive or interactive electronic television program guides. The system allows personnel at television station office computers to access a database of program data maintained at the main facility and to construct program schedules electronically using this database. The system error checks the program schedules in real time as they are constructed. The system allows reports, such as ad trafficking reports for use by television station personnel, to be generated based on the program schedule of a given television system. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100162315 | PROGRAM INFORMATION DISPLAYING METHOD AND DISPLAY APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A method for displaying program information and a display apparatus thereof are provided. According to the present method for displaying program information, an EPG screen in which a plurality of items are aligned is generated and displayed. Accordingly, a user may view an EPG screen with better perspective and check program information more intuitively. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100162316 | DISPLAY APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a control method thereof. The display apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit; a contents processing unit that processes contents; a user input unit that inputs control signals to retrieve the contents; a control unit that, if the control signals are continuously input, controls the contents processing unit to display minimum contents data on the display unit, retrieves contents corresponding to the control signals continuously input upon completion of inputting the control signals, and controls the contents processing unit to display the retrieved contents on the display unit. With this configuration, a display apparatus and a control method thereof, being capable of promptly reacting with a user's input and displaying contents, are provided. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100162314 | ENHANCED ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An enhanced electronic program guide for television programming may be provided by including at least one displayable indicator that is associated with at least one of the programs in the electronic program guide and indicative of the genre of the at least one of the programs. The displayable indicator may be displayed with the program in the electronic program guide, and thus may be more informative to a user, particularly for programs for which the electronic program guide provides a truncated title or name as displayed. In embodiments, the displayable indicator may be a color, a symbol, an icon or the like. Additionally, embodiments may include a displayable indicator, such as an icon, for programs of a particular program series. Such an icon may be displayed with programs of the series in the electronic program guide, and thus may facilitate identification of programs of interest to a user. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100162313 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING A CHAPTER MENU FOR A VIDEO PROGRAM - An approach is provided for the real-time creation of a menu of chapters for navigating a video program. The chaptering process creates at a dynamic chapter navigation menu that enables a user to precisely navigate within a video program by recursively creating chaptering points of finer temporal granularity for selecting a desired point within the video program. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100186040 | Screen Display Apparatus, Program, and Screen Display Method - A screen display apparatus for controlling the size each display area to appropriately display content information of each display area into one display screen. The screen display apparatus includes a selection accept block for accepting selection of first content information displayed in a first display area, a content information acquisition block for acquiring the content information associated with the selected first content information, this content information being second content information located on a layer below the first content information, and, in order to allocate a second display area for displaying the second content information to the display screen, a display area control block for controlling either or both of the first display area and the second display area. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20090300680 | Method and Apparatus for Displaying Interactions With Media by Members of a Social Software System - A media viewing method and system monitors user interaction with an electronic program guide. An awareness engine collects data generated by the user interaction and forms awareness indicators and information. The awareness information is output to end users and is indicative of which users in a social circle are accessing (e.g. viewing, playing, or recording) or have accessed which media works. Some output enables user-to-user interaction. The media works may be supplied by cable television, satellite television, online or global computer network sources. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100262997 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CATCH-UP ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE - Catch-up electronic program guide (EPG) systems and methods are operable to present information pertaining to previously available programs. An exemplary embodiment retrieves program information pertaining to a plurality of programs from a memory, wherein the retrieved program information identifies at least a scheduled presentation time of each of the plurality of programs; compares a current time with the scheduled presentation times of the plurality of programs; identifies programs that are no longer available for presentation based upon the compared current time and the scheduled presentation times; and generates a catch-up EPG based upon the identified programs that are no longer available for presentation. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100192181 | System and Method to Navigate an Electonic Program Guide (EPG) Display - Systems and methods of navigating and presenting electronic program guide data are provided. A particular method includes displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) detail view at a display device and displaying an EPG map view at the display device concurrently with the EPG detail view. The EPG detail view includes more detailed information than the EPG map view regarding a selected portion of the EPG map view. The selected portion includes a first range of times and a first set of channels. The method also includes receiving EPG control input to change the portion of the EPG map view that is selected. The method further includes modifying the EPG detail view in response to the EPG control input. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20090077588 | DEVICE FOR SENDING-OUT DATA IN WHICH ASSOCIATED DATA IS MULTIPLEXED WITH MAIN DATA - A table creating unit receives program information and an upper limit bit rate of EPG data, creates a table of EIT [current/net] on the basis of the information and upper limit bit rate, and determines the frequency of transmission of the table in consideration of the upper limit bit rate and the lower limit of the frequency of transmission of the table. A stream transmitting unit receives the table and the frequency of transmission, converts the table to stream information, and transmits a stream at a frequency determined based on the transmission frequency. Therefore, data transmission is carried out satisfying both the limit of the upper limit bit rate and the limit on the transmission frequency. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20100235862 | Display and Method of Controlling Display - This display includes a control portion controlling a selected screen portion to display a program other than a program displayed on a nonselected screen portion if a program subsequently displayed on the selected screen portion and the program displayed on the nonselected screen portion are identical to each other. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100138866 | METHOD FOR OUTPUTTING CONTENT INFORMATION AND DISPLAY SYSTEM ENABLING THE METHOD - A method for outputting content information and a display apparatus enabling the same are disclosed. The method for outputting contents information of a display apparatus includes identifying whether predetermined contents are series or single, generating a content information display object according to the result of the identification, and outputting the content information display object in a display screen, wherein a content information display object corresponding to the series contents is different from a content information display object corresponding to the single contents. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20090328103 | GENRE-BASED SEGMENT COLLECTIONS - Genre-based segment collections is described. In embodiment(s), program segments that have been segmented from multiple television programs can be determined to have a common association based on a genre of the program segments. A segment collection can then be generated to include the program segments that have been determined to have the common association. The program segments of the segment collection can be selected from a collections user interface to initiate rendering the program segments for viewing. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090019491 | MOVING VIDEO TAGS OUTSIDE OF A VIDEO AREA TO CREATE A MENU SYSTEM - Tags in a video area are established by displaying the tags with a visual association to an item in the video. Thereafter, the tags move to a tag menu area that is outside of the video area. Tags are selectable, such as by clicking on the tag, to cause additional actions such as displaying a web page related to the tag. Tags move and disappear/appear in conjunction with the video as the video action progresses. In one embodiment, the tag menu area is obtained when a video with a first aspect ratio is displayed in a display area that has a different aspect ratio. The difference in aspect ratios leaves a portion in the display area that is not used for the video that can be used for the tag menu area. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090019489 | Method and apparatus for displaying movie titles based on distributed objects - Techniques for displaying a library of many movies and providing interactive mechanisms for users to browse the library, select or order a title are disclosed. In one embodiment, data pertaining to a title is distributed across a network. Whenever a movie is ordered, depending on implementation, either a leading portion of the data locally cached is played back or a time-fill program is activated during which distributed data is fetched as data streams from a set of designated boxes. In addition, movie titles are presented or displayed in movie banners, each resembling at least part or all of a corresponding movie poster distributed and promoted commercially by a studio or production company. Such a movie banner provides an expression with substantially similar style, colors and background such that a coincident impact may be created on audience when the movie banner is seen. Further each of the banners is embedded with a link that leads to a full review of the movie when selected. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20100223644 | Program guide optimization system - A method and system of optimizing strings comprised in program guide data for transmission is described. The method includes sharing, in the program guide data, a plurality of strings, each string among the plurality of strings including a shared sorting key, implementing an order access of a sorted sharing index, wherein the program guide data and the shared sorting key are comprised in the same data storage structure. Related methods and apparatus are also described. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20120144426 | DISPLAY APPARATUS AND CONTENTS SEARCHING METHOD - A display apparatus includes a display unit which displays contents; and a integrated searching unit which displays a recommended search word related to current contents displayed on the display unit if a user inputs a search signal for executing a searching function, and displays contents related to a selected recommended search word if a user selects one of the recommended search words. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20090037957 | Methods and Apparatus for Providing a Channel History - An apparatus such as a mobile television signal receiver includes a channel history feature. Methods for adding channels to the channel history, tuning channels from the channel history, and generally maintaining the channel history are provided. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for adding a channel to channel history includes a step of adding a selected channel to the channel history if the channel meets a criterion. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for tuning channels includes steps of receiving a useable program signal from a first channel, testing for presence of a useable program from a second channel without interrupting the receiving step, and if the useable program signal from the second channel is detected, tuning the second channel. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for maintaining a channel history includes a step of maintaining a retrieved channel in the channel history if the useable program signal is present, and updating the channel history by replacing the retrieved channel with another channel if the useable program signal is not present. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090037956 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ONE TOUCH FIND AND RECORD - Methods and apparatus of finding related programs in a media presentation program are described. An example method includes displaying a current program associated with a program data of the media presentation program, receiving an input from an interface, searching the program data in response to the input, and displaying a search results in the media presentation program. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20100275231 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE DISPLAYING METHOD - The present invention relates to an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) display technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to an intuitive and easy-to-use EPG display technology by which TV viewers can recognize the information about the current TV program, the next program and the later programs of a channel at a glance. When a viewer selects an item (CHANNEL MENU in Korean or EPG or GUIDE) of Main Menu, the list of current programs of the channels belonging to the selected menu item appears at the right side of the Main Menu. Only focused channel has the next program information adjacent to the current program, and only when the focus is moved to the next program, the list of later programs displays in order to reduce the information overload and to show exactly what viewers need, in the present invention. According to the present invention, viewers may easily find current and next programs for a channel, may identify information for previous channel in addition to current channel, which enables quick access for the program viewers want to watch, and may select a later program for recording or reminding by the list of the later programs of the selected channel. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100306801 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING CONTENT FROM A TELEVISION CHANNEL - A system receives a plurality of streaming videos from a plurality of providers of television channels. Each television channel provider delivers a respective streaming video. The television channel content delivering process creates a thumbnail image representation of the content for each of the streaming videos of each television channel. The thumbnail image representation is a sill picture taken from the video stream. The television channel content delivering process then transmits the thumbnail image representation to a device capable of rendering the thumbnail image representation, and renders the thumbnail image representation on the device. The thumbnail image is representation temporarily rendered in place of the streaming video. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100319029 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CHANNEL FOR PROVIDING INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION SERVICE - A method and apparatus for controlling a channel for providing an IPTV is disclosed, which is capable of improving use efficiency of network resource and reducing a channel zapping time by controlling a channel type of each channel and a bit rate of video data to be transmitted through each channel, the method comprising (a) determining an optimal channel status vector among channel status vectors to indicate channel types of respective channels, wherein the optimal channel status vector enables a minimum cost corresponding to the sum of an average channel zapping time of respective channels and an average distortion value of video data transmitted through the respective channels; and determining an optimal bit rate at the determined optimal channel status vector; and (b) transmitting the video data at the optimal bit rate through the respective channels. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100333140 | DISPLAY PROCESSING APPARATUS, DISPLAY PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to one embodiment, an display processing apparatus includes an operation receiver, a relation calculator, a keyword extractor, a display information generator, and a display controller. The operation receiver receives operation to select key content. The relation calculator calculates the relation of second contents to the key content. The keyword extractor extracts a common keyword contributing to the relation from an item related to the calculation of the relation. The display information generator generates first display information of the key content and second display information of the second contents, and keyword display information indicating the common keyword. The display controller displays list information, in which pieces of the second display information are arranged such that second display information of second content with higher relation to the key content is closer to the first display information. The display controller displays the keyword display information in association with the second display information. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100333141 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EDITING A LIST OF DIGITAL BROADCAST CHANNELS - Disclosed is an apparatus and method for editing a list of digital broadcast channels. A list of channels listed in order set according to channel information is displayed. At least one of the channels in the list is selected according to a user's input, and temporarily stored. When a user selects a position in the listed channels, at least one selected channel is moved to the selected position and displayed thereon. A list of channels is stored that reflects the order of channels into which at least one selected channel is moved. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100333139 | SEARCH-BASED MEDIA PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An exemplary method includes receiving a program guide data search request, associating a time block with the program guide data search request, identifying a set of program guide data associated with the time block, searching the set of program guide data associated with the time block to identify at least one matching media content instance based on the program guide data search request, and generating data representative of a search-based program guide view for display in a graphical user interface, the search-based program guide view exhibiting graphical data representative of the at least one matching media content instance. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises generating a virtual search channel associated with the program guide data search request and providing graphical data representative of the virtual search channel for display in the search-based program guide view. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20090049475 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO TRANSFER CONTENT TO A MOBILE DEVICE - Methods and apparatus to transfer content to a mobile device are described. An example includes a main page to be displayed upon an activation of a transfer feature; a display section to present content being presented prior to the activation of the transfer feature; a plurality of pages operatively linked to the main page; and a list of programs stored on a media storage device, wherein the programs of the list are selectable by a user for a transfer between the media storage device and a mobile device. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090307725 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTENTS INFORMATION IN VOD SERVICE AND VOD SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED WITH THE SAME - Provided are a method for providing contents information in a video on demand (VOD) service and a VOD service system implemented with the same. The VOD service system includes a transmitting unit, a contents storing par, a contents producing unit, and a controlling unit. The transmitting unit receives a VOD service request from a VOD client through a network and transmits data corresponding to the request to the VOD client. The contents storing unit stores moving picture contents to be provided. The contents producing unit produces representative moving pictures each for the corresponding moving picture content and configures an initial screen obtained by combining the representative moving pictures together. The controlling unit transmits the initial screen including the representative moving pictures of the individual moving picture contents when the VOD client makes a request to provide a list of the moving picture contents to be provided through the transmitting unit. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20110214145 | INFORMATION PROVIDING DEVICE AND METOD FOR INDEX INFORMATION FOR SCENE CHANGES - The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and an information providing apparatus. Images which are consecutive in time series are sequentially enlarged and displayed such that the enlarged images are continuous spirally in the time-series order from the inner circumferential side. In this manner, according to the present invention, it is possible to understand easily a before-after relationship between a large number of images which are consecutive in time series by applying the present invention to a set-top box for digital satellite broadcasting, for example. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20090313655 | Apparatus, method, computer program and user interface for enabling access to programs. - A method, and associated apparatus, computer program and user interface, the method including receiving information comprising the trigger time of programs on a plurality of media channels; assigning a priority to the programs based on the trigger time of the program relative to a given time point such that programs with a trigger time within a first predetermined time interval of the given time point are assigned a higher priority than programs with a trigger time within a second predetermined time interval of the given time point; and presenting, at the given time point, the programs in a list in order of assigned priority so that programs with a higher assigned priority are presented at a higher position in the list than programs with a lower assigned priority and user selection of a program from the list enables the media channel associated with the selected program to be accessed. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20110099581 | System for handling program meta-data - A method of accessing program meta-data is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers, at least one of the virtual containers comprising normalized program meta-data of programs having instances in a plurality of time windows, receiving an input indicating a selected time window, the input at least one of comprises and refers to a time-window identifier identifying the selected time window, and using the time-window identifier to filter the plurality of virtual containers, so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which corresponds to the selected time window. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20120204211 | PROGRAM GUIDE GENERATION APPARATUS, PROGRAM GUIDE GENERATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM GUIDE GENERATION PROGRAM - A program guide generation apparatus includes: a program-related information acquisition unit that acquires program-related information including information related to a start time of a broadcast program, information related to a broadcast duration length being the length of the duration of the broadcast of the broadcast program; a program display frame size calculation unit that calculates a time-base size obtained from the broadcast duration length and calculates an inside content size; a program guide generation unit that generates layout data of the program display frame in accordance with the time-base size calculated by the program display frame size calculation unit; and a display update unit that, upon a program display frame being selected by an operation input inputted via an input device, changes a size of the selected program display frame to the inside content size. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20090241146 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE PROVIDING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An electronic programming guide (EPG) providing apparatus and method, in which an EPG is configured as a 3D form to facilitate a search for broadcasting program information included in the EPG. The EPG providing apparatus includes an EPG screen configuring unit and a control unit. The EPG screen configuring unit configures an EPG screen such that broadcasting program information is displayed on at least three faces of a 3D polyhedron. The control unit controls the EPG screen configuring unit to configure the BPG screen such that broadcasting program information corresponding to another broadcasting time zone or another broadcasting channel is displayed on the EPG screen based on a user input signal requesting a search for the broadcasting program information corresponding to another broadcasting time zone or another broadcasting channel. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20080320516 | TAILORED CHANNEL FOR CONTENT CONSUMPTION - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can establish a tailored and/or personalized content channel. The content channel can be interfaced with one or more devices, and can be configured to serve particular content or types of content as well as to filter particular content or types of content. The content can be selected or filtered based upon a wide variety of factors that can be expressly specified, or in some cases intelligently inferred. In addition, the architecture can provide detailed analysis of content and summarize various content consumption habits or histories. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20120311637 | MEDIA CONTENT SPATIAL NAVIGATION - A method and system of providing a content guide that identifies a spatial relationship between the elements in the content guide is described. A controller receives electronic program guide data. The received electronic program guide data is parsed to identify a plurality of programs listed in the electronic program guide and data corresponding to at least one program description attribute for the identified programs. A relationship is determined between each identified program based on the at least one program description attribute. At least one cluster is generated and includes at least one of the plurality of identified programs based on the determined relationship. A user interface display processor generates a user interface display image representing a clustered content guide and including the at least one generated cluster enabling the user to view the relationship of the plurality of programs. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20080222679 | Enhanced personal video recorder including user play programming - The present invention is directed to a system, software system and method for manipulating multimedia broadcast presentations. Manipulating multimedia events offers users increased options in how they experience multimedia presentations. Thus increasing the overall multimedia experience and consequently user satisfaction. Utilization of the present invention allows the user to experience combinations of media previously unavailable. For example, in implementations of the present invention, users may option various combinations of audio and video; including the rate at which a user experiences the media. Further, the user may text search to find starting and stopping points for recording, viewing and pausing operations. The user play programming allows the user to customize how a single media, such as audio, is experienced. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080222678 | Method and Apparatus for Programme Generation and Presentation - A method for presenting a plurality of programme elements to a user. Each programme element has an associated classification code, and the method comprises presenting a user interface operable to receive user selection data indicating one of said plurality of programme elements, and to cause display of said indicated programme element. One of said programme elements is presented, the classification code associated with said presented programme element is screened to determine if said classification code satisfies a predetermined criteria and operation of said user interface is disabled if but only if said predetermined criteria is satisfied. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20100325666 | SYSTEM FOR CONTENT DELIVERY - A system for and method of transmitting audio and visual programming content, by identifying an amount of broadcast transmission capacity available for transmitting the content to one or more users. The content is separated into at least first and second portions based on user demand for the content and/or the identified available broadcast transmission capacity. The first portion of the content is transmitted, to a receiver/STB associated with at least one of the users, using the identified broadcast transmission capacity; and the second portion of the content is transmitted to the receiver using transmission other than broadcast transmission. The content can include nonlinear content. Transmission other than broadcast transmission can include unicast transmission, which can be in response to a user request and/or an initiation by a server. The received nonlinear content can be stored at the receiver for play back at a time different from the time of transmission. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100325665 | Automatic Web Searches Based on EPG - An enhanced graphical user interface to a user, such as an electronic programming guide, including certain selectable attributes. When a particular attribute is selected, a network transaction may be initiated to a website or other network node. Information or other content received from the network node may be displayed as output. The output may include indications of upcoming or future programs that are related to a particular selected attribute. The output may also include a select link that operates to automatically set a timer to record one or more upcoming programs that are related to the selected attribute. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100293577 | METHOD OF CONTENT RETRIEVAL - A method of content retrieval, comprising: providing a set of content items; determining, for each content item in the set, a subset from the set of content items, wherein the subset for a certain content item of the set is determined by comparing only meta data associated with the certain content item with meta data respectively associated with each of all other content items of the set; selecting, by a user of a television apparatus, a content item out of the set of content items as a seed item; executing a recursive or iterative process until one of the content items of the set is determined by the user as a content item for consuming, the process comprising: displaying the respective subset of the seed item at a display in connection with the television apparatus, each of the content items of the respective subset being represented by a respective image; and selecting, by the user, a further content item of the respective subset displayed as the seed item or as a content item for consuming; and displaying, at the display, the content item determined for consuming. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20110126235 | Program guide optimization system - A method and system of optimizing strings comprised in program guide data for transmission is described. The method includes sharing, in the program guide data, a plurality of strings, each string among the plurality of strings including a shared sorting key, implementing an order access of a sorted sharing index, wherein the program guide data and the shared sorting key are comprised in the same data storage structure. Related methods and apparatus are also described. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110138422 | TECHNIQUES FOR DISPLAYING DATA BASED ON CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISPLAY DEVICE - A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110138421 | METHOD OF PROCESSING EPG METADATA IN NETWORK DEVICE AND THE NETWORK DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A method of processing EPG metadata in a network according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of performing a services discovery procedure utilizing multiple service discovery metadata components supplied by a service provider and processing an EPG metadata. Preferably, the performing step includes the steps of receiving a master SI table which locates in a master SI table location in provisioning information, wherein the provisioning information includes multiple elements, an EPG provider information element in the multiple elements having both a first target virtual channel map identifier element and an EPG data locator element, the first target virtual channel map identifier element indicating that services are covered by each of the EPG metadata provider's EPG data sources, receiving a virtual channel map table which locates in virtual channel map locations in the received master SI table, receiving a virtual channel description table which locates in virtual channel description table locations in the received virtual channel map table, and receiving a source table which locates in source table locations in the received virtual channel description table. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20100180303 | DIGITAL BROADCASTING RECEIVING APPARATUS - EPG information includes so many programs provided by digital broadcasting that creating an electronic program table based on the EPG information will cause the program display fields to be accordingly subdivided, thereby making it difficult to display all of the electronic program table information so as to be browsable. The present invention is characterized in that in a program table including a representative channel predetermined in a TS and channels other than that, display control is performed as follows: 1) The display width of the representative channel is arranged to be explicitly larger than (not less than 1.5 times of) those of channels other than the representative channel. In particular, the channels other than the representative channel are configured to have a width within which more than one character, which is of the size of the characters entered in program cells, cannot be displayed; and 2) The display areas for channels other than a representative channel is disposed at the side (left or right side) of the representative channel such that each broadcasting station, which includes a representative channel and channels other than the representative channel, has an approximately uniform display width. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100180304 | ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH SUPPORT FOR RICH PROGRAM CONTENT - An electronic program guide that assists a user to navigate through a variety of digital and analog feeds made available by digital television technology is provided. Features such as allowing the user to purchase items, allowing the user to choose the content of the display screen, enabling more efficient use of black areas, among others are provided. Default settings based on prior user settings is provided to allow for an automatically customized environment. This automatic customization may entail, for example, the automatic resizing of windows based on the user's prior preferences. Also provided is a feature that allows for the automatic activation of a local or remote application through the user's set-top box based on the content currently being viewed. | 07-15-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20110167453 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, DELIVERY AND DISPLAY OF ITV APPLICATIONS THAT BLEND PROGRAMMING INFORMATION OF ON-DEMAND AND BROADCAST SERVICE OFFERINGS - A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110307924 | Methods and Systems for Generating a Personalized Version of a Media Content Program for a User - An exemplary method includes receiving a plurality of data chunks each representative of a distinct portion of a media content program, generating a personalized version of the media content program based on at least a subset of the data chunks and in accordance with one or more of a plurality of personalization factors associated with a user, and providing the personalized version of the media content program for presentation to the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also described. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20120005708 | Media User Interfaces Using Metadata from Different Sources - A navigation interface display system generates a navigation element that organizes television programming data in an easy-to-use manner. The navigation element employs a hierarchical display protocol for a plurality of selection items that represent the various television programs, channels, and/or networks. The hierarchical display scheme displays a limited number of active selection items at a first magnification level and additional active selection items at a second magnification level. In addition, the selection items are displayed on distinctive areas or features of the navigation element, where such features represent different content genres or categories. Subcategories can also be displayed in a hierarchical manner, thus providing additional information related to the content as the magnification level of the navigation element changes. | 01-05-2012 |
| 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 |
| 20120159550 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DYNAMIC CONTENT WITH AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE - An electronic program guide (EPG) presented by a set top box (STB) or other television receiver dynamically changes the electronic guide information provided for one or more programs during presentation. In various embodiments, multiple presentation screens for displaying different types of information related to the program are received with the EPG data and sequentially rendered to the viewer. The multiple presentation screens may be manually or automatically sequenced within the guide to provide additional space for presenting information about one or more programs from within the electronic program guide itself. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120117602 | Universal Programming System and Method for EPG with Localized Interactive Content - An EPG to display programming information in a variety of ways including using 3-D images, alphanumeric text, and video data. In addition, non-EPG objects, such as interaction objects, may be conflated with the presentation of the world and with the program schedule information. A communication module in the EPG receives localized content containing multiple objects from one or more servers coupled to a network. Users may interact with the content (e.g., buy and sell goods and services from local franchises) through a user-interface coupled to the EPG. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120023525 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR ASSOCIATING APPLICATIONS WITH AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE - Systems and methods for associating applications with an electronic program guide are provided. An electronic program guide that includes television schedule information organized in a grid by time and channel may be generated. The electronic program guide may be configured for presentation to a user by an electronic program guide application executed by a programming processing component associated with the user. A second application different from the electronic program guide application may be associated with an entry in the grid of the electronic program guide. The second application may be configured for execution by the programming processing component based at least in part upon the user selecting the entry. Once generated, the electronic program guide may be output for receipt by the programming processing component. | 01-26-2012 |
| 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 |
| 20120060188 | USER INTERFACES FOR FACILITATING ACCESS TO MEDIA CONTENT LISTINGS - An exemplary method includes a media content information system displaying, on a touch screen display, a first set of media content listings, a graphical representation of a timeline indicating a plurality of times, and a graphical selector to indicate a first position on the timeline, the first position corresponding to a first time within the plurality of times, detecting, a touch input provided by a user on the touch screen display to indicate a second position on the timeline, repositioning, in response to the touch input, the graphical selector to indicate the second position on the timeline, the second position corresponding to a second time within the plurality of times, identifying, a second set of media content listings associated with the second time, and dynamically replacing, the first set of media content listings with the second set of media content listings on the touch screen display. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20110099580 | INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CHANGING CHANNELS OF TELEVISION SYSTEM - An input device receives operation signals from an input interface. If the received operation signal is a first operation signal, the input device is in a first phase, where the input device records channel changes and the corresponding time. If the received operation signal is a first operation signal, the input device is in a second phase, where the input device retrieves a channel number according to a present time, and sends a change-channel command to a TV system. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110099579 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING BROADCAST PROGRAM INFORMATION AND BROADCAST RECEIVER - A method for processing program information and a broadcast receiver are disclosed. The method includes selecting a program from a service guide screen, identifying a group to which the selected program belongs, and displaying a group list of programs included in a signaling table that signals information of the identified group. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20120167143 | SETTING A FEATURE FROM THE MAIN MENU OF AN APPLICATION - The present invention concerns a method for displaying a program guide is proposed. The program guide contains a list of channels and a time scale and the programs which are receivable within a time represented by the time scale are displayed. The programs which are displayed correspond to the channel on which the programs are received. The inventive method further contains the following steps:
| 06-28-2012 |
| 20120167142 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES TO FACILITATE PRESELECTION OF PROGRAMMING PREFERENCES - Described herein are techniques for communicating information regarding generated programming recommendations to a communication device of a user. The user may provide a selection at the communication device of one or more programs corresponding to one or more of the programming recommendations. Timers may be set at an entertainment device based on the user selection(s), thereby facilitating preselection of video and/or audio programming preferences. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20100083317 | Display control device, display control method, and program - A display control device includes: a reception section configured to receive a television broadcast signal; a display section configured to display video information and a thumbnail image contained in the television broadcast signal; and a control section configured to control display on the display section of the video information and the thumbnail image contained in the television broadcast signal received by the reception section. The control section causes the thumbnail image to be displayed in accordance with an order of priority. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20120137327 | INFORMATION PROVIDING APPARATUS AND METHOD, DISPLAY CONTROLLING APPARATUS AND METHOD, INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM, AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION MEDIUM - An information providing apparatus, in which program guide information is provided as first information which designates predetermined information and second information to be referred to by the first information. Layout information is provided from within the electronic program guide information, relating to the layout when the electronic program guide information is displayed on a screen. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20100175089 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING CONTENT THROUGH INTEGRATED CHANNEL MANAGEMENT - Provided are a method and apparatus for reproducing at least one piece of content received via at least one interface. The method includes classifying the at least one piece of content respectively received via the at least one interface according to a reference attribute, allocating the classified at least one piece of content to a virtual channel, and selecting a channel from among set channels that include the virtual channel and an occupied basic channel. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20120260290 | USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE SUCH AS TV - For a graphical user interface (GUI) for an audio video display device (AVDD) showing plural content information panels arranged in a grid, each content panel belongs to a respective category, with content panels of different categories being mixed on the screen. A category icon with an associated color and shape is presented next to each content panel to make it easy for a viewer to understand which category of item the content panels represents. Examples of some categories are favorites, recorded, recommended, frequently viewed, and now playing. Next to each icon, a numeral pertaining to the grid position of the content may also appear to facilitate voice selection of a content panel by number. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20080301734 | Method and User Interface for Accessing Media Assets Over a Network - Improved systems and methods to navigate, browse, search and/or playback digital media assets (e.g., media items) hosted on a media server are disclosed. One embodiment pertains to a user interface arrangement, such as a hierarchical menu system, that facilitates navigation, browsing and playing of media items remotely stored on a media server. The user interface arrangement can present and permit navigation of categorized media items. The user interface arrangement can also present and permit navigation of media items related to another media item (such as a media item that has been selected and played). Another embodiment relates to progressive searching of remote media items from a search user interface. The search user interface can, but need not, be part of the user interface arrangement. The user interface arrangement and/or the search user interface can be presented on a display device associated with a client device. In one embodiment, the display device can be a television and the client device can be an electronic apparatus that can couple to the media server via a network. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20110030009 | Alteration of Electronic Program Guide Data Based on Ratings Lock - A television receiver receives a programming signal including programming content and EPG data. The television receiver receives a request for an EPG display. The television receiver modifies the EPG data for one or more records in the EPG data which include content ratings that exceed a ratings lock setting of the television receiver. The television receiver may modify the EPG data for one or more records in a variety of different manners depending on a variety of different factors associated with the records. The television receiver then generates the EPG display from the modified EPG data and transmits the generated EPG display to a display device. The modification of the EPG data may prevent display of objectionable content in the EPG display and/or may indicate that the records correspond to blocked programs. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20100229199 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE - An apparatus for displaying Electronic Program Guide (EPG) includes a storage configured to store a broadcast program information comprising an information of broadcast channels, a controller configured to group the broadcast channels by channels which have a major channel number that is identified with each other channels, and display a representative channel selected among the grouped channels on an EPG screen, and a display configured to display the EPG screen on which a broadcast program information of the representative channel is displayed. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100229200 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION, DELIVERY AND DISPLAY OF ITV APPLICATIONS THAT BLEND PROGRAMMING INFORMATION OF ON-DEMAND AND BROADCAST SERVICE OFFERINGS - A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100131982 | METHOD FOR GENERATING AND ACCESSING SCHEDULED PROGRAM LIST AND MULTIMEDIA DEVICE FOR THE SAME - The configuration of the data link between the multimedia device and a network-ready external host allows the external host for accessing the media files in the multimedia device and performing scheduling recording. By generating the scheduled program list and converting the scheduled program list into program files, the information of scheduled programs from EPG according to scheduling information from the external host end can be converted into a series of media files stored in a hierarchical way for being copied and played by the external host. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20120151529 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR SHARING MEDIA CONTENT - Method and arrangements for providing personal media content of a first user (A) to a device used by a second user (B). A personal TV channel is created ( | 06-14-2012 |
