Television schedule system and method of operation.

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DESCRIPTION

Television programming system and method of operation

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of television program guides and their method of operation. More specifically, the invention provides in one embodiment a method and apparatus for identifying when a particular program is broadcast on a television guide system.

As entertainment video becomes increasingly sophisticated, consumers are getting more choices in entertainment video. In addition to conventional broadcast television programs, a viewer may currently have access to, for example, cable television programming, digital satellite service programming, cable stereo broadcasting, and conventional satellite programming. Furthermore, within each of the various broadcast media available to the consumer, the number and variety of programs is increasing dramatically.

While consumers benefit from increased choice, the set of programming available to consumers also presents a real dilemma. Specifically, as the number of programs available to the consumer increases, the process of selecting which program to view becomes more and more cumbersome. For example, a consumer may have access to more than 100 cable television channels. If a particular consumer has access not only to cable programming, but also to other programming (such as digital satellite service), the process of choosing a program can be daunting.

Accordingly, new and improved methods have been developed for providing program guide information for display on the television screen of the consumer television. Notably, the StarSight ™ on-screen guidance system has proven to be a pioneer in the field of on-screen guidance systems. The StarSight system provides not only television listings, but also capabilities such as topic search, VCR programming, detailed program information, and other functionalities.

Recently, additional functionality has been proposed in systems of this type. See US application serial number 08/423 411.

In such a system, guide information from, for example, different sources such as satellite sources and cable sources is combined to form a unified guide. A system according to this invention can, for example, remove redundant information from such sources and provide other functionality.

Significant advancements have been made using the StarSight guidance system, and indeed these guidance systems are gaining widespread acceptance in the television industry. However, as the complexity of such systems increases, even more functionality is desired.

The present invention is presented in the independent claims, optional features being presented in the claims dependent thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By virtue of the present invention, an improved television guide system is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the invention, multiple events of the same program can be identified by a user. For example, in many current digital satellite systems, a particular movie will play on multiple channels with outdated start times. The guidance system of the present invention enables the user to identify a particular program and then identify when that particular identified program will replay. Therefore, the user can more easily select programs for viewing or recording.

Accordingly, the invention provides in one embodiment a method of generating television guide information for a viewer, comprising the steps of inputting program guide information into a guide system; receiving user input to identify a particular program in the program guide information; and identify for the user other occasions when said specific program will be broadcast.

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the inventions herein can be achieved by referring to the remaining parts of the specification and the accompanying drawings.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an overall diagram showing a television system, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a typical grill guide, used in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a display provided to the user when using the feature at what other times; and Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention uses television program guide information, which can be obtained from one or more sources. These sources can include an incoming cable line (for example, on a coaxial cable), satellite broadcasts, a dedicated telephone line (for example, a twisted pair), and any other means capable of transmitting a signal, such as a computer or a modem line. Although the invention will find wide use in systems having only a single television signal source, such as a satellite system, herein the invention will be sh own primarily in relation to a system in which broadcasts are received from, at least two independent sources such as (1) cable and a satellite dish, or (2) two different satellites, or (3) local cable and broadcast satellite sources (DBSs , digital broadcast sources), or (4) a conventional antenna and a satellite dish such as a DBS source, or (5) one of the above sources and an internet source or other computer source. Programming information from multiple sources is classified and displayed to the user, in an organized manner, as described in greater detail in US application serial number 08/423 410, published as US 2004/0031050 on February 12, 2004.

When a user selects a program within a displayed guide, the system reads a source identifier associated with that program or channel. In the preferred embodiment, the system then performs an automatic switching / tuning process, which switches the input to the television (RF or video) to a source device. Exemplary source devices include a DBS, a cable box, a television tuner, an internet access, and the like. The system then tunes to the required channel for the desired program. Additionally, the source identifier can be used to automatically switch between various devices when unattended VCR programming is desired. Furthermore, when program information is received from multiple satellite sources and a desired channel is selected, in one embodiment the present invention can automatically move the client's satellite dish so that the client receives the desired program from the associated source. Next, the present invention tunes to the correct channel.

In creating a merged television guide, a channel map is created that identifies the channels available from the multiple sources, and identifies their source. For example, in the case of DBS / local channel implementations, a channel map is created with both local cable and DBS channels merged. Local channels and DBS channels are tagged with a source identifier. This merged guide information is used by the system to identify when a particular program is to be viewed, even when it is not from the same source as another item in the same program.

When the user / consumer selects a non-DBS channel from the guide, the integrated receiver decoder unit (IRD box) for the satellite switches the IRD to couple the local cable, for example, to the receiver. The system then tunes the television tuner or other tuning device to the required channel. If a DBS channel is subsequently selected, the system switches the IRD to couple the satellite receiver / decoder to the receiver. Then the system tunes the DBS tuner to the selected DBS channel. For example, in the case of cable and antenna inputs, the system switches to the correct video input and then tunes the television tuner to the channel required to receive the selected source. Therefore, automatic access to television program guide information from multiple sources is provided.

While the present invention is shown herein primarily in connection with a system in which the fused guide is created at the user's location, it will be understood that this is for illustrative purposes only, and the fused guide can be created at a location. remote, such as a cable headend.

Figure 1 shows in simplified form an example of a multi-source television program guide system 10, with multiple sources connected directly or indirectly to a television 12 and / or a VCR 13. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the television program guide and television programming multi-source system 10 operates under the control of coordinator 14. Television 12 and VCR 13 receive inputs

ES 2 397 738 T3 from the cable box 16 and the DBS source 18, either directly as shown in figure 1, or through the coordinator 14. Other inputs 20 can also be supplied to the television and / or the VCR, directly or through the coordinator 14. A viewer uses a remote control 22 to tune the television and perform other operations. In alternative embodiments, a keyboard, such as a computer keyboard, is used for inputs. The keyboard can be wired or wireless.

In this embodiment, the cable is provided through a cable box 16, and the DBS is provided through the IRD box 18. Antennas 24 can be used as additional sources of television broadcasts, in conjunction with the cable box 16, the IRD box 18 and other entries 20. In a typical embodiment, antenna 24 and cable box 16 would be considered local sources, meaning that they likely contain local television programs, such as local news programs. Instead, DBS sources would not be considered local as they probably would not contain such local content.

Other inputs 20 may include multiple satellite sources. When multiple satellite sources are present, the coordinator 14 switches between the available satellite sources, automatically moving the user's satellite dish or switching between satellite dishes. To automatically move the dish, a memory inside the IRD box 18 (or elsewhere) tracks the position of the DBS dish in relation to satellite sources that are available through the DBS dish. The IRD box 18 then automatically positions the DBS satellite dish so that the desired satellite source is received by the IRD box 18.

Coordinator 14 includes processor (CPU) 26 and memory (usually RAM) 28, which serve as primary devices for operating the system. In case several television signal sources are provided to the coordinator, the coordinator may also contain elements such as an internal tuner, a switching device for switching between sources, and other components. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the coordinator is connected to one or more infrared (IR) emitters 30 and controls them. IR receiver 31 is connected to coordinator 14 and receives inputs from remote control or keypad 22 to provide the system with necessary user inputs. The IR emitter (s) 30 may be replaced, for example, by a wired interface, a bus interface, or an RF transmitter. The IR emitter (s) 30 and / or the direct connections (for example, 31) control one or more of the IRD box 18, the television 12, the VCR 13, the cable box 16 and other inputs 20. The emitter or IR emitters 30 act as a remote control device, emulating remote control signals from television 12, VCR 13, cable box 16, and / or other devices. In some embodiments, the coordinator 14 may be located, for example, at the cable box 16, the VCR 13, the television 12, a satellite receiver, or even the keyboard / computer.

The remote control 22 is a manual remote control for controlling the coordinator 14. In the preferred embodiment, the remote control 22 is provided with an IR transmitter that controls the coordinator through the IR receiver 31. Other remote controls, not shown in Figure 1, can be used to manually control television 12, VCR 13, cable box 16, IRD box 18, and other inputs 20 although, in a preferred embodiment, coordinator 14 carries perform all necessary system control functions. For example, when the user adjusts the volume control on the remote control 22, the coordinator 14 outputs signals through the IR emitter 30 to regulate the volume on the television 12.

In one embodiment, IRD box 28 receives the television program along with other information through satellite dish 32. IRD box 18 and other television signal sources each provide programming information to the system. The schedule information (or guide) may also include a channel map that contains the channel information indicating which channels are available from that source. The information associated with the DBS guide and others is saved in the receiver RAM of the IRD box or downloaded to the coordinator 14. Similarly, the information of the program guide can be received through the decoder 16, from other inputs 20, from antennas 24 and / or through any other transmission medium (eg, dedicated twisted pair telephone line). Each of these sources can also receive television programming data within the signal transmitted by the service provider.

The coordinator 14 finds and classifies the program guide information available on the system 10. Various formats can be used for television programming information. For example, data packets comprising a sample header section and an information section may be received and classified with other more complex data packet formats, or a header may be added with source information. In a preferred embodiment, the coordinator 14 takes the scheduling information from the available source (s) or from a data entry line, and sorts / shuffles them. For example, the coordinator 14 can receive programming information through the vertical blanking interval on a television channel or through a transponder for DBS, or through the Internet, and then arrange the information in an organized manner, or perform other operations. . For example, the system can eliminate duplicate channels.

In an alternative arrangement, the sorting / shuffling of the schedule information is done at a separate location and then provided to the system 10, for example, on a single channel of

ES 2 397 738 T3 satellite. In this way, the scheduling information, which has already been shuffled, classified, organized, etc., is received in a format that is ready for viewing. This ready-for-immediate-display format can also be provided in a separate data stream, through a different medium or through a television channel.

Figure 2 is a simplified example of an on-screen display of a program schedule guide that has been assembled from information in the television guide. This display can be presented on a television screen, on a personal computer that directs the overall process, or on a television sensor display generated by a personal computer. In a preferred embodiment, after coordinator 14 has gathered and classified all available information from the programming guide, coordinator 14 generates the grid guide defined in Figure 2 for display on television 12 by, for example, a direct connection (not shown) to TV 12 or by overlay on one of the sources, such as cable source 16. In the preferred embodiment, the user views grill guide 40 by pressing a guide button on remote control 22. Coordinator 14 responds to the initial press of the guide button, automatically tuning to the channel or device that contains the grill guide. 40, or by overlaying a grid guide on the current broadcast. When the user is done with the grid guide 40, the user presses the guide button (or an exit button) again and the coordinator 14 (1) automatically returns to the last channel or source viewed by the user or (2) remove the overlay.

The grid guide, generally indicated by reference numeral 40, provides an alignment of all channels or a selection of channels 42 along with a description of the programs 44 available on those channels at certain times 46. For example, the network USA presents Batman starting at 2:00 pm A TELENOVELA is shown on NBC from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, followed by NEWS. The information can be classified and / or filtered, for example, by one or more topics, in accordance with US Patent No. 4,706 121 to Young et al.

When multiple sources are used to receive TV channels, channel overlap sometimes occurs. For example, a cable and a DBS can both carry the NBC network, but the cable can have NBC on channel 6 and DBS can have NBC on channel 7. By having the ability to remove and activate the channels displayed in the guide With grid 40, the user can determine whether to view one of the NBC channels, the two NBC channels, or neither of the NBC channels. In an alternative embodiment, coordinator 14 may automatically detect duplicate network names and remove one of the duplicates.

The user can use the remote control device to move a cursor or other indicator from one position to another on the grill guide. The cursor can be indicated, for example, by coloring the display of the indicated program differently from other programs. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the cursor is directed to Gone With the Wind and is indicated by hatching with dashes. In this particular case, the double marks on the left of the screen indicate that Gone With the Wind has been playing for some period of time already. Consequently, the user may want to know if the movie Gone With the Wind is shown at other times so that the user can automatically record the future presentation of Gone With the Wind, automatically tune in the subsequent broadcast of Gone With the Wind. Gone With the Wind, or just knowing that Gone With the Wind will air at a later time.

Accordingly, the user provides an input to the system to indicate that he would like to know what other times the program will be presented. This input can be provided, for example, by pressing a dedicated button on the remote control, or by dialing a program, toggling the cursor to a screen display button 48 At what other times, and pressing an OK button on the remote control. . Of course, a full keyboard will allow for more versatile operation.

In either case, the controller 14 searches the stored programming information for other events of that particular program. As used herein, the term "concrete program" refers to a specific movie or other unique program. For a series of shows (for example, The Cosby Show), the term particular show will refer to a specific segment or episode of that show. In the example in Figure 2, the system looks for other Gone With the Wind events and prompts the user if Gone With the Wind will replay, when and where. The particular program may or may not be re-broadcast on the same video source. Of course, a program can refer, for example, to an FM radio broadcast as well as a television program.

Figure 3 shows a possible result after pressing the button At what other times. As shown, the movie Gone with the Wind is airing on multiple future times. Specifically, it is currently being broadcast on HBO1, as the user will probably already know if they have entered this screen from a grid guide generated for the present. Also, the same channel broadcasts this movie at 11:00 pm on the same day. A different channel, HBO2, broadcasts this movie at 11:30 pm on the same day. In this particular illustration, HBO1 and HBO2 are provided to the user over the same television signal source (in this case, a cable service provider). Accordingly, the invention is seen to be useful even when only a single source of service is used. The utility of the invention is extended when multiple sources of signal signals are provided for

ES 2 397 738 T3 television. In this example, Gone with the Wind is also broadcast the following Wednesday at 4:00 pm on a DSS channel, as well as the following Friday on a conventional antenna network signal, NBC. Consequently, when a particular program is played at different times the user can use this information, even when the program is broadcast on different television signal sources.

Additional sources for the particular program (or information about the program) may be indicated. For example, in Figure 3 the guide indicates an internet source. Switching to this source can provide the user with a direct connection to the internet that will provide, for example, information about the program or the download of the complete program itself. Alternatively, advertising about the availability of the program may be provided in a video store (Blockbuster).

After identifying when a program is to be broadcast, the user can perform any of several operations. In a typical case, the user will move the cursor down to a specific program item, and press a record button on the remote control. The system will then tune the VCR to the appropriate program at the indicated time and record the program. In other embodiments, the user will mark the program for inclusion in a reminder list. When the time of the program arrives, the system will automatically tune to said program, or it will ask the user to determine if he wants the television to tune to that specific channel. In other cases, the user may use the information with the purpose of remembering that he wishes to return to television at that specific moment.

Figure 4 is an overall flow chart showing the operation of the invention in accordance with a specific embodiment. In most cases, the operation shown in Figure 4 is performed under the direction of software stored in a RAM, ROM, or other computer-readable or medium, such as memory 28. The data can be stored locally, on a computer-readable basis. external data, or a combination of both. In step 401, the system receives an input indicating that the user wishes to identify other items of a particular program. At step 402, the system searches for other items in the particular program starting at the present time. It should be recognized that the user may or may not be on a present weather screen, in a guide, when such input is provided. For example, the user may be browsing a list of action movies that has been generated based on a search by topic, and have the cursor on an item of a specific movie one week into the future. When the user activates the function In what other times, in most of the realizations the system will search all the items of this specific movie from the present time, not from the time of a week later. In this way the user can, for example, identify when a particular movie is scheduled in the immediately following hours, even though the user may have his or her greatest interest in a particular program based on a listing on a distant date.

In some embodiments, the sources stored in the guide information are searched to identify other items in a particular program. The search can be carried out locally or externally, and can be based on program identity fields, a term-based search, or a combination of both. After other items of said specific program have been identified, in step 404 a screen is generated that includes a list of the other items of the specific program. If none are identified, the screen may not contain any such listings, or it may specifically indicate to the user that no such listings have been identified.

Next, in step 406 the user can perform any of a wide variety of functions. Typically the user can scroll to an occurrence of the program, and press a record button, or otherwise select the program for recording. In other cases, the user can simply go back to the previous guide listing. In other cases, the user can move the cursor down to a program item and mark it so that a later reminder will be generated for the user when the time comes for that program item. In other embodiments, the system may memorize the request and, even if there are currently no other items for that particular program in the guide, provide prompts to the user when program items are added to the guide.

The above description is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a review of this disclosure. By way of example only, the invention has been illustrated primarily with respect to multi-source guidance systems, but the invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, the scope of the invention should not be determined by reference to the foregoing description, but by reference to the appended claims together with the full scope of their equivalents.