U.S. patent application number 10/791968 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for system for collecting television program data.
This patent application is currently assigned to United Video Properties, Inc.. Invention is credited to Hein, William, Keck, Connie S., Paul, Indraneel, Rector, Earl M. JR..
Application Number | 20040168186 10/791968 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25488231 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040168186 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rector, Earl M. JR. ; et
al. |
August 26, 2004 |
System for collecting television program data
Abstract
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.
Inventors: |
Rector, Earl M. JR.; (Tulsa,
OK) ; Hein, William; (Glenmore, PA) ; Keck,
Connie S.; (Tulsa, OK) ; Paul, Indraneel;
(Bixby, OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & NEAVE
1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
50TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10020-1105
US
|
Assignee: |
United Video Properties,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
25488231 |
Appl. No.: |
10/791968 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10791968 |
Mar 2, 2004 |
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09766566 |
Jan 19, 2001 |
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09766566 |
Jan 19, 2001 |
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08948760 |
Oct 10, 1997 |
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6209130 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/39 ;
725/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04H 60/66 20130101;
H04H 60/35 20130101; H04N 21/26283 20130101; H04H 60/79 20130101;
H04H 60/72 20130101; H04H 60/06 20130101; H04N 21/2665 20130101;
H04N 21/84 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/039 ;
725/044 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/445 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for constructing program schedules, the method
comprising: receiving program data from a remote source with a
television system office computer; automatically loading the
program data into cells of a program schedule grid displayed using
the television system office computer; and editing the program data
in response to personnel interacting with the program schedule grid
using the television system office computer.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving program data comprises
receiving program titles.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving program data comprises
receiving program summary information.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving program data comprises
receiving program running times.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving program data comprises
receiving program ratings.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving program data comprises
receiving program data over the Internet.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein editing the program data comprises
copying program data from a cell of the program schedule grid.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein editing the program data further
comprises pasting the copied program data into a second cell of the
program schedule grid.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein editing the program data comprises
deleting program data from a cell of the program schedule grid.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein editing the program data further
comprises undeleting the program data deleted from the cell of the
program schedule grid.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding program data to
a blank cell of the program schedule grid in response to the
personnel interacting with the program schedule grid using the
television system office computer.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising searching for program
data in the program schedule grid in response to the personnel
accessing a search function using the television system office
computer.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting display
preferences for the program schedule grid in accordance with inputs
received from the personnel using the television system office
computer.
14. A system for constructing program schedules, the system
comprising: means for receiving program data from a remote source
with a television system office computer; means for automatically
loading the program data into cells of a program schedule grid
displayed using the television system office computer; and means
for editing the program data in response to personnel interacting
with the program schedule grid using the television system office
computer.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for receiving program
data comprises means for receiving program titles.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for receiving program
data comprises means for receiving program summary information.
17. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for receiving program
data comprises means for receiving program running times.
18. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for receiving program
data comprises means for receiving program ratings.
19. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for receiving program
data comprises means for receiving program data over the
Internet.
20. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for editing the
program data comprises means for copying program data from a cell
of the program schedule grid.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the means for editing the
program data further comprises means for pasting the copied program
data into a second cell of the program schedule grid.
22. The system of claim 14 wherein the means for editing the
program data comprises deleting program data from a cell of the
program schedule grid.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the means for editing the
program data further comprises means for undeleting the program
data deleted from the cell of the program schedule grid.
24. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for adding
program data to a blank cell of the program schedule grid in
response to the personnel interacting with the program schedule
grid using the television system office computer.
25. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for searching
for program data in the program schedule grid in response to the
personnel accessing a search function using the television system
office computer.
26. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for setting
display preferences for the program schedule grid in accordance
with inputs received from the personnel using the television system
office computer.
27. Machine-readable media for use in constructing program
schedules, wherein the machine-readable media is encoded with
machine-readable instructions for performing the method comprising:
receiving program data from a remote source with a television
method office computer; automatically loading the program data into
cells of a program schedule grid displayed using the television
system office computer; and editing the program data in response to
personnel interacting with the program schedule grid using the
television system office computer.
28. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for receiving program data comprises
machine-readable instructions for receiving program titles.
29. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for receiving program data comprises
machine-readable instructions for receiving program summary
information.
30. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for receiving program data comprises
machine-readable instructions for receiving program running
times.
31. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for receiving program data comprises
machine-readable instructions for receiving program ratings.
32. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for receiving program data comprises
machine-readable instructions for receiving program data over the
Internet.
33. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for editing the program data
comprises machine-readable instructions for copying program data
from a cell of the program schedule grid.
34. The machine-readable media defined in claim 33 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for editing the program data further
comprises machine-readable instructions for pasting the copied
program data into a second cell of the program schedule grid.
35. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for editing the program data
comprises machine-readable instructions for deleting program data
from a cell of the program schedule grid.
36. The machine-readable media defined in claim 35 wherein the
machine-readable instructions for editing the program data further
comprises machine-readable instructions for undeleting the program
data deleted from the cell of the program schedule grid.
37. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 further encoded
with machine-readable instructions for adding program data to a
blank cell of the program schedule grid in response to the
personnel interacting with the program schedule grid using the
television system office computer.
38. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 further encoded
with machine-readable instructions for searching for program data
in the program schedule grid in response to the personnel accessing
a search function using the television system office computer.
39. The machine-readable media defined in claim 27 further encoded
with machine-readable instructions for setting display preferences
for the program schedule grid in accordance with inputs received
from the personnel using the television system office computer.
40. A system for constructing program schedules, the system
comprising: a television system office computer configured to
provide a program grid schedule grid, the program schedule grid
having cells for automatically loading program data received by the
television system office computer from a remote source, wherein the
television system office computer is further configured to edit the
program data in response to personnel interacting with the program
schedule grid using the television system office computer.
41. The system of claim 40 wherein the program data received by the
television system office computer comprises program titles.
42. The system of claim 40 wherein the program data received by the
television system office computer comprises program summary
information.
43. The system of claim 40 wherein the program data received by the
television system office computer comprises program running
times.
44. The system of claim 40 wherein the program data received by the
television system office computer comprises program ratings.
45. The system of claim 40 wherein the program data received by the
television system office computer comprises program data over the
Internet.
46. The system of claim 40 wherein the television system computer
is configured to edit the program data by copying program data from
a cell of the program schedule grid.
47. The system of claim 46 wherein the television system computer
is configured to edit the program data by pasting the copied
program data into a second cell of the program schedule grid.
48. The system of claim 40 wherein the television system computer
is configured to edit the program data by deleting program data
from a cell of the program schedule grid.
49. The system of claim 48 wherein the television system computer
is configured to edit the program data by undeleting the program
data deleted from the cell of the program schedule grid.
50. The system of claim 40 wherein the television system computer
is further configured to add program data to a blank cell of the
program schedule grid in response to the personnel interacting with
the program schedule grid using the television system office
computer.
51. The system of claim 40 wherein the television system computer
is further configured to search for program data in the program
schedule grid in response to the personnel accessing a search
function using the television system office computer.
52. The system of claim 40 wherein the television system computer
is further configured to set display preferences for the program
schedule grid in accordance with inputs received from the personnel
using the television system office computer.
Description
[0001] This invention is a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/766,566, filed on Jan. 19, 2001, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/948,760, filed
on Oct. 10, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,130, all of which are
hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to collecting television program data
from television systems.
[0003] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide
viewers with a large number of television channels. Users have
traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to
determine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. More
recently, various passive and interactive television program guides
have been developed that allow television program information to be
displayed on a user's television.
[0004] For example, a passive program guide may be provided in the
form of a continuously scrolling list of television program
listings. Such a guide is typically provided on a dedicated
television channel. A user can consult the scrolling listings by
tuning to that channel.
[0005] Interactive program guides allow a user to navigate through
television program listings using a remote control. Television
listings are typically organized in a grid in which each row
contains television program listings for a different channel and
each column corresponds to a different scheduled broadcast time.
The user can scroll up or down to view program listings for
different channels or may pan left or right to view information
about programs being broadcast at different times. Various
navigational aids may be provided to help the user find program
listings of interest.
[0006] The distribution system for a passive guide typically uses
character generators located at cable system headends to generate
scrolling program listings. Because each cable system has a
different television program schedule, the character generators in
the headends of each cable system must be provided with customized
television program data. Such customized television program data is
typically transmitted to each headend via satellite.
[0007] Passive scrolling guides for satellite television systems
operate similarly. Television program data customized for the
channel lineup and program schedule of a satellite service may be
distributed on a dedicated satellite channel.
[0008] Interactive program guides are typically implemented on the
set-top boxes or satellite receivers of individual users. Each
set-top box or satellite receiver in a given cable or satellite
system must be provided with television program data that is
customized for that system. Typically, such program data is
transmitted via satellite to each cable system headend or satellite
distribution facility. The cable system headends and satellite
distribution facilities for each television system retransmit the
data to the users of that system using the vertical blanking
interval or side band of a television channel.
[0009] A provider of television program guide data typically
maintains a database of television program data such as program
titles, ratings, running times, program summaries, reviews, etc.
The data provider also must gather data concerning each television
system's particular schedule, including the channel lineup, the
programs scheduled for each channel and their scheduled broadcast
times, pay-per-view pricing and ordering information, etc. Such
data is gathered from a variety of sources, such as local
television stations, cable systems, satellite systems, national
networks, superstations, premium services, pay-per-view services,
etc., each of which may have their own schedule information. The
data provider customizes the program data for each television
system to which program data is distributed.
[0010] The process of collecting television program data from its
various sources is labor intensive. Television system personnel
typically fill out forms by hand and fax or mail this information
to the data provider. As a result, errors may be introduced into
the data. For example, there is the possibility that errors will be
introduced when forms are filled out improperly or when personnel
at the data provider make a mistake in transcribing the information
from the forms to the computer system at the data provider. Other
errors may result from ambiguities in the data (e.g., when two
programs share the same title). Resolving such ambiguities and
eliminating other potential errors is burdensome for the data
provider.
[0011] Moreover, there are personnel at the television system who
would like to be able use a reliable electronic version of the
schedule information contained in the forms. For example, personnel
who sell commercial air time need to know precisely how much time
is available for advertizing in various time slots.
[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved system for collecting television program data
for use in passive and interactive television program guides.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] This and other objects of the invention are accomplished in
accordance with the principles of the present invention by
providing a system for collecting schedules of television program
data at a main facility. The main facility creates customized sets
of program data. The customized sets of program data may be used by
various television distribution facilities, such as cable system
headends, satellite distribution facilities, and television
broadcast facilities and may also be used by video and print
distribution facilities. The main facility may distribute the
program data to the television distribution facilities via a
communications link such as a satellite link for use in passive or
interactive electronic television program guides. The main facility
may similarly distribute the program data to the video and print
distribution facilities (e.g., for use in a printed television
program guide). If desired, program data may include
system-specific information such as pay-per-view pricing
information, telephone numbers for pay-per-view ordering or other
services, etc.
[0014] The electronic data collection features of the system allow
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 performs real-time error checking of the program schedules
as they are constructed. For example, if the program schedule is
made up of a grid of program titles, the real-time error checking
may involve checking the grid for overlaps in adjacent grid cells,
duplicate titles in adjacent grid cells, or excessive time gaps
between grid cells.
[0015] Various editing tools may be used to facilitate program data
entry in the schedule grid. For example, a program list may be
provided that contains titles of television programs obtained from
the database of program data at the main facility. Personnel at a
television system office computer may select a desired title from
the program list. The selected title may be added to the program
schedule grid by clicking on an "add" button on the display screen
of the schedule construction editing tool. A corresponding "erase
cell" button may be provided for erasing a selected cell of program
data from the grid.
[0016] Summary information associated with a selected title in the
program list may be displayed in the program list for personnel
constructing the program schedule to review prior to adding the
selected title to the schedule. This prevents potentially erroneous
entries from being added to the list when two television programs
share the same title but are distinguishable based on their summary
information.
[0017] The system allows reports, such as ad trafficking reports,
to be generated based on the program schedules constructed at the
television system office computers. Television system office
personnel may use these reports when selling advertizing time,
making promotions, or performing other sales and marketing tasks
that involve the use of detailed program schedule information. If
desired, such ad trafficking reports may contain program summary
information obtained directly from the main facility database.
[0018] Further features of the invention, its nature and various
advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and
the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative
system in accordance with the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is an illustrative flow chart of steps involved in
the operation of the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an illustrative display screen that may be used to
construct a program schedule in accordance with the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is an illustrative program data entry screen for use
in constructing a program schedule containing pay-per-view
information in accordance with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is an illustrative flow chart of steps involved in
real-time error checking during the process of constructing a
program schedule in accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is an illustrative ad trafficking report generated by
the system of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] An illustrative system 10 in accordance with the present
invention is shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 12, which is typically
operated by a television program data provider, distributes program
data from program data database 14 to television distribution
facilities such as television distribution facility 16 of
television system 18 for use in passive and interactive television
program guides. If desired, the program data may also be used in
other services. Television distribution facility 16 may be a cable
system headend, a satellite television distribution facility, or a
broadcast distribution facility.
[0026] Each television system 18 (i.e., cable system, satellite
system, or broadcast system) distributes television programming
according to a different program schedule. Accordingly, each
television distribution facility 16 receives a set of television
program data that is customized for use in the program guide or
guides of its associated television system 18. Although there are a
number of television systems 18 associated with main facility 12,
only a single television system 18 is shown in its entirety in FIG.
1 to avoid over-complicating the drawings.
[0027] Program data is distributed from main facility 12 to
television distribution facility 16 via communications link 20.
Communications link 20 may be a satellite link, a telephone network
link, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, a combination
of such links, or any other suitable communications path. The
program data transmitted by main facility 12 to television
distribution facility 16 may include television program scheduled
broadcast times, channels, titles, summaries, reviews, ratings,
running times, pay-per-view ordering information such as
pay-per-view telephone ordering numbers, pay-per-view prices, and
any other suitable information related to television
programming.
[0028] A passive television program guide may be provided using
character generator equipment within television distribution
facility 16 to convert the customized program data for that
facility 16 into a scrolling guide of program listings. The
scrolling program listings are provided to the user television
equipment 24 of multiple users via communications paths 22.
Communications paths 22 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to
allow television distribution facility 16 to distribute television
programming to user television equipment 24. If desired, television
programming may be provided over separate communications paths (not
shown). If television distribution facility 16 is a cable system
headend, communications paths 22 may be coaxial cable and fiber
optic links. If television distribution facility 16 is a satellite
or broadcast distribution facility, communications paths 22 may be
free-space links between transmitter equipment in television
distribution facility 16 and receiver equipment in user equipment
24. Communications paths 22 may be used to provide a scrolling
guide of program listings to the users on a dedicated television
channel. Any type of user television equipment that contains a
standard television may be used to view such a passive guide.
[0029] An interactive television program guide may be provided by
redistributing the customized program data provided to television
distribution facility 16 from main facility 12 to the user
television equipment 24 of each user via communications paths 22.
Each user's television equipment 24 preferably includes a set-top
box, satellite receiver, or comparable equipment that executes an
interactive program guide application to provide the functions of
the interactive television program guide using the program
data.
[0030] Cable television systems, satellite television systems, and
broadcast television systems are collectively referred to herein as
television systems. Such television systems have associated
television system offices, each of which has a television system
office computer. For example, television system 18 has an
associated distribution facility office 26. Broadcast television
station office 32 is associated with a broadcast television system
that is not shown separately in FIG. 1. Distribution facility
office 26 has computer 28 and broadcast television station office
32 has computer 34. If desired, television system offices may be
located within their associated television distribution
facilities.
[0031] Personnel at distribution facility office 26 can link
computer 28 to database 14 of main facility 12 via data network 30.
Similarly, personnel at broadcast television station office 32 can
link computer 34 to database 14 via data network 30. Data network
30 may be the Internet, a telecommunications network such as a
telephone network, or any other suitable data communications
network. Computers 28 and 34 and one or more computers such as
computer 36 in main facility 12 execute communications
applications, editing applications, data processing applications,
and other suitable computer applications for implementing the
program data entry, editing, collecting, and processing functions
of the present invention.
[0032] Illustrative steps involved in the operation of system 10
are shown in FIG. 2. When personnel at a television system office
desire to construct a schedule of program data for submission to
main facility 12 (e.g., to report that television system's schedule
for the upcoming week or weeks), communications are established
between a television system office computer such as computer 28 or
computer 34 of FIG. 1 and a main facility computer such as computer
36 of FIG. 1 at step 38. The way in which communications are
established between the television system office computer and the
main facility computer depends on the type of communications
applications and communications hardware used in system 10. For
example, communications may be established using a pair of modems
that communicate directly over a telephone network. Data network 30
may use satellite communications. If desired, data network 30 may
be the Internet and the television system office computer may use a
web browser to communicate with a server implemented on the main
facility computer.
[0033] Regardless of the particular type of communications link
that is established at step 38, the communications link allows
personnel at the television system office to connect to the main
facility program data database. As a result, at step 40 personnel
at the television system office computer are able to construct a
program schedule for submission to the data provider by accessing
the database of the data provider directly, rather than by filling
out forms by hand and mailing or faxing them to the data provider
for transcription onto the main facility computer.
[0034] The schedule may be constructed by creating a new program
schedule (e.g., in the form of a blank grid) or may be created from
a preloaded schedule (e.g., in the form of a grid in which some of
the grid cells are already filled with program data). The term
"grid" refers to grids of all sizes including grids of single-cell
width, such as may be used when the television system involved is a
single-channel local television broadcast station that wishes to
supply its upcoming program schedule to the data provider.
[0035] Once such a grid or other suitable initialized program
schedule file has been created, schedule construction may proceed
using an editing application. Suitable editing applications may run
primarily on the television system office computer, primarily on
the main facility computer, or may run on both the television
system office computer and the main facility computer.
[0036] A display 44 of the type that may be provided on the
television system office computer during the program schedule
construction of step 40 is shown in FIG. 3. The features of display
44 are illustrative only. Any other suitable computer application
may be used to allow personnel to construct a schedule of program
data for submission to the main facility.
[0037] Display 44 provides a number of options in the form of
drop-down menu 46. File option 48 provides access to file
management functions such as for retrieving, saving, naming, and
printing program schedules. Edit option 50 provides access to
editing functions such as cut, paste, copy, delete, undelete,
program grid cell-size control, etc. Setup option 52 provides
access to system configuration functions such as general
preferences, display preferences, program data preloading
preferences, passwords, etc. Tools option 54 provides access to
functions such as pay-per-view data entry mode, report generation
functions, and miscellaneous functions. Search option 56 provides
access to searching functions such as theme or category searching
during data entry. Communications option 58 provides access to
communications functions such as communications preferences and
options for submitting completed program schedules to the data
provider at the main facility.
[0038] Various display modes may be used. In the display
arrangement for display 44 that is shown in FIG. 3, a program
schedule grid 60 is provided for entry and editing of program data.
Personnel may add data to a cell in grid 60 by typing in a desired
entry. In addition, personnel at the television system office
computer may place data in grid 60 by selecting an entry from
program list 62. Program list 62 preferably contains a list of
program titles and related program information that is obtained
directly from program data database 14 (FIG. 1) in the main
facility. Because such program data is obtained from the program
data database, program titles selected from program list 62 are
essentially error-free. Moreover, personnel at the television
system office computer may access program summary information,
running times, ratings, reviews, and other program data in the
database that would not otherwise be readily available to the
television system.
[0039] The cell of grid 60 into which program data for a given
program is to be placed may be selected by placing cursor 64 on top
of a desired cell and clicking once (e.g., using a mouse,
trackball, or other suitable pointing device). This preferably
causes a highlight such as highlight 66 to appear on grid 60
surrounding the selected cell. If a selected cell contains program
data, that program data may be erased by clicking on erase cell
option 68.
[0040] Program data such as program titles, summary information,
running times, ratings, star ratings, etc. may be added to the
selected cell by placing cursor 64 on top of a desired title in
program list 62 and clicking once. This preferably causes a
highlight 70 to appear over the desired title (and over any other
information that is contained adjacent to the title in program list
62). Clicking on add cell option 69 causes the highlighted program
title and other information to be added to the program schedule
grid cell under highlight 66. If desired, a program title may be
added to a given cell by double clicking on the desired title in
program list 62.
[0041] Display 44 preferably provides a summary information box 72
containing summary information (e.g., a movie synopsis, etc.) for
the program with the highlighted title in program list 62. This
reduces the possibility that errors will be introduced when two
programs share the same title, because the summary information in
box 72 may be reviewed by television system office personnel before
the final selection of that entry from list 62 is made.
[0042] Scroll buttons 74 and 76 and positioning button 78 may be
used to locate a desired title from list 62. In addition, a desired
title may be typed in using the keyboard of the television system
office computer. List 62 preferably allows titles to be located and
automatically displayed in the center of list 62 under highlight 70
by typing in the first few letters of a desired title or by typing
in the first few letters of a title and executing a search. Another
feature that may be used to located a desired program entry is the
search feature accessed through search option 56. Selecting
"search" from the drop-down menu associated with search option 56
allows desired categories (sports, movies, comedy, etc.) and
keywords to be entered to locate a desired entry in list 62. Once
the desired search parameters are defined, a search of database 14
(FIG. 1) is performed to find a program entry from list 62 that
matches the search parameters. Search results may be displayed in
the center of program list 62. Scroll buttons 80 and 82 and
positioning button 84 may be used to move among the various time
slots in grid 60.
[0043] Scroll buttons 86, 88, and positioning button 90 may be used
to move between different channels. A local broadcast television
station may have only one channel for which program data for the
schedule must be entered. A cable system or satellite system may
have 100 or more channels in their channel lineup, including
networks channels, local channels, premium channels, superstations,
pay-per-view channels, promotional channels, etc. Several features
may be used to facilitate the entry of program data for a large
number of channels. For example, because the program data entries
in some of the cells of program grid 60 do not change from week to
week, it may be desirable to start the process of constructing a
program schedule at step 40 using a copy of the program schedule
for an existing grid 60. Cells that require new entries may then be
updated.
[0044] Another option that may be used involves creating program
schedule grids 60 with preloaded program data. Because a cable or
satellite television system may not wish to make any changes to the
program schedule of a broadcast network that it carries, that
broadcast network's program schedule can be automatically preloaded
into an otherwise blank program grid 60 when a grid is constructed
at step 40. Schedules with preloaded programming data are provided
using database 14 of FIG. 1. Any suitable program data may be
preloaded. Configuration information concerning the channels and
time periods for which such preloading is desired may be entered
using setup option 52.
[0045] When pay-per-view information is entered during step 40, a
display arrangement such as pay-per-view data entry display 92 of
FIG. 4 may be used. The arrangement of display 92 helps personnel
at the television system office computer to add pay-per-view
program data to the cell of program grid 60 under highlight 66.
Display 92 may be invoked by selecting the pay-per-view data entry
mode under tools option 54 of FIG. 3. When display 92 is presented,
channel call letters or other information that identifies the
channel associated with the highlighted cell is preferably
automatically displayed in channel identifier box 94. The title for
the pay-per-view event may be typed into title box 96.
Alternatively, the title for the pay-per-view event may be selected
directly from database 14 (e.g., by typing the first few letters of
a desired title and searching, by scrolling through a list of
titles, etc.) and displayed in title box 96.
[0046] Titles may also be obtained from database 14 based on search
parameters such as the selectable movies and sports parameters 98
and 100. In the example of FIG. 4, movies parameter 98 has been
selected, as indicated by selection mark 102. To scroll through all
available program titles, the user removes the selection marks from
search parameters such as parameters 98 and 100 and clicks on arrow
104, whereupon a full list of the possible program entries from
database 14 is displayed.
[0047] Pricing information may be entered by typing directly in
price box 106 or by selecting from popular preloaded prices after
clicking on arrow 108. The phone number a subscriber is to use to
order the pay-per-view event is entered using phone number box 110.
Boxes 110a and 110 are preferably preloaded to provide a visual cue
that box 110 requires entry of a phone number and to save
keystrokes during data entry. Boxes 110c and 110d are sized
appropriately to accept a phone number. Done button 112 may be
clicked on when data entry using display 92 is complete.
[0048] The program data entries that are made during the schedule
construction of step 40 are preferably error checked in real time
using an application that performs steps such as the illustrative
error-checking steps shown in FIG. 5. At step 114, grid 60 is
checked for entries with running times that create overlaps between
adjacent cells. At step 116, grid 60 is checked for duplicate
entries in adjacent cells. Although such duplicate entries are
sometimes desired, the occurrence of duplicate entries is
preferably flagged, so as to avoid inadvertent duplicate entries.
At step 118, grid 60 is checked for gaps in programming. If
desired, gaps (periods of time with no programming) of any size may
be flagged. Alternatively, only gaps of substantial duration (e.g.,
six hours or more) may be flagged. At step 120, the program data of
grid 60 is checked for errors. For example, pay-per-view pricing
information may be checked to see if the price is within normal
limits. Typically such pricing information is checked to determine
if the price is a non-negative number and less than a predefined
upper price limit. Additional error-checking steps not shown in
FIG. 5 may also be performed.
[0049] Error-checking steps 114, 116, 118, and 120 may be
implemented using an error-checking application that is executed
concurrently with the application that supports the rest of the
schedule construction process. Suitable error-checking applications
may run primarily on the television system office computer,
primarily on the main facility computer, or may run on both the
television system office computer and the main facility computer.
Although shown as separate steps, the error-checking functions of
steps 114, 116, 118, and 120 are not necessarily mutually
exclusive. Moreover, although shown in a certain order in FIG. 5,
such error-checking steps may be performed in any desired order or
may be performed concurrently.
[0050] Upon completion of the program schedule construction of step
40, the program data for a television system may be submitted to
main facility 12 at step 134. Program data that was stored locally
on the television system office computer during program schedule
construction may be transmitted to the main facility database over
data network 30 (FIG. 1). Program data that was stored on the main
facility database during program schedule construction (e.g., in
the form of a web page on the main facility server) may be
submitted by sending commands to the main facility database
indicating that schedule construction is complete.
[0051] At step 136, the main facility assembles the program data
submitted in the program schedules of the various different
television systems and uses this information to update database 14.
For example, database 14 may be updated to reflect current schedule
information contained in the program schedule for a local broadcast
station that was submitted at step 134.
[0052] When sufficient program data has been collected from the
television systems that submit such data to generate complete sets
of program data for all of the channels in a television system's
lineup for an appropriate time period (e.g., for the next week),
main facility 12 forms a suitable customized set of next week's
program data for that television system and transmits this program
data to the appropriate television distribution facility 18 at step
138. The television distribution facility 18 may use the program
data from the main facility to provide a passive television program
guide or may retransmit the program data to user equipment 24 for
use in an interactive television program guide.
[0053] Another aspect of the invention involves the generation of
reports that can be used by marketing and sales personnel.
Personnel at a television system must typically sell advertizing
time, make promotions, and perform other sales and marketing tasks
based on the program schedule for that television system. The
program schedule for a given television system office to use in
generating ad trafficking reports may be based on program schedule
data stored locally by the television system office computer during
schedule construction. The program schedule for a given television
system office to use in generating ad trafficking reports may also
be based on program schedule data stored in the main facility
database (e.g., after the data has been collected from the various
television systems submitting such data). If the program schedule
data used to generate an ad trafficking report is stored locally,
the ad trafficking report may be generated at step 122 as soon as
the locally-stored data is finalized (see path 123 of FIG. 2). If
the program schedule data used to generate an ad trafficking report
is obtained from the main facility database, the ad trafficking
report may be generated at step 122 by accessing such data in the
main facility after the data has been collected from each
television system data source (see path 125).
[0054] An illustrative ad trafficking report 124 generated based on
the program schedule of a given television station is shown in FIG.
6. An ad trafficking report typically includes information
concerning the amount of advertizing time that the personnel at the
television station have available to sell for each given time
period. For example, in ad trafficking report 124, the number of
available advertizing minutes 126 is shown for each time period 128
and associated title 130. The amount of time available for sale may
depend on a variety of factors, such as the nominal running time of
the scheduled program, the amount of national advertising or local
advertising that is already committed for that slot, the amount of
public service announcement or station identification time required
for that slot, etc. Each of these factors may be used to generate
an ad trafficking report in step 122 of FIG. 2. Because the program
data needed to generate such a report is electronically available
to the television system office computer either locally or on
database 14, the television system office computer can perform the
calculations involved in generating ad trafficking report 124
rapidly without human intervention.
[0055] The television system office computer may incorporate
program data such as program summary information 132 into ad
trafficking report 124. Summary information 132, which may include
running times, ratings, category information, reviews, etc., may be
obtained from database 14. Providing such summary information in ad
trafficking report 124 allows television system sales or marketing
personnel to use the summary information in making advertising
sales, promotions, etc.
[0056] If desired, main facility 12 may distribute program data to
video or print facilities other than television distribution
facilities. For example, program data may be distributed to a print
facility for use in a program guide that is printed rather than
electronic.
[0057] The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of
this invention and various modifications can be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of
the invention.
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