U.S. patent application number 11/179410 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for interactive television program guide system having multiple devices within a household.
This patent application is currently assigned to United Video Properties, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ellis, Michael D., Lemmons, Thomas R., Thomas, William L..
Application Number | 20050251827 11/179410 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22238161 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050251827 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ellis, Michael D. ; et
al. |
November 10, 2005 |
Interactive television program guide system having multiple devices
within a household
Abstract
An interactive television program guide system based on multiple
user television equipment devices in a single household is
provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust
program guide settings with a given one of the interactive
television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of
the interactive television program guides so that the program guide
settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television
program guide are used by the other interactive television program
guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting
program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging
features, favorites features, parental control features, program
guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language
settings), etc. The operation of applications such as web browser
applications, home shopping applications, home banking
applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated.
Inventors: |
Ellis, Michael D.; (Boulder,
CO) ; Thomas, William L.; (Bixby, OK) ;
Lemmons, Thomas R.; (Sand Springs, OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & NEAVE IP GROUP
ROPES & GRAY LLP
1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS FL C3
NEW YORK
NY
10020-1105
US
|
Assignee: |
United Video Properties,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
22238161 |
Appl. No.: |
11/179410 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11179410 |
Jul 11, 2005 |
|
|
|
09356161 |
Jul 16, 1999 |
|
|
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60093292 |
Jul 17, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/47 ;
348/E5.103; 348/E5.105; 348/E7.05; 348/E7.061; 348/E7.071; 725/45;
725/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/163 20130101;
H04N 21/4751 20130101; H04N 21/44222 20130101; H04N 21/47214
20130101; H04N 21/4782 20130101; H04N 21/4753 20130101; H04N
21/43615 20130101; H04N 21/4786 20130101; H04N 21/4882 20130101;
H04N 21/4345 20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101; H04N 21/42204
20130101; H04N 21/4788 20130101; H04N 21/4532 20130101; H04N
21/4821 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N 21/4755 20130101; H04N
21/485 20130101; H04N 21/47815 20130101; H04N 21/84 20130101; H04N
7/106 20130101; H04N 21/4856 20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101; H04N
21/4227 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/047 ;
725/045; 725/046 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/445; G06F
003/00; G06F 013/00 |
Claims
1-94. (canceled)
95. A method for using an interactive television program guide
system based on a plurality of user television equipment devices
located in a single household on which a plurality of interactive
television program guides are accessible, wherein the user
television equipment devices are interconnected by communications
paths and wherein at least one of the television equipment devices
comprises a recording device, the method comprising: providing an
opportunity for a user to select a program for recording on a first
interactive television program guide associated with a first user
television equipment device, wherein the first user television
device is located at a first location in the household; and
recording the selected program on the recording device, wherein the
recording device is associated with a second user television
equipment device, and wherein the second user television equipment
device is located at a second location within the household that is
different from the first location.
96. The method of claim 95, wherein the recording device is a
videocassette recorder.
97. The method of claim 95, wherein the recording device is a
personal video recorder.
98. The method of claim 95, wherein the recording device is
associated with a second interactive television program guide.
99. The method of claim 95, further comprising: allowing the user
to select from a plurality of recording devices, wherein: each of
the plurality of recording devices is associated with at least one
of a plurality of user television equipment devices that are
located at locations within the household that are different from
the first location; and recording the selected program on the
selected recording device.
100. The method of claim 99, wherein at least one of the plurality
of recording devices is associated with an interactive television
program guide.
101. The method of claim 95, wherein one of the user television
equipment devices comprises a set-top box and at least a television
and the other user television equipment device comprises a
television but not a set-top box.
102. The method of claim 101, wherein the set-top box comprises an
embedded hard disk and wherein recording the selecting program
comprises using the hard disk.
103. The method of claim 95, wherein the selected program is
recorded at a future time.
104. The method of claim 95, wherein the selected program comprises
a series of programs.
105. An interactive television program guide system based on a
plurality of user television equipment devices located in a single
household on which a plurality of interactive television program
guides are accessible, wherein the user television equipment
devices are interconnected by communications paths and wherein at
least one of the television equipment devices comprises a recording
device, wherein: a first user television equipment device is
configured to provide a user with an opportunity to select a
program for recording on a first interactive television program
guide associated with the first user television equipment device,
wherein the first user television device is located at a first
location within the household; and a second user television device
is configured to record the selected program on the recording
device, wherein the recording device is associated with the second
user television equipment device and wherein the second user
television device is located at a second location in the household
that is different from the first location.
106. The system of claim 105, wherein the recording device is a
videocassette recorder.
107. The system of claim 105, wherein the recording device is a
personal video recorder.
108. The system of claim 105, wherein the recording device is
associated with a second interactive television program guide.
109. The system of claim 105, wherein: the first interactive
television progam guide is configured to allow the user to select
from a plurality of recording devices, wherein each of the
plurality of recording devices is associated with at least one of a
plurality of user television equipment devices that are in
locations in the household that are different from the first
location.
110. The system of claim 109 wherein at least one of the plurality
of recording devices is associated with an interactive television
program guide.
111. The system of claim 105, wherein one of the user television
equipment devices comprises a set-top box and at least a television
and the other user television equipment device comprises a
television but not a set-top box.
112. The system of claim 111, wherein the set-top box comprises an
embedded hard disk and wherein the second user television device is
configured to record the selected program using the hard disk.
113. The system of claim 105, wherein the selected program is
recorded at a future time.
114. The system of claim 105, wherein the selected program
comprises a series of programs.
115. Machine-readable media for using an interactive television
program guide system based on a plurality of user television
equipment devices located in a single household on which a
plurality of interactive television program guides are accessible,
wherein the user television equipment devices are interconnected by
communications paths and wherein at least one of the television
equipment devices comprises a recording device, the
machine-readable media comprising machine-readable instructions
encoded thereon for: providing an opportunity for a user to select
a program for recording on a first interactive television program
guide associated with a first user television equipment device,
wherein the first user television device is located at a first
location in the household; and recording the selected program on
the recording device, wherein the recording device is associated
with a second user television equipment device, and wherein the
second user television equipment device is located at a second
location within the household that is different from the first
location.
116. The machine-readable media of claim 95, wherein the recording
device is a videocassette recorder.
117. The machine-readable media of claim 95, wherein the recording
device is a personal video recorder.
118. The machine-readable media of claim 95, wherein the recording
device is associated with a second interactive television program
guide.
119. The machine-readable media of claim 95, further comprising
machine-readable instructions recorded thereon for: allowing the
user to select from a plurality of recording devices, wherein: each
of the plurality of recording devices is associated with at least
one of a plurality of user television equipment devices that are
located at locations within the household that are different from
the first location; and recording the selected program on the
selected recording device.
120. The machine-readable media of claim 99, wherein at least one
of the plurality of recording devices is associated with an
interactive television program guide.
121. The machine-readable media of claim 95, wherein one of the
user television equipment devices comprises a set-top box and at
least a television and the other user television equipment device
comprises a television but not a set-top box.
122. The machine-readable media of claim 101, wherein the set-top
box comprises an embedded hard disk and wherein recording the
selecting program comprises using the hard disk.
123. The machine-readable media of claim 95, wherein the selected
program is recorded at a future time.
124. The machine-readable media of claim 95, wherein the selected
program comprises a series of programs.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application No. 60/093,292, filed Jul. 17, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to interactive television program
guides, and more particularly, to techniques for providing
interactive television program guide functionality on multiple
devices within a household.
[0003] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide
viewers with a large number of television channels. Viewers have
traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to
determine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. More
recently, interactive electronic television program guides have
been developed that allow television program information to be
displayed on a viewer's television.
[0004] Interactive television program guides are typically
implemented on set-top boxes. Such programs guides allow users to
view television program listings in different display formats. For
example, a user may instruct the program guide to display a grid of
program listings organized in a channel-ordered or a time-ordered
list. Users may also search or sort program listings by theme
(e.g., movies, sports, etc.) or by title (i.e., alphabetically). A
user may obtain additional information for a program by placing a
highlight region on a desired program listing and pressing an
"info" button.
[0005] Households with children are concerned with protecting
children from the potentially objectionable adult content contained
in the broad range of programs that are currently available. Some
program guides allow users to block channels or programs using a
parental control function. For example, a user may instruct the
program guide to block access to channels that provide adult
programs. A user must enter a password to regain access to such
adult channels.
[0006] Another feature available on some program guides is the
ability for the cable operator to send messages such as billing
information to the user. A user may also have the ability to set
reminders that will alert the user when a preselected program is
about to begin or that will automatically tune the user's set-top
box to the channel of the preselected program when the program is
about to begin. A user may have the ability to establish a list of
favorite channels. All of these program guide settings and features
are specific to the user's set-top box.
[0007] Families often have multiple televisions and set-top boxes
placed throughout the household. A family's household even may
include multiple homes. Because there is no coordination between
the program guides running on each of the various set-top boxes in
the household, if a user adjusts the settings for a program guide
on one set-top box, these settings are not communicated to the
program guides on any of the other set-top boxes in the household.
If a parent wants to restrict access to certain channels on all the
televisions in the household, the parent must adjust the parental
control settings on each set-top box individually. Reminders and
favorite channel settings must similarly be set for each program
guide separately if a user desires to have such settings be in
effect throughout the household. Messages sent from the cable
operator can only be sent to a particular set-top box. Some cable
system subscriber management systems can allow a cable operator to
manage all cable boxes within a home (i.e. manage billing for
individual locations within a home). However, such systems do not
allow user interaction with the cable operator.
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a program guide system that allows a user to adjust to the
user settings of a plurality of program guides at different
locations within a household from a single location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] These and other objects of the present invention are
accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present
invention by providing an interactive television program guide
system for a household in which multiple interactive television
program guides within the household are coordinated. In a typical
system, various users in the household use various pieces of user
television equipment (also called user television equipment
devices). An interactive television program guide is implemented on
each piece of user television equipment. Typical user television
equipment may be a set-top box on which a program guide application
and non-program-guide applications run, a videocassette recorder
connected to the set-top box for recording television programs, and
a television on which the program guide application may display
various program guide display screens and the non-program-guide
applications may display various non-program-guide display screens.
Other suitable types of user television equipment may be based on
personal computer televisions (PC/TVs) or advanced television
receivers such as high-definition television (HDTV) receivers.
[0010] Each piece of user television equipment may be located in a
different part of the home. For example, one piece of equipment may
be located in the parents' bedroom. Another piece of equipment may
be located in a child's bedroom. Additional pieces of equipment may
be located in a family room, kitchen, living room, etc.
[0011] Typical program guide features that may be provided by the
program guides of this invention implemented on the user television
equipment 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., video display settings, language settings, etc.), and other
suitable program guide features. The system coordinates operation
of the program guides so that, for example, a user may adjust his
favorite channel settings on a program guide operating in the
living room and those settings will be effective on the program
guide operating in the master bedroom and may therefore be used by
that program guide.
[0012] A parent may adjust parental control settings using the
program guide in the parents' room and the system may apply those
settings to all program guides in the household. Parents may use
the parental control feature to control the viewing of their
children even though the children may be viewing television using
multiple user television equipment devices. For example, parents
may establish parental controls to lock various programs and
services from a master location and the system will apply these
parental controls to the various pieces of user television
equipment throughout the household. The ability to establish
favorite channels, to set reminders, and to control other program
guide settings at one location and to have those settings applied
to multiple locations throughout the household may be used by both
the parents and their children.
[0013] A user may adjust his favorite settings on a program guide
in the family room and may direct the system to apply those
settings to the program guides in the family room and the living
room. A child may set reminders for certain programs using the
program guide in the family room and may direct the system to apply
those settings only to the program guide running in that child's
bedroom. A user may select a program for recording using a program
guide in the living room and may request that the videocassette
recorder in the family room be used to record the selected program.
A user may receive messages from a cable system operator and may
direct the system to make certain types of those messages available
to the program guide located in all rooms but the children's room.
A user may adjust language or audio settings using one program
guide and have those settings apply globally.
[0014] As these examples serve to illustrate, the settings for any
suitable program guide features may be adjusted using the program
guide at one location in a household and applied by the system to
selected other program guides in the household.
[0015] The program guides may be linked using any suitable
topologies and communication protocols. For example, the various
pieces of user television equipment may be interconnected using a
tree, bus or ring topology. One piece of user television equipment
may be designated as a primary device and other pieces of user
television equipment may be designated as secondary devices. The
primary and secondary devices may be connected in a star
arrangement. A remote server may be used to implement certain
program guide features and the pieces of user television equipment
in the home may act as clients.
[0016] If desired, non-program-guide applications may be
implemented on the user television equipment. Such
non-program-guide applications may include, for example, a web
browser application, a home shopping application, a game
application, an e-mail application, a chat application, a banking
application, etc. These applications may be implemented on a
set-top box within the user television equipment. The user may
adjust the settings of such a non-program-guide application at one
set-top box. The system coordinates the operation of the various
set-top boxes so that the adjusted settings may be used by similar
applications running on other set-top boxes in the household.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an interactive television program
guide system in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of steps involved in adjusting user
settings and applying those adjustments to desired locations in
accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a system in which multiple
interactive television program guides are implemented in a star
configuration accordance with the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4a is a diagram of a system in which multiple
interactive television program guides are implemented in a tree
configuration in accordance with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 4b is a diagram of a system in which multiple
interactive television program guides are implemented in a ring
configuration in accordance with the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4c is a diagram of a system in which multiple
interactive television program guides are implemented in a bus
configuration in accordance with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram of another system in which multiple
interactive television program guides are implemented in a
client-server configuration in accordance with the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a system in which multiple
interactive television program guides are implemented in a
client-server configuration and in which the set-top-box acts as
the server in accordance with the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 7a is a diagram of a system similar to the system of
FIG. 1 in which multiple interactive television program guides are
implemented in a neighborhood node configuration in accordance with
the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7b is a diagram of a system similar to the system of
FIG. 1 showing how servers may be located at network nodes in
accordance with the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 7c is a diagram of a system similar to the system of
FIG. 1 showing how homes may be connected by modem links in
accordance with the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 7d is a diagram of a system similar to the system of
FIG. 1 showing how homes may be connected via a server in
accordance with the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a system in which multiple
interactive television program guides are implemented and in which
each such guide uses a real-time communications device connected to
the Internet in accordance with the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a system in which multiple
interactive television program guides are implemented with an
occasional return path communications device in accordance with the
present invention.
[0031] FIG. 10 is a diagram of illustrative user television
equipment with an optional data input device in accordance with the
present invention.
[0032] FIG. 11 is a depiction of an illustrative location selection
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 12 is a depiction of an illustrative main menu screen
in accordance with the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 13 is a depiction of another illustrative location
selection screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an
illustrative approach for selecting a location for which to adjust
settings in accordance with the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 15 is a depiction of an illustrative parental control
password screen and an illustrative corresponding parental control
access denied screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 16 is a diagram of an illustrative parental control
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an
illustrative approach for applying parental controls in accordance
with the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 18a is a depiction of an illustrative parental controls
set channels screen in which selected channels are blocked in
accordance with the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 18b is a depiction of an illustrative parental controls
set channels screen in which selected channels are hidden in
accordance with the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 19 is a depiction of an illustrative monitor viewing
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 20 is a depiction of an illustrative browse screen in
accordance with the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 21 is a depiction of an illustrative set reminder
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 22 is a depiction of an illustrative select reminder
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing steps involved in an
illustrative approach for setting and selecting a reminder in
accordance with the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 24 is a depiction of an illustrative favorite channels
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 25 is a depiction of an illustrative set recording
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 26 is a depiction of an illustrative pay-per-view
movies screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 27 is a depiction of an illustrative pay-per-view
select start time screen in accordance with the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 28 is a depiction of an illustrative messages receiving
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 29 is a depiction of an illustrative messages sending
(user entered) screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 30 is a depiction of an illustrative messages sending
(pre-set) screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0053] FIG. 31 is a depiction of an illustrative setup screen in
accordance with the present invention.
[0054] FIG. 32 is a depiction of an illustrative setup language
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 33 is a depiction of an illustrative setup audio screen
in accordance with the present invention.
[0056] FIG. 34 is a depiction of an illustrative Internet browser
screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0057] FIG. 35 is a depiction of an illustrative shopping data
entry screen in accordance with the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 36 is a depiction of an illustrative stock ticker data
entry screen in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0059] An illustrative program guide system 30 in accordance with
the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 32 contains
a program guide database 34 for storing program guide information
such as television program guide program listings data,
pay-per-view ordering information, television program promotional
information, etc. Information from database 34 may be transmitted
to multiple television distribution facilities such as television
distribution facility 38 via communications links such as
communications link 40. Only one such television distribution
facility 38 and one communications link 40 are shown in FIG. 1 to
avoid over-complicating the drawings. Link 40 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. If it is desired to transmit video signals
(e.g., for advertising and promotional videos) over link 40 in
addition to data signals, a relatively high bandwidth link such as
a satellite link is generally preferable to a relatively low
bandwidth link such as a telephone line.
[0060] Television distribution facility 38 is a facility for
distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system
headend, a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite
television distribution facility or the like.
[0061] The program guide information transmitted by main facility
32 to television distribution facility 38 includes television
program listings data such as program times, channels, titles,
descriptions, etc. Transmitted program guide information may also
include pay program data such as pricing information for individual
programs and subscription channels, time windows for ordering
programs and channels, telephone numbers for placing orders that
cannot be impulse ordered, etc. If desired, some of the program
guide and advertising information may be provided using data
sources at facilities other than main facility 32. For example,
data related to pay program order processing (e.g., billing data
and the like) may be generated by an order processing and billing
system that is separate from main facility 32 and separate from
television distribution facility 38. Similarly, advertising
information may be generated by an advertising facility that is
separate from main facility 32 and television distribution facility
38.
[0062] A server 42 may be provided in television distribution
facility 38 for handling data distribution tasks and for storing
local information. If desired, server 42 may be used to implement a
client-server based interactive television program guide system. In
such a system, client functions may be performed at user television
equipment 44. Server 42 may be capable of handling text, graphics,
and video.
[0063] Television distribution facility 38 distributes program
guide and advertising information to the user television equipment
44 of multiple users via communications paths 46. Program guide
data and other information may be distributed over an out-of-band
channel on paths 46 or using any other suitable distribution
technique.
[0064] Each user has a receiver, which is typically a set-top box
such as set-top box 48, but which may be other suitable television
equipment into which circuitry similar to set-top-box circuitry has
been integrated. If desired, user television equipment 44 may be an
advanced television receiver or a personal computer television
(PC/TV). For purposes of illustration, the present invention will
generally be described in connection with user television equipment
based on a set-top box arrangement. Program guide data may be
distributed to set-top boxes 48 periodically and stored or may be
distributed continuously and handled "on the fly.", or by request.
Television distribution facility 38 may poll set-top boxes 48
periodically for certain information (e.g., pay program account
information or information regarding programs that have been
purchased and viewed using locally-generated authorization
techniques). Main facility 32 preferably contains a processor to
handle information distribution tasks. Each set-top box 48
preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated with
implementing a program guide application on the set-top box 48.
Television distribution facility 38 may contain a processor for
tasks associated with implementing server 42 and for handling tasks
associated with the distribution of program guide and other
information.
[0065] Each set-top box 48 is may connected to an optional
videocassette recorder 50 or other suitable recording device (e.g.,
digital storage device) so that selected television programs may be
recorded. Each videocassette recorder 50 may be connected to a
television 52. To record a program, set-top box 48 tunes to a
particular channel and sends control signals to videocassette
recorder 50 (e.g., using an infrared transmitter) that direct
videocassette recorder 50 to start and stop recording at the
appropriate times.
[0066] During use of the interactive television program guide
implemented on set-top box 48, television program listings may be
displayed on television 52. Each set-top box 48, videocassette
recorder 50, and television 52 may be controlled by one or more
remote controls 54 or any other suitable user input interface such
as a wireless keyboard, mouse, trackball, dedicated set of buttons,
etc.
[0067] Communications paths 46 preferably have sufficient bandwidth
to allow television distribution facility 38 to distribute
scheduled television programming, pay programming, advertising and
other promotional videos, and other video information to set-top
boxes 44 in addition to non-video program guide data. Multiple
television and audio channels (analog, digital, or both analog and
digital) may be provided to set-top boxes 48 via communications
paths 46. If desired, program listings and other information may be
distributed by one or more distribution facilities that are similar
to but separate from television distribution facility 38 using
communications paths that are separate from communications paths
46.
[0068] Certain functions such as pay program purchasing may require
set-top boxes 48 to transmit data to television distribution
facility 38 over communications paths 46. If desired, such data may
be transmitted over telephone lines or other separate
communications paths. If functions such as these are provided using
facilities separate from television distribution facility 38, some
of the communications involving set-top boxes 48 may be made
directly with the separate facilities.
[0069] The present invention involves the distribution of user
program guide settings to multiple program guide locations within a
household. Such a household may contain multiple pieces of user
television equipment. A program guide may be implemented on each
piece of user television equipment. An illustrative process for
distributing such settings is shown in FIG. 2. At step 500, a first
program guide provides the user with an opportunity to adjust
program guide settings (e.g., program guide settings for user
profiles, favorites, parental controls, reminders, recording
options, pay-per-view options, message options, or other setup
functions). At step 510, the system coordinates the operation of
the multiple interactive television program guides so that the
program guide settings that were adjusted with the first
interactive television program guide are effective on a second
interactive television program guide and may be used by that second
interactive television program guide.
[0070] The steps of FIG. 2 are preferably performed using program
guides as the program guides implemented on set-top boxes 48 of
FIG. 1. Certain program guide functions (particularly the display
of graphics or videos) may involve the use of resources located at
main facility 32 and television distribution facility 38 and other
such facilities. If desired, some of the steps of FIG. 2 may be
performed using an application running on set-top boxes 48 other
than the interactive program guide. For clarity, the principles of
the invention are described in the context of an arrangement in
which the set-top-based steps of FIG. 2 are performed primarily
using an interactive television program guide.
[0071] FIGS. 3, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5, and 6 show various illustrative
topologies for configuring multiple program guides within a
household.
[0072] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative arrangement for interconnecting
various user television equipment devices in accordance with the
present invention. Primary user television equipment 60 may be
connected to secondary user television equipment 61, secondary user
television equipment 62, and secondary user television equipment 63
via communication paths 64. Communications paths 64 may be any
suitable communications path for in-home network, such as twisted
pair lines, Ethernet links, fiber optics, power lines,
radio-frequency (RF) links, infrared (IR) and links other wireless
links, firewire (IEEE 1394) paths, dedicated cables, etc. As shown,
one or more pieces of secondary user television equipment may be
connected to primary user television equipment 60 in a star
configuration if desired. User television equipment devices are
typically located in different rooms within home 65. For example,
primary user television equipment 60 may be placed in the parents'
bedroom, secondary user television equipment 61 may be placed in
the children's room, secondary user television equipment 62 may be
placed in a living room, and secondary user television equipment 63
may be placed in a guest room. With such an arrangement, the
parents' bedroom may be used as a master location to adjust user
settings for the program guides on the user television equipment in
the children's room and the other rooms.
[0073] FIG. 4a shows an illustrative tree configuration in which
each piece of user television equipment is interconnected with
another along a single path. User television equipment 66, 67, 68,
and 69 of FIG. 4 are connected to each of the others via
communications paths 70. Communications paths 70 may be any
suitable communications path for in-home network, such as twisted
pair lines, Ethernet links, fiber optics, power lines,
radio-frequency (RF) links, infrared (IR) and links other wireless
links, firewire (IEEE 1394) paths, dedicated cables, etc. Two or
more pieces of user television equipment may be connected in this
way. The equipment mentioned above may be placed in various rooms
within home 65. For example, user television equipment 66 may be
placed in a parents' bedroom, user television equipment 67 may be
placed in a children's room, user television equipment 68 may be
placed in a living room, user television equipment 69 may be placed
in a guest room. With the arrangement of FIG. 4a, each piece of
user television equipment in home 65 may communicate with each
other piece of user television equipment in home 65 over
communications paths 70. FIG. 4a shows the system connected in a
tree topology. If desired, this level of interconnectivity may be
achieved using communications paths that are arranged in a ring
configuration (FIG. 4b), bus configuration (FIG. 4c) or other
suitable topology. Any of these topologies may use the types of
communications paths described in connection with the arrangement
of FIG. 4a.
[0074] FIG. 5 shows an illustrative configuration based on a
client-server architecture. Server 80 may be connected to user
television equipment 81, 82, and 83 via communication paths 85.
Equipment 81, 82, and 83 and server 80 may be placed in various
rooms within home 65. For example, server 80 may be placed in a
den, user television equipment 81 may be placed in a children's
room, user television equipment may be placed in a living room,
user television equipment 83 may be placed in a parents' room.
Communication paths 85 may be any in-home network suitable to
transmit video, audio and data, such as dedicated cable fiber
optics, firewire links, RF links, etc. As, in the examples of FIGS.
4a, 4b, and 4c, different communications path arrangements such as
buses, rings and the like, may be used to interconnect user
television equipment based on a client-server architecture.
[0075] FIG. 6 shows an illustrative configuration based on a single
set-top box. Set-top box 90 is connected to optional videocassette
recorders 91 and televisions 94, 96, and 98 via communication paths
99. Optional videocassette recorder 91 is in turn connected to
televisions 92. If desired, any combination of televisions with or
without videocassette recorders and televisions may be connected in
a similar manner. The set-top box, videocassette recorders and
televisions of FIG. 6 may be placed in rooms within home 65. For
example, set top box 90, videocassette recorder 91 and television
92 may be placed in a parent's bedroom, television 94 may be placed
in a children's room, and television 96 may be placed in a living
room, and television 98 may be placed in a guest room.
Communication paths 99 may be any in-home network paths suitable
for transmitting video, audio and data, such as, dedicated cable,
fiber optics or firewire links.
[0076] FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c, 8, and 9 show illustrative configurations
for the connection between the home and the television distribution
facility. Only one user television equipment device is shown in the
households in FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c, 8, and 9 to avoid over-complicating
the drawings. However, each household 65, 101, 102, 103, 104, 301,
302 in FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c, 8, and 9 may contain multiple pieces of
user television equipment configured as shown in FIGS. 3, 4a, 4b,
4c, 5, or 6.
[0077] FIG. 7a shows an illustrative configuration in which
multiple homes are handled by a common server. Server 105 may be
located at central facility 100. Central facility 100 may be a
private home, a commercial building, a network node, or other
suitable structure that may be connected to a plurality of homes.
In the example of FIG. 7a, server 105 is connected to user
television equipment 106, 107, 108, and 109 that is located in
homes 101, 102, 103, and 104, respectively via communication paths
700. When multiple user television equipment devices exist within a
home as shown by devices 109a and 109b, each user television
equipment device may communicate with the server 105 independently
via communication paths 700, alternatively only one device may
communicate while the other communicates via a home network. In
other words, in alternative arrangements, there are either 1)
multiple connections to an outside server and each user television
equipment device communicates with the server independently with no
need for an in-home network, or, 2) only one connection to an
outside server and each user television device communicates with
each other through an in-home network.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 7b, the capabilities of server 42 (FIG. 1)
may be provided using servers 56 located at network nodes 58.
Servers such as servers 56 may be used instead of server 42 or may
be used in conjunction with a server 42 located at television
distribution facility 38.
[0079] Graphics information for messages, advertisements and the
like may be downloaded periodically (e.g., once per day) to set-top
boxes 48 of FIG. 1 and stored locally. The graphics information may
be accessed locally when needed by the program guides implemented
on set-top boxes 48. Graphics information may also be provided in a
continuously-looped arrangement on one or more digital channels on
paths 46. With such a continuously-looped arrangement, a map
indicating the location of the latest graphics information may be
downloaded periodically to set-top boxes 48 (e.g., once per day) or
continuously. This allows the content on the digital channels to be
updated. The program guides on set-top boxes 48 may use the map to
locate desired graphics information on the digital channels.
Another approach involves using a server such as server 42 or
servers 56 (FIG. 7b) to provide the graphics information after a
set-top box 48 and that server have negotiated to set up a download
operation. A bitmap or other suitable set of graphics information
may then be downloaded from the server to the set-top box. If
desired, the server may download instructions informing the set-top
box where the desired graphics information can be located on a
particular digital channel. The graphics information can be updated
periodically if the server that is responsible for downloading the
instructions for informing the set-top box of the location of the
graphics information is also updated periodically.
[0080] Text information for messages, advertisements and the like
may be provided to set-top boxes 48 using the same paths that are
used for distributing program guide data. For example, advertising
data from database 36 of FIG. 1 may be provided to set-top boxes 48
using link 40, television distribution facility 38, and paths 46.
The text information may be stored locally in set-top boxes 48 and
updated periodically (e.g., once per day).
[0081] Text information, graphics information, and videos for
messages, advertisements and the like may also be distributed using
a combination of these techniques or any other suitable
technique.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 7c, when a household has more than one
home, the user television equipment in each home may be connected
by modem link or other suitable link for transferring data between
homes. For example, user television equipment 403 may be connected
to user television equipment 404 via link 405. Link 405 may use
internal or external modems, cable modems or other communications
devices suitable for transmitting audio, video, and text data. In
this manner, home 401 and home 402 may share program guide
settings.
[0083] As shown in FIG. 7d, when a household has more than one
home, the user television equipment in each home may be connected
via an outside server. For example, user television equipment 413
may be connected to user television equipment 414 via server 410.
Communication paths 415 may use internal or external modems, cable
modems or other communications devices suitable for transmitting
audio, video, and text data. In this manner, home 411 and home 412
may share program guide settings.
[0084] FIG. 8 shows an illustrative configuration in which a server
is connected to the home via the Internet. Set top boxes 122 are
connected to the Internet 110 or other suitable data network in
real time using real-time communications devices 121. Videocassette
recorders 123 may be connected between set-top boxes 122 and
televisions 124. Real-time communications devices 121 may be any
devices suitable for maintaining a constant open connection with
network 110, such as internal or external modems, cable modem, or
the like. The network used to connect homes to television
distribution facility 38 may be any network suitable for
distributing video and audio data such as the Internet. Network 110
is connected to television distribution facility 38 by
communications link 115 and is connected to real-time
communications device 121 by communications links 120.
[0085] FIG. 9 shows an illustrative configuration in which user
television equipment is linked to a server outside the home via an
occasional return path. Set top box 132 is connected to occasional
return path communications device 130 and videocassette recorder
134. Videocassette recorder 134 may be connected to television 136.
Occasional return path communications device 130 may be any device
suitable for connecting set-top box 132 to a server for the
transfer of video and audio data, such as an internal or external
modem, cable modem, or the like. Occasional return path
communications device 130 server 42 which may or may not be
connected to television distribution facility 38 using a
communications path 131. Communications path 131 may be, for
example, a telephone link or other non-dedicated communications
path suitable for providing an occasional return path to home 65
from server 42.
[0086] FIG. 10 shows illustrative components for user television
equipment 44 (FIG. 1). In the arrangement of FIG. 10, set top box
48 is connected to data input device 140. Data input device 140 may
be a keyboard, keypad, or any device suitable for inputting text
(wired or wireless), audio or video. Videocassette recorder 50 is
connected to set-top box 48 and television 52. Remote control 54 is
used to control the operation of set-top box 48, videocassette
recorder 50, and television 52.
[0087] Further aspects of the invention are described in detail
below. For clarity, the principles of the invention described below
are described in the context of the device configuration shown in
FIG. 3 and the steps illustrated of FIG. 2, except where noted.
However, the principles of the present invention also apply to
configurations such as those shown in FIGS. 4-9. Also, the
foregoing description 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.
[0088] In any of the above arrangements, an interactive television
program guide on each user television equipment device may provide
various features for displaying television program listings
information for the user and for providing various program guide
functions such as parental control, favorites, pay-per-view
purchasing, etc. For example, if the user presses the appropriate
buttons on remote control 54, the user may be presented with a
time-ordered or channel-ordered grid or table of television program
listings or other such programming information.
[0089] With one suitable approach, the user may select one of the
user television equipment devices to be a master or primary device.
Adjusting the program guide settings of the master device controls
these settings for all other devices in the household. For example,
with the arrangement of FIG. 3, the user may set primary user
television equipment 60 to be the master device. Primary user
television equipment 60 may be located in the parents' bedroom.
This allows the head of the household to control the program guide
settings for all of the program guides in the household from a
single location.
[0090] The system may provides the user with an opportunity to
assign a master device, such as user television equipment 60, that
will coordinate its program guide settings with other devices such
as secondary user television equipment 61, 62, and 63. The system
also provides the user with an opportunity to assign secondary
devices.
[0091] One suitable way in which the system may allow the user to
assign devices as primary (master) and secondaries is for at least
one of the program guides (e.g., the program guide running on
set-top box 60) to provide an assign locations screen such as
assign locations screen 160 of FIG. 11. Screen 160 may be accessed,
for example, by first accessing main screen 170 of FIG. 12 (by
pressing, e.g., a suitable key on remote control 54). After
accessing screen 170, the user can use remote control 54 to move
highlight region 177 to the setup option 179 and select setup
option 179 by pressing a select key, enter key, "OK" key, or other
such key (sometimes referred to herein as simply an enter key) on
remote control 54.
[0092] Selecting setup option 179 directs the program guide to
display a setup screen such as setup screen 310 of FIG. 31. The
user can select assign location option 316 on setup screen 310 by
moving highlight region 312 and pressing the enter key. Selecting
assign location option 316 directs the program guide to display
assign locations screen 160 of FIG. 11. The user can then move
highlight region 162 to set B option 165. Selecting option 165,
directs the program guide to provide the user with an opportunity
to enter a name to assign to set B. For example, the user may use
data input device 140 or remote control 54 to enter the letters
associated with the selected name. The program guide may use such
user-defined device names when the relationship between devices is
set up. For example, the user may designate the "parents room"
location as a master location and may designate the "children's
room" location as a slave location. The names of locations may be
pre-set by a service provider and simply assigned by the user.
Alternately the user (or an installation technician), may have the
ability to assign locations from the home. The location name may be
chosen from a list as above or typed in by the user (or an
installation technician.) In the alternative arrangement shown in
FIG. 4, each piece of user television equipment 66, 67, 68, and 69
is a peer. The user can assign names to each such user television
equipment device in much the same way that names may be assigned to
the secondary devices in the FIG. 3 arrangement.
[0093] As shown in FIG. 14, at step 1000, the program guide may
provide the user with an opportunity to select the devices or
locations for which the user desires to adjust settings. Step 1000
may, for example, involve providing a screen such as select
location screen 400 of FIG. 13. At step 1001 of FIG. 14, after the
user has made a selection by moving highlight region 155 (FIG. 14)
to the desired device (e.g., parents' room option 154) and pressed
the enter key, the program guide sets the selected locations. The
guide may also default to a particular location based on the type
of setting that is changed. (e.g., if a setting for the recording
of a program is changed, the guide may default to location with a
videocassette recorder.) The guide may default to any combination
of locations based on the type of setting that is changed. There
are also "other factors" that may be used by the guide to determine
at which location the settings will be effective. These include:
the current location of the user making the adjustment, whether a
location to be adjusted is currently being used, the state of other
settings, etc.
[0094] The program guide may allow a unique number to be assigned
to a user so that he or she is able to access his or her program
guide settings at a location outside the home. For example, a user
may visit a neighbors home to housesit while the neighbor is out of
town. This user has the ability to log on to the program guide at
the neighbors home and access his or her personal program guide
settings.
[0095] The program guide may allow the user to set parental
controls to prevent children from viewing potentially inappropriate
material. At step 1010 of FIG. 17, for example, the program guide
may provide the user with an opportunity to access main screen 170
of FIG. 12. On Main screen 170, the user may use remote control 54
to move highlight region 177 to the parental control option 176 and
select that option by pressing the enter key.
[0096] At step 1011 of FIG. 17, after the user has entered a
preselected password 211 (FIG. 15) on enter password screen 210 of
FIG. 15, the program guide checks the password. If the wrong
password was provided then the user is shown invalid password
screen 212 of FIG. 15 at step 1014 of FIG. 17, and may be returned
to main menu screen 170 of FIG. 12. If the user has provided a
valid password the program guide provides various options at step
1015. At step 1015, the user can access parental control screen 190
of FIG. 16 and may use remote control 54 to navigate between
options such as set channels option 191, set maximum rating option
193, and monitor viewing option 195. The user may navigate to set
channels screen 200 of FIG. 18a by selecting set channels option
191 at step 1016 of FIG. 17 by moving the highlight region 192 and
pressing select.
[0097] If the user selects set channels option 191 at step 1016, at
step 1020 the program guide provides the user with an opportunity
to set which channels are to be blocked. The user may block
specific channels using remote control 54 to scroll through and
select from channel options 201, 202, 203, and 204 of FIG. 18a. For
example, the user may move highlight region 207 to channel option
201 (which may be an adult channel). The user can then toggle
between blocking and not blocking the channel by pressing the enter
key on remote control 54.
[0098] In screen 200 of FIG. 18a, a blocked channel is represented
by an X. The user can choose to apply the parental controls
selected in screen 200 of FIG. 18a to all locations by selecting
apply to all option 205, choose to apply to the current location by
selecting current location option 209, or can choose to apply the
controls to a specific location or locations by selecting the
select locations option 206 from the option provided by the program
guide, at step 1024 of FIG. 17. The guide may apply the settings to
a default location or to a location determined by other factors as
described above.
[0099] FIG. 18b shows an illustrative parental controls set
channels screen 208 that may be used when it is desired to hide
controlled channels rather than merely blocking them. When the user
chooses to hide the channels, the blocked channels do not appear on
any of the program listings display screens provided by the program
guide.
[0100] The user may also navigate to a set maximum ratings screen
by choosing set maximum rating option 193 of FIG. 16, at step 1017
of FIG. 17, by moving a highlight region and pressing select. The
user may then set a maximum rating allowed for viewing in a manner
similar to the set channels option. For example, the user may move
a highlight region to a set maximum rating option (which may be
TV-MA), then the user can enter his selected maximum using remote
control 54. Next, the user can choose to apply the adjustments to
all locations by selecting an apply to all option or may opt to
apply the adjustments to a specific location or locations by
selecting a select locations option from the options provided by
the program guide, at step 1024 of FIG. 17. The guide may apply the
settings to a default location or to a location determined by other
factors as described above.
[0101] The user may navigate to monitor viewing screen 230 of FIG.
19 by choosing the monitor viewing option 195 of FIG. 16 (step 1019
of FIG. 17) by moving highlight region 192 to the monitor viewing
option 195 and pressing enter.
[0102] The program guide at the user's location may then, in one
alternative, provide the user with monitor viewing screen 230,
which shows the channel that each location is currently viewing or
an overlay such as a banner or small information box that shows the
channels that the other locations are viewing, but that also allows
the user to continue watching programming at the user's location.
The program guide at the user's location may poll the program
guides at other locations within the household to determine whether
anyone is currently viewing television and to which channels they
are tuned. The monitor viewing screen may also allow the viewing of
video, audio, or still images associated with the channel being
viewed at another location. For example, the video of the remote
location may be shown in a small box on the screen while the
current channel's video is in the background.
[0103] The guide may allow the user to change the channel of a
remote location. For example, a user in the parents' room may
notice that the television in the children's room is tuned to a
program the child should not be watching. The user may change the
channel without physically going into the child's room.
[0104] The guide may also allow a level of privacy to be set for a
location so that location cannot be monitored. For example, if
guests are visiting a household the monitor feature may be
disallowed in the parents' room.
[0105] Other parental control features that may be distributed to
remote locations within a household include: blocking channels by
title, blocking channels by time, blocking channels by content
(language, nudity, etc.), blocking the ability to use a feature
(e.g., reminders), blocking the ability to set and clear pin
numbers, ability to temporarily disable parental controls (e.g.,
disabling parental controls while the child is at school), and the
ability to set pin numbers for individual locations or for the
entire household. Additionally, the guide may have the ability to
use multiple sets of parental control settings profiles. For
example, the user may create a late night profile of parental
controls and day time profile of parental controls. The guide then
allows the user to designate which parental controls profile to use
and when to use it.
[0106] Another feature that may be provided by the program guide is
a reminders feature. The reminders feature allows the user to set a
reminder for a television program that the user wishes to watch at
a later time. Just before the television program for which a
reminder has been set is to be broadcast, a reminder message is
displayed on the user's television screen. Reminders may also be
provided that direct the program guide to automatically tune the
user's set-top box to the program specified in the reminder.
Reminders may also provide the user with an on-screen reminder when
a selected program begins and may allow the user to manually tune
to the selected channel.
[0107] A family reminders option may be provided that operates
similarly to the reminders functions described above and which
allows reminders to be set for a family. For example, in FIG. 7a
server 105 at central facility 100 may store many family reminder
settings (or other settings) for individual homes. The program
guides in a particular home or household may also provide the
ability to adjust favorites settings, parental control settings,
reminder settings and the like. These settings may be named and
associated with a viewing location, an entire home, or a group of
homes.
[0108] A series reminder option may be provided that allows users
to set reminders for program series. Series reminders are described
in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed
Jun. 11, 1999 (Attorney Docket No. UV-56), which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0109] An illustrative example of using the reminders feature is as
follows. If a user at one of the program guide locations within the
household presses an appropriate button (e.g., the enter button)
after having used a browse feature (i.e., a pop-up program listing
display) to navigate to a program listing for "Holiday
Entertaining" as shown in FIG. 20, the program guide at that
location may present the user with set reminder screen 350 of FIG.
21. Set reminder screen 350 allows the user to choose to set a
reminder for the selected program 352 (Holiday Entertaining) by
selecting yes option 354 with highlight region 356 shown at step
1030 of FIG. 23. If the user selects no option 358, set reminder
screen 350 is canceled. If set reminder screen 350 is not canceled,
the user select the program guide locations (i.e., the locations of
the various user television equipment devices within the household)
to which the adjustments are to be applied by selecting apply to
all option 205, current location option 209, or by selecting the
select locations option 206 (step 1031, FIG. 23) and interacting
with various sub-menus listing the available locations from which
to choose. Set reminder screen 350 and other such screens in the
program guide may use either a full-screen or partial-screen
display format. After the user selects the program guide locations
to which the reminders are to be applied, the program guide at the
user's location communicates with the program guides at the
user-selected locations.
[0110] During this communication process, the program guide at the
user's location directs the other program guides to set reminders
for display at their locations just before the scheduled broadcast
time of the program. If desired, the program guide at the user's
location can communicate with the program guides at the selected
locations using other suitable techniques. For example, the program
guide at the user's location may issue instructions to the program
guides at the selected locations just before the scheduled
broadcast time of the program for which the reminder was set that
causes those program guides to display a reminder message at that
time. These approaches are merely illustrative. Any other suitable
approach for communicating the reminders settings or any other
program guide settings from the program guide at the user's
location to the other program guides may be used if desired.
[0111] A short time before the scheduled broadcast time of the
program for which a reminder has been set, the program guide at
each selected location may display a reminder display region 361 on
the television screen 360 at that location (Step 1032; FIG. 23), as
shown in FIG. 22. Reminder display region 361 may be displayed as a
partial screen overlay over the currently displayed television
channel (e.g., channel 9). In the example of FIG. 22, two reminders
were set for the 10:00 AM time slot. As a result, reminder display
region 361 contains program listings for both selected programs. A
user at any of the program guide locations in which the reminder is
displayed may automatically tune to one of the selected programs by
moving highlight region 362 from hide reminders option 363 to
program listing 364 or program listing 365. When the user at that
location presses the select button, the set-top box 48 at that
location tunes to the channel of the selected program (step 1033,
FIG. 23). If the user selects hide reminders option 363, reminder
display region 361 is hidden from view. Additionally, reminders may
be set to automatically tune to a particular channel without
accessing a reminder display region. For example, a parent would
have the ability to insure that the children's television
automatically tunes to an educational program by setting a reminder
for that program.
[0112] In addition to the opportunity to set reminders, the user
may be provided the opportunity to create profiles to customize the
viewing experience. For example, if desired, the program guides may
allow each user to establish a profile of settings and other
criteria as described, for example, in commonly-assigned Ellis et
al. U.S. patent application No. 09/034,934, filed Mar. 4, 1998,
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
With such an approach, users may establish profiles of preferences
such as their favorite channels, preferred genres of programming
(sports, comedy, etc.), favorite actors, desired or required
ratings, etc. In accordance with the present invention, one of the
program guides may provide the user with an opportunity to apply
this profile to all locations or to apply such settings to a
specific program guide location or locations. The guide may apply
the profile to a default location or to a location determined by
other factors as described above.
[0113] The user may also be provided the opportunity to set
favorite channels. The program guide at the user's location may
display a menu such as the menu of main screen 170 of FIG. 12. The
user may then use remote control 54 to navigate to the favorites
option 175 using remote control 54 and pressing the enter
button.
[0114] Once the user chooses favorites option 175, the program
guide at the user's location may present the user with a favorite
channels screen such as favorite channels screen 250 of FIG. 24.
The user may move highlight region 207 to a channel such as channel
option 251 of screen 250 (which may be a local news channel) and
can then toggle between selecting and not selecting that channel by
pressing the enter key on remote control 54. In the example of FIG.
24, a favorite channel is represented by an X. Next, the user can
choose to apply the selected favorites settings to various other
program guide locations by selecting apply to all option 205, apply
to select locations option 206, or apply to current location 209.
If the user chooses the apply to select locations option 206, the
program guide at the user's location provides the user with menu
screens from which to select the desired locations to which the
favorites settings are to be applied. The desired locations may be
set by default or other factors as described above. A parent may
want to prevent children from even seeing the titles of
objectionable programming.
[0115] The user may be provided with an opportunity to select
programs for recording at a later time. For example, if the user
presses an appropriate button (e.g., a "record" button) after
having used a browse feature to navigate to a program listing for
"Holiday Entertaining" as shown in FIG. 20, the program guide at
the user's location may present the user with a set recording
screen such as set recording screen 270 of FIG. 25. Set recording
screen 270 allows the user to set a selected program 274 (Holiday
Entertaining) for recording by the program guide by selecting yes
option 272 with highlight region 271. If the user selects no option
273, set recording screen 270 is canceled.
[0116] If a household has only one videocassette recorder 50, there
will only be one location that will make all recordings, regardless
of which location the recordings are set from. If there are
multiple videocassette recorders, the user may be presented with
select location screen 400 of FIG. 13 after selecting the yes
option 272, that provides the user with an opportunity to select
the location that will make the recording. If desired multiple
locations may be selected. The guide may choose which VCR is used
based on which VCR is busy or based on other factors.
[0117] At the scheduled broadcast time of the program to be
recorded, the program guide at each selected location causes
videocassette recorder 50 to begin recording. After the scheduled
completion of the broadcast of the recorded program, each program
guide causes its videocassette recorder 50 to stop recording. The
guides may cause videocassette recorders 50 to stop and start
recording by sending an IR signal to the videocassette recorders IR
input or by, any other suitable method for transmitting a signal to
a videocassette recorder.
[0118] A series recording option may also be provided that allows
users to record program series. Series recording is described in
the above-mentioned Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No.
______, filed Jun. 11, 1999 (Attorney Docket No. UV-56).
[0119] Another example of a program guide feature that benefits
from coordination between multiple program guide devices in a
household is pay-per-view ordering.
[0120] The user may be provided with an opportunity to order
pay-per-view programming with a program guide display screen such
as main screen 170 of FIG. 12. The user may use remote control 54
to select the pay-per-view by time option 181.
[0121] The user may select a program to order from a screen such as
pay-per-view screen 290 of FIG. 26 using remote control 54 to
navigate through program options. For example, the user may move
highlight region 291 to program listing 292 (which may be for the
movie "Volcano" scheduled to be aired at 10:00 PM). The user may
then select the program by pressing the enter button on remote
control 54. Pay-per-view ordering screens such as pay-per-view
ordering screen 370 of FIG. 27 may be used to allow the user to
view information on the channel 371 on which the program is
scheduled to be broadcast, the rating 377, the price 378 (shown
illustratively as involving a surcharge for availability at
additional locations within the household), and various available
broadcast times 373, 374, and 376. A cancel option 372 allows the
user to cancel pay-per-view ordering. The user may select cancel
option 372 or a given broadcast time 373, 374, or 376 by placing
highlight region 375 on top of the desired option and pressing
enter. The user may choose to make the selected program available
to various locations within the household by selecting the select
locations option 206. Alternatively, the guide may make the program
available to a default location or to a location determined by
other factors as described above.
[0122] The program guide system may support a messages option.
Messages may be sent from the service provider at television
distribution facility 38 (FIG. 1) and may relate, e.g., to billing
matters, general concerns, service issues, etc. Messages may be
sent to the main facility or other locations by the Internet or
electronic messages or other suitable means. Messages may appear on
the television screen of television 52 when received. The
appearance may, for example, be in a text box at the bottom of the
screen. The user may be provided a list of messages that may be
viewed and choose one to view. An indicator may also appear showing
that unread messages exist. A messages receiving screen such as
messages receiving screen 300 of FIG. 28 may be provided that
allows, the user to navigate through a table relating various
locations with various types of messaging. For example, the user
may move highlight region 301 to the option relating to messages of
the billing type for the children's room location. By hitting the
enter key the user may toggle between turning such messages on and
off. If, in this example, messages are turned on, the children's
room would receive billing messages. If messages are turned off,
the children's room would not receive billing messages.
[0123] A user may have the ability to send text, audio, graphics or
video messages between locations. On Messages sending screen 340 of
FIG. 29, the user may use data input device 140 (FIG. 10) to type a
text message in the message entry section 343. Alternately the user
may enter audio messages through, for example, using a microphone
as a data input device or video with a camera device. The user can
select which location to send the message to by moving highlight
region 341 to location option 342 (which may be the children's
room). For example, a parent in the downstairs master bedroom may
send a message telling the child in the upstairs bedroom to come
down for dinner or to do their homework. If desired, Messages
sending screen 340 of FIG. 29 may provide the user with an
opportunity to select from pre-existing text messages. These
pre-existing messages may have been previously stored by a user or
pre-set by the manufacturer. Messages may be transmitted between
program guides at different locations within the household using
any suitable communications technique such as e-mail protocols or
any method described in connection with the above discussion of
various topologies.
[0124] The program guide system may also provide the user with an
opportunity to set device control options. For example, the user
may access main screen 170 of FIG. 12, and use remote control 54 to
choose the setup option 179 by using the remote control 54 to
scroll to the setup option 179 and pressing the enter button. The
user can then select audio option 312 on setup screen 310 of FIG.
31 by moving highlight region 313 and pressing the enter button.
Next, on the setup audio screen 330 of FIG. 33, the user may move
highlight region 332 to set volume option 332. The user may use
remote control 54 to adjust the volume upwards or downwards. For
example, parents may wish to turn down the volume on the kids
television. The user may choose to apply the adjustments made on
screen 330 to all locations by selecting apply to all option 205,
to the current location by selecting apply to current location
option 209, or may choose to apply adjustments to a specific
location or locations by selecting the select locations option 206.
Alternatively, the guide may apply the settings to a default
location or to a location determined by other factors as described
above.
[0125] Another program guide option that may be coordinated within
the household is an option for selecting languages. From setup
screen 310 of FIG. 31, the user may also select language option 311
by moving highlight region 313 and pressing the enter button. On
setup language screen 320 of FIG. 32 or other such screen, the user
may move highlight region 321 to set language option 322 (which may
be German). The user may use remote control 54 to select the chosen
language. The user may choose to apply the adjustments to all
locations by selecting apply to all option 205, choose to apply
adjustments to a specific location or locations by selecting the
select locations option 206, or choose to apply to the current
location by selecting current location option 209. Alternatively,
the guide may apply the settings to a default location or to a
location determined by other factors as described above. The
selected language may be used by the program guide when displaying
program guide screens that contain text or audio, as described in
Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed
concurrently herewith (Attorney Docket No. UV-115), which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0126] Data files may be used to transmit program guide settings.
When a particular program guide retrieves program guide settings
adjustments for the user, this data may be transmitted to the
central facility or to another program guide via the return path in
a two-way cable link, via modem link, or via any other suitable
communications path. The settings may be stored at a server or on
any on of the program guides in a household. For example, in the
configuration of FIG. 3, program guide settings adjustments
collected at secondary user television equipment 61, may be stored
at primary user television equipment 60. Similarly, set top box 90
of FIG. 6 may store program guide settings for televisions 92, 94,
96, and 98. In the configuration of FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c, program
guide settings adjustments collected at user television equipment
66 may be stored at any one of user television equipment devices
66, 67, 68, or 69. In the configuration of FIGS. 7a and 7b, program
guide settings that are shared such as family reminders may be
stored on any one of servers 56, server 105, or server 42. Program
guide settings may be transmitted periodically or when a data
transfer is requested by a a particular piece of user television
equipment or the central facility. Certain communications protocols
may be particularly suitable for certain topologies of user
television equipment devices. For example, if the user television
equipment devices are arranged in a ring topology, a token ring
communications protocol may be used to interconnect the program
guides. A bus protocol may be used for a bus topology, etc. An
advantage of using an in home network is sharing of data among
devices within the home. For example, a listing may be stored on
only one device, freeing space for other settings to be stored on
other devices.
[0127] Messaging information may be transmitted to or from the
central facility via the return path in a two-way cable link, via
modem link, or via any other suitable communications path. The type
of message may determine where the message is stored. Messages sent
by the central facility may generally be stored at the central
facility. Messages generated by a user may be stored at the user
television equipment that stores the user's other program guide
settings.
[0128] The discussion thus far has focused on implementing the
invention with an interactive television program guide. The
invention may also be applied to non-program-guide applications.
These non-program-guide applications run on user television
equipment such as a set-top box. For example, an Internet browser
may be run on a set-top box connected to a television. Internet
application settings can be coordinated among televisions and/or
set-top boxes within a household in the same way that program guide
settings are coordinated among program guides in the house.
[0129] One non-program-guide application that may be implemented in
accordance with the present invention is an Internet browser. An
Internet browser may have settings such as bookmarks, parental
control settings, and general preferences that control how the
browser functions. As shown in FIG. 34, a browser application
screen 700, may have a bookmark option 705. After adding a
bookmark, the system allows the bookmark and other settings to be
effective on other locations in the household. For example, a user
may select bookmark option 705 and add a bookmark (i.e., a record
of the address of the current web site that can be used to access
the site). Through a network, in accordance with the present
invention, the application can make the bookmark effective on other
locations in the household. Accordingly, the user can choose to
apply settings adjustments to all locations by selecting an apply
to all option or may opt to apply the adjustments to a specific
location or locations by selecting a select locations option from
the options provided by the program guide. The guide may apply the
settings to a default location or to a location determined by other
factors as described above.
[0130] Another application that may be implemented in accordance
with the present invention is an shopping application. A shopping
application may have settings such as a default shipping address,
and credit card number. As shown in FIG. 35, a shopping application
screen 730, has settings such as a shipping address 720, and credit
card number 725. After adding a shipping and credit card
information, the system allows the shipping address, credit card
number and other settings to be effective on other locations in the
household. For example, a user can add a shipping address. Through
a network, in accordance with the present invention, the
application can make the shipping address effective on other
locations in the household. Accordingly, the user can choose to
apply settings adjustments to all locations by selecting an apply
to all option or may opt to apply the adjustments to a specific
location or locations by selecting a select locations option from
the options provided by the program guide. The guide may apply the
settings to a default location or to a location determined by other
factors as described above.
[0131] Another non-program-guide application that may be
implemented on user television equipment and coordinated with other
such applications in accordance with the present invention is a
stock ticker. A stock ticker may have settings such as settings
indicating the top 10 stocks in which the user is interested. As
shown in FIG. 36, a stock ticker settings screen 710 has a ticker
symbol 712 and a top 10 stocks option 715. For example, a user may
add a top stock. Then, through a network, in accordance with the
present invention, the application can make the top 10 stock
settings effective on other locations in the household.
Accordingly, the user can choose to apply the adjustments to all
locations by selecting an apply to all option or may opt to apply
the adjustments to a specific location or locations by selecting a
select locations option from the options provided by the program
guide. The guide may apply the settings to a default location or to
a location determined by other factors as described above.
[0132] A chat application may be implemented on user television
equipment such as a set top box. Chat applications are services
that allow users to exchange chat messages with other users in real
time. A chat application may be implemented as a stand-alone chat
application or as part of another application such as a program
guide application. A user may adjust settings associated with a
chat application such as the size of a chat window or whether to
filter potentially offensive messages. Chat applications that may
be implemented on user television equipment are described in
McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed
concurrently herewith (Attorney Docket No. UV-101), which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. After the user
adjusts chat settings, the user can choose to apply the chat
settings adjustments to all locations by selecting an apply to all
option or may opt to apply the adjustments to a specific location
or locations by selecting a select locations option. Settings may
be coordinated between the chat applications using options provided
by the chat application. The chat application may apply the
settings to a default location or to a location determined by other
factors as described above.
[0133] If desired, the settings of an e-mail application running on
different user television equipment devices in the household may be
coordinated. When the user adjusts the e-mail settings associated
with one user television equipment device, the system coordinates
the operation of the other e-mail applications so that the adjusted
e-mail settings may be used by the other e-mail applications.
[0134] 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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