U.S. patent application number 11/894769 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for electronic program guide with related-program search feature.
Invention is credited to Michael D. Ellis, W. Benjamin Herrington.
Application Number | 20080184308 11/894769 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33312800 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080184308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Herrington; W. Benjamin ; et
al. |
July 31, 2008 |
Electronic program guide with related-program search feature
Abstract
A system for searching for programs is provided. The system may
provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a
given program. The system may provide the user with an opportunity
to request that the system locate programs that are related to the
given program in which the user has indicated an interest. The
system may locate program listings that are related to the given
program. The located program listings may be related to the given
program based on attributes of the given program. The system may
display a list of located listings and allow the user to select
listings from the list. The system may tune to a program selected
from the list, may display an information display screen for a
program selected from the list, etc. The system may provide the
user with an opportunity to configure and save search parameters.
The system may sort related program listings based on the
attributes of the given program. The system may provide the user
with the opportunity to retrieve saved searches to locate currently
available program listings and the opportunity to delete a saved
search, rename, a saved search, receive automatic notifications of
programs matching a saved search, etc.
Inventors: |
Herrington; W. Benjamin;
(Tulsa, OK) ; Ellis; Michael D.; (Boulder,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROPES & GRAY LLP
PATENT DOCKETING 39/361, 1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036-8704
US
|
Family ID: |
33312800 |
Appl. No.: |
11/894769 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10852913 |
May 24, 2004 |
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11894769 |
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09451612 |
Nov 30, 1999 |
6865746 |
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10852913 |
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60110989 |
Dec 3, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/43 ;
348/E5.105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/45 20130101;
H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N 21/4668 20130101; H04N 5/44543 20130101;
H04N 21/466 20130101; H04N 21/4756 20130101; H04N 21/454 20130101;
H04N 21/4722 20130101; H04N 21/4725 20130101; H04N 21/4882
20130101; H04N 21/47214 20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101; H04N
21/4532 20130101; H04N 21/4755 20130101; H04N 21/4828 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/43 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/45 20060101
H04N005/45 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A method for searching for programs using an interactive system,
the method comprising: displaying a video having a plurality of
attributes; in response to receiving a dedicated user input while
the video is being displayed, determining a list of one or more
programs based on one or more attributes of the displayed video;
and automatically displaying the determined list of programs.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the attributes comprise one or
more of program title, program actors, program duration, program
genre, program channel, program rating, projector director, program
production year, and the program's series title.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving program
listings data, wherein the program listings data contains
information regarding a plurality of programs and the attributes
that are associated with each of the plurality of programs.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining a particular program
is included in the list of one or more programs comprises matching
at least one of the attributes of the displayed video with the
attributes associated with the particular program.
6. The method of claim 2, further comprising: displaying a listing
of the attributes of the displayed video; receiving a user
assignment of various importance levels to each of the attributes
of the displayed video; and determining the list of one or more
programs based on the attributes of the displayed video and the
user assigned importance levels.
7. The method of claim 2, further comprising: displaying a listing
of the attributes of the displayed video; receiving a user
selection of one or more of the attributes of the displayed video;
and determining the list of one or more programs based on the
selected one or more attributes.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving a user
selection of logical operators to be performed on the selected
attributes when more than two attributes are selected; and
determining the list of one or more programs based on the selected
one or more attributes and based on the selected logical
operators.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing the selected
one or more attributes in a save file.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: displaying a listing
of previously stored save files, wherein each save file has one or
more attributes stored in it; selecting a particular save file from
the listing of previously stored save files; and determining a list
of one or more programs based on one or more attributes stored in
the particular save file.
11. The method of claim 2, further comprising sorting the
determined list of programs based on the attributes of each
program.
12. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a user
selection of a particular program from the determined list of
programs.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising tuning to the
particular program in response to receiving the user selection.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying
information related to the particular program in response to
receiving the user selection.
15. A system for searching for programs using an interactive
system, the system comprising: a display for displaying a video
having a plurality of attributes; an input device for receiving a
dedicated user input while the video is being displayed; a
processor for determining a list of one or more programs based on
one or more attributes of the displayed video in response to the
input device receiving the dedicated user input; and a display
processor for automatically displaying the determined list of
programs.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the attributes comprise one or
more of program title, program actors, program duration, program
genre, program channel, program rating, projector director, program
production year, and the program's series title.
17. The system of claim 15, further comprising: the processor
receiving program listings data, wherein the program listings data
contains information regarding a plurality of programs and the
attributes that are associated with each of the plurality of
programs.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor determines a
particular program is included in the list of one or more programs
by matching at least one of the attributes of the displayed video
with the attributes associated with the particular program.
19. The system of claim 15, further comprising: the display
displaying a listing of the attributes of the displayed video; the
input device receiving a user assignment of various importance
levels to each of the attributes of the displayed video; and the
processor determining the list of one or more programs based on the
attributes of the displayed video and the user assigned importance
levels.
20. The system of claim 15, further comprising: the display
displaying a listing of the attributes of the displayed video; the
input device receiving a user selection of one or more of the
attributes of the displayed video; and the processor determining
the list of one or more programs based on the selected one or more
attributes.
21. The system of claim 20, further comprising: the input device
receiving a user selection of logical operators to be performed on
the selected attributes when more than two attributes are selected;
and the processor determining the list of one or more programs
based on the selected one or more attributes and based on the
selected logical operators.
22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a storage device for
storing the selected one or more attributes in a save file.
23. The system of claim 22, further comprising: the display
displaying a listing of previously stored save files, wherein each
save file has one or more attributes stored in it; the input device
receiving a selection of a particular save file from the listing of
previously stored save files; and the processor determining a list
of one or more programs based on one or more attributes stored in
the particular save file.
24. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor sorts the
determined list of programs based on the attributes of each
program.
25. The system of claim 15, wherein the input device receives a
user selection of a particular program from the determined list of
programs.
26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a tuner for tuning
to the particular program in response to the input device receiving
the user selection.
27. The system of claim 25, wherein the display displays
information related to the particular program in response to the
input device receiving the user selection.
Description
RELATED-PROGRAM SEARCH FEATURE
[0001] This application is a continuation of pending prior
application Ser. No. 10/852,913, filed May 24, 2004, which is a
continuation of patent application Ser. No. 09/451,612, filed Nov.
30, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,746, which claims the benefit of
U.S. provisional application No. 60/110,989, filed Dec. 3, 1998.
All of these prior patent applications are hereby incorporated by
reference herein in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to interactive television systems
such as interactive television program guide systems, and more
particularly, to techniques for program searching in these
systems.
[0003] Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide a
large number of television channels. Typically, the number of
channels provided by cable and satellite systems is over a hundred
and ever increasing. Television viewers have traditionally
consulted printed television program schedules to obtain
programming information. More recently, interactive electronic
television program guides have been developed to allow television
program information to be displayed on viewer television
equipment.
[0004] Interactive electronic television program guides ("program
guides") typically provide program listings for all channels
available in the television system. Some program guides include
features for allowing users to search for programs. Such search
features are often complex, time-consuming, and cumbersome. For
example, such search features may require that a user select search
parameters such as preferred programming genres before searching
for programs, that a user navigate through several display screens
before being allowed to initiate a search, that the user enter at
least a portion of a program title to initiate a search, etc.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a television system that includes an improved program
searching feature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in
accordance with the principles of the present invention by
providing a system for searching for programs. The system may
provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a
given program. The system may provide the user with an opportunity
to request that the system locate programs that are related to the
given program in which the user indicated an interest. The system
may locate program listings that are related to the given program.
The located program listings may be related to the given program
based on attributes of the given program.
[0007] The system may display a list of the located program
listings. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to
select from the list of related programs. The system may tune to a
program selected from the list, may display an information display
screen for a program selected from the list, etc.
[0008] The system may provide the user with an opportunity to
configure search parameters. For example, The system may present
the user with a list of attributes for the given program and may
allow the user to select one or more attributes and may allow the
user to select which logical operations (e.g., and/or operations)
are to be performed on the attributes. The system may search
television program listings and may display a list of related
programs based on the selected attributes.
[0009] The system may sort related program listings based on the
attributes of the given program. The system may provide the user
with an opportunity to save search parameters for use at a later
time. The system may display a list of previously saved searches
and may provide the user with an opportunity to direct the system
to locate currently available program listings based on a saved
search from the list. The system may locate currently available
listings based on the user-selected search parameters from the
saved search when the saved search is retrieved. The system may
allow the user to delete a saved search. The system may
automatically display a notification based on user-selected search
parameters from a saved search. The system may provide the user
with an opportunity to view the user-selected search parameters for
a saved search.
[0010] 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
[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative interactive
television program guide system in accordance with the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
providing program searching in accordance with the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 3a is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
providing an opportunity to request that the system locate programs
related to a given program in accordance with the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 3b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for providing an opportunity to
request that the system locate programs that are related to a given
program in accordance with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3c is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for providing an opportunity to
request that the system locate programs that are related to a given
program in accordance with the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3d is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for providing an opportunity to
request that the system locate programs that are related to a given
program in accordance with the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3e is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for providing an opportunity to
request that the system locate programs that are related to a given
program in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
displaying program listings that are related to a given program in
accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for displaying program listings that
are related to a given program in accordance with the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
displaying program listings that are related to a given program
based on user-selected search parameters in accordance with the
present invention.
[0021] FIG. 7a is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for searching for program listing that
are related to a given program based on user-selected search
parameters in accordance with the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 7b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for displaying program listings that
are related to a given program based on user-selected search
parameters in accordance with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 7c is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for searching for program listings
that are related to a given program based on user-selected search
parameters in accordance with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 8a is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for searching for program listings
that are related to a given program based on user-selected search
parameters in accordance with the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 8b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for selecting a program listing that
is related to a user-selected program in accordance with the
present invention.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
providing display screens when a user makes selections from a
related-program find display screen in accordance with the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 10a is a flow of illustrative steps involved in
displaying a display screen having a list of saved searches in
accordance with the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 10b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for providing a display screen having
a list of saved searches in accordance with the present
invention.
[0029] FIG. 11 is flow chart of illustrative involved in providing
saved search features in accordance with the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for searching for program listings
based on a saved search in accordance with the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 13 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for deleting a saved search in
accordance with the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for providing an automatic
notification of a program matching a saved search in accordance
with the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for displaying search parameters for a
saved search in accordance with the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 16 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of
illustrative display screens for providing save search features in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] An illustrative interactive television program guide system
50 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1.
Main facility 52 includes a program guide database 54 for storing
program guide information (e.g., television program listings data,
program-related information, service listings data, service-related
information, pay-per-view ordering information, television program
promotional information, etc.).
[0036] Main facility 52 preferably includes a processor to handle
information distribution tasks. Information from database 54 may be
transmitted in parallel via communications links such as
communications link 58 to multiple television distribution
facilities such as television distribution facility 56. Only one
television distribution facility is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid over
complicating the drawings. Each communications link 58 may be a
satellite link, a telephone network link, a combination of such
links, or another suitable communications path. Text, graphics, and
video data signals may be transmitted over link 58. If it is
desired to transmit video signals over communications link 58, a
relatively high bandwidth link such as a satellite link is
generally preferable to a relatively low bandwidth link such as a
telephone line.
[0037] Television distribution facility 56 is a facility such as a
cable system headened, a broadcast distribution facility, or a
satellite television distribution facility for distributing
television signals to viewers.
[0038] The program guide information transmitted by main facility
52 to television distribution facility 56 includes television
program listings data such as program times, channels, titles,
descriptions, program type, genre, actors, etc. Transmitted program
guide information may 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.
[0039] Television distribution facility 56 may distribute program
guide information received from main facility 52 to user television
equipment 58 via communications paths 60. User television equipment
58 may be any suitable equipment for providing television that
contains sufficient processing capabilities to monitor viewing
activities, analyze these activities and display appropriate
program listings information for the user.
[0040] Communications paths 60 may be cable links, fiber optic
links, satellite links, broadcast links, or other suitable link, or
a combination of such links. Any suitable communications scheme may
be used to transmit data over paths 60, including in-band
transmissions, out-of-band transmissions, digital transmissions,
analog transmissions, cable transmissions, satellite transmissions,
over-the-air transmissions, multichannel multipoint distribution
services (MMDS) transmissions, etc.
[0041] Communications paths 60 preferably have sufficient bandwidth
to allow television distribution facility 56 to distribute
television programming, program listings information,
advertisements, and other information to user television equipment
58. Multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or
both analog and digital) may be provided to user television
equipment 58 via communication paths 60. If desired, some of the
data may be distributed to user television equipment 58 by one or
more distribution facilities that are separate from television
distribution facility 56 using communication paths that are at
least partly separate from communication paths 60.
[0042] The data distribution technique that is used to distribute
data on paths 60 may depend on the type of information that is
being distributed. For example, text and graphics may be
distributed over an out-of-band channel using an out-of-band
modulator or distributed in the vertical blanking interval lines of
an analog video channel. Video information may also be distributed
in this way, although large quantities of video information may be
more efficiently distributed using one or more digital channels or
streams on paths 60. Such digital channels or streams may also be
used for distributing text and graphics.
[0043] Each user television equipment device 58 has a receiver
which is typically a set-top box such as set-top box 62. The
receiver may also be other suitable television equipment such as an
advanced television receiver into which circuitry similar to
set-top-box circuitry has been integrated or a personal computer
television (PC/TV). For illustrative purposes, the present
invention will be described in the context of user television
equipment 58 that uses set-top boxes.
[0044] Each set-top box 62 is typically connected to an optional
videocassette recorder 66 so that selected television programs may
be recorded. Video cassette recorder 66 is typically connected to a
television 68. To record a program, set-top box 62 tunes to a
particular channel and sends control signals to videocassette
recorder 66 (e.g., using infrared transmitter 70) that instructs
videocassette recorder 66 to start and stop recording at the
appropriate times.
[0045] Television program listings, advertisements, programming
information, and other information may be displayed on television
68. Each set-top box 62, videocassette recorder 66, and television
68 can be controlled by one or more remote controls 70 or any other
suitable user input interface, such as a wireless keyboard, mouse,
trackball, dedicated set of buttons, touch screen display remote,
etc. Remote controls, such as remote control 70, have various
buttons that can be pressed by the user such as arrow keys (e.g.,
for directing on-screen movement of a highlight region, for
directing scrolling functions, etc.), an OK, select, enter, or
other such selection key for making a selection (hereinafter
referred to as an OK key), channel number keys (for selecting a
television channel), a favorites key (to invoke functions related
to user preferences), a delete key (to delete menu items or to
express a disinterest in certain user preferences), an information
key for receiving information on a program (hereinafter referred to
as an INFO key), a specific feature key (e.g., a related-program
search key to invoke program searching), etc. For illustrative
purposes, many aspects of the present are discussed primarily in
the context of a user interface being a remote control.
[0046] Certain program guide features, such as pay program
purchasing, the purchasing of products or services, and data
collection functions, may require that user television equipment 58
transmit data to television distribution facility 56 over
communications paths 60. If desired, such data may be transmitted
over telephone lines or other separate communications paths. If
features such as these are provided using facilities separate from
television distribution facility 56, some of the communications
involving user television equipment 58 may be made directly with
the separate facility (not shown).
[0047] If desired, an interactive television program guide system
may be implemented using a data-relay architecture. In such an
architecture, television distribution facility 56 may serve as a
data relay site and user television equipment 58 may be a data
destination site. For example, as television distribution facility
56 receives information from main facility 52, television
distribution facility 56 may continuously or periodically
distribute information to user television equipment 58. In a
data-relay architecture, a program guide implemented on user
television equipment 58 may use a database (e.g., database 64) for
storing program guide information at user television equipment.
Program guide information may include program listings and program
attributes. Program attributes may be information such as program
title, program actors, program duration, program genre (e.g.,
sports, comedy, movies, etc.), program channel, scheduled program
duration, program rating (e.g., TV-G, PG-13, etc.), program content
rating (or critics' rating or star rating, e.g., one star, two
stars, etc.) and other related parameters that can be tagged to a
program. Television distribution facility 56 may also poll set-top
boxes 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).
[0048] The features of the present invention may be implemented in
a client-server arrangement or in a combination client-server and
data-relay arrangement. In such arrangements, the server (e.g.,
television distribution facility 56) may include a database that
may include program listing information.
[0049] For clarity, the present invention is sometimes described
primarily in the context of program guides that are implemented on
user television equipment rather than in the context of program
guides that are implemented partially on a server and partially on
user television equipment or a more fully server-based
architecture.
[0050] Each set-top box 62 preferably contains a processor to
handle tasks associated with implementing an application on the
set-top box 62 that assists the user in searching for programs. For
example, a stand-alone application may be provided that supports
program searching, as described more fully below. If desired, these
tasks may be implemented using a program guide application. For
clarity, the present invention will be described primarily in the
context of such a program guide application and in the context of a
program guide system.
[0051] Illustrative steps involved in providing program searching
in an interactive television system such as interactive television
program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 2. Initially at
step 80, the program guide may provide a user with an opportunity
to request that the system locate programs that are related to a
particular program (e.g., a program in which the user has indicated
an interest using the system). The program guide may, at step 82,
display a list of programs that are related to the particular
program when the user requests that the system locate programs that
are related to the particular program. The program guide may
include programs in the list based on criteria, such as whether a
program is related in attribute to the particular program, whether
a program is a sequel or prequel of the particular program, whether
a program is in the same program series as the particular program,
whether a program is a series that is related to the particular
program, whether a program is related the user-selected program in
content or subject matter, whether a program has the same actor(s),
director, category, theme, or production year as the user-selected
program, etc.
[0052] Illustrative steps involved in providing a user with an
opportunity to request that a system locate programs related to a
given program in an interactive television system such as
interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 are shown
in FIG. 3a. At step 84, the program guide may provide a user with
an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program. The user
may indicate an interest in the given program by, for example,
positioning a highlight region on a program listing for the given
program, tuning the system to the given program, selecting that an
information display screen for the given program be displayed, etc.
At step 86, the program guide may provide the user with an
opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are
related to the given program.
[0053] Illustrative display screens of FIG. 3b, FIG. 3c, FIG. 3d,
and FIG. 3e may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG.
3a. As shown in FIG. 3b, the program guide may display related
program find display screen 94 for the program Seinfeld when a user
presses a single user interface key while a video for Seinfeld is
displayed in display screen 92. The single user interface key may,
for example, be a search key of a remote control for requesting
that the system locate related programs.
[0054] If desired, as shown in FIG. 3c, the program guide may
display related-program find display screen 90 for the program
Seinfeld when the user presses a predetermined sequence of user
interface keys after navigating a highlight region on a listing for
Seinfeld in program listings display screen 88. The predetermined
sequence of user interface keys may, for example, be pressing a
search key and an OK key of a remote control.
[0055] A sequence of keys may be used when the user interface
device (e.g., a remote control), does not have a key dedicated to
providing the user with an opportunity to request that the system
locate related programs.
[0056] If desired, as shown in FIG. 3d, the program guide may
display related-program find display screen 98 for the Knicks v.
Wizards basketball game when the user presses a search key of a
remote control after navigating a highlight region on the listing
for the Knicks v. Wizards basketball game in sports category
program listings display screen 96.
[0057] If desired, as shown in FIG. 3e, the program guide may
display related-program find display screen 102 for Dateline when a
user presses a remote control OK key after navigating a highlight
region on related programs option 104 of information display screen
100 for Dateline. The program guide may have displayed information
display screen 100 for Dateline when, for example, the user pressed
an OK key of a remote control after navigating a highlight region
on a Dateline program listing, the user pressed an INFO key when
video for Dateline is being displayed, etc. Examples of program
guide systems with information display screen capabilities are
provided in Rudnick et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/356,268 filed. Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
[0058] Illustrative steps involved in displaying program listings
that are related to a given program in an interactive television
system such as interactive television program guide system 50 of
FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 4. At step 106, the program guide may
provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a
given program. At step 108, when the user indicates an interest in
the given program, the program guide may provide the user with an
opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are
related to the given program.
[0059] At step 110, the program guide may locate program listings
(e.g., program listings stored in a program guide database, such as
database 64 of FIG. 1) that are related to the given program. The
program guide may locate program listings based on attributes of
the given program. For example, the program guide may locate
program listings for programs that have an attribute that matches
an attribute of the given program (e.g., a common actor, same
content, same subject matter, same series, common director, same
category, same theme, common production year, etc.), program
listings for programs that have a plurality of attributes matching
attributes of the given program, program listings for programs that
have attributes that are related to the attributes of the given
program (e.g., prequels, sequels, similar content, similar subject
matter, related series, etc.), etc.
[0060] At step 112, the program guide may display a display screen
(or, if desired, an overlay) having listings for programs which are
related to the user-selected program. From the list, the user may
find a particular program of interest to the user. The program
guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select a program
listing from the list at step 114.
[0061] Illustrative program listings display screen 116,
illustrative information display screen 118, and illustrative
related-program find display screen 120 of FIG. 5 may be provided
based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 4. The program guide may
display information display screen 118 for Star Trek: The Next
Generation--Episode Y when a user selects a listing for Star Trek:
The Next Generation--Episode Y in program listings display screen
116 (e.g., by pressing an INFO key when a highlight region is
positioned on that listing). Information display screen 118 may
include a related programs options 122 for requesting to find
programs related to Star Trek: The Next Generation--Episode Y.
[0062] The program guide may display related program find display
screen 120 when a user selects the related programs option 122 from
information display screen 118. Related-program find display screen
120 includes a list of programs related to Star Trek: The Next
Generation--Episode Y that contains: Episode K of Star Trek: The
Next Generation, Episode D of Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: wrath
of Khan, Episode Z of Babylon 5, Episode X of Babylon 5, etc. The
list may have been sorted based on attributes that were used by the
program guide to locate the displayed program listings. For
example, the list may have been sorted based on which attribute
caused the match, or for example, based on how many attributes
matched. Related-program find display screen 120 may include an
indicator, such as arrow 124, to inform the user that the list may
be scrolled to display further listings for related programs that
are not currently displayed. Such an indicator may be used when
there is insufficient space for displaying all the related programs
in a related program find display screen.
[0063] Illustrative steps involved in displaying program listings
that are related to a given program based on user-configured search
parameters in an interactive television system such as interactive
television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 6.
Steps 126 and 128 are the same as steps 106 and 108 of FIG. 4,
respectively, and are discussed above. At step 130 of FIG. 6, when
the user requests that the system locate programs that are related
to a given program, the program guide may provide the user with an
opportunity to configure search parameters for searching for
related programs based on attributes of the user-selected program.
At step 132, the program guide may then locate program listings
based on the user-configured search parameters. The program guide
may locate program listings from program listings stored in a
database, such as program listings database 64 FIG. 1. The location
of the program listings database may depend on the communications
arrangement of the interactive television program guide system
(e.g., in a client-server arrangement at least part of the database
may be located at a television distribution facility). At step 134,
the program guide may display a display screen including on-screen
listings for programs that are related to the given program based
on the user-configured search parameters. At step 134a, the program
guide may sort the located listings for display based on the
user-configured search parameters. At step 134b, the program guide
may provide the user with an opportunity to select one of the
displayed programs listings.
[0064] Illustrative display screen 136 and illustrative
related-program find search configuration display screen 138
(hereinafter, configuration display screen 138) of FIG. 7a may be
provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 6. The program
guide may display configuration display screen 138 for an episode
of Star Trek: The Next Generation when a user presses a single key
of a remote control while a video for that episode of Star Trek:
The Next Generation is being displayed. Configuration display
screen 138 may contain an on-screen list of attributes for the
given program, Star Trek: The Next Generation. The configuration
display screen 138 may contain options for providing the user with
an opportunity to assign various importance levels to the on-screen
program attributes. The option may provide the user with an
opportunity to assign different importance levels such as required,
desired, ignored, or excluded to the program attributes.
[0065] Configuration display screen 138 shows that importance
levels may be assigned to the program attributes for the given
episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation so that when locating
related program listings, the program guide excludes programs that
are Star Trek The Next Generation, ignores whether a program is a
Star Trek program when deciding whether it matches, ignores whether
a program is a Star Trek movie when deciding whether it matches,
requires matching programs to be science fiction, requires matching
programs to have Patrick Stewart. Configuration display screen 138
may include a search option that may provide the user with an
opportunity to direct the program guide system to locate program
listings related to the given program based on the program
attributes and their assigned importance levels.
[0066] Illustrative related-program find display screens 140 and
142 of FIG. 7b may be provided based on the illustrative steps of
FIG. 6. The program guide may display related-program find display
screen 140 when, for example, the user selects the search option
from configuration display screen 138 of FIG. 7a. Display screen
140 may include a list of programs that are related to the given
program based on the search parameters of configuration display
screen 138 of FIG. 7a. The list of related programs in display
screen 140 includes the program Lifeforce, which is a science
fiction program (a required attribute) starring Patrick Stewart (a
required attribute), and includes three Star Trek movies
(Insurrection, First Contact, and Generations) that are also
science fiction programs starring Patrick Stewart and also starring
Jonathan Frakes (a desired attribute). Lifeforce may be displayed
at the bottom of the list because the other programs more closely
match the user-configured search parameters.
[0067] Display screen 140 may include option 144 for displaying
more program listings that are related to Star-Trek: The Next
Generation based on the user-configured search parameters. Display
screen 140 may include save configuration option 146 that provides
the user with an opportunity to save the user-configured search
parameters. The program guide may display related-program find
display screen 142 when the user selects save configuration option
146 of display screen 140. Display screen 142 is the same display
screen as display screen 140 except that display screen 142
includes unsave configuration option 148 that provides the user
with an opportunity to unsave the user-configured search parameters
(e.g., delete the saved user-configured search parameters).
[0068] If desired, an arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 7c may
be used to search for related programs. Initially, the user may
indicate an interest in a given program by selecting a program
listing for the given program from an on-screen display of program
listings, by pressing an OK button or other remote control button
while tuned to the given program (e.g., while tuned to the given
program with a set-top box or the like), by selecting the program
from the results of a search, etc.
[0069] A list of attributes for the given program (such as the
attribute list of display screen 300 of FIG. 7c) may be displayed
for the user (e.g., by the program guide or other interactive
application running on the system). A moveable highlight region
such as highlight region 302 or other such indicator may be used to
provide the user with an opportunity to select attributes of
interest to be used in searching for related programs.
[0070] As shown in display screen 304 of FIG. 7c, the user may
select one or more attributes (e.g., by pressing a remote control
OK button or otherwise selecting desired attributes). The system
may display a visual indication of which program attributes have
been scheduled. For example, the system may highlight selected
attributes, may change their color, text font, brightness, etc. or
may display an indicator such as indicators 306 to indicate which
program attributes have been selected by the user. When the user
highlights search option 308 and presses a remote control OK button
(or otherwise selects option 308), the system searches for program
listings matching the selected program attributes. When plural
attributes are selected, the search may be performed using a
logical AND or a logical OR function. The search results may be
displayed using any suitable on-screen arrangement and may be
selectable (for more information, automatic tuning, etc.) if
desired.
[0071] The arrangement of FIG. 7c is merely illustrative. Any
suitable arrangement may be used for providing an on-screen display
of program attributes related to a selected program. The attributes
may include program genre(s), actors, rating, channel, director,
year produced, or any other suitable program attributes. The
program attribute information may be provided with the program
listings data. In a client-server arrangement, for example, the
program attributes may be maintained with program listings data
stored on a server located at a cable system headened (or at
another suitable location). In configurations in which program
listings are stored locally on a set-top box or other user
equipment, program attributes may be maintained locally.
[0072] Illustrative information display screen 150 and illustrative
related-program find search configuration display screen 152
(hereinafter, configuration display screen 152) of FIG. 8a may be
provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 6. The program
guide may display information display screen 150 when a user
selects to receive information on the Denver Broncos v. Dallas
Cowboys football game. Information display screen 150 may include
related programs option 154 that provides the user with an
opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are
related to the Denver Broncos v. Dallas Cowboys football game. The
program guide may display configuration display screen 152 when the
user selects the related programs options from information display
screen 150. Configuration display screen 152 may include an
on-screen list of program attributes that are to be configured by
the user.
[0073] The on-screen program attributes may differ based on the
specifics of the given program and based on the category for the
given program. For example, for a sports category program, the
on-screen list may include attributes that are specific to that
sports program and/or include attributes that are related to sports
programs in general. As shown, configuration display screen 152 may
include the following attributes: other football games, NFL games,
Broncos games, Cowboys games, any sporting events, football-related
programs, programs with John Elway as guest, etc. The user may then
configure the search parameters to require matching programs to be
football games, desire NFL games and Broncos games, exclude Cowboys
games, ignore whether a program is a sporting event when deciding
whether it matches, ignore whether a program is a football related
program when deciding whether it matches, and ignore whether a
program has John Elway as guest when deciding whether it
matches.
[0074] Illustrative related program find display screen 158 of FIG.
8b may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 6.
Display screen 158 may be displayed when a user selects search
option 156 from configuration display screen 152 of FIG. 8a.
Display screen 158 of FIG. 8b may include listings that are sorted
for display based on the user-configured search parameters of
configuration display screen 158. The program guide may display
program display screen 160 that contains video of a current program
when the user selects a listing for a current program from the
program listings contained in related-program find display screen
158. If desired, the program guide may display information display
screen 162 for a program when the user selects a program listing
from the program listings contained in related-program find display
screen 158.
[0075] If desired, the listings in related-program find display
screen 158 may include program title, air time, channel, rating,
pay-per-view information, etc.
[0076] Illustrative steps for an interactive television system such
as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1
involved in providing the illustrative display screens of FIG. 8b
are shown in FIG. 9. At step 164, the program guide may display a
display screen having on-screen program listings that are related
to a given program. Step 164 may include step 166 in which the
program may provide the user with an opportunity to select one of
the on-screen program listings. At step 168, the program guide may
tune to a channel for a current program when the user selects one
of the on-screen listings that is for a current program. At step
170, the program guide may display an information display screen
for a selected on-screen listing when the user selects that
on-screen listing. At step 172, the program guide may return the
user to viewing television or to an earlier display screen when the
user exits from the display screen having the related on-screen
program listings (e.g., presses an exit or back key of a remote
control).
[0077] Illustrative steps for an interactive television system such
as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1
involved in displaying a list of saved searches are shown in FIG.
10a. At step 174, the program guide may provide the user with an
opportunity to select a saved search option. At step 176, the
program guide may display a display screen having a list of saved
searches when a user selects the saved search option.
[0078] Illustrative main menu display screen 178 and illustrative
saved searches display screen 180 of FIG. 10b may be provided based
on the illustrative steps of FIG. 10a. The program guide may
display main menu display screen 178 to provide a main selection
menu for accessing program guide features. Main menu display screen
178 may include saved searches option 182. The program guide may
display saved searches display screen 180 when the user selects
saved searches option 182. Saved searches display screen 180 may
include a list of saved-searches that are identified on the screen
using the given program title for each saved search. When two saved
searches are for two programs with the same title, the program
guide may use numbering to distinguish the listings. If desired,
the user may have been allowed to name the saved searches. For
example, the program guide may have provided the user with an
opportunity to enter a name (e.g., by selecting or entering
alphanumeric letters with a user interface device) for a search
that a user is directing the program guide to save. The saved
searches may be selected by the user to provide the user with an
opportunity to search current program listings using search
parameters that were user-configured in an earlier search of
program listings.
[0079] Illustrative steps for an interactive television system such
as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1
involved in displaying a list of saved searches are shown in FIG.
11. At step 184, the program guide may display a display screen
having a list of saved searches. At step 186, the program guide may
provide a user with an opportunity to select a saved search. At
step 188, the program guide may display a list of programs based on
a search of currently available program listings with saved search
parameters from an earlier search.
[0080] At step 190, the program guide may provide the user with an
opportunity to delete a saved search from the list of saved
searches. At step 192, the program guide may delete a particular
saved search when the user selects to delete that particular saved
search.
[0081] At step 194, the program guide may provide the user with an
opportunity to select an option to view user-configured search
parameters for a saved search. At step 196, the program guide may
display a display screen having user-configured search parameters
for a saved search when the user selects to view user-configured
search parameters for that saved search. If desired, step 196 may
include a step that provides the user with the opportunity to
modify the save searches.
[0082] At step 198, the program guide may provide the user with an
opportunity to set (or remove) an automatic notification for
programs that have been located using a saved search. At step 200,
the program guide may display a notice that a located program is
scheduled to air when the user has selected to receive automatic
notifications. If desired, step 200 may include a step that
provides the user with the opportunity to act on it.
[0083] Illustrative saved searches display screen 202 and
illustrative related-program find display screen 204 of FIG. 12 may
be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. Saved
searches display screen 202 may include a list of saved searches
and corresponding options, including a search option, for each
saved search. The program guide may display related program find
display screen 204 when the users selects the search option for
Search #4. Related program find display screen 204 may include a
list of current program listings based on the user-configured
search parameters for Search #4.
[0084] Illustrative saved searches display screens 206 and 208 of
FIG. 13 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11.
The program guide may display saved searches display screen 206
that includes a delete option for Search #3. The program guide may
display saved searches display screen 208 that does not include
Search #3 when the user selects the delete option for Search
#3.
[0085] Illustrative display screen 214 and illustrative saved
searches display screens 210 and 212 of FIG. 14 may be provided
based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. The program guide may
display saved searches display screen 210 that includes an
automatic notification option for saved searches including Search
#5. The automatic notification option for search #5 may initially
be off. The program guide may display saved searches display screen
212 that includes an indication that the automatic notification for
Search #5 is on when the user selects the automatic notification
option for Search #5 from display screen 210. After the user exits
saved searches display screen 212 and resumes watching television,
the program guide may display automatic notification overlay 216 in
display screen 214 when the program guide locates a program (e.g.,
the movie Terminator) using the user-configured search parameters
for Search #5. If desired, the program guide may provide a
notification display screen for the located program. The
notification may be displayed when the program is about to air or
is airing. The overlay 216 may include a tune option (for tuning to
the channel airing that program), an information option (for
display further information on that program), a saved searches
option (for displaying a saved searches display screen), an order
option (for ordering programs), etc.
[0086] Illustrative saved searches display screen 218 and
illustrative saved search configuration display screen 220 of FIG.
15 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. The
program guide may display saved searches display screen 220 having
an option that provides the user with an opportunity to view search
parameters for saved searches. The program guide may display saved
search configuration display screen 222 for Search #3 when the user
selects the option to view search parameters for Search #3. Saved
search configuration display screen 222 may display the saved
user-configured search parameters for Search #3, a modify
configuration option (to allow the user to adjust the search
parameters), and a search option (to search the current program
listings based on the user-configured search parameters). If
desired, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity
to modify the settings on this screen by highlighting and changing
them, rather than having to first select a "modify" option.
[0087] Illustrative saved searches display screen 224 and
illustrative saved search configuration display screen 226 of FIG.
16 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. The
program guide may display saved searches display screen 224 that
includes a list of saved searches when a user selects a saved
searches option (e.g., saved searches option 182 of FIG. 10b). The
program guide may display saved search configuration display screen
226 when the user selects a saved search from saved searches
display screen 224. Saved search configuration display screen 226
may include on-screen search settings for the selected saved
search. The program guide may provide the user with an opportunity
to navigate to any of the settings and to modify them. Saved search
configuration, display screen 226 may include search option 228
that when selected, causes the program guide to display a list of
matching programs, rename option 230 that allows the user to enter
a name (or modify the name) for the selected saved search, delete
option 232 that when selected, deletes the selected save search,
automatic notification option 234 that provides an automatic
notification of programs matching the selected saved search, etc.
Automatic Notification option 234 may include an indicator 236 to
indicate that option 234 is on.
[0088] 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.
* * * * *