Interactive video distribution systems – Operator interface – To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-11
2001-11-13
Faile, Andrew (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Operator interface
To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
C725S040000, C725S057000, C348S564000, C348S734000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317883
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a system and method for allowing television viewers to browse through programs having a desired content.
BACKGROUND ART
Presently, to select a program to view, many television viewers simply “channel surf”, or sequentially view each channel, until they find a channel that has a desirable program. However, as the number of available channels continues to grow, channel surfing has become an increasingly inefficient method for viewers to find the type of program they want to watch. Instead, most viewers would prefer a more direct method for selecting a program to view.
Some cable television networks dedicate a specific channel to serve as an electronic program guide. Alternatively, an electronic program guide can be superimposed over a current channel as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,978 issued to Alten et al. Typically, one standard program guide is provided for all viewers or subscribers to a network. These electronic program guides are usually time-based, and are scrolled continuously or periodically. Since only a few channels can be displayed at once, the time for completing one cycle of the channels can be considerable. In addition, moving back and forth between the on-screen program guide and selected programs is cumbersome. Furthermore, viewers would prefer to actually view the programs, as they can when channel surfing, in order to make their program selection.
With a such a wide range of programs offered, individual viewers usually prefer selected subsets of the available programming. In fact, viewers typically value the content of the programs above the specific channel or broadcaster providing the programs. To meet this need, customized electronic program guides have been developed in which the on-screen display includes programs from only a specific content category or a list of programs on favorite channels. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,373 issued to White et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,176 issued to Bruette et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,259 issued to Lawler. Such specialized program guides limit somewhat the amount of information viewers must sift through to select a program. However, viewers still must move back and forth between the on-screen program guide and the selected programs, and viewers still lack real-time viewing of the programs to aid in making their selection.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system and method for content-based television program selection.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for content-based television program selection which do not require a viewer to move back and forth between an on-screen electronic program guide and selected programs.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system and method of content-based television program selection that allow a viewer to view programs in real time to aid in making a program selection.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for content-based television program selection which provide user-programmable functionality.
Accordingly, a method is provided for content-based television program selection that includes receiving an input signal from a viewer indicating a desired program content category, determining whether any channels are currently showing a program of the desired content category at the time of receiving the input signal and, if a channel is determined to be currently showing a program of the desired content category, automatically tuning to the determined channel.
In carrying out the method of the present invention, a system for content-based television program selection is provided. The system includes a head-end server operable to receive program signals from a programming source, and a viewer input apparatus operable to generate an input signal indicating a desired program content category. The system further includes at least one set-top box in communication with the head-end server and the viewer input apparatus. The set-top box includes a program receiver to receive program signals from the head-end server, and a viewer input receiver to receive the input signal from the viewer input apparatus. In addition, the set-top box includes a processor in communication with the program receiver and the viewer input receiver, where the processor functions to determine whether any channels are currently showing a program of the desired content category at the time the input signal is received. Further, a tuner is provided which is operable to automatically tune the program receiver to any determined channels.
In operation, the system and method of the present invention allow a viewer to select a desired content category of programming, preferably by depressing a content category key on a remote controller. Upon receiving an input signal indicative of this selection, the processor determines whether any channels are currently showing a program of the desired content category. To identify programs currently showing, the processor identifies programs having a running period which includes the current time. Next, from the programs currently showing, the processor determines whether any channels are showing programs having the desired content category. If such a channel is determined, the tuner automatically tunes the program receiver to the determined channel. In a preferred embodiment, the determined channel is the next consecutive channel, starting from the current channel and moving in either an ascending or descending order, currently showing a program of the desired content category. If the program shown on the determined channel is not acceptable to the viewer, the viewer simply depresses the same content category key again and the process is repeated.
The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are more readily understood from a review of the attached drawings and the accompanying specification and claims.
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Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Bui Kieu-Oanh
Faile Andrew
MediaOne Group Inc.
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