Interactive video distribution systems – Operator interface – To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-11
2001-07-17
Faile, Andrew (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Operator interface
To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
C725S040000, C725S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263501
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for providing information to television viewers, and more particularly to systems and methods for allowing the viewer to retrieve, search, select and interact with television schedule information located in a remote database, computer network or on-line service, e.g., a network server on the Internet or World Wide Web.
As the number of television stations in a metropolitan area or on a cable network has increased, the number of programs of potential interest that are presented to a viewer has risen dramatically. With the use of dish antennas capable of receiving direct satellite signals, the multitude of programs available to the viewer has further increased. Consequently, television schedule systems that are provided directly on the viewer's television screen have been developed to assist the viewer in sorting through these various programs and determining which programs to watch or record. One such television schedule system is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,121 (Young et al.), the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In one embodiment of Young, the television schedule includes a series of menu screens having an array of cells corresponding to different television programs. The viewer may scroll through the cells to view which television programs are being presented on various channels at various times. In addition, the viewer may select certain cells to obtain more information on the associated program or to pull up other submenus with additional options.
The recent development of television schedule systems, such as the above described patent to Young, have created many new challenges and opportunities. One such challenge and opportunity is to provide viewers with additional information associated with a particular program in the television guide. As a television viewer is browsing through the television programs, he or she may wish to obtain more information relating to specific areas of interest or concerns associated with the show, such as the actors, actresses, other movies released during the same time period, or travel packages or promotions that may be available through primary, secondary or third party vendors. Offering this type of information to the television viewer can be difficult, however, because there are hundreds of different programs broadcast every day. In addition, the available information changes at a rapid pace, which makes it even more difficult to provide this information in present television schedule guides.
In television broadcasting, it may also be desirable to interact with the viewer. There are many commercials and programs which request viewer action such as purchasing an advertised product, making a monetary contribution, responding to a survey, answering a question, or participating in contests with other viewers, for example. One problem with this existing system is that it is often difficult to motivate a viewer to request information or send in a contribution after the broadcast of the commercial or program. Viewers will often forget the advertisement or simply lose motivation to spend money or request information after the commercial or program is over. Another problem is that companies sponsoring these commercials or programs would often like to provide their viewers with further information, if the viewers could be identified or if the viewer requests the additional information. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a ready and efficient method to facilitate an exchange of information between television viewers and producers, promoters and advertisers during the broadcast of the commercial or program.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information on a visual interface, and for allowing the viewer to retrieve, search, select and interact with information located in a remote database, computer network or on-line service, such as a network server on the Internet or World Wide Web. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of visual interfaces, such as television screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database or computer network to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV. The present invention also provides systems and methods for allowing the viewer to navigate and interact with a program guide that is displayed, for example, on the viewer's television screen. The program guide will usually include a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day, week or month. With an input device, such as a remote control device, pointing device, mouse, keyboard, microphone or the like, the viewer can browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system and method is provided for directly linking television viewers with broadcasters and advertisers during the real-time broadcast or non-real-time internet broadcast of a commercial or program. In this embodiment, the system includes a viewer interface, such as a television, computer, PCTV or a television coupled to a computer system, and a communication device for coupling the viewer interface with a computer network, such as the Internet or World Wide Web. A television guide database or network server is coupled to the computer network, or directly to the viewer interface for providing the television schedule and/or listing information to the viewer. The viewer interface will have a memory and a processor with appropriate software (not shown) for searching, is retrieving, initiating a subscription to and interacting with information from the television guide database, or the commercial databases coupled to the computer network. Alternatively, this function may be provided through the computer network by allowing the viewer to access, download, and/or automatically upgrade an application or applet (e.g., a JAVA™ applet) having appropriate software to run the television schedule and/or listing information guide on a display.
In the above embodiment, commercial providers (e.g., Budweiser) and/or television station broadcasters (e.g., ABC) and/or program directory, library, or archival sources (e.g.., Turner Classics Film Library or other such repository of digitally-available programs or programming) may also have databases coupled to the viewer interface. In this manner, the viewer may directly access these databases during the broadcast of a television program, or while the viewer is browsing through the television schedule and/or listing information guide. For example, the viewer may purchase goods and services directly through the commercial sponsor, or through a delivery system provided by the television schedule and/or listing information guide. This type of advertising allows the advertiser to directly target a particular program, and it allows the viewer to directly purchase the products during the advertisement or associated program. Consequently, viewers will not forget the advertisement or simply lose motivation to spend money or request information and/or related products, offers, and services after the commercial or program is over.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4787063 (1988-11-01), Muguet
patent: 5155591 (1992-10-01), Wachob
patent: 5223924 (1993-06-01), Strubbe
patent: 5335277 (1994-08-01), Harvey et al.
patent: 5353121 (1994-10-01), Young et al.
patent: 5359367 (1994-10-01), Stockill
patent: 5465113 (1995-11-01), Gilboy
patent: 5469206 (1995-11-01), Strubbe et al.
patent: 5479266 (1995-12-01), Young et al.
patent: 5481296 (1996-01-01), Cragun et al.
patent: 5483278 (1996-01-01), Strubbe et al.
patent: 5502504 (1996-03-01), Mar
Broughton Susan
Leftwich James Jay
O'Brien Sean A.
Schein Steven M.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Faile Andrew
Star Sight
Tran Hai V.
LandOfFree
Systems and methods for linking television viewers with... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Systems and methods for linking television viewers with..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Systems and methods for linking television viewers with... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2441816