Gemstar Developement Corporation

Index Systems, Inc.

Other

E Guide, Inc.

Rovi Guides, Inc.

United Video Properties, Inc.

Gemstar Ebook Group Limited

Yuen, Henry C.

Kwoh, Daniel S.

Henry C. Yuen

Daniel S. Kwoh

Henry C Yuen

Daniel S Kwoh

Roy J Mankovitz

Elsie Y Leung

Wing P Leung

Allen Chang

Douglas B Macrae

Thomas Edward Ward, Iii

Hing Y Ngai

Carl Hindman

Thomas E Westberg

Kenneth S Hancock

Yee Kong Ng

Arthur Y Ng

Stephen R Dias

Ronald Alexander

Jonathon Sutton

P Christopher Shoaff

Eric Shalkey

Shawn P O'Neil

Thomas Edward Ward

Garth Conboy

Anuj Uday Gujar

Brady Duga

Thomas E Ward

John Rivlin

Ted Nesson

Peter Christopher Schoaff

Philip P Yuen

Zhen Tao

Tony T Tam

Steve Dias

Ken Hancock

P Christopher Schoaff

Shawn O'Neil

Kar Cheung Cho

Will Leschner

Ken Fishkin

Shawn O'neil

Dan O'connor

Hin K Tang

Thomas Edward Iii Ward

Christopher P Schoaff

Ron Alexander

Sean O'Neil

Art Ng

Tom Westberg

A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user.

Search engine for video and graphics

A method and apparatus for exercising access control over television programs using a parental control user interface that has different functions is provided. The method requires a password to enter into a master mode for obtaining access to all the functions of the parental control user interface. Once in the master mode, the user may enter a criterion for blocking a television program from being viewed or recorded or the user can override an already blocked television program. If a user, not in the master mode, attempts to watch or record a program that meets the blocking criterion and the program does not meet the overriding criterion, a prompt is provided to the user to enter the password. Upon entering a correct password, the program is unblocked.

Apparatus and method for parental control using V-Chip plus+ and master password

A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

System and method for modifying advertisement responsive to EPG information

A television system has a television viewing mode and a guide mode. The guide mode includes an electronic program guide (EPG), which provides the viewer program information for tuned programs, and a tape index guide (TIG), which provides information for programs recorded on a video cassette. In both guides, real time images of a program are displayed in a PIP window on the television screen and guide information is displayed in the background. In both guides, the viewer may switch between a currently telecast program or a recorded program. The viewer may access either guide from the television mode and vice versa. In the guide mode, the viewer may independently switch the guide information and the type of program, i.e., tuned or recorded, in the PIP window.

Combination of recorded program index and EPG

A television system comprises an electronic program guide (EPG) including a picture-in-picture (PIP) window and means for returning to a last channel viewed full screen (LCF) in a television viewing mode prior to entering the guide mode. The EPG displays a program list including a listing for the LCF and text identifying it as such. This last channel listing is positioned at the top of a program list area in the guide. The viewer returns directly to the LCF in the television viewing mode by setting a cursor to the last channel listing prior to exiting the guide mode. In guides including listings for future programs, the last channel listing remains in a designated position of the program list area. To return to the LCF from the guide mode, the viewer cursors to the last channel listing in the program list and then presses a GUIDE/TV button, designates the LCF as the default channel to which the system automatically tunes when exiting the guide mode, or presses a LAST CHANNEL button on the remote control unit to simultaneously exit the guide mode and tune the system to the LCF. Alternately, the system may employ separate television and PIP tuners. In the guide mode, the television input is switched to the PIP tuner and the television tuner remains tuned to the LCF. Thus, when the viewer reselects the television viewing mode, the program being telecast on the LCF is displayed full screen.

System and method for grazing television channels from an electronic program guide

A first signal representing a reduced size video program is transmitted from a central location to a plurality of user terminals in a television signal. A second signal representative of an EPG is generated at one of the user terminals. The first and second signals are linearly combined and applied to a display monitor to display the reduced size video program and the EPG on the screen of the monitor simultaneously in a PIG format. In one embodiment a plurality of reduced size video programs are transmitted in the television signal and one of them is selected for display in a PIG format by marking the program listing in the EPG corresponding to the selected reduced size video program with a cursor.

Simulated PIP window in EPG

An EPG database for a home entertainment system includes files that contain information about television programs retrievable by time and channel. The files are linked to each other so information about a future television program can be obtained by accessing a file about a current television program. A current television program displayed on the screen of a home entertainment system includes an announcement or advertisement of a future television program. The availability of an electronic program guide function (e.g., record, watch, details, display time, display channel, display by theme, and Internet connection) is signaled during, before, or after the announcement. A command is issued to invoke the EPG function. The information about the future television program is retrieved from the file about the current television program in the database. The EPG function is executed with the retrieved information. As a result, an EPG function can be performed with respect to a future television program without embedding information about the future television program in the television signal.

Home entertainment system and method of its operation

Multiple channel maps are embedded in a television transmission and the appropriate channel corresponding to the particular television service used by the viewer is downloaded for use with the television receiver. Each channel map is accompanied by a channel map identifier which identifies the source of the television transmission and a geographic identifier. The source of a television transmission is automatically detected by monitoring the radio-frequency spectrum allocations of telecast stations. The geographic area identifier is determined by comparison with a user inputted geographic area identifier. The channel map having a channel map identifier corresponding to the detected television transmission source and the user inputted geographic area identifier is downloaded and stored for future use.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and downloading setup information

Growing community of inventors

Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Henry C Yuen