Gemstar Developement Corporation

Rovi Guides, Inc.

Index Systems, Inc.

E Guide, Inc.

Kenneth S Hancock

Henry C Yuen

Roy J Mankovitz

Brian Lee Klosterman

Douglas B Macrae

Thomas Edward Ward, Iii

Thomas E Ward

Jonathan B Orlick

Elsie Y Leung

Thomas E Westberg

Arthur Y Ng

Stephen R Dias

Ronald Alexander

Jonathon Sutton

P Christopher Shoaff

Shawn P O'Neil

Peter Christopher Schoaff

Eric Shalkey

Ted Nesson

Shawn O'Neil

Wensdy Whitehead

Jacques Hugon

Shawn O'neil

Thomas Edward Ward

Daniel C O'connor

Jacques L Hugon

James A Rallis

Thomas Edward Iii Ward

The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled or scrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.

Premium channel promotion system and method

The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.

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

System and method for targeted advertisement display responsive to user characteristics

System and method for displaying advertisements responsive to EPG information

Detection and indication of premium channel availability

System and method for learning the optimal channel change instruction recognition speed for an entertainment system. A memory stores information relating to: time increments between channel change signals; pulse width of each individual digit of a channel instruction; and the duration of time between each digit pulse signal. Based on the information stored in memory, a microprocessor constructs and sends channel change commands at a particular speed, progressively increasing the speed. When the speed at which channel change commands are sent exceeds the capability of the television receiver to recognize the channel change command, the microprocessor reduces the speed, as a function of the information stored in memory, until the television receiver can recognize the channel change command. The microprocessor stores in memory the fastest speed at which the television receiver can recognize the channel change command. Thereafter, the microprocessor uses the optimal speed to deliver channel change commands.

Smart-channel: learning-capable television channel changing apparatus, system and method

A system for restricting access to television programs comprising an input for accepting cursor movement and selection commands. The system includes a display that depicts a two dimensional matrix composed of rows and columns of tiles, wherein either the rows of tiles or the columns of tiles correspond to overall program ratings and either the rows of tiles or the columns of tiles correspond to specific program content indications and depicts highlighting of individual tiles or groups of tiles based on the cursor movement commands. The system further includes means for blocking or allowing viewing of television programs based on the overall program ratings and specific content ratings of the rows and columns corresponding the highlighted tiles when a selection command is entered into the input.

V-Chip plus&plus;in-guide user interface apparatus and method for programmable blocking of television and other viewable programming, such as for parental control of a television receiver

Growing community of inventors

Nashua, NH, United States of America

Kenneth S Hancock