Thomson Licensing

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc.

Robert Joseph Logan

Hugh Boyd Morrison

Sheila Renee Crosby

Robert Skipworth Comer

Keith Reynolds Wehmeyer

Mark Sheridan Westlake

Robert H Miller

James Edwin Hailey

Michael Wayne Johnson

Sheila R Augaitis

Jill Suzanne Allen

Aaron Hal Dinwiddie

Mike Arthur Derrenberger

Steven Charles Rhoads

Megan Louise Brown

John Frederick Teskey

Charles Bryan Hunt

Thomas H Hamilton

Shelia Renee Crosby

Anthony Edward Stuart

Michael Eugene Willcox

A program guide is displayed which lists the availability of information for a program listed in the guide, where such information is obtained from a source accessible through the Internet, where the guide uses first color to indicate the availability of such information and a second color when such information is not available.

System and method for processing and decoding MPEG compatible data and internet information

A video processing apparatus may be controlled in response to selecting an advertisement displayed in connection with a productivity or communication application software program being operated on a video processing apparatus. The advertisement includes control information, which is used by the video processing apparatus to control an operating mode thereof. The control information may include both time and channel data as well as a recording data for programming a timer. Alternately, the control information may only include program data, which is passed to the electronic program guide to determine the time and channel information associated with the program data.

Method for selecting a program displayed in an advertisement in an application software program

A video decoder system collates program guide information acquired from a variety of local and remote sources. Program guide information is received from a first source and a selectable program guide menu icon is displayed. A category of program guide information items from the first source is collated by a display attribute in response to selection of the menu icon and the collated program guide information items are displayed. The display attribute allocated to the category of program guide information items is common to both the category of items and to the menu icon. Codes identifying program categories may be converted to other codes using equivalence mapping information for classifying programs according to a master set of program categories. Composite program map information may be formed including new data identifiers allocated to program guide information items for use in retrieving the items from a second source.

System for collating data from multiple sources to form a composite program guide for display

A video decoder system automatically acquires program guide information from local and remote peripheral devices to form a composite program guide. Program guide information is received from a first source and access data is retrieved from memory. The access data is used to initiate communication automatically between the video decoder and a second source external to the video decoder. Program guide information retrieved from the second source together with program guide information provided by the first source is incorporated into a composite program guide for display. The communication may be initiated upon different conditions and a peripheral device and associated communication protocol may be identified from various sources of configuration information.

System for automatically forming a program guide from information derived from multiple sources

A system and a method is disclosed which allows both advertisement and program information to be shown on a channel banner, while user changes channel. In another embodiment, an 'advertisement channel' is inserted into an active channel list (e.g., scan list), so that when a user is changing channel, a selected ad will be displayed. In yet another embodiment, a method for tracking and collating advertisement display activity in a video system supporting composite display of image data associated with different multimedia functions and advertisements is disclosed.

Advertisement and tracking in a television apparatus

A method and interface for linking terms in an electronic message to program information, are provided. The method of linking terms in an electronic mesage to program information in an electronic program guide (EPG) comprises the steps of receiving an electronic message, comparing terms in the electronic message to terms in the program information of the EPG, and displaying the electronic message so that any terms in the electronic message which have a match in the program information based on the step of comparing terms, are distinguishable from terms which have no such match. The electronic message interface is adapted to link terms in an electronic message to program information in an electronic program guide (EPG). The electronic message interface comprises a receiver, a comparison unit, and a display device. The receiver is adapted to receive an electronic message. The comparison unit is associated with the receiver and is adapted to compare terms in the electronic message to terms in the program information of the EPG. The display device is connected at least indirectly to the comparison unit and is adapted to display the electronic message so that any terms in the electronic message which have a match in the program information based on the comparison of terms, are distinguishable from terms which have no such match. The method and interface provide a convenient way of implementing a program identified in an electronic message without having to memorize, manually transcribe, or otherwise review all of the requisite programming information.

Method and interface for linking terms in an electronic message to program information

The method of linking terms in an electronic message to program information in an electronic program guide (EPG) comprises the steps of receiving an electronic message, comparing terms in the electronic message to terms in the program information of the EPG, and displaying the electronic message so that any terms in the electronic message which have a match in the program information based on the step of comparing terms, are distinguishable from terms which have no such match. The electronic message interface is adapted to link terms in an electronic message to program information in an electronic program guide (EPG).

A disclosed processing device, including an on-screen User interface display, incorporates a means for generating a display of a plurality of hierarchically ordered menus. The menus include a current menu) and a preceding parent menu showing a selection path from the parent menu to the current menu. Also a menu selection item within the hierarchical menu display provides a User at least one of, a) a display of control information for the device, and b) control parameter data entry capability. The processing device also incorporates a means for updating the on-screen display in response to User menu item selection. The processing device may also include a means for altering the device operation in response to an updated operating parameter value. Also, the selection path may indicate menu entry and exit points separated by at least one intervening menu item.

Hierarchical menu graphical user interface

An interface and a method for incorporating program information into an electronic message are provided. According to the method, a menu of programs is generated by displaying program identifiers on a display device. At least one of the program identifiers representing a program of interest is selected. An electronic message display is generated with program text indicative of that program incorporated into a message portion of the electronic message display. The message portion is sent by electronic message to a recipient, with the program text in the message portion. Preferably, selection of the program text by a recipient of the electronic message causes the respective program to be implemented or causes certain choices on how to implement the program to be presented to the recipient.

Method and interface for incorporating program information into an electronic message

A system and method for automatically adjusting characteristics of a television receiver, such as the video and audio settings, based on characteristics of the program being viewed. The system accesses a pre-defined list of program topics and themes stored in a television database. For each topic and theme, settings for picture quality such as contrast, color and brightness and settings for audio such as audio processor type, bass, and treble are stored. When the system is able to match the currently viewed program with one from the database the audio and video settings are automatically adjusted for that program. If the viewer switches to another program or if one program ends and another begins then the acquisition and adjustment process is repeated. The system can be disabled by the viewer if desired.

System and method for automatic audio and video control settings for television programs

A television receiver, includes a graphics generator for generating for display a stylized image of the environment in which the user's physical television receiver is situated. The image includes graphical representations of functions which are available for selection and control by a user, and at least one of which functions affect the display of the video image. In one embodiment of the invention, a video inset-image from a PIP unit is completely surrounded by a graphics image. The PIP image is aligned with the screen of a graphically displayed television receiver to portray an image of a television displaying an received television program. Alternatively, an animated graphics presentation is displayed in the screen area of the graphically-displayed television receiver to simulate live video. In another embodiment, a stylized display of the user's room is altered in response to user input regarding the user's consumer electronics equipment, and submenu operational choices are enabled or disabled accordingly.

Growing community of inventors

Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Robert Joseph Logan