Rovi Guides, Inc.

Index Systems, Inc.

Gemstar Developement Corporation

E Guide, Inc.

Thomas Edward Ward, Iii

Douglas B Macrae

Kenneth S Hancock

Henry C Yuen

Elsie Y Leung

Thomas E Westberg

Jonathan B Orlick

Arthur Y Ng

Stephen R Dias

Ronald Alexander

P Christopher Shoaff

Jonathon Sutton

Shawn P O'Neil

Roy J Mankovitz

Eric Shalkey

Peter Christopher Schoaff

Ted Nesson

Shawn O'Neil

P Christopher Schoaff

Jamey Rallis

Ken Hancock

Steve Dias

Jacques Hugon

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

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

System and method for utilizing EPG database for modifying advertisements

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

The present invention is an improvement over previous Electronic Programming Guides (&ldquo;EPG&rdquo;) in that it provides, among other things: Improved viewer interaction capabilities with the EPG; improved viewer control of video recording of future-scheduled programming; improved features to the EPG display and navigation; parental control of the EPG display; improved television program information access by the viewer; improved opportunities for the commercial advertiser to reach the viewer; improved product information access by the viewer; creation of a viewer's profile; utilization of viewer profile information to customize various aspects of the EPG; and utilization of viewer profile information to provide customized presentation of advertising to the viewer.

Systems and methods for displaying and recording control interface with television programs, video, advertising information and program scheduling information

A channel map is created and/or edited with the aid of a PIP window in which a real time television program is displayed. The PIP window is displayed on a monitor screen at the same time as a channel map of pairs of network names and local channel numbers. The local channel numbers can be individually changed to create the channel map or edit the pairings of network name and local channel number. When the local channel numbers are changed, the tuner for the PIP window also automatically changes so the television program displayed in the PIP window corresponds to the television program telecast on the local channel number displayed on the screen. This provides verification of the accuracy of the pairing of network names and local channel numbers in the channel map.

Apparatus and method for creating or editing a channel map

Growing community of inventors

Weston, MA, United States of America

Thomas Edward Ward, Iii