The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 22, 2014
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2008
Jerry C. Liu, Atlanta, GA (US);
Brian K. Daigle, Marietta, GA (US);
Jerry C. Liu, Atlanta, GA (US);
Brian K. Daigle, Marietta, GA (US);
AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
Interactive program guide (IPG) and instant messaging (IM) convergence is provided by displaying an IPG that includes one or more IM icons. In response to detection of a user clicking on an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons or hovering over an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons, a pull-down menu is displayed that includes one or more IM options or a new screen is displayed that includes one or more instant messaging options. The pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all IM users that are watching a program in a particular geographic location. Alternatively or additionally, the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all buddies for the user that are watching a program listed in the IPG.