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:
Dec. 13, 2016
Filed:
Feb. 08, 2016
Applicant:
Rovi Guides, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Inventors:
Douglas B. Macrae, Weston, MA (US);
Thomas E. Ward, Weston, MA (US);
Kenneth S. Hancock, Nashua, NH (US);
Jonathan B. Orlick, Livermore, CA (US);
Assignee:
Rovi Guides, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 5/445 (2011.01); H04N 21/4784 (2011.01); H04N 5/782 (2006.01); H04N 7/16 (2011.01); H04N 21/433 (2011.01); H04N 21/434 (2011.01); H04N 21/438 (2011.01); H04N 21/442 (2011.01); H04N 21/443 (2011.01); H04N 21/4627 (2011.01); H04N 21/482 (2011.01); H04N 21/488 (2011.01); H04N 21/431 (2011.01); H04N 21/254 (2011.01); H04N 21/2543 (2011.01); H04N 21/81 (2011.01); H04N 21/84 (2011.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 21/4784 (2013.01); H04N 5/44543 (2013.01); H04N 5/782 (2013.01); H04N 7/162 (2013.01); H04N 21/2541 (2013.01); H04N 21/2543 (2013.01); H04N 21/4316 (2013.01); H04N 21/4334 (2013.01); H04N 21/4345 (2013.01); H04N 21/4383 (2013.01); H04N 21/4438 (2013.01); H04N 21/44204 (2013.01); H04N 21/44209 (2013.01); H04N 21/44222 (2013.01); H04N 21/4627 (2013.01); H04N 21/482 (2013.01); H04N 21/4882 (2013.01); H04N 21/812 (2013.01); H04N 21/84 (2013.01);
Abstract
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.