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.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 28, 2017

Filed:

Aug. 08, 2016
Applicant:

Rovi Guides, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US);

Inventors:

Pamela L. McKissick, Mounds, OK (US);

William L. Thomas, Evergreen, CO (US);

Michael D. Ellis, Boulder, CO (US);

Mark A. Regouby, Tulsa, OK (US);

Joel G. Hassell, Golden, CO (US);

Assignee:

Rovi Guides, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 7/173 (2011.01); H04N 21/478 (2011.01); G06Q 30/02 (2012.01); G06Q 30/06 (2012.01); H04N 7/14 (2006.01); H04N 21/24 (2011.01); H04N 21/25 (2011.01); H04N 21/2543 (2011.01); H04N 21/258 (2011.01); H04N 21/2665 (2011.01); H04N 21/422 (2011.01); H04N 21/431 (2011.01); H04N 21/442 (2011.01); H04N 21/45 (2011.01); H04N 21/454 (2011.01); H04N 21/462 (2011.01); H04N 21/475 (2011.01); H04N 21/4782 (2011.01); H04N 21/4786 (2011.01); H04N 21/4788 (2011.01); H04N 21/658 (2011.01); H04N 21/81 (2011.01); H04N 21/84 (2011.01); H04N 21/472 (2011.01); H04N 5/445 (2011.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 21/47815 (2013.01); G06Q 30/02 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0601 (2013.01); H04N 7/147 (2013.01); H04N 7/17309 (2013.01); H04N 7/17318 (2013.01); H04N 21/2408 (2013.01); H04N 21/252 (2013.01); H04N 21/2543 (2013.01); H04N 21/25866 (2013.01); H04N 21/2665 (2013.01); H04N 21/42204 (2013.01); H04N 21/4316 (2013.01); H04N 21/44204 (2013.01); H04N 21/44222 (2013.01); H04N 21/454 (2013.01); H04N 21/4532 (2013.01); H04N 21/4622 (2013.01); H04N 21/4751 (2013.01); H04N 21/4753 (2013.01); H04N 21/4755 (2013.01); H04N 21/4756 (2013.01); H04N 21/4758 (2013.01); H04N 21/4781 (2013.01); H04N 21/4782 (2013.01); H04N 21/4786 (2013.01); H04N 21/4788 (2013.01); H04N 21/47211 (2013.01); H04N 21/6582 (2013.01); H04N 21/812 (2013.01); H04N 21/84 (2013.01);
Abstract

A television message system is provided that allows users at user television devices that are connected to a television distribution facility to transmit messages to each other relating to a television program or other suitable subject. The television message system permits users to participate in evaluations, contests, promotions, and surveys related to a television program while watching that television program. The television message system also permits users to compose and send a message to a television program entity. Users can send massages through the television message system to users at personal computers who are connected to the user's television distribution facility through a communications network. The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient. The gift may be an electronic gift certificate for pay-per-view programming. The television message system may be based on an interactive television program guide or a set-top box application implemented on a set-top box.


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