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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for providing information to television viewers, and more particularly to systems and methods for allowing the viewer to retrieve, search, select and interact with television schedule
information located in a remote database, computer network or on-line service, e.g., a network server on the Internet or World Wide Web.
As the number of television stations in a metropolitan area or on a cable network has increased, the number of programs of potential interest that are presented to a viewer has risen dramatically. With the use of dish antennas capable of
receiving direct satellite signals, the multitude of programs available to the viewer has further increased. Consequently, television schedule systems that are provided directly on the viewer's television screen have been developed to assist the viewer
in sorting through these various programs and determining which programs to watch or record. One such television schedule system is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,121 (Young et al.), the complete disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference. In one embodiment of Young, the television schedule includes a series of menu screens having an array of cells corresponding to different television programs. The viewer may scroll through the cells to view which television
programs are being presented on various channels at various times. In addition, the viewer may select certain cells to obtain more information on the associated program or to pull up other submenus with additional options.
The recent development of television schedule systems, such as the above described patent to Young, have created many new challenges and opportunities. One such challenge and opportunity is to provide viewers with additional information
associated with a particular program in the television guide. As a television viewer is browsing through the television programs, he or she may wish to obtain more information relating to specific areas of interest or concerns associated with the show,
such as the actors, actresses, other movies released during the same time period, or travel packages or promotions that may be available through primary, secondary or third party vendors. Offering this type of information to the television viewer can be
difficult, however, because their are hundreds of different programs broadcast every day. In addition, the available information changes at a rapid pace, which makes it even more difficult to provide this information in present television schedule
guides.
In television broadcasting, it may also be desirable to interact with the viewer. There are many commercials and programs which request viewer action such as purchasing an advertised product, making a monetary contribution, responding to a
survey, answering a question, or participating in contests with other viewers, for example. One problem with this existing system is that it is often difficult to motivate a viewer to request information or send in a contribution after the broadcast of
the commercial or program. Viewers will often forget the advertisement or simply lose motivation to spend money or request information after the commercial or program is over. Another problem is that companies sponsoring these commercials or programs
would often like to provide their viewers with further information, if the viewers could be identified or if the viewer requests the additional information. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a ready and efficient method to facilitate an exchange of
information between television viewers and producers, promoters and advertisers during the broadcast of the commercial or program.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information on a visual interface, and for allowing the viewer to retrieve, search, select and interact with information located in a remote database, computer
network or on-line service, such as a network server on the Internet or World Wide Web. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of visual interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like.
The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database or computer network to the viewer's
computer, television or PCTV. The present invention also provides systems and methods for allowing the viewer to navigate and interact with a program guide that is displayed, for example, on the viewer's television screen. The program guide will
usually include a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day, week or month. With an input device, such as a remote control device, pointing device, mouse, keyboard,
microphone or the like, the viewer can browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system and method is provided for directly linking television viewers with broadcasters and advertisers during the real-time broadcast or non-real-time internet broadcast of a commercial or
program. In this embodiment, the system includes a viewer interface, such as a television, computer, PCTV or a television coupled to a computer system, and a communication device for coupling the viewer interface with a computer network, such as the
Internet or World Wide Web. A television guide database or network server is coupled to the computer network, or directly to the viewer interface for providing the television schedule and/or listing information to the viewer. The viewer interface will
have a memory and a processor with appropriate software (not shown) for searching, retrieving, initiating a subscription to and interacting with information from the television guide database, or the commercial databases coupled to the computer network.
Alternatively, this function may be provided through the computer network by allowing the viewer to access, download, and/or automatically upgrade an application or applet (e.g., a JAVA.TM. applet) having appropriate software to run the television
schedule and/or listing information guide on a display.
In the above embodiment, commercial providers (e.g., Budweiser) and/or television station broadcasters (e.g., ABC) and/or program directory, library, or archival sources (e.g., Turner Classics Film Library or other such repository of
digitally-available programs or programming) may also have databases coupled to the viewer interface. In this manner, the viewer may directly access these databases during the broadcast of a television program, or while the viewer is browsing through
the television schedule and/or listing information guide. For example, the viewer may purchase goods and services directly through the commercial sponsor, or through a delivery system provided by the television schedule and/or listing information guide. This type of advertising allows the advertiser to directly target a particular program, and it allows the viewer to directly purchase the products during the advertisement or associated program. Consequently, viewers will not forget the advertisement or
simply lose motivation to spend money or request information and/or related products, offers, and services after the commercial or program is over.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a representative interactive computer system coupled to a television system.
FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary television system for use with an electronic program guide according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary electronic hardware unit utilized to perform the electronic on-screen schedule display and other functions for the electronic program guide of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a hierarchical structure of a database for the electronic hardware unit of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a channel data table for the data structure of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 illustrates a show list data table for the data structure of FIG. 4.
FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate show title entries and show description entries, respectively, for the data structure of FIG. 4.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate theme catagory entries and them subcategory entries, respectively, for the data structure of FIG. 4.
FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary satellite for transmitting program information to the television system of FIG. 2.
FIG. 11 illustrates several arrangements for providing television schedule information from a database to a television for display.
FIG. 12 illustrates an interactive television schedule system according to the invention incorporating a cable system coupled to a television system.
FIG. 13 illustrates a preferred arrangement for providing television schedule information from the cable system of FIG. 12 to a television for display to the viewer.
FIG. 14 illustrates a system and method for accessing television schedule information at a network file server on the internet.
FIG. 15 schematically illustrates a system and method for viewer interaction with commercial advertisers and program sponsors within the television schedule information system of the present invention.
FIGS. 16A and 16B are schematic views of a representative program guide and a channel guide, respectively, for use with the television system of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 17A-17C are schematic views illustrating a method for selecting a program information menu, moving to the program guide of FIG. 16A and browsing through information menus from other programs.
FIGS. 18A-18E illustrate a Video On Demand menu and an associated submode menu.
FIGS. 19A-19C illustrate a method for accessing and sending mail messages.
FIGS. 20A-20C illustrate a Services Menu and a method for accessing special services and for purchasing items.
FIGS. 21A-21F illustrate a system and method for contextually linking a program to a database on a computer network.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule and/or listing information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select, retrieve, initiate a subscription to and interact with information
in a remote database, computer network or on-line server, e.g., a network server on the Internet or World Wide Web. The television schedule and/or listing information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens,
computer monitors, PCTV screens and other interactive display devices. The television schedule and/or listing information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule and/or
listing information may be downloaded from a remote database or computer network and/or internet broadcast to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV. Suitable television schedule and/or listing information systems or video guides that can be used
with the present invention are described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,353,121, 5,479,266, the complete disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The systems and methods of the present invention may also be useful with video
guides available under the name of SuperGuide.TM. from The SuperGuide Corporation of Shelby, N.C.
In one embodiment, the invention incorporates an interactive computer system which assists the viewer in utilizing television schedule and/or listing information and linking with a database to search and retrieve, initiate a subscription to,
information. Preferably, the information is contextually related to television programs within the television schedule and/or listing information. Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, a
representative television schedule and/or listing information system 2 for use with the contextual linking system and method of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. As shown in FIG. 1, schedule system includes a computer system 10 coupled
to a television system 30. Computer system 10 includes a standard computer 12 which is, for example, any available personal computer (e.g., IBM compatible, Macintosh, and the like). Computer 12 can also be located within a set-top box (e.g., a DSS
box). Computer 12 contains a hard drive 14, a processor 16 and a disk input 18 for providing computer 12 with various, additional software. An input device 20 allows a viewer to interact with computer 12 and/or a television schedule guide (described
below and illustrated in FIGS. 12-17). Line 23 is connected to an available serial, parallel or other data port 23 on computer 12. This line 23 is used to connect other devices/components to computer 12.
In another embodiment, computer system 10 may be combined with television system 30 to form a PCTV. In this embodiment, the computer will usually include a processor that may be used solely to run the program guide and associated software, or
the processor may be configured to run other applications, such as word processing, graphics, or the like. The computer will usually be incorporated into the television set so that the television display can be used as both a television screen and a
computer monitor. Alternatively, the television may be incorporated into the computer so that the computer monitor performs this dual function. Usually, the PCTV will include a number of input devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse and a remote control
device, similar to the one described above. However, these input devices may be combined into a single device that inputs commands with keys, a trackball, pointing device, scrolling mechanism, voice activation or a combination thereof.
Television system 30 includes a television 32, which may be any commercially available television, and a user input device 20. Television system 30 may or may not include a video tape recorder (VCR). In this embodiment, VCRs 34 and 36 are
coupled to television 32. These VCRs 34 and 36 can be, for example, any commercially available VCRs or any other type of recording and/or storage device (analog or digital). Input device 20 allows the viewer to interact with television 32, VCR 34,
and/or VCR 36. Input device 20 may be a remote control, keyboard, mouse, a voice activated interface or the like. A suitable input device for use with the present invention is described in U.S. Provisional applications Ser. Nos. 60/022,826, filed on
Jul. 26, 1996, and 60/015,648, filed on Apr. 19, 1996 (Attorney Docket Nos. 14774-004000 and 005500), the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. A line 37 is used to connect other devices to VCR 34. Other devices can
also be connected in series between VCR 34 and television 32 via line 38. With this configuration, computer 12 (or computer system 10) and television 32 (or television system 30) can be located in different rooms within a private residence or a
commercial building.
In one embodiment, a computer program provided on diskettes, a CD ROM or other medium contains the software needed for receiving, organizing and displaying data for the television schedule guide. These diskettes are inserted in disk input 18 and
the software for these diskettes is stored within computer 12 on hard drive 14 or on another mass storage location. This action can be performed by, for example, the user or a serviceperson. The computer program can also be provided access, download,
and/or automatically upgrade, for example, via downloading from a satellite 24, transmission through the internet or other on-line service, or transmission through another type of land line 22 (e.g., coax cable, telephone line, optical fiber, or wireless
technology (e.g., Richochet.TM.)).
In addition to the computer program, data for the basic schedule information and other related data (e.g., data relating to a particular show) are needed for the generation and maintenance of the television schedule and/or listing information
guide. These data are received, in the preferred embodiment, via line 22; they can also be provided via a satellite broadcast from satellite 24 or wireless technology (e.g., Richochet.TM.). Additionally, the television schedule and/or listing
information and related data can be sent directly to television 32 via satellite 24 or wireless technology (e.g., Richochet.TM.). In this arrangement, the television schedule information and related data does not have to be transmitted from computer
system 10 to television system 30.
In one embodiment, line 22 is a telephone line which provides access to the internet or other on-line service via, for example, a regular modem or direct modem access to a schedule provider. The schedule data are then provided to the viewer from
a remote database via the internet or other on-line service, or directly from the service provider. As stated above, line 22 can also be, for example, coax cable, optical fiber or any other land line which can provide data to computer 12. The software
program saved on hard drive 14 then utilizes the data received on line 22 to generate a television schedule guide. The user can retrieve this generated television schedule guide when desired.
1. OVERVIEW OF A PREFERRED EPG SYSTEM
In a preferred embodiment, the electronic program guide of the present invention may be implemented either on a personal computer, a PCTV, a television connected to a set-top box, or a television including a custom board. However, the invention
is not limited to any particular hardware configuration and will have increased utility as new combinations of computers and television systems are developed. In the following any of the above will sometimes be referred to as a "TV system". Block
diagrams of representative TV systems are depicted in FIG. 2. Details of implementation are not depicted because the invention is not limited to any particular TV system.
As is well known, the picture to be displayed may be transmitted as an analog signal, for example according to the NTSC standard utilized in the United States, or as a digital signal modulated onto an analog carrier. The signals may be received
over a cable, or via an antenna or satellite dish. Typically, television sets are designed to receive analog signals and computers display devices are designed to display pictures encoded in a digital format. However, decoder system converts the
digital data to an analog signal for display on a television set and TV modems can format analog TV signals for display on a monitor.
In FIG. 2, analog or digital TV signals, received via cable 60, antenna 62, or satellite dish 64, are provided to a television system. If the signal is from a digital broadcast service, then a decoder 66 converts the signal to baseband video and
audio or channel 3/4 RF. If the signal is an analog signal, it is passed through as a live video output. The television system 68, depending on its configuration, receives selected ones of the outputs and displays the received program.
A PCTV includes a TV card 70, connected to either live video, baseband video, or channel 3/4 output, digitizes the video image and displays the video image in a resizeable window on the computer monitor. The PCTV is also coupled to land
telephone lines by a modem 72.
If the received signal is an analog TV signal the TV card of the PCTV digitizes the analog signal and extracts included information from the vertical blanking intervals. On the other hand, if the signal is a digital signal, separate audio,
video, VBI (vertical blanking information such as closed caption, teletext, and program related information), program guide, and conditional access information are provided as separate bitstreams. The video and audio bitstreams for programs are
converted to a format for display and the program guide information is processed to form program guide database. The processor, executing software stored in memory, generates interactive electronic program guide images and images of received programs.
The guide can be used to interact with and control programs displayed in the window.
A television system configured to display an electronic program guide such as a guide provided by | | |
