US006151059A
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`[19]
`6,151,059
`United States Patent
`[11] Patent Number:
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`Schein etal.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`*Nov. 21, 2000
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`[75]
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`[54] ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH
`INTERACTIVE AREAS
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`Inventors: Steven Michael Schein, Menlo Park;
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`Mountain View,all of Calif.
`[73] Assignee: StarSight Telecast, Inc., Fremont,
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`Calif.
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`5,585,866
`12/1996 Miller et al. wee ceeeee 348/731
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`5,589,892 12/1996 Kneeetal. .
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`.. 345/338
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`10/1998 Davis et al.
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`8/1999 Klost
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`[*] Notice:
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`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
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`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
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`patent
`term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
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`[21] Appl. No.: 08/906,073
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`[22]
`Aug. 5, 1997
`Filed:
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`Related U.S. Application Data
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`Provisional application No. 60/022,436, Aug. 6, 1996.
`[60]
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`348/13: 348/906: 348/563:
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`5 " 42. 346B27
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`[>6]
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`References Cited
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`348/601
`5,157,768 10/1992 Hoeber
`et
`al
`Oeber et al. vc ceeeeeeeeceeees
`157,
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`5,436,676
`7/1995 Pint et al
`sccccssscssesssssseeeeeeeen 348/734
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`7/1996 Young et al. wees 348/569
`5,532,754
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`9/1996 MankovitZ ...cececcceeccssesesseseseseeees 348/6
`5,559,550
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`PCT/US94/
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`06941
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`6/1994 WIPO. oeeeeecteceneeeee HOA4N 7/16
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`International Preliminary Examination Report dated Oct. 15,
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`1998 from the corresponding PCT application (PCT/US97/
`13751).
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`Primary Examiner—Thomas G. Black
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`Assistant Examiner—Uyen Le
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`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
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`A television schedule system and method for displaying
`television schedule information on a television screen
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`includes a program guide having a schedule information
`area that depicts the programsthat are being presented on
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`each channel at each time during the day. An input device
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`allows the viewer to movea pointer overdifferentinteractive
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`areas of the guide and the function performed whenthe area
`is activated is displayed in a contextual help window.
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`Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with
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`the guide. Additionally, a video window is interactive and
`A
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`:
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`Provides tuning functions.
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`24 Claims, 36 Drawing Sheets
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`7:30pm
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`SONY - Ex.-1009
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
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`P. 1
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`SONY - Ex.-1009
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 1 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 5 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`CHANNEL DATA TABLE
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 6 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`SHOW LIST
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 7 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`SHOW TITLE ENTRY
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`FIG. SC.
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 8 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`FIG.6
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 9 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 10 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 11 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 12 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`jsSaUPDWa2JjoD
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`spugi
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`P. 14
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 14 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`MEMGOAd)
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`SAT]OfUNDA;JSNWpUuDUDWNYpuDyODIqjNyunDag“Hulaq|pD}IOWDSDa}l]
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`P. 15
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 15 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`(4IseqgNQsaiySoy+3]Yyouss4)
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 16 of 36
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`JaAO0YyoJOMsjabuydao]ulBuyjoyuodN‘uljyeagpaljomDulSuDWNY
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 17 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`aul]Uayds!y
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`‘paidaq|jIMwDuboudpajoajasayysaw
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 18 of 36
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`(E}
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 19 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 20 of 36
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`yOBuijs]DsoyAdjdsipayydiyOfa4ayYOIID
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`P. 21
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 21 of 36
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`6/Old
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`P. 22
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 22 of 36
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`6,151,059
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` a2
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`P. 23
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 23 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`alisagJOSbuUIfNf
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`P. 24
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 24 of 36
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`0}peppobulaqsiwouiboidsiyt
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`P. 25
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 25 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 26 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 27 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 28 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 29 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`!
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`P. 30
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 30 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 31 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 32 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 33 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 34 of 36
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 21, 2000
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`Sheet 35 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov.21, 2000
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`Sheet 36 of 36
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`6,151,059
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`6,151,059
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`1
`ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH
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`INTERACTIVE AREAS
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`This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
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`US. Provisional Application No. 60/022,436, filed Aug. 6,
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`1996, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`vision screen. The program guide will usually include a
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`According to one aspect of the invention, actions are
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`invention generally relates to television
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`directly invoked by movinga pointer overareas of the visual
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`schedule information, and moreparticularly to a system and
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`textual help window”in the display area prompts the user as
`television screen.
`to what can be or needs to be done as the user moves the
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`As the numberoftelevision stations in a metropolitan area
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`pointer over the display area. This feature insures that the
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`or onacable network has increased, the number of programs
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`user always knows what’s going on.
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`of potential interest that are presented to a viewerhasrisen
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`In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is
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`dramatically. With the use of dish antennas capable of
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`provided for allowing the viewer to utilize display action
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`receiving direct satellite signals, the multitude of programs
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`controls, configured as glyphs, to recursively vary the con-
`available to the viewer has further increased.
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`figuration of the display area. Each glyph is activated by a
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`Additionally, television faces a digital future that will see
`point and click action of the user input device and serves as
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`the merger of television and PC technology. The television
`a switch for changing between two modes.
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`set of the future will include a micro-computer, a modem of
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`According to one aspect of the invention, an “information
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`interconnectivity with other computers over networks,
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`glyph” switches back and forth betweena title-only grid/list
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`intranets, and the internet, and be connectable to computer
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`of many items (either a grid or listing, with one item
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`peripherals such as printers. Such capabilities as near “video
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`selected) and an “information expansion” of a single item
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`on demand” (NVOD), “video on demand”, access to the
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`item
`(expanding to display scrollable program or
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`world wide web”, “audio on demand”, etc. will be present
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`information). The information glyph provides zoom-out for
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`the viewer with a plethora of information and bandwidth.
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`an overview or zoom-in for in-depth information.
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`As has becomeincreasingly evident, information over-
`According to another aspect, a “find others glyph” auto-
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`load can actually reduce the usefulness of the information
`matically searches for and displays a listing of all other
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`delivered. Accordingly, a great challenge exists to provide
`airings of a currently-selected program.
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`an interface that manages and provides anintelligent, user-
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`According to a further aspect, a “flip glyph”flips between
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`friendly interface to the information available.
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`vertical and horizontal configurations of the display area.
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`Consequently, television schedule systems that are pro-
`According to another aspect of the invention, a “record
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`vided directly on the viewer’s television screen have been
`glyph”allowsfor directly controlling recording with a single
`click.
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`developed to assist
`the viewer in sorting through these
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`various programs and determining which programs to watch
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`According to another aspect of the invention, a World
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`or record. One such television schedule system is disclosed
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`Wide Web (WWW)icon appears on the display whena link
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`in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,121 (Young et
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`to a website associated with the currently-selected program
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`al.), the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated
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`exist. Clicking on the WWW icon connects the user’s
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`by reference. In one embodiment of Young, the television
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`system to the associated website.
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`schedule includes a series of menu screens having an array
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`According to another aspect of the invention, a linked
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`of cells corresponding to different television programs. The
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`services icon appears on the display when linked services
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`viewer may scroll through the cells to view which television
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`associated with the currently-selected program are available.
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`programsare being presented on various channels at various
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`Clicking on the linked services icon configures the user’s
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`times. In addition, the viewer may select certain cells to
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`system to access linked services.
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`obtain more information on the associated program orto pull
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`According to another aspect of the invention, when the
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`up other submenus with additional options.
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`user moves the pointer over a video window showing a
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`The recent development of television schedule systems,
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`currently-tuned channel the window splits into two parts. A
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`such as the above described patent to Young, have created
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`top part is a clickable area allowing the user to tune directly
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`many new challenges. One such challenge is providing a
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`to a currently-selected program in the display area and a
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`system and methodthat is suitable for use on a PC, PC/TV,
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`lowerpart allowing the user to return to the currently-tuned
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`WebTV, or TV to manage intelligently the vast stores of
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`program that was being displayed before the window split.
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`information available and provide user access and control
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`According to another aspect of the invention, scrollable
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`directly through an electronic program guide. Another chal-
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`area are highlighted when the pointer is moved into the area
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`lenge is to facilitate easy access to a wide range of func-
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`with arrows indicating the direction of scrolling. Areas
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`tionality through the combination of a limited numberof
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`within a display area can activate scrolling of only a portion
`user interactions.
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`of a display area.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, each action
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`is performed by a user is confirmed in a text window to
`reinforce the user’s confidence that the action has been
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`performed.
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`According to another aspect of the invention, a display
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`modetitle area displays a current display mode icon and text
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`description when not selected and displays alternative
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`selectable display mode icons when activated.
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`60
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`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention provides a system and method for
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`displaying schedule information on a visual interface, such
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`as a television screen, a computer monitor or the like. The
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`present invention also provides a system and method for
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`allowing the viewer to navigate and interact with a program
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`guide that is displayed, for example, on the viewer’s tele-
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`P. 38
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`6,151,059
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`4
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`cells or windows on the screen. The cursor may comprise a
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`physical icon on the screen, or it may be represented by
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`highlighting or other visual
`indications of the cells or
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`windowsthat are scrolled through by the viewer.
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`FIG. 1 illustrates a program guide 102 for the television
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`schedule system of the present invention. The program guide
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`102, which is the primary modein the television schedule
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`system, includes a number of screen information areas or
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`windowsin a particular screen where the viewer operates an
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`input device, such as a pointer device described above, to
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`FIG. 1 is a representation of an embodimentof the EPG
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`movearound vertically and horizontally and to interact with
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`display of the present invention;
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`that screen area’s function. Preferably, the currently active
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`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a TV system;
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`screen area will be indicated to the viewer, for example, by
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`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a hardware unit for gener-
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`changing the background color fromalight greyscale metal-
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`ating an on-screen electronic programming guide (EPG);
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`lic to a brighter, active color. Within each screen area are one
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`or moreitems, typically arranged in a matrix or grid so that
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`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the hierarchical database
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`the viewer can scroll through the grid. The items can be
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`utilized to generate the EPG;
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`selected or activated with the input device.
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`FIGS. 5A-5D are schematic diagrams of data structures
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`As shown in FIG. 1, program guide 102 preferably
`in the database;
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`includes a schedule information area 106 having a program
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`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram depicting the transmission
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`matrix 108 of cells or items that depict the showsthat are
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`of an EPG in a digital satellite system;
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`being presented on each channelat each time during the day.
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`FIGS. 7-10 are representations of displays that implement
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`Program guide 102 conveniently lists the channels in a
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`the scrolling function;
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`vertical columnto the left of the program matrix 108 and the
`times in a horizontal row above matrix 108. The viewer
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`FIGS. 11-14 are representations of displays that imple-
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`ment the find information function;
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`selects an area by moving a pointer 110 over the area
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`FIGS. 15-17 are representations of displays that imple-
`associated with a desired action. When the pointer 110 is
`ment the find others function;
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`moved over an area, the item may be automatically high-
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`lighted with a brighter color to indicate the viewer’s loca-
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`FIGS. 18-19 are representations of displ