Electronic programming system and method

Patent 6163316 Issued on December 19, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 3, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor

Killian, Robert T.

Assignee

Texas Instruments Incorporated

Application

No. 943661 filed on 10/03/1997

US Classes:

348/553, BASIC RECEIVER WITH ADDITIONAL FUNCTION348/565, Picture in picture348/908CONVERTIBLE CIRCUITS (E.G., Y/C SEPARATION OR NOISE REDUCTION)

Examiners

Primary: Flynn, Nathan J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Troike; Robert L., Telecky, Jr.; Frederick J.

Foreign Patent References

0 682 452 A2 EP. 11/12/1995
0 721 253 A2 EP. 07/12/1996
0 777 385 A2 EP. 06/12/1997
WO 94/13107 WO. 06/12/1994
WO 94/14284 WO. 06/12/1994
WO 96/17467 WO. 06/12/1996
WO 97/13368 WO. 04/12/1997
WO 97/33434 WO. 09/12/1997
WO 97/41690 WO. 11/12/1997

International Class

H04N 007/10

Abstract

An electronic programming guide (70) operates on a computing platform (12) associated with a television (40). The platform (12) accesses a program listing database (48) containing program listing information (6) for a plurality of television programs. The electronic programming guide (70) includes a profile database (80) that stores a viewer profile (84) and a suggest module (76) that is coupled to the profile database (80). The suggest module (76) accesses the viewer profile (84) and the program listing information (6) and, in response, generates a preferred schedule (100) according to the viewer profile (84) and the program listing information (6). The preferred schedule (100) indicates the desirability of a particular program relative to other programs. The electronic programming guide (70) may also be used to instruct a recorder (20) to record a television program in accordance with the program listing information (6) and viewer input information that does not specify broadcast information concerning the program.

Other References

"Electronic Program Guide Via Internet" Research Disclosure, May 1996, p. 276
"How and why people watch TV: implications for the future of interactive television," by Barbara Lee and Robert S. Lee, Journal of Advertising Research, Nov.-Dec. 1995, v35 n6 p. 9
"StarSight: An Introduction," StarSight Telecast, Inc., Internet document generated Sep. 9, 1996
"The GIST makes its Web debut with the new FALL TV season/a fresh way to view televison & the Internet www.TheGIST.com," NewsPage, Internet document generated Sep. 12, 1996
"TV1," Grid Listings, Internet document generated Sep. 13, 199