Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 1 of 39
`Case l:l6—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 1 of 39
`
`
`
`EXHIBIT 1
`
`EXHIBIT 1
`
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 2 of 39
`
`US008713595B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Lemmons et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEMS
`AND PROCESSES
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Thomas R Lemmons, Sand Springs, OK
`(US); Donald WAllison, Tulsa, OK
`(US); Jerry D HenshaW, Tulsa, OK
`(US); Connie T Marshall, Muskogee,
`OK (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc., Santa
`Clara, CA (U S)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 769 days.
`
`DE
`DE
`
`5/1976 Doumit
`3,956,579 A
`6/1977 Kato et a1.
`4,031,548 A
`3/1978 Miller
`4,081,753 A
`4,170,782 A 10/1979 Miller
`4,203,130 A
`5/1980 Doumit et a1.
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`23 38 380
`2/1975
`33 37 204
`4/1985
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`App1.No.: 10/846,124
`
`Filed:
`
`May 14, 2004
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2004/0216160 A1
`
`Oct. 28, 2004
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 10/719,289, ?led on
`Nov. 21, 2003, which is a continuation of application
`No. 09/770,865, ?led on Jan. 26, 2001, now
`abandoned, which is a continuation of application No.
`09/189,332, ?led on Nov. 9, 1998, now Pat. No.
`6,266,814, which is a continuation of application No.
`08/419,077, ?led on Apr. 6, 1995, now Pat. No.
`5,880,768.
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04N 7/16
`US. Cl.
`USPC ................. .. 725/27; 725/10; 725/18; 725/21;
`725/44
`
`(2011.01)
`
`Field of Classi?cation Search
`USPC ..................... .. 725/44, 27, 10, 18, 21; 348/74
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`A. James, “ORACLEiBroadcasting the Written Word,” Wireless
`World, Jul. 1973, pp. 314-316.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner * Jivka Rabovianski
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Ropes & Gray LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Interactive program guide systems and related processes are
`provided which can automatically tune a television, or pro
`gram a VCR, based on program selections made from pro
`gram schedule information displayed on a television or other
`suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is pref
`erably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set
`top box that is coupled to the viewer’s television set. The
`set-top box receives program schedule information and soft
`ware from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program
`schedule information for the current day and at least six
`subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box.
`The interactive program guide provides a display mode for
`allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection
`criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program
`schedule information.
`
`24 Claims, 30 Drawing Sheets
`
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`CIRCUITRY
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`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 3 of 39
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`EP
`
`EP
`
`GB
`GB
`
`GB
`GB
`
`JP
`
`JP
`JP
`
`JP
`JP
`
`JP
`
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`WO
`W0
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`_
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`
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`
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`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 4 of 39
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`Page 3
`
`(56)
`
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`W0
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`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`References Cited
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 5 of 39
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`Apr. 29, 2014
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`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 6 of 39
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`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 7 of 39
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`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 10 of 39
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`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 13 of 39
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`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 15 of 39
`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 11 0130
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`00
`MAIN P5
`
`502
`
`F / G . / /
`
`PROGRAM SCHEDULE
`INFORMATION AND/0R SOFTWARE
`RECEIVED
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`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 16 of 39
`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 12 0f 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`NAV. POINT =
`PRIME TIME
`?
`
`YES
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`PREM.LINE-UP
`AT PRIME TIME
`
`7/642
`SET GUIDE TO
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`DATABASE
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`SET GUIDE TO
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`(660
`SET GUIDE TO MAIN
`LINE-UP AT SELECTED
`DATE/DAY PART
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 17 of 39
`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 13 0f30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`OUICKMENU
`(FIGS. l4-I5)
`
`DISPLAY cuasorz J
`
`NEXT PROGRAM
`DISPLAYED
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`6741
`SCROLL GRID
`
`MOVE CURSOR T0 NEXT
`PROGRAM
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 18 of 39
`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 14 0f 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`QUICKMENU
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`680
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`RETRI
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`CHOICES FOR
`DISPLAY MODE
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`ROUTINE IFIGS.|2-l3)
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 19 of 39
`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 15 0f 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`['76. /5
`TIZ
`j
`SET NAV. POINT TO
`WHAT'S ON
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`114
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`PROGRAM SEARCH
`ROUTINE(F|GS. l9-2' l)
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`DAY TO VIEW
`ROUTINEI FIGS. 22-23)
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`ROUTINEI FIGS.I2-I3)
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`PROGRAM GUIDE
`ROUTINEIFIGSIZ-ISI
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`FAVORITE CHANNEL
`ROUTINE (FIGS.24-28I
`
`[ T38
`SELECTION ROUTINE
`(FIGS. I6- I8)
`
`RETURN FROM
`DAY TO VIEW
`7
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 20 of 39
`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 16 0f 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`I SELECTION ROUTINEI/j
`
`738
`
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`MENU
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`INFORMATION
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`1,150
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`DEACTIVATE GUIDE
`
`TUNE TD SELECTED
`PROGRAM
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 21 of 39
`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 17 0f30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`FROM SCHEDULED
`TODchREODGuRLLN
`\ VIEWING LIST \ VIEWING usr
`
`ADD PROGRAM TO
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`CLEAR SCHEDULED J
`VIEWING LIST
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`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 22 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 22 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 18 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`I!
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`F/6‘. /8
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`784
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`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 23 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 23 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 19 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`PROGRAM SEARCH
`ROUTINE
`
`RETRIEVE SELECTION
`CRITERIA
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`soe
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`ACTIVE SELECTION CRI
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`TES FOR
`TERION
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`SET ACTIVE SORT ATTRIBUTE
`T0 DEFAULT SORT ATTRIBUTE
`
`DISPLAY SORT ATTRIBUTES
`
`SELECT PROGRAMS MEETING
`ACTIVE SELECTION CRITERION
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`ACTIVE SORT ATTRIBUTES
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`
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`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 24 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 24 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 20 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`FIG. 20
`
`DISPLAY CURSOR IN
`ACTIVE MENU
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`
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`
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`SELECTION CRITERION
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`DISPLAYED
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`NEXT PROGRAM
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`som ATTRIBUTE
`
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`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 25 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 25 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 21 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`F/G.2/
`
`LAST HIGHLIGHTED /836
`PROGRAM
`
` SET POINTER T0
`
`SELECTION ROUTINE
`(FIGS. I6-I8)
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 26 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 26 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 22 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`DAY TO VIEW
`ROUTINE
`
`866
`
`DISPLAY CALENDAR FOR
`CURRENT MONTH
`
`868
`
`F/G. 22
`
`HIGHLIGHT CALENDAR CELLS
`
`DISPLAY DAY PART MENU
`
`DISPLAY CALENDAR CURSOR
`
`DISPLAY DAY PART CURSOR
`
`870
`
`872
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`
`4
`
`876
`
`878
`
`884
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`2
`
`890
`
`DISPLAY
`PREVIOUS
`
`‘ MONTH
`
`SET CALENDAR CURSOR TO
`PREVIOUS CALENDAR CEL
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 27 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 27 of 39
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 23 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`5
`
`FIG. 23
`
`896
`
`SET DAY PART CURSOR TO
`NEXT DAY PART
`
`898
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`YES
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`SET DAY PART TO
`PRESSED
`PREVTOUS DAY PART
`7.’
` 900
`
`SET POINTER TO
`HIGHLIGHTED DATE/
`DAY PART
`
`902
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`906
`
`PROGRAM GUIDE
`ROUTINE ( FIGS. I2-I3)
`
`908
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`MENU KEY
`
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`PRESSED I (FIGS.I4-I5)
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 28 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 28 of 39
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 24 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`FAVORITE CHANNEL
`ROUTINE
`
`9'3
`
`DISPLAY FULL LINE-UP
`MENU
`
`9'4
`
`SET ACTIVE MENU T0
`FULL LINE-UP MENU
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`
`9|8
`
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`
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`RETRIEVE FAVORITE
`CHANNEL LINE- UP
`
`DISPLAY FAVORITE
`CHANNEL MENU
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`DISPLAY SELECT ICON
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`928
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`NEW MENMFULL
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`KEY PRESS” . FAVORITE OR SELECT
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`ACTIVE MENU
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`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 29 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 29 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 25 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`930
`
`F/G. 25
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`"0
`
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`
`
`
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`
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`L I NE-UP MENU
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`CHANNEL MENU
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`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 30 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 30 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 26 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`u
`
`F/G. 26
`
`952
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`950
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` PRESSED
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`HIGHLIGHTED CHANNEL
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`FIRST OPEN CELL
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`CHANNEL MENU
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`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 31 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 31 of 39
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 27 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`u
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`F/6.27
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`
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`LINE-UP
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`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 32 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 32 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 28 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`F/G28
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`AANOERNAEAENANAEEL
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`CHANNEL
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`FAVORITE CHANNEL
`LINE-UP
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`CHANNEL LINE-UP
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 33 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 33 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
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`W
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`US 8,713,595 B2
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`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 34 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 34 of 39
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 29, 2014
`
`Sheet 30 of 30
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
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`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 35 of 39
`Case 1:16—cv—O3852—AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 35 of 39
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`1
`INTERACTIVE PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEMS
`AND PROCESSES
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`10/719,289, filed Nov. 21, 2003, which is a continuation of
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/770,865, filed Jan. 26,
`2001, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 09/189,332, filed Nov. 9, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,
`814, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 08/419,077, filedApr. 6, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,
`768.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to television program guide systems
`and particularly to interactive television program guide sys-
`tems and related processes that can automatically tune a tele-
`vision, or program a video cassette recorder (VCR), based on
`program selections made from program schedule information
`displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor.
`More particularly, this invention relates to interactive televi-
`sion program guide systems and related processes that pro-
`vide an intuitive search utility for allowing a viewer to locate
`programs of interest by applying a restrictive search selection
`criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to program sched-
`ule information.
`
`In response to viewer demand, cable and satellite telecast-
`ing services have been improving programming variety,
`mainly by increasing the number of program channels avail-
`able to their customers. For example, many cable telecasting
`services now offer several dozen program channels, and it is
`expected that this number will steadily increase as more cable
`services replace their coaxial cable networks with fiber optic
`networks. It is expected that satellite telecasting services also
`will continue to improve programming variety by increasing
`the number of program channels available to their customers.
`Needless to say, improved programming variety is wel-
`comed by the viewing public, but it does not come without
`cost. One problem frequently encountered by viewers is that
`the increased number of charmels has made it difficult to
`
`quickly locate and tune to programs of interest. Before cable
`television became popular, it was common practice for view-
`ers to briefly sample the program being broadcast on each of
`the few aerial broadcast charmels that were available in order
`
`to select a program to watch. However, this technique, known
`as “charmel surfing,” is difficult to do when one has to con-
`sider programs on several dozen charmels, and it is possible
`that in doing so, a viewer will miss an undesirably large
`segment of the program ultimately selected for viewing.
`Another concern is that the increased number of charmels
`
`makes it more likely that two programs of interest will be
`telecast at any given time. Viewers therefore often find it
`necessary to record one program for later viewing while
`another program of interest is being watched. Thus, as the
`number of channels provided by telecasting services
`increases, the need for a system and process that simplifies the
`notoriously difiicult task of scheduling programs for VCR
`recording becomes more pressing.
`Over the past several years, television viewers have grown
`accustomed to a scrolling television program guide that is
`offered by many telecasting services in the United States. One
`such guide, known as the Prevue Charmel, presents to the
`viewer (on a channel selected by the telecasting service), a
`scrolling grid containing program schedule information for
`
`2
`
`each channel offered by that telecasting service. The horizon-
`tal axis of the scrolling grid identifies program schedule
`times, and the vertical axis identifies program channels. Typi-
`cally, one and a half hours of program schedule information
`are provided, starting at a current time period (typically one
`half hour).
`The grid format used by the Prevue Channel for presenting
`program schedule information has been favorably received
`by the viewing public. Essentially, the body of the grid con-
`tains an array of cells, each cell representing a program being
`telecast or to be telecast on the channel identified on the
`
`vertical axis, during the time periods specified on the hori-
`zontal axis. The size of each cell (i.e., the cell width) repre-
`sents the length of the program (spanning one or more time
`periods).
`Although the scrolling grid program guide has proven
`valuable to viewers over the past several years, it is not an
`interactive program guide, and therefore,
`it lacks certain
`capabilities that viewers would find very useful. For example,
`the scrolling grid does not have the ability to present program
`schedule information for telecast times beyond a relatively
`short period from the current time (e.g., one and a halfhours).
`Also, the grid scrolls at a pace that the viewer cannot control.
`Thus, it may take several minutes for the scrolling grid to
`advance to program schedule information that the viewer
`wishes to consider. Finally, the viewer carmot directly use the
`scrolling grid for tuning a television to a desired channel or
`programming a VCR.
`Attempts have been made to provide interactive program
`guides with such capabilities. One system is described in U.S.
`Pat. No. 4,706,121; however, for several reasons, the system
`described therein has disadvantages. For instance, the system
`described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,121 allows a viewer to
`choose a plurality ofuser program selection criteria which are
`combined to present a list ofprograms meeting the combined
`criteria. This operates to restrict the display of program
`schedule information only to those programs that meet the
`combined user program selection criteria. When the selection
`criteria are activated, the viewer is unable to select for view-
`ing or recording any program that does not meet the selection
`criteria because such programs would not be listed. In order to
`select such a program, the viewer must either deactivate the
`selection criteria, or try a different combination of criteria (or
`perhaps a single criterion) in order to capture a program of
`interest within the program list.
`Moreover, the approach taken in U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,121 of
`combining user program selection criteria may often lead to
`an undesirably restricted program listing. In fact, it is possible
`that no programs at all will be displayed in a list because none
`meets the overly restrictive combination of user program
`selection criteria. Ifthe viewer then turns the selection criteria
`selection off, the entire schedule is made available to the
`viewer, but in an order defined by the telecasting service (e. g.,
`typically by telecast time and channel). The viewer is not
`provided with the ability to sort, without restricting, either the
`full program listing or a restricted program listing in a mean-
`ingful way.
`Thus, it would be desirable to provide interactive program
`guide systems and related processes that allow a viewer to
`apply a nonrestrictive sort attribute to program schedule
`information in addition to, or as an alternative to, a restrictive
`selection criterion.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`It would also be desirable to provide interactive program
`guide systems and related processes in which the telecasting
`service can define sets of nonrestrictive sort attributes and
`
`65
`
`restrictive selection criteria that the viewer can apply to the
`program schedule information.
`
`

`
`Case 1:16-cv-03852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 36 of 39
`Case 1:16-cv-O3852-AT Document 3-1 Filed 05/24/16 Page 36 of 39
`
`US 8,713,595 B2
`
`3
`It would further be desirable to provide interactive program
`guide systems and related processes in which the telecasting
`service can define different sets of nonrestrictive sort
`
`attributes for the viewer to choose from depending upon a
`restrictive selection criterion applied to the program schedule
`information by the viewer.
`It is important that interactive program guides be capable
`of presenting several days worth of program schedule infor-
`mation so that the viewer can schedule VCR recording of
`selected programs well in advance of their telecast times.
`However, existing interactive program guides do not provide
`a convenient interface that allows the viewer to quickly select
`program schedule information for a particular date.
`Thus, it would be desirable to provide interactive program
`guide systems and related processes that provide a graphical
`user interface for displaying the dates for which program
`schedule information is available, and for allowing the user to
`select program schedule information for a particular date.
`In order to provide viewers with a full-featured interactive
`program guide, it is typically necessary to use several differ-
`ent screens, each screen being associated with one or more
`features of the system. However, it has been determined that
`viewers often find themselves lost in such systems, without a
`clear understanding of how to return a particular screen of
`interest in the system.
`Thus, it would be desirable to provide interactive program
`guide systems and related processes that include a menu that
`may be invoked by the viewer from any screen of the inter-
`active program guide, where the menu is used by the viewer
`to navigate through the various screens of the interactive
`program guide.
`It would also be desirable to provide interactive program
`guide systems and related processes in which the telecasting
`service could define the available menu choices.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of this invention to provide interactive pro-
`gram guide systems and related processes that allow a viewer
`to apply a nonrestrictive sort attribute to program schedule
`information in addition to, or as an alternative to, a restrictive
`selection criterion.
`
`It is also an