throbber
10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO00/11869 |
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`-ll-
`
`with opportunities to access program guide data without
`having to navigate the Internet, if desired. As shown
`in FIGS. 2a and 2b,
`interactive program guide
`television equipment 17 may include television
`distribution facility 16 and user television
`equipment 22.
`Television distribution facility 16 may have
`program guide distribution equipment 21 and program
`guide server 25. Distribution equipment 21 is”
`equipment suitable for providing program guide data
`;
`from program guide server 25 to user television
`equipment 22 over communications path 20. Distribution
`equipment 21 may include, for example, suitable
`transmission hardware for distributing program guide
`data on a television channel sideband,
`in the vertical
`blanking interval of a television channel, using an in-
`band digital signal, using an out-of-band digital
`signal, over a dedicated computer network or Internet
`link, or by any other data transmission technique
`suitable for the type of communications path 20.
`Analog or digital video signals (e.g.,
`television
`programs) may also be distributed by distribution
`equipment 21 to user television equipment 22 over
`communications paths 20 on multiple analog or digital
`television channels. Alternatively, videos may be
`,
`distributed to user television equipment 22 from some
`other suitable distribution facility, such as a cable
`system headend, a broadcast distribution facility, a
`satellite television distribution facility, or any
`other suitable type of television distribution
`
`facility.
`
`Communications paths 20 may be any
`communications paths suitable for distributing program
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 351
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 351
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 12 -
`
`guide data. Communications paths 20 may include, for
`example, a satellite link, a telephone network link, a
`cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, an
`Internet link, a data-over-cable service interface
`specification (DOCSIS)
`link, a combination of such
`links, or any other suitable communications link.
`Communications paths 20 preferably have sufficient
`bandwidth to allow television distribution facility 16
`or another distribution facility to distribute
`television programming to user television equipment 22.
`There are typically multiple pieces of user television
`equipment 22 and multiple associated communications
`paths 20, although only one piece of user television
`equipment 22 and communications path 20 are shown in
`FIGS. 2a and 2b to avoid over-complicating the
`drawings.
`If desired,
`television programming and
`program guide data may be provided over separate
`communications paths.
`Program guide server 25 may be based on any
`suitable combination of server software and hardware.
`Program guide server 25 may retrieve program guide data
`or video files from storage device 56 in response to
`program guide data or vided requests generated by an
`interactive television program guide client implemented
`on user television equipment 22. As shown in FIGS. 2a
`and 2b, program guide server 25 may include processing
`circuitry 54 and storage device 56. Processing
`circuitry 54 may include any suitable processor, such
`as a microprocessor or group of microprocessors, and
`other processing circuitry such as caching circuitry,
`video decoding circuitry, direct memory access (DMA)
`circuitry,
`input/output
`(1/0) circuitry, etc.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 352
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 352
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 13-
`
`Storage device 56 may be a memory or other
`storage device, such as random access memory (RAM),
`flash memory, a hard disk drive, etc.,
`that is suitable
`for storing the program guide data transmitted to
`television distribution facility 16 by main facility
`12. User data, such as user preference profiles,
`preferences, parental control settings,
`record and
`reminder settings, viewing histories, and other
`suitable data may also be stored on storage device 56
`by programguide server 25.
`Program guide data and
`user data may be stored on storage device 56 in any
`suitable format (e.g., a Structured Query Language
`(SQL) database).
`If desired, storage 56 may also store
`video files for playing back on demand.
`Processing circuitry 54 may process requests
`for program guide data by searching the program guide
`data stored on storage device 56 for the requested
`data, retrieving the data, and providing the retrieved
`data to distribution equipment 21 for distribution to
`user television equipment 22. Processing circuitry 54
`may also process storage requests generated by the
`program guide client that direct program guide
`server 25 to store user data. Alternatively, program
`guide server 25 may distribute program guide data to
`and receive user data from user television equipment 22
`directly.
`If communications paths 20 include an
`Internet link, DOCSIS link, or other high speed
`computer network link (e.g., 10BaseT, 100BaseT,
`10BaseF, T1, T3, etc.),
`for example, processing
`circuitry 54 may include circuitry suitable for
`transmitting program guide and user data and receiving
`program guide data and storage requests over such a
`link.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 353
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 353
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`WO00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`“~ 14 -
`
`Program guide server 25 may communicate with
`
`user television equipment 22 using any suitable
`communications protocol.
`For example, program guide
`server 25 may use a communications protocol stack that
`
`(TCP) and
`includes transmission control protocol
`Internet protocol
`(IP)
`layers, sequenced packet
`exchange (SPX) and internetwork packet exchange (IPX)
`layers, Appletalk transaction protocol
`(ATP) and
`datagram delivery protocol
`(DDP)
`layers, DOCSIS, or any
`
`other suitable protocol or combination of protocols.
`User television equipment 22 may also include suitable
`hardware for communicating with program guide server 25
`over communications paths 20 (e.g., Ethernet cards,
`modems (digital, analog, or cable), etc.)
`
`The program guide client on user television
`
`equipment 22 may retrieve program guide data from and
`
`store user data on program guide server 25 using any
`
`suitable client-server based approach.
`
`The program
`
`guide may,
`for example, pass SQL requests as messages
`to program guide server 25.
`In another suitable
`approach,
`the program guide may invoke remote
`procedures that reside on program guide server 25 using
`one or more remote procedure calls.
`Program guide
`
`server 25 may execute SOL statements for such invoked
`
`In still another suitable approach,
`remote procedures...
`client objects executed by the program guide may
`communicate with server objects executed by program
`guide server 25 using,
`for example, an object request
`broker
`(ORB). This may involve using,
`for example,
`
`Microsoft's Distributed Component Object Model
`
`{DCOM)
`
`approach. As used herein, "record requests" and
`
`"storage requests" are intended to encompass any of
`
`these types of inter-process or inter-object
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 354
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 354
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`:
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`~ 15 -
`
`communications, or any other suitable type of inter-
`process or inter-object communication.
`FIG. 2b shows an illustrative arrangement for
`
`interactive television program guide equipment 17 in
`
`which program guide server 25 obtains program guide
`data’'via the Internet.
`The program guide data obtained
`by program guide server 25 may be provided by main
`facility 12 or from some other source (e.g.,
`local
`information service 15) and made available on the
`
`Internet service system 61 may use any
`Internet.
`suitable combination of hardware and software capable
`
`of providing program guide data from the Internet to
`program guide server 25 using an Internet based
`approach (e.g., using the HyperText Transfer Protocol
`(HTTP), File Transfer Protocol
`(FTP), etc.).
`FIG. 2b
`
`shows Internet service system 61 as being encompassed
`by television distribution facility 16.
`If desired,
`Internet service system 61 may be located at a
`facility that is separate from television distribution
`facility 16.
`Internet service system 61 may,
`for
`example, be located at main facility 12 or at some
`other Internet node suitable for providing program
`guide data from the Internet to program guide server
`25.
`The functionality of Internet service system 61
`and program guide server 25 may be integrated into one
`
`system if desired.
`Another suitable arrangement for interactive
`television program guide equipment 17 is shown in FIG.
`2c. Interactive television program guide equipment 17
`may include,
`for example,
`television distribution
`facility 16 having program guide server 25 and Internet
`service system 61. A program guide client application
`may run on personal computer 23.
`The client may access
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 355
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 355
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`-~16-
`
`program guide server 25 via Internet service system 61
`and communications path 20.
`Personal computer 23 may
`include processing circuitry 27, memory 29, storage
`device 31, communications device 35, and monitor 39.
`
`Processing circuitry 27 may include any
`
`suitable processor, such as a microprocessor or group
`of microprocessors, and other processing circuitry such
`as caching circuitry, direct memory access (DMA)
`circuitry,
`input/output
`(1/0) circuitry, etc.
`
`Processing circuitry 27 may also include suitable
`
`circuitry for displaying television programming.
`Personal computer 23 may include, for example, a PC/TV
`card. Memory 29 may be any suitable memory, such as
`
`random access memory (RAM) or read only memory (ROM),
`
`that is suitable for storing the computer instructions
`
`and data. Storage device 31 may be any suitable
`
`storage device,
`
`such as a hard disk,
`
`floppy disk drive,
`
`flash RAM card,
`recordable CD-ROM drive, or any other
`suitable storage device. Communications device 35 may
`be any suitable communications device, such as a
`
`conventional analog modem or cable modem.
`An illustrative arrangement for user
`television equipment 22 of FIGS. 2a and 2b is shown in
`FIG. 3. User television equipment 22 of FIG.
`3
`
`receives analog video or a digital video stream and
`
`data, program guide data, or any suitable combination
`thereof,
`from television distribution facility 16 (FIG.
`1) at input 26. During normal television viewing, a
`
`user tunes set-top box 28 to a desired television
`
`channel.
`
`The signal for that television channel is
`
`then provided at video output 30.
`
`The signal supplied
`
`at output 30 is typically either a radio-frequency (RF)
`
`signal on a predefined channel (e.g., channel 3 or 4),
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 356
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 356
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`‘WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`-17-
`
`or a analog demodulated video signal, but may also be a
`digital signal provided to television 36 on an
`appropriate digital bus (e.g., a bus using the
`Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
`
`The video signal
`(not shown)).
`(IEEE) 1394 standard,
`at output 30 is received by optional secondary storage
`device 32.
`
`The interactive television program guide
`client may run on set~top box 28, on television 36 (if
`television 36 has suitable processing circuitry and
`memory), on a suitable analog or digital receiver
`connected to television 36, or on digital storage
`
`device 31 if digital storage device 31 has suitable
`processing circuitry and memory.
`The interactive
`television program guide client may also run
`cooperatively on a suitable combination of these
`devices.
`Interactive television application systems in
`which a cooperative interactive television program
`guide application runs on multiple devices are
`described,
`for example,
`in Ellis U.S. patent
`application Serial No. 09/186,598, filed November 5,
`1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein
`
`in its entirety.
`Secondary storage device 32 can be any
`
`suitable type of analog or digital program storage
`device or player (e.g.,
`a videocassette recorder, a
`digital versatile disc (DVD) player, etc.).
`Program
`recording and other features may be controlled by
`set-top box 28 using control path 34.
`If secondary
`storage device 32 is a videocassette recorder,
`for
`example, a typical control path 34 involves the use of
`an infrared transmitter coupled to the infrared
`
`receiver in the videocassette recorder that normally
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 357
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 357
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 18 -
`
`accepts commands from a remote control such as remote
`
`control 40. Remote control 40 may be used to control
`
`set-top box 28, secondary storage device 32, and
`television 36.
`
`If desired, a user may record programs,
`
`program guide data, or a combination thereof in digital
`form on optional digital storage device 31. Digital
`
`storage device 31 may be a writeable optical storage
`
`device (such as a DVD player capable of handling
`
`- 10
`
`recordable DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such
`
`as a disk drive or digital tape), or any other digital
`
`storage device.
`
`Interactive television program guide
`
`systems that have digital storage devices are
`described,
`for example,
`in Hassell et al. U.S. patent
`
`application Serial No. 09/157,256, filed September 17,
`
`1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein
`
`in its entirety.
`
`Digital storage device 31 can be contained in
`
`set-top box 28 or it can be an external device
`
`connected to set-top box 28 via an output port and
`
`appropriate interface. Digital storage device 31 may,
`for example, be contained in local media server 29.
`If
`
`necessary, processing circuitry in set-top box 28
`formats the received video, audio and data signals into
`a digital file format. Preferably,
`the file format is
`an open file format such as the Moving Picture Experts
`
`Group (MPEG) MPEG-2 standard or the Moving Joint
`
`Photographic Experts Group (MJPEG) standard.
`
`The
`
`resulting data is streamed to digital storage device 31
`via an appropriate bus (e.g., a bus using the Institute
`Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394
`standard), and is stored on digital storage device 31.
`In another suitable approach, an MPEG-2 data stream or
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 358
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 358
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 19 -
`
`series of files may be received from distribution
`
`equipment 21 and stored.
`Television 36 receives video signals from
`
`secondary storage device 32 via communications path 38.
`The video signals on communications path 38 may either
`be generated by secondary storage device 32 when
`playing back a prerecorded storage medium (e.g., a
`videocassette or a recordable digital video disc), by
`
`digital storage device 31 when playing back a pre-
`recorded digital medium, may be passed through from
`set-top box 28, may be provided directly to television
`36 from set-top box 28 if secondary storage device 32
`is not included in user television equipment 22, or may
`, be received directly by television 36. During normal
`television viewing,
`the video signals provided to
`
`10
`
`15
`
`television 36 correspond to the desired channel to
`which a user has tuned with set-top box 28. Video
`
`signals may also be provided to television 36 by set-
`top box 28 when set-top box 28 is used to play back
`information stored on digital storage device 31.
`
`Set-top box 28 may have communications
`
`device 37 for communicating with program guide server
`
`25 over communications path 20. Communications device
`37 may be a modem (e.g., any suitable analog or digital
`standard, cellular, or cable modem), network interface
`
`card (e.g., an Ethernet card, Token ring card, etc.), a
`combination of such devices, or any other suitable
`
`communications device. Television 36 may also have
`
`such a suitable communications device if desired.
`
`Set-top box 28 may have memory 44. Memory 44
`
`may be any memory or other storage device, such as a
`random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),
`
`flash memory, a hard disk drive, a combination of such
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 359
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 359
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 20 -
`
`devices, etc.,
`that is suitable for storing program
`guide client instructions and program guide data for
`use by the program guide client.
`A more generalized embodiment of user
`
`television equipment 22 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4.
`As shown in FIG. 4, program guide data from television
`distribution facility 16 (FIG. 1) and programming are
`received by control circuitry 42 of user television
`equipment 22.
`The functions of control circuitry 42
`may be provided using the set-top box arrangement of
`FIGS. 2a and 2b. Alternatively,
`these functions may be
`
`integrated into an advanced television receiver,
`personal computer television (PC/TV) such as shown in
`FIG. 2c, or any other suitable arrangement.
`If
`desired, a combination of such arrangements may be
`used.
`
`User television equipment 22 may also have
`
`secondary storage device 47 and digital storage device
`
`Secondary storage device
`49 for recording programming.
`47 can be any suitable type of analog or digital
`program storage device (e.g., a videocassette recorder,
`a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.).
`Program
`recording and other features may be controlled by
`control circuitry 42. Digital storage device 49 may
`be, for example, a writeable optical storage device
`(such as a DVD player capable of handling recordable
`DVD discs), a magnetic storage device (such as a disk
`drive or digital tape), or any other digital storage
`device.
`
`User television equipment 22 may also have
`memory 63. Memory 63 may be any memory or other
`storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM),
`read only memory (ROM),
`flash memory,
`a hard disk
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 360
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 360
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/5 9051
`
`- 21 -
`
`that is
`drive, a combination of such devices, etc.,
`suitable for storing program guide client instructions
`and program guide data for use by control circuitry 42.
`User television equipment 22 of FIG.
`4 may
`
`also have communications device 51 for supporting
`communications between the program guide client and
`program guide server 25 and via communications path-20.
`Communications device 51 may be a modem (e.g., any
`suitable analog or digital standard, cellular, or cable
`
`10
`
`15
`
`modem), network interface card (e.g., an Ethernet card,
`Token ring card, etc.), a combination of such devices,
`‘or any other suitable communications device.
`A user controls the operation of user
`
`.
`
`television equipment 22 with user interface 46. User
`interface 46 may be a pointing device, wireless remote
`control, keyboard,
`touch-pad, voice recognition system,
`or any other suitable user input device.
`To watch
`television, a user instructs control circuitry 42 to
`
`display a desired television channel on display
`device 45.
`To access the functions of the program
`
`20
`
`guide, a user instructs the program guide implemented
`on interactive television program guide equipment 17 to
`generate a main menu or other desired program guide
`display screen for display on display device 45.
`If
`desired,
`the program guide client running on user
`television equipment 22 may provide users with access
`to program guide features without requiring them to
`navigate the Internet.
`/
`The program guide may provide users with an
`opportunity to access program guide features through a
`main menu.
`A main menu screen, such as illustrative
`
`main menu screen 100 of FIG. 5, may include menu 102 of
`
`selectable program guide features 106.
`
`If desired,
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 361
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 361
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`495
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 22 -
`
`program guide features 106 may be organized according
`to feature type.
`In menu 102, for example, program
`guide features 106 have been organized into three
`columns.
`The column labeled "TV GUIDE" is for listings
`
`related features,
`the column labeled "MSO SHOWCASE" is
`for multiple system operator
`(MSO) related features,
`and the column labeled "VIEWER SERVICES" is for viewer
`
`related features.
`The interactive television program
`guide may generate a display screen for a particular
`program guide feature when a user selects that feature
`from menu 102.
`
`Main menu screen 100 may include one or more
`
`selectable advertisements 108. Selectable
`
`advertisements 108 may, for example,
`includetext and
`graphics advertising pay-per-view programs or other
`programs or products. When a user selects a selectable
`advertisement 108,
`the program guide may display
`information (e.g., pay-per-view information) or take
`other actions related to the content of the
`
`advertisement.
`
`Pure text advertisements may be
`
`presented, if desired, as illustrated by selectable
`advertisement banner 110.
`
`Main menu screen 100 may also include other
`screen elements.
`The brand of the program guide
`product may be indicated,
`for example, using a product
`brand logo graphic such as product brand logo
`graphic 112.
`The identity of the television service
`provider may be presented, for example, using a service
`provider logo graphic such as service provider logo
`graphic 114.
`The current time may be displayed in
`clock display region 116.
`In addition, a suitable
`indicator such as indicator graphic 118 may be used to
`
`indicate to a user that mail
`
`from a cable operator is
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 362
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 362
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`-
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 23 -
`
`waiting for a user if the program guide supports
`
`_ messaging functions.
`The interactive television program guide may
`
`provide a user with an opportunity to view television
`program listings.
`A user may indicate a desire to view
`program listings by, for example, positioning highlight
`region 120 over a desired program guide feature 106.
`Alternatively,
`the program guide may present program
`listings when a user presses a suitable key (e.g., a
`"guide" key) on remote control 40. When a user
`indicates a desire to view television program listings,
`the program guide client requests listings from program
`‘guide server 25 and generates an appropriate program
`listings screen for display on display device 45
`(FIG. 4).
`Program listings screens may be overlaid on
`a program being viewed by a-user or overlaid on a
`portion of the program in a "browse" mode.
`Program
`listings screens are described, for example,
`in Knudson
`et al. U.S. patent application Serial No. 09/357,941,
`filed July 16, 1999 (Attorney Docket No. UV-114), which
`is hereby. incorporated by reference herein in its
`
`entirety.
`
`A program listings screen may contain one or
`more groups or lists of program listings organized
`according to one or more organization criteria (e.g.,
`by time, by channel, by program category, etc.).
`The
`program guide may, for example, provide a user with an
`opportunity to view listings by time, by channel,
`according to a number of categories (e.g., movies,
`sports, children, etc.), or may allow a user to search
`for a listing by title.
`Program listings may be
`displayed using any suitable list,
`table, grid, or
`other suitable display arrangement.
`If desired,
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 363
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 363
`
`

`

`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 24 -
`
`program listings screens may include selectable
`advertisements, product brand logo graphics, service
`provider brand graphics, clocks, or any other suitable
`indicator or graphic.
`A user may indicate a desire to view program
`listings by time, channel, or category by, for example,
`selecting a selectable feature 106 from menu 102.
`In
`response,
`the program guide client may issue one or
`more requests to program guide server 25 for listings
`in the selected category if such listings are not
`already cached in memory 63 (FIG. 4}.
`Program guide
`server 25 may retrieve program guide data stored on
`storage device 56, on another server, or from Internet
`service system 61, and provide the data to the program
`guide client via program guide distribution
`equipment 21.
`The program guide client may display program
`listings in a suitable program listings screen on user
`television equipment 22.
`FIG.
`6 illustrates the
`display of program listings by time.
`Program listings
`screen 130 of FIG.
`6 may include highlight region 151,
`which highlights the current program listing 150. A
`user may position highlight region 151 by entering
`appropriate commands with user interface 46.
`For
`example, if user interface 46 has a keypad, a user can
`position highlight region 151 using "up" and "down"
`arrow keys on remote control 40. A user may select a
`listing by, for example, pressing on the "OK" or "info"
`key on remote control 40. Alternatively, a touch
`sensitive screen,
`trackball, voice recognition device,
`or other suitable device may be used to move highlight
`region 151 or to select program listings without the
`use of highlight region 151.
`In still another
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 364
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 364
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`~ 25 -
`
`approach, a user may speak a television program listing
`into a voice request recognition system.
`These methods
`of selecting program listings are merely illustrative.
`Any other suitable approach for selecting program
`listings may be used if desired.
`A user may view additional listings for the
`time slot indicated in timebar 111 by, for example,
`pressing an "up" or "down" arrow, or a "page up" or
`"page down" key on remote control 40.
`The user may
`also see listings for the next 24 hour period, or the
`last 24 hour period, by pressing a "day forward" or
`"day backward" key on remote control 40, respectively.
`If there are no listings starting exactly 24 hours in
`the indicated direction,
`the program guide may pick
`programs starting at either closer or further than 24
`hours away.
`If desired,
`the program guide may require
`a user to scroll through advertisement banner 110.
`A
`user may view program listings for other time slots by,
`for example, pressing "right" and "left" arrows on
`remote control 40.
`
`_
`
`FIG.
`7 illustrates the display of program
`listings by channel. A user may scroll up and down to
`view program listings for additional time slots, and
`may scroll left and right to view program listings for
`other channels.
`If desired,
`the day for which program
`listings are displayed may be included in display
`area 147 with the channel number as shown.
`The program guide may provide users with an
`opportunity to view program listings sorted by
`category. A user may,
`for example, press a special
`category key on remote control 40 (e.g., "movies",
`"sports", "children", etc.), select a selectable
`category feature from main menu screen 100 (FIG. 5}, or
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 365
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 365
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`.
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 26 -
`
`may indicate a desire to view program listings by
`category using any other suitable approach.
`FIG. 8a is
`an illustrative program listings screen in which
`program listings for movies are displayed.
`FIG. 8b is
`an illustrative program listings screen in which
`program listings for sports-related programming are
`displayed.
`FIG. 8c is an illustrative program listings
`screen in which program listings for children's
`programs are displayed.
`In program listings display screens such as
`those shown in FIGS. 7a and 8a-8c for example, program
`listings within lists 129 may be divided into
`predefined time slots, such as into 30 minute time
`slots. Between each time slot, separator 128 may be
`displayed to indicate to a user that a user has
`scrolled or paged program listings from one time slot
`to the next.
`In FIG. 7 for example, a user is
`scrolling from program listings in the 11:30 PM to the
`12:00 AM time slot. This is indicated by the display of
`the name of the next week day.
`In FIGS. 8a-8c, for
`example, a user is scrolling from progran listings in
`the 12:30 PM time slot to program listings in the 1:00
`PM time slot.
`If desired, separators 128 may be
`displayed only for those timeslots for which there are
`listings. When the user scrolls within listings,
`highlight region 151 may skip separator 128.
`FIGS. 6,
`7, and 8a-8c also illustrate how the program guide may
`display an advertisement banner so that a user is
`required to scroll past the banner to access additional
`program listings.
`The program listings screens of FIGS. 6, 7,
`8a, &b, and 8c have also been shown as including
`various other screen elements.
`Program listings
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 366
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 366
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 27 -
`
`for example, selectable
`display screens may include,
`advertisements, advertisement: banners, brand logos,
`
`,
`
`service provider logos, clocks, message indicators, or
`any other suitable screen element.
`The program guide
`may provide users with access to selectable
`advertisements in response to, for example, a user
`pressing left arrows to move highlight region 151 to
`highlight a selectable advertisement.
`In the
`illustrative program listings screens of FIGS. 6, 8a,
`8b, and 8c,
`the program guide may also adjust the time ~
`displayed in timebar 123 as the user scrolls or pages
`through program listings to reflect the time of the
`program listing at the top of the list.
`The program guide client may provide a user
`with an opportunity to define sophisticated boolean or
`natural language expressions of one or more criteria.
`Such criteria may include,
`for example, attribute type
`and attribute information that is provided by program
`guide server 25.
`The user defined expressions may be
`stored by program guide server 25 for searching through
`and sorting program guide data, scheduling reminders,
`automatically recording programs, and parentally
`controlling programs. Criteria may also be derived by
`the program guide server or program guide client from
`user profiles or by monitoring usage of the program
`guide or advertising.
`Program guide server 25 may also
`use expressions to obtain other types of information or
`programs.
`Program guide server 25 may obtain,
`for
`example, video-on-demand programs, web site links,
`games, chat group links, merchandise information, or
`any other suitable information or programming from data
`sources 14 located at main facility 12 or other
`facilities.
`The program guide client may provide users
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 367
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 367
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 28 -
`
`with an opportunity to access, modify, or delete the
`
`expressions if desired.
`A user may indicate a desire to search
`program guide data by,
`for example, selecting
`selectable Search feature 106 of main menu 102 (FIG.
`
`the program guide client may display
`In response,
`5).
`a criteria screen, such as illustrative criteria screen
`
`141 and 149 of FIGS. 9a and 9b.
`
`The program guide
`
`client may display criteria screen 141 of FIG. 9a to
`
`provide a user with an opportunity to define a boolean
`
`expression.
`
`The user may construct a boolean
`
`expression by selecting criteria such as attribute
`
`logical operators, and sorting
`types, attributes,
`criteria. User selectable criteria may aliso include
`what program guide server 25 searches for such as,
`for
`exanple, program listings, program information, web
`
`sites, video-on-demand videos, software, or any other
`
`suitable program guide data, other information, or
`videos.
`:
`.
`
`Users may define expressions by,
`
`for example,
`
`arrowing up or down between criteria, arrowing left or
`right to choose an attribute, attribute type or logical
`
`operator, and pressing a suitable key to indicate that
`the user is finished (e.g., an "OK" key).
`In the
`example of FIG. 9a,
`the user has constructed a boolean
`
`expression for all action programs that have the actor
`Bruce Willis,
`that start between 7:00P and 11:00P, and
`
`that end between 9:00P and 1:30A on the current day.
`
`FIG. 9a has not been shown as including criteria for
`
`selecting what program guide server 25 searches for to
`
`avoid over-complicating the drawing.
`
`The program guide client may display criteria
`
`screen 149 of FIG. 9b to provide a user with an
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 368
`
`DISH, Exh. 1008, p. 368
`
`

`

`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`WO 00/11869
`
`PCT/US99/19051
`
`- 29 -
`
`language expression.
`opportunity to construct a natural
`The user may enter a natural language phrase, such as
`"List in alphabetical order all action programs
`starring Bruce Willis and that start today between
`7:00P and 11:00P and that end between 9:00P and 1:30A"
`using user interface 46 (FIG. 4).
`The program guide client may submit the user
`defined boolean expression or the natural l

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket