BRPI9816363B1 - method and system to generate for display a custom list of program recommendations - Google Patents

Abstract

systems and methods for displaying and recording control interfaces. The present invention is an improvement over previous epg electronic program guides by the fact that it provides, among other things: improved spectator interaction capabilities with epg; optimized future programmed video recording viewer control (46): optimized epg showing and navigation features (10): epg showing parent control; improved access to the television program by the viewer (22); enhanced product opportunities for the commercial advertiser to reach the viewer profile (14, 16); improved access to product information by the viewer (12); viewer profiling (36, 52), using viewer profile information to customize various aspects of epg (24); and using viewer profile information to provide personalized ad delivery to the viewer (24).

Description

Report of the Invention Patent for "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A CUSTOMIZED LIST OF PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS".

Divided from PI98121Q4-9, filed July 21, 1998. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to television systems, and more particularly to the display of, and control interface recording with, television programs, video, advertisement information, and program schedule information. .

Background of the Invention Television viewers have historically analyzed the information provided by television program time guides to select the television programs to watch. Historically, television program time guides have listed available television programs by weekday, time of day, channel, and program title. Historically only direct-reading television schedule guides were available. More recently, as illustrated by Levine Patent, US Patent No. 4,908,713, television program guides have become available in electronic form. Primitive versions of on-screen electronic program guides ("EPG") provided for storing program time information in an electronic memory connected to the television receiver and generally provided for formatting and displaying on-screen time information. programs on the television screen. Primitive EPGs typically overlapped television programming. Moreover, spectators' ability to interact with primitive EPGs was extremely limited.

Subsequent EPGs provided viewer interaction enhancements for EPG and provided a Guide Picture Display ("PIG") of the television program concurrent with the EPG display. International Application No. PCT / US95 / 11173 (International Publication No. WO 96/07270), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, illustrates such an improvement. Summary of the Invention The present invention is an improvement on previous EPGs by the fact that it provides, among other things: A. Enhanced viewer-EPG interaction capabilities; B. Enhanced future time schedule recording viewer control; C. Optimized EPG display and navigation features; D. Parental control of EPG screening; E. Television program information access enhanced by the viewer; F. Enhanced opportunities for the commercial advertiser to reach the viewer; G. Viewer-enhanced product information access; H. Creation of a spectator profile; L Using viewer profile information to customize various aspects of the EPG; and J. Using viewer profile information to provide a personalized display of ads to the viewer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with respect to the following description, the appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein: [006] Figure 1 is a graphical representation of a sample screen view of the EPG.

[007] Figure 2 is a drawing of a portion of a remote control device showing keys for activating the various functions of the EPG.

[008] Figure 3 is a graphical representation of an on-screen EPG display sample showing the on-screen grid guide of EPGs in programming scroll mode.

[009] Figures 4a and 4b are a graphical representation of a sample on-screen EPG display showing the on-screen grid guide of EPGs in channel scrolling.

[0010] Figure 5 is a graphical representation of a sample EPG display on screen showing the EPG in the View Time Function.

[0011] Figure 6 is a graphical representation of a sample EPG display on screen showing the EPG View / Record Time screen.

[0012] Figure 7 is a graphical representation of a sample EPG screen display showing the screen display of the EPG top level theme.

Figure 8 is a graphical representation of a sample EPG display on screen showing the screen display of the EPG second level theme.

Figure 9 is a graphical representation of a sample EPG display on the screen showing the EPG Channel Guide function.

Figures 10a and 10b are graphical representations of on-screen EPG display samples showing one embodiment of the additional information display feature with regard to the subject matter of an enhanced Panel Announcement Window.

Detailed Description of the Invention The description of International Application W096 / 07270, published March 7, 1996 is fully incorporated herein by reference. The present invention is an improvement on the electronic program guide (EPG) described herein. The apparatus described in the referenced PCT application is used to generate the screen displays described below.

[0017] In Figure 1 of the drawing, an EPG mode with the Announcement Window and Announcement Messages is shown. In figure 1, a television screen display 10 is shown. Display 10 could be generated by a conventional television receiver with interlaced scan lines, a VCR, a PC monitor with progressive scan lines, or another type of video display device. In the upper left corner of the screen there is a PIP window 12. Below window 12 are Panel Ad Windows 14 and 16 ("Ad Windows"). Windows 12, 14, and 16 each typically occupy approximately 1/9 of the full screen area. The remaining screen area is typically populated (moving from the top to the bottom of the screen) by an action key bar 18, a navigation bar 20, a grid guide 22 ("Grid Guide"), and a text box. information 24 (the "detailed information area * 1).

[0018] In Figure 2 of the drawing, one embodiment of a remote controller 26 for activating display 10 functions is shown. The remote controller 26 could have other keys for activating the functions of a user video device, such as a television receiver, a VCR, or a cable box. Remote control 26 has up, down, right, and left arrow keys 28, 30, 32, and 34, respectively, to control the movement of a cursor 36 in display 10. Cursor 36 can select , that is, highlight any of windows 12, 14, or 16 by pressing the arrow keys 28 through 34, any of the titles and channels in the Grid Guide 22 by pressing the arrow keys 32 and 34, or the toolbar. navigation 20 by pressing the arrow keys 32 and 34. Windows 12, 14, and 16 are highlighted by adding a border around the window or changing the border color if the border is permanent. The titles and channels in Grid Guide 22 and navigation bar 20 are highlighted by changing color.

[0019] Enhancement of the Grid Guide and / or Navigation tabs and / or viewer selections and screen display components can be accomplished in a number of other ways. For example, the edge of a selected window, or the Grid Guide or the navigation component, may appear to flash. Another way to highlight a viewer selection is to make the selected window or feature appear brighter than the rest of the screen view. Yet another way to highlight a viewer selection is to focus all portions of the screen view except the viewer-selected component. Yet another way to enhance viewer selection is to make all portions of the screen view except the viewer-selected component appear transparent. Yet another way to enhance viewer selection is to add animation to the selected component. When a portion of the EPG is selected, the system issues graphical display commands to the on-screen display controller (OSD) to implement one or more of the desired enhancement techniques.

[0020] The viewer enters the Guide Mode illustrated in Fig. 1 by pressing a "Guide" key 35 and returns to Full Screen Television Mode by pressing the 35 key again or by pressing the "Select" key. A real-time television program is displayed in window 12. A translucent PIP 12 window overlay can display the title, channel (local number and / or station name), and window status (locked or unlocked) 12 over the television program so that the viewer can still see the whole picture.

[0021] The PIP Window can be locked or unlocked. The "lock / unlock" function is user controlled. To lock or unlock the PIP Window, the viewer can use a PIP button on the remote control device, or can highlight or press the EPG Lock / Unlock action button. The lock / unlock status is recorded and maintained until the status is reset by the viewer. That is, the PIP Window lock / unlock status on the EPG is maintained when the viewer leaves the Guide and later enters the Guide again, including when the viewer turns off the television. If the viewer selects the "locked" status, the last channel on which the tuner was set in the PIP Window continues to be displayed regardless of the actions performed by the viewer. In the unlocked state, the channel highlighted by cursor 36 in the Grid Guide 22 is displayed if the Grid Guide is currently displaying the broadcasted programs and the last currently broadcast channel that was highlighted is displayed if the Grid Guide is displaying the future programs.

There are usually three results in leaving the Guide, depending on how the viewer leaves the Guide. If the viewer while in EPG wants to see in full screen mode the program shown in the PIP Window then the viewer can press the Guide button on the remote control device. If the viewer while in EPG highlights a particular channel in the Grid Guide, and then presses the "select" button, the viewer will leave the Guide to view in full screen the television program that the viewer highlighted in the Guide. If the viewer while on the EPG presses the "clear" or "cancel" button on the remote control device, then the viewer will leave the guide and return to the television program the viewer was watching immediately before entering the guide. .

Typically, an announcement for a future broadcast program is displayed in window 14. This announcement is turned on at the time and channel of the program in RAM so that the viewer can automatically view or record the program by pressing the action button. left blue to view the program, or green right action button to record the program.

Typically, an advertisement for a product or service is displayed in window 16. This advertisement is linked to more information about the product or service in RAM so that the viewer can read one or more pages about the product or service. in window 16 by pressing an "info" key 40 one or more times. Alternatively, this announcement is turned on at the time and channel in RAM that an infomercial about the product or service will be broadcast so that the viewer can view or record the infomercial automatically by pressing the "select" key 42.

Bar 18 displays a blue button 44 and / or a green button 46 with subtitles that depend on the context of the information displayed on the screen. Remote controller 26 has corresponding keys 48 and 50, respectively, to activate the functions represented by blocks 44 and 46.

From window 12, 14, or 16 the viewer moves to grid guide 22 by pressing the arrow key 32. (From the grid guide 22 the viewer moves to window 12, 14 or 16 by pressing the arrow key 34 ). In grid guide 22 the viewer moves cursor 36 to highlight one of the nine titles in which the channel and title are displayed by pressing the arrow keys 28 and 30. The viewer can see the program listings listed in future times by pressing the keys. 32 or 34 to move horizontally through the grid.

From the grid guide 22 the viewer moves the navigation bar 20 by pressing the arrow key 28. Initially, the center button is highlighted. To highlight a different button, the 32 or 34 arrow key is pressed. To enter the screen represented by the highlighted button, the "select" key 42 is pressed.

[0028] In grid guide 22 details about the program represented by the highlighted title are displayed. If more information is available this fact is indicated by an icon and such information is displayed in the area occupied by the grid guide 22 instead of the grid guide by pressing the "info" key 40. To return to the grid guide the " info "40 is pressed again. After an action button has been pressed or an icon on the navigation bar 20 has been activated, an instructional display may be replaced by the program information in the information box 24.

In addition to titles representing television programs, a virtual channel ad may be displayed in grid guide 22 over a title 52. A virtual channel ad may promote, for example, a current or future television program. . Such a virtual channel advertisement for the television program is on time and on the program channel in RAM so that the viewer can automatically watch or record the program by pressing the "select" key 42 in the mode described in the referenced request. More than one virtual channel ad may be stored in RAM, but preferably only one such ad is displayed at a time.

Reference is made to the TV Plus + 98 v1.42 stv User Interface Specification, which is appended to it as Appendix A, the description of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein for best description of the invention.

A hardware embodiment of this invention includes a circuit board consisting of a port arrangement that provides all control functions for access by the processor (e.g. the Motorola 68000), by the memory control (the Dynamic RAM and external ROM), and for some peripheral functions such as infrared ("IR") input and output, the frequency synthesizer for the paging system, and for paging system data acquisition. module to create an on-screen display that includes a programmable direct memory access (DMA) controller, a color lookup table that provides a field called a color index that can be used to select a more complicated color (more bits than can be expressed in the bitmap), a first-in-first-out ("FIFO") memory for sorting pixels (which allows the system to write pixels as fast as the system is capable of write the pixels and then send the pixels to the display according to a prescribed timing. Included in the chip is a timing subsystem that produces a number of different variable frequency timing signals - from clocks to long millisecond measurement, and interrupts. Synchronization signals to the television monitor are also generated by the internal timing subsystem. The system also typically includes circuits for functions that include but are not limited to: data receiver, memory controller, processor timing interface, data scrambling, error correction, and synchronous timing generator with horizontal counters and vertical.

Another feature of an EPG system hardware mode is that display list hardware is capable of both video input and output on the same DMA hardware. The display processor is comprised of a video section and a FIFO section in an ASIC. The system has multiple clocks. Display memory has the ability to store 8 screen titles in a horizontal plane.

Described below in more detail are the following enhancements to an EPG: A. Enhanced spectator interaction capabilities with the EPG, including: 1. A Variety of Modes of Operation. 2. Joy Stick and Track Bali Remote Viewer Interface. 3. On-Screen Sensitive EPG Control Mechanisms. 4. Viewing Time. 5. "All Channels" Guide Format, Channel Guide Format, and "Next" / "Previous" Channel Guide. B. Enhanced control of the future time schedule video recording viewer, including: 1. Record the program displayed in the PIP window. 2. Record "Regularly". 3. Recording filter for Record Function for programs recorded "Regularly". 4. Skip the recording instruction. 5. Automatic Recording List Update. 6. Recording on recordable Digital Video Discs. 7. Speed Sensitive Tape Capacity. 8. Conflict Resolution of Recording Instructions. 9. Record of Theme Guides. C. Improved EPG display and navigation features, including: 1. Email. 2. Multiple Visible "Windows". 3. Translucency effects on screen. 4. Notifications on the screen. 5. Theme navigation bar. 6. Enhanced Scrolling through EPG and Smooth Scrolling. 7. "Skip" within the EPG. 8. Thematic color coding of program schedule. 9. Controllable number of programming days. D. Parental control of EPG screening; E. Access to viewer-enhanced television program information, including: 1. Virtual Channel Announcement slots and Announcement Window program announcements. 2. Additional detailed information for viewer access including internet connection. F. Enhanced opportunities for the commercial advertiser to reach the viewer, including: 1. Video clips related to the Announcement Window and infomercial recording product. 2. Recording of programs related to the Announcement Window. 3. Panel Ads. 4. Virtual Channel Announcement Slits. 5. Space Owner Announcements. 6. Full Screen Ads. 7. Automatic viewing channel. 8. Ad Features. G. Viewer-enhanced access to product information, including: 1. Ad Window product detail. 2. Recording for Announcement Window products. 3. Recording for Announcement Window programs. H, Creating a viewer profile, including; I. Collect viewer profile information, 2. Analyze and characterize viewer profile information, L Use viewer profile information to customize various aspects of the EPG; and J, Using viewer profile information to provide a personalized display of ads to the viewer.

A. CAPABILIZED SPECTOR INTERACTION PAPERS PERFORMED WITH EPG 1. A Variety of Modes of Operation.

Under the improved EPG system, there are multiple modes in which the viewer can operate the television. The. TV mode.

In Television Mode, the viewer sees a full screen display of television video programming. In one embodiment, in order to enter the EPG, the viewer presses the "Guide" key on the viewer's remote control device. In another mode, the EPG Grid Guide is the default mode. In the event that EPG Grid Guide is the default mode, when the viewer turns on the television, the first thing the viewer sees is the EPG in Grid Guide Mode as described more fully below. In one embodiment, at the viewer's option, as identified in the EPG tuning procedure, the viewer may override the standard EPG Grid Guide mode by selecting to automatically enter Television Mode whenever the viewer turns on the television for the first time. During adjustment procedures, the viewer may further instruct the EPG to automatically tune to the last viewed channel as identified when the viewer last turned off the television. The viewer can also instruct the EPG to automatically tune into the viewer's favorite channel, as is deduced from the analysis of viewer profile information described below. Alternatively, the viewer can instruct the EPG to automatically tune into a particular channel, for example, a news channel such as CNN. B. EPG Grid Guide Mode.

In EPG Grid Guide Mode, EPG displays the Grid Guide, or alternatively, a Channel Guide. The viewer may request that the Grid Guide occupy the entire screen, be displayed over a portion of the screen as an overlay of video television programming, or, in the preferred mode, occupy only a portion of the screen, typically 2/3 of the screen. while continuing to display video television programming in the PIP Window of the screen. In the preferred embodiment, Multiple Windows are displayed to the viewer, as further described below, including at least: the Grid / EPG Guide Window, the PIP Window, and the Announcement Window.

[0036] Scrolling through the Guide is described below. The viewer can press the "Menu" key on the viewer's remote control device to go to the top of the Guide.

The viewer can return to the full screen display of video television programming in a number of ways. One way is to press the "Guide" key on the viewer's remote control device. Another way is to press the "Select" key on the viewer's remote control device when the on-screen highlight / cursor is highlighting a particular program listing in the Grid Guide for a program that is available for real-time viewing. Another way is to press the "last channel" key on the viewer's remote control device to return to the program the viewer was watching before entering the Guide, or the last program on which the PIP window was locked (an option explained further below). 1.) Theme Guide Function [0038] EPG provides various Theme Guides, for example, sports, movies, news, etc. Each Themes Guide lists program listings associated with a particular theme, for example, all sports programs. The Theme Guide display format only displays program listings, and consequently channels, for certain times of day, with content appropriate to the selected theme. For example, the Sport Themes Guide will typically display, in order of time, only lists for channels that have sports programs that are listed for a certain period of time, for example 48 hours, 8 days, etc. 2.) Recording Selection Function.

In the Recording Selection Function, also referred to as the Recording Function, the viewer instructs the EPG which programs to add to the Recording List, which is a list of programs, and the relative time information, for the programs that the viewer Want to have recorded. As further described below, the viewer can identify the frequency / regularity with which the viewer wants to record each program listed in the Recording List.

[0040] The viewer can enter the Recording Function in a number of ways. The viewer may press the "Record" key, if any, on the viewer's remote control device. Alternatively, the viewer can "press" a "Record" action button on the EPG display. 3.) Viewing Time Function In the Viewing Time Function, also referred to as the Viewing Function, the viewer instructs the EPG which programs to add to the Viewing List, which is the program list and the relative schedule information for programs that the viewer wants to watch. As further described below, the viewer can identify the frequency / regularity with which the viewer wants to see each show listed in the View List.

[0042] The viewer can enter the Vision Function in a number of ways. The viewer may press the "View" key, if any, on the viewer's remote control device. Alternatively, the viewer can "press" a "View" action button on the EPG display. 4.) Data Download Function [0043] In some embodiments, EPG time data, and / or supplemental information relevant to program listings, and / or announcement data may be downloaded to memory. resident on the viewer's television system. In the preferred embodiment of the download data system, the viewer will ask the EPG to make certain types of information available; The EPG will use an index from which to find the information and will automatically connect to the appropriate data source and download the information. EPG time data, and / or supplemental information relevant to program listings, and / or ad data may be downloaded from various sources. In one embodiment, the data is downloaded from the Internet. In other embodiments of the download data system, the viewer is required to tune into a particular channel at a particular time if the viewer is interested in accessing and downloading particular types of information. ç. Internet Mode Not all modes require data to be downloaded to EPG memory. In one embodiment, EPG time data, supplemental data and / or announcement data, and software for formatting, displaying, and navigating EPG time data, supplemental data, and / or announcement data. they are accessed by the viewer's television system via a direct link between the viewer's television system and the Internet.

In one embodiment of the direct internet connection described above, the viewer television is connected to the Internet by telephone line via modem, cable modem, other dual-way communication device, including modem communication devices. wireless and other conventional methods of communicating with the Internet. The website address of the initial connection network may be provided, for example, through information transmitted to the viewer's television about the vertical blanking interval (the "VBI"). The viewer may also be equipped with a selection of multiple EPG Internet network sites. The viewer uses the remote control device to select one of the EPG Internet network sites.

The viewer television system is programmed to emulate online computer access to the Internet. Once the connection between the viewer's television system and the Internet is made, the user has two-way communication with the EPG's relative information online Internet service provider. The user can then browse through the EPG. Further, in one embodiment, in which the keyboard user interface is available, the user may enter chat rooms or other interactive services. 2. Jov Stick and Track Bali Remote Viewer Interface.

[0047] The video vision user interface (UI) comprises the remote control device and the monitor screen display. In one embodiment of the present invention, an improvement in the UI offered by the present invention is the use of a joy stick as a substitute for the traditional configuration of the four (4) arrow (up) arrow keys remote control device. , down, left, and right) with a selection key in the center. The joy stick UI provides a user friendly interface with EPG. The use of the joy stick is intuitive. The viewer / user does not have to look at the remote once the finger contacts the remote joystick. As a result, the viewer can control the UI while simultaneously watching the screen display without interruption.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an improvement in the UI offered by the present invention is the use of a track bali as a substitute for the conventional four (4) arrow key (up, down) circle remote control device. down, left, and right) with a selection key in the center.

In both track bali and joy stick modes, there is a "cursor" on the screen. The viewer uses the track bali or joy stick remote control device to navigate the cursor to any location on the screen as much as a PC user navigates a cursor over a PC terminal window. 3. On-Screen Sensitive EPG Control Mechanisms. Menu "keys", "buttons", "bars", and other such visual control mechanism devices are displayed on the screen for EPG control. Typically, visual control engine devices are sensitive to user interaction. Typically, the viewer utilizes the UI remote control device to highlight a control device on the particular screen. Typically, the viewer then uses the UI remote control device to select the control device on the highlighted screen.

In one embodiment of the present invention, positionally constant on-screen control devices are contextually sensitive. That is, a particular button can be consistently displayed over each EPG screen in the same position and color, from one screen to the next, one way to the next. With contextually sensitive control devices, even though the onscreen control device looks and feels from one screen to the next and from one mode to the next, the button has a different function, and if selected will provide a different result depending on the screen on which the button appears. In one embodiment, the function of the on-screen control device is described verbatim near the control device, or, if the control device is large enough, on the face of the control device.

For example, in one embodiment, as illustrated in figures 3, 4a and b, 5, and 6, the EPG displays two buttons at the top of each of the four screens shown. On each of the four different screens, the top left button has a different function. (As noted in this application, the "left" and "right" directions refer to the viewer's left and right, respectively). FIGURE 3 depicts the EPG Screen Grid Guide in program scroll mode. In FIGURE 3, the left viewer button is described as "View". Figures 4a and 4b show the Grid Guide on the EPG channel scrolling screen. In Figures 4a and 4b, the viewer's left button is a lock button, alternately described as "Lock" and "Unlock". Figure 5 shows the EPG in the View Time Function. In Figure 5, the left viewer button is described as "Cancel". Figure 6 shows the EPG View / Record Time screen. In Figure 6 the left viewer button is described as "Remove". 4. Viewing Time.

The EPG gives the viewer the opportunity to select program titles, scheduled for delivery in future times, to view. By selecting program titles, the viewer builds a "watch list". View list options and instructions provide functionality parallel to the EPG Recording Function. Instead of automatically recording selected programs, the View Function automatically turns on the television if it is not already on and automatically tunes the television in the programmed channel to provide the designated program if the television is not already tuned to that channel. This feature gives the viewer the opportunity to watch a program of special interest at the scheduled time even if the viewer has forgotten the scheduled broadcast. This feature will also provide parents' selection of children's program view.

The viewer can enter the View Time Function in a number of ways. The viewer can enter the View Time Function by selecting that Function from the EPG menu. The viewer can also enter the View Timing Function by highlighting an Announcement Window that shows an ad for a future time show or a Virtual Channel Announcement Slot that presents an ad for a future time show (both of which are described elsewhere in this request).

[0054] The viewer may designate any program in the Sight List as a program that the viewer wishes to view regularly. In one embodiment, if the viewer enters the View Timing Function by highlighting an Announcement Window or Virtual Channel Announcement Slit, then the viewer chooses to designate the program as a "regular" view, the designation expires after a certain amount. time if the advertiser stops passing the ad. Planned expiration is an incentive for advertisers to renew their ads. 5. "All Channels" Guide Format. Channel Guide Format and "Next" / "Previous" Channel Guide.

Viewer may choose to view the Grid Guide in "all channels" format which displays in some order each channel and lists of programs already in progress or scheduled to start sometime in the future. In "all channels" format, the viewer scrolls up and down the lists for each channel and left to right and right to left to view lists for a channel scheduled at different times during the day. Typically, the leftmost portion of the guide begins with the earlier scheduled programs and continues right in series through the scheduled lists later in the day.

As an alternative, the viewer may choose to watch the programs programmed for one channel at a time (a "Channel Guide"). In this format, the viewer scrolls up and down lists for a single channel as scheduled at different times of the day. Typically, the "top" of the Channel Guide starts with the earlier scheduled program and continues in series through listings scheduled hours later in the day. Figure 9 is a graphical representation of a sample EPG screen display showing the EPG Channel Guide function.

[0057] In the "Channel Guide" format, the viewer can select to view the Channel Guide for the "next" channel or for the "previous" channel. In one embodiment, the "Next" and "Previous" Channel Guide is an option in one of the EPG menus, action buttons, or taskbars. In another embodiment, the spectator's remote control device provides the "Next" and "Previous" Channel Guide keys. In another mode, the viewer uses the up and down arrow keys to navigate to the next or previous Channel Guides. PIP

As explained in more detail below, the EPG provides multiple "windows". A window displays the currently tuned program. When the viewer enters the TV mode EPG, the PIP window is "highlighted". In one embodiment, enhancement of the PIP window is achieved by a change of border color around the PIP window. While the PIP window is highlighted the viewer can instruct the EPG to record the displayed program. In one embodiment, the viewer records the program displayed in the highlighted PIP window by pressing the record button on the viewer's remote control device. 2. Record "Regularly".

One embodiment of the present invention provides the viewer with the option of recording a particular program "regularly". The "regularly" option can be selected when the viewer highlights a particular show title in the EPG Grid Guide. The "regularly" viewer selection instructs the VCR control system to record the particular title on the selected channel in the selected time slot on any day of the week the program is broadcast. If a broadcast of the selected title is overwritten by another program, the new program is not recorded. The change in broadcast programming is determined by comparing the selected program title with the actual program title. In one embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that the currently transmitted program title is carried within the range of the vertical payment of the television signal. When the viewer instructs the EPG to "record" a particular program "regularly", if the selected program is replaced by another program, the substitute program is not recorded and the EPG displays a message notifying the viewer that the selected program has been replaced and has not been recorded. . 3. Recording Filter for Record Function for "Regularly" recorded programs.

The EPG is capable of detecting redisplays. Program identification as a redisplay can be performed in the program broadcast VBI. In another embodiment, retext identification information is available in the program detail. In one Recording Function mode, when the viewer selects the "Regularly" recording option, the viewer is also given the option of filtering replays. If the viewer selects the replay filter option, then each time the If the program is scheduled regularly, the EPG determines whether the episode of the program to be delivered is identified as a replay or not. If the episode is a replay, and if the viewer has selected the replay filter option for the show title, then the EPG will not record the episode. 4. Skip the recording instruction.

In the EPG Recording Function, the viewer selects a program title for recording. Once a program title has been selected, the viewer is asked to select a recording schedule option. The viewer can select Once, Daily, Weekly, or Regularly as a recording schedule option. If the viewer has selected a Daily, Weekly, or Regular recording schedule option, one mode allows the viewer to skip program recording once. The skip instruction Once would result in the EPG not recording the program title, although the recording instruction for that program title remained in the recording list.

In the EPG Recording Function, the viewer can select the skip instruction for all programs in the Recording List, or for the programs selected in the Recording List. This feature can be used when the viewer goes on vacation. The program remains in the Recording List. At the viewer option, the viewer can turn off the skip instruction for all programs in the Recording List, or for programs selected in the Recording List, or for programs selected in the Recording List. 5. Automatic Recording List Update.

In the EPG Recording Function, the EPG will detect program time changes compared to the recording instructions for the particular program titles designated for recording. In one embodiment, when the EPG detects program time changes, the Recording List is automatically updated with the time change information. For example, if a sport event is broadcast longer than the original time, a packet to schedule update information may be transmitted about the VBI that updates the time of programs scheduled to be broadcast after the sport event. The EPG detects the VBI time update and updates the recording list to allow recording of any program following the sports program to be recorded as appropriate. 6. Recording on recordable Digital Video Discs.

The viewer can instruct the EPG to record programs on recordable Digital Video Discs (DVDs). Due to the extended storage capacity of DVDs, the viewer can instruct the EPG to record and index an extended programming period. For example, the viewer can instruct the EPG to record and index, for example, 4 hours of a certain number of CNN news broadcasts. When the viewer is ready to watch the DVD recording, EPG displays the DVD index on the screen. The viewer can then select to view or the entire DVD, or only those portions of the recording in which the viewer is interested.

[0065] In one embodiment, a program level indexing of recorded programs is created. In another embodiment, an intraprogram indexing is created using the information transmitted in the VBI of the transmitted video. In this mode, a CNN recording would likely show indexing ranges that include themes such as "International News", "National News", "Sports", "Entertainment", "Business & Finance", and "Weather".

In yet another embodiment, an intraprogram indexing is created using some constant time interval. An index shows a start and end time range, and snippets of audio content.

In yet another embodiment, the indexing software analyzes the audio content of the recorded program ("Content Analysis Program"). This is typically in addition to the use of all index range information transmitted in the program's VBI. The Content Analysis Program uses speech and speech recognition technology to analyze, among other things, such variables as changes in advertisers, changes in pitch, changes in speed, topic words, geographic locations, substantive words. The Content Analysis Program then creates a topic index in addition to the topic index described above. 7. Speed Sensitive Tape Capacity.

The EPG Record Function provides a Record List that identifies the titles of the programs the viewer has selected to record. The speed-sensitive tape capacity feature uses a color coding to identify in a color the title that would fit on one tape at a fast tape speed and separately identify, with another color, the titles that would fit on one tape at slow tape speed. 8. Conflict Resolution of Recording Instructions.

The EPG Recording Function recognizes conflicts in the viewer's recording instructions. In one embodiment, the EPG Recording Function requests the viewer to resolve the conflict. For example, in the Recording Function, the EPG would accept the viewer's instructions to record a particular program. The EPG compares the newly received write instruction with the write instructions still incompletely executed, or not yet executed, in the Write List. If the EPG detects a date, time, and duration overlap between the instruction recently received from one side and one or more of the remaining recording instructions in the Record List, the EPG formats a message for the viewer describing the conflict. The message describes to the user the recently received instruction to record a particular program and the conflicting recording instructions in the Recording List. In the Recording Function, the EPG will prevent conflicting instructions from being entered in the Recording List. The EPG will ask the viewer to review the recording instructions to eliminate the conflict. In one embodiment, if the EPG detects that a recording instruction belongs to a "one hit" program that conflicts in date, time and duration with a recording instruction to record a "regularly recorded" program, the EPG would format a message about the screen that would suggest to the viewer that the viewer select the "one hit" program to be recorded. In another embodiment, the EPG automatically "decides" to ignore the "regularly record" instruction and will record the "one hit" program without any further intervention from the viewer.

One way to resolve a write instruction conflict is to choose an alternate occurrence of the conflicting write program. In one EPG modality, the viewer can highlight a particular EPG show and request a list of all occurrences of that show in the week. The viewer can then instruct the EPG to record an alternate occurrence of the program. In an alternate mode, the viewer can see an alphabetical list of all shows of the week. The viewer can bookmark a show to view or record from an alphabetical list. 9, Recording Theme Guides. EPG provides various Theme Guides, for example, sports, movies, news, etc. When the viewer selects a particular Theme Guide, for example, the Sport Themes Guide, the viewer can instruct the EPG to record an event while in the Themes Guide without having to leave the Themes Guide and go to the Program Grid Guide. For example, in the Sport Themes Guide, the viewer instructs the EPG to add a sport event to the Recording List by clicking on the box number for a particular sport event and / or listing the sport programs in the Themes Guide. Sport

0. PERFECT CHARACTERISTICS IN EPG DISPLAY AND NAVIGATION 1. Email.

In the preferred embodiment, the EPG interfaces with the Internet / World Wide Network. In a preferred embodiment, the viewer can access the Internet to send and receive email.

In another embodiment, the television terminal is accessible separately, and the main terminal controls e-mail traffic between viewers on its network. To facilitate two-way transmission a 900 or toll free number is used as a background link. The email can then be sent to the appropriate viewer via VBI to the viewer's separately accessible television. 2. Multiple Visible "Windows".

The EPG UI screen provides multiple visible "windows". A window displays the EPG Grid Guide. Another window displays the PIP window over which the currently tuned program is displayed. Another window displays the ads information (the "Ads Window"). The ad may be in the form of graphic and textual information. Alternatively, the ad may be in the form of a video display. In one embodiment, Ad Windows are interactive.

[0074] As the viewer enters the TV mode EPG, the PIP window is highlighted. The viewer can lock the PIP window. Locking the PIP window allows the viewer to continue to watch the television program being displayed in the PIP window while the viewer scrolls through the EPG Program Grid Guide. Unlocking the PIP window causes the program title video highlighted in the Grid Guide to be displayed in the PIP window.

[0075] As further described below, the viewer can also highlight an Announcement Window. Doing so will cause additional text describing the product to be displayed in the detail box from the EPG Grid Guide.

If the Announcement Window displays information about a particular product, pressing a record button will instruct the EPG to record an infomercial to the point where one is scheduled for a future time. Alternatively, the Announcement Window may display information about a future-programmed television program or a series of programs to be broadcast over a period of time. In that case, pressing a record button will instruct the EPG to record the programmed for the future. Alternatively, the viewer may assign the program to the View List.

[0077] In one embodiment, the viewer navigates from the Grid Guide to the PIP Window by pressing the left arrow key until the cursor / highlight reaches the PIP Window. From the PIP Window, the viewer uses the PIP Window arrow key. right to move back to the Grid Guide. In one mode, moving from the PIP Window to Grid Guide causes the cursor to scroll to the top of the Grid Guide alignment. From the top of the Grid Guide alignment, pressing the up arrow key moves the cursor to the navigation bar. EPG provides several possible navigation bar destinations, for example, information center, sports, news, settings, help, etc.

[0078] From the PIP Window, pressing the down arrow key moves the cursor to the Announcement Window.

The viewer can adjust a pattern, allowing the system pattern to highlight a particular navigation bar destination when the viewer initially enters the Grid Guide. 3. Translucency effects on screen.

In one embodiment, the EPG creates special translucent visual effects. To create the translucent effect, the system switches the display format pixel by pixel - one pixel is the color of the overlay and the next pixel is transparent, 4, Onscreen Notifications.

[0081] EPG formats on-screen notifications for the viewer and displays the notification for the viewer. On-screen notifications can be used to alert the viewer of any number of possible information items. For example, the EPG may notify the viewer that the EPG will start recording a particular program within a certain amount of time, for example 2 minutes. The recording notification could also ask the viewer to connect the cable box to record the program. If the viewer has indicated that the viewer does not want the EPG to switch to the cable box to record the program, then the EPG would delete the program from the recording list. Another example would be to notify the viewer that a program that might be of interest (for example as determined from the Viewer Profile analysis) will be broadcast on another channel within a certain amount of time, for example 2 minutes. The EPG could then ask if the viewer wants to see the show on the other channel. If the viewer indicates that the viewer wants to watch the program on the other channel, then the EPG will automatically tune to the other channel at the appropriate time. Alternatively, the EPG could ask the viewer if the viewer wants to record the show on the other channel and could then record that show at the appropriate time if the viewer responds affirmatively.

[0082] If the television is in television mode, notification will be displayed on the screen. The notification can be displayed in a number of ways, including: 1.) a full screen overlay; 2.) a partial screen overlay; 3.) Real-time program video is automatically changed to a PIP format, and notification is displayed outside the PIP window; 4.) Real-time program video is automatically changed to a PIP format and notification is displayed within the PIP window; 5.) as a "watermark" anywhere on the screen; 6.) an icon on the screen is displayed which can be "pressed" by the spectator using the navigation keys on the spectator's remote control device and which, if pressed, displays the notification in one of the above formats; 7.) the program video is slightly compressed to fit some percentage eg 90% from the top of the screen, and the notification is displayed as a message scrolling horizontally at the bottom of the screen; 8.) the program video is lightly compressed to fit some percentage eg 90% from the bottom of the screen, and the notification is displayed as a message scrolling horizontally at the top of the screen.

If the television is in any mode other than television mode, the EPG may notify the viewer by some modification of one of the formats described above. For example, if the television is in Grid Guide mode in a PIP format, then the EPG could use any of the format numbers 1.), 2.), 5.), 6.); 7.), 8.) or, the EPG could notify the viewer by displaying the notification in the Announcement Window, a virtual ad channel slot, the detail info window, or a message scrolling horizontally at the top or at the bottom of the screen. 5. Theme navigation bar.

[0084] Themes view is above the top of the Grid Guide. In one embodiment, the Grid Guide display provides a button on the "page up" screen. In one embodiment, the Grid Guide display also provides a "menu" button. The viewer can scroll to the top of the Grid Guide by "1 successively pressing the page button up on the screen, or" pressing "the menu button. 6. Enhanced Scrolling through EPG and Smooth Scroll.

On the EPG top level screen in Grid Guide mode, the viewer user can jump directly to a future day of schedule time information.

[0086] In one embodiment, the Grid Guide display provides a button on the "page up" screen.

Program time information for a plurality of channels is displayed on an EPG screen in Grid Guide mode. Titles are shortened for display in the Grid Guide to save space. The entire title is available to the system and is displayed in the Grid Guide's detailed description area when the viewer highlights a frame in the Grid Guide for the corresponding program listing. Plus EPG shortens titles by following a set of rules for shortening titles so that titles fit within the Grid Guide timesheets.

The viewer can scroll up and down through the program listings. While scrolling, titles are not drawn until scrolling stops. Such a delay in drawing titles speeds up rendering and makes the screen look less confusing. While scrolling, the cursor will not highlight the top or bottom frame on the screen unless the channel is the top or bottom of the alignment. The absence of highlighting signals to the viewer that more channels remain in the scrolled direction.

[0089] An additional enhancement to the EPG User Interface ("UI") is the development of "Smooth Scroll". When the cursor reaches the second frame from the bottom, and a new frame appears at the bottom, the entire frame and its contents, such as a program title, gradually increases in height until the newly appearing frame reaches height. frame total. At the same time, the frame that is disappearing from the top of the screen, and the contents of that top frame, shrinks in height until the frame has disappeared. This provides a smooth transition from full screen display. But it is not really noticeable because it is changing in 1/60 of a sec.

Smooth Scrolling is less disorienting to the viewer than a page-by-page screen shift, which is the scrolling technique used in existing onscreen guides. The entire bitmap does not need to be redrawn while scrolling one frame up - only the top frame is shrunk or compressed to the vertical dimension.

In one mode, while scrolling slowly, the new frame that appears on the screen is not redrawn until scrolling stops. While rapidly scrolling multiple frames, the processor stops redrawing the title over any of the frames during scrolling; The processor waits until scrolling stops or slows down to redraw the titles. This allows for faster scrolling because titles do not need to be retrieved until the screen reaches the desired point. Data redesigning is very processor intensive. Special interaction between firmware and hardware is required to minimize bitmap redesign and retrieve data from memory. This applies to both vertical and horizontal scrolling. The user can stay oriented because channel identifiers and time times remain displayed. 7. "Skip" within the EPG.

The viewer can "jump" to the desired action or location in the EPG in a number of ways. In the Grid Guide, the viewer can jump to the channel slot for a particular channel by entering the channel identification number digits over the viewer's remote control keypad. The EPG interprets the number and calculates the appropriate position for the EPG cursor. The EPG then displays the cursor in the appropriate channel slot on the screen.

[0093] In one embodiment, the viewer's favorite and / or most viewed channels are displayed as buttons on a favorite channel selection bar somewhere over the Grid Guide EPG display the viewer can jump to one of the viewer favorite channels by "pressing" the appropriate channel button.

In another embodiment, the spectator's remote control device displays letters associated with numbers on the keyboard. The viewer may use a special "Alt" key to allow the viewer to press the keys as alphabetic and / or alphanumeric. This way, the viewer can enter a channel identifier, such as "CNN".

In yet another embodiment, the viewer may request a drop-down menu of favorite channel identifiers and may select a channel from the drop-down menu.

In yet another embodiment, the viewer may adjust "markers" on the EPG by using a "marker" button on the spectator's remote control device, or alternatively, a "marker" button on the EPG display. The viewer can press the "bookmark" key when the user wants to bookmark a current location for a later return. The viewer can then scroll, skip, or otherwise navigate to some other location in the EPG. When the viewer wants to return to the marked location, the viewer can press the "last tag" key (either on the viewer's remote control device, or alternately in the EPG display). The EPG can record a plurality of tagged locations. In one embodiment, the EPG may recall locations marked after the viewer turns off the television and then turns on the television multiple times. 8. Thematic color coding of program schedule.

The EPG categorizes programs according to a plurality of themes. In one embodiment, the EPG color codes the program presentation in the Grid Guide according to the theme categorization assigned to the program. 9, Controllable number of programming days.

Typically, the EPG will only carry 2 days of program listings. Depending on the viewer's selection, EPG can upload only a single day of program listings. The single day option provides a smaller range of program listings, but increases response time. Alternatively, the viewer may select to load any number of days of program listings, up to the number of days that is provided by the particular installation, which is adjusted by the amount of corresponding available memory storage.

D. EPG DISPLAY PARENT CONTROL

[0099] The Parent bystander initially enters the Parental Control Function during the EPG initial tuning procedures. In the EPG tuning procedure, Father identifies all television viewers, and assigns Identifiers to individual viewers. Father viewer also sets a password for said Father viewer. US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 085,401 ("V-CHIP Plus +: User Interface Device Within Guide and Method for Programmable Lockout of Television and Other Vision Settings such as Parental Control of a Television Receiver") describes the Parental Control adjustment procedures for identifying individual viewers and initializing password protection, the description of which is incorporated by reference herein as if fully described herein.

[00100] In the Parental Control Function, the Parent selects the channels and programs that can be viewed in the Grid Guide for a particular viewer and selects the channels and / or programs that should be locked for viewing. Child viewers, as identified during the tuning procedure, will see a simplified Grid Guide and will be prevented from viewing programs so marked by the Parent. In one embodiment, individual viewers are identified by a Viewer Identity and a password. In another embodiment, individual viewers have different remote control devices, the use of which is also password protected.

AND, ACCESS TO PERFORMANCE TV PROGRAM INFORMATION 1. Virtual Channel Announcement slots and Announcement Window program announcements.

[00101] As described below, the EPG provides the viewer with multiple opportunities to get detailed information about television programs. As further described below, the EPG gives the viewer the opportunity to select Virtual Channel Announcement Slits or Announcement Window displays that announce upcoming television programs and get additional information in text or video clip mode. . 2. Additional detailed information for viewer access including internet connection.

[00102] EPG displays detailed information relevant to program listings in the detailed information area of the Grid Guide. Detailed information may include, among other things, a detailed textual description of the program, information about the actors and actresses, information about the production of the program, product related information, identification of relevant Internet networking sites and chat rooms. Internet online. EPG provides the viewer with the ability to request detailed information from such tab / data services in a number of ways, including when the viewer highlights: a particular Grid Guide program, the Announcement Window, or a Channel Announcement Slot Virtual. In one embodiment, the spectator's remote control device has a power "Information" key. When the viewer has navigated the on-screen highlight / cursor to a particular frame or window in the EPG on the screen display, the viewer may press the "Info" key on the remote control device to request additional information.

[00103] In one embodiment, when the viewer highlights a particular program in the Grid Guide, Announcement Window, or Virtual Channel Announcement Slot, or other requested access to detailed program information, EPG connects the viewer. with an external database of information, such as a private network site on the Internet. The viewer can instruct the EPG to connect the user with detailed expert information guide / data services such as sports, news, or other guide / data services. In one embodiment, binding to the external data source is accomplished by storing a network site address with the advertisement in the Announcement Window or Virtual Channel Announcement Slot in the user's terminal RAM.

[00104] A sports program listed in the Grid Guide provides an illuminating example of how the viewer interacts with such detailed expert information guide / data service. When the viewer highlights a soccer game listed in the Grid Guide the normal details concerning the program are displayed in the detailed information area of the Grid Guide. Furthermore, the multiple icons related to the highlighted program can be displayed in the Grid Guide. An icon alerts the user that the match is already happening. Another icon indicates the availability of specialized guide information. The viewer can select the Grid Guide program for viewing and / or recording. In addition, the viewer can select the expert guide icon. For a sports program, selecting the expert guide icon would display, for example, a score for the game if the game was already in progress in the detailed information area of the Grid Guide. If the game was scheduled for a future time, then selecting the expert guide icon would display, for example, information about the players, the teams, and perhaps the odds about the game.

[00105] Another icon, displayed for example on the sports guide scoreboard display, gives the viewer the option to connect to the Internet, for example, with a particular network site that provides additional information about the game, possibly including a Online conversation about the game. In one embodiment, the EPG changes to full screen to display the Internet network site. In another embodiment, the EPG displays the Internet site in the screen area previously occupied by the Grid Guide and / or the Grid Guide and Announcements Window, while continuing to display the live program video display. television currently tuned to the PIP window. Alternatively, the EPG may display the Internet network site in the PIP window and display the currently tuned television program in the screen area previously occupied by the Grid Guide and / or the Grid Guide and Announcement Window. The Internet site to which EPG initially connects (the "contact site") may be a specialized directory, using predetermined viewer links to other sites of interest. The contact network site may additionally, or alternatively, offer search capabilities for the viewer to locate the information of interest.

Since the viewer is connected with a specialized guide / data service, the viewer may use the guide / data service to direct the viewer to particular information contained in the EPG Grid Guide. For example, the viewer selects a news program to view. While viewing the news program, the newscaster describes an event involving astronauts. The viewer selects the guide / news data service icon and connects to a network website that describes, among other things, additional information about the particular event involving astronauts. The viewer uses the search engine offered by the contact website to locate additional information about the same astronauts. On subsequent network sites, a Discovery Channel program is mentioned with respect to some of the same astronauts. The viewer instructs the EPG to locate any occurrence of the referenced program and program that program to be recorded. In one embodiment, an address such as a PLUS CODE is used to call, or record, the programmed program.

[00107] The viewer can search an index, available on the Internet and created by a recorded news, program and television news data service the viewer can search the index. If the viewer selects one of the indexed reports, a video clip of the indexed report will be shown in the screen area occupied by the display of the Internet site, or in any alternate area or portion of the screen display. The viewer can instruct the EPG to record the video clip.

EPG is able to integrate additional information provided by special data services within the EPG display. For example, in the case of a sports data service, the EPG may format the program listing display and / or sport results for a game with a special color coding depending on the stage of the game. For example, if the game is in progress, EPG will format the program listings and / or sport results for that game with a color, for example, green; if the game is over, the program listings and / or the final results may be in a different color, eg blue. If the game is in progress the viewer can highlight and select the result box to move from the result box to a game shown on television. In one embodiment, the selected television sport program appears in the PIP Window or Announcements Window, allowing the viewer to read the history relating to the sport program in the sport guide while viewing the corresponding television sport program.

[00109] The EPG is even able to make a link between news items in a special news guide and relative television programs. The viewer can call a news program to view or record that news program by highlighting and selecting a news item in a news guide. In one embodiment, the selected television news program appears in the PIP Window or Announcements Window, allowing the viewer to read the story in the news guide while watching a TV news program reporting on the event.

[00110] In one embodiment, the VBI for the selected channels is dedicated to issuing a special data service. For example ESPN's VBI would only charge the sports data service. In one embodiment, as an incentive to load this data, the data service would display the ESPN TV show in the PIP window. Since the tuner must be set to ESPN to capture the data, the television signal is available for PIP display.

F. OPPORTUNITIES IMPROVED FOR THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER TO REACH THE SPECTOR 1. Video clips related to Announcement Window and infomercial recording product.

[00111] EPG provides infomercial producers with extended capabilities to reach viewers through the Announcement Window. Due to the cost of buying ad time, an increasing number of product manufacturers and advertisers produce infomercials about their products and then buy relatively inexpensive air time for their infomercials at off-peak times, often on non-major channels. The EPG provides infomercial producers with the opportunity to provide the viewer with the opportunity to record an infomercial that is broadcast on a schedule or on a channel that would be inconvenient for the viewer to see in real time.

If the Announcement Window displays information about a particular product, pressing a record button will instruct the EPG to record an infomercial or an announcement, provided one is scheduled for a future time. Alternatively, the viewer may assign the infomercial or advertisement to the View List. Alternatively, the EPG provides infomercial producers with the opportunity to provide the viewer with the opportunity to view a video clip about the product being advertised.

[00113] In one embodiment, the video clip associated with the product and / or program displayed in the Announcement Window is shown when the viewer highlights the Announcement Window. Depending on the viewer's mode and / or option selections, the video clip is shown in the PIP window, Announcement Window, or full screen. At the conclusion of the video clip, EPG typically returns to the mode in which the viewer was operating immediately before selecting the option that triggered the video clip display. 2. Recording of programs related to the Announcement Window. The EPG provides television programming distributors with additional opportunities to reach the viewer. The Announcement Window can display information about a future-scheduled television program. If the viewer is interested in recording the show, the viewer can take a number of alternative actions. For example, in one embodiment, the viewer may instruct the EPG to record the upcoming program. In one embodiment, the viewer presses the record button on the remote control device to instruct the EPG to record the programmed program for the future. Alternatively, the viewer can instruct the EPG to add the show to the View List. Alternatively, the viewer can instruct the EPG to view a video clip about the show. In addition, the viewer may instruct the EPG to connect the user with specialized detailed information guide / data services such as sports, news, or other guide / data services. EPG gives the viewer the ability to request detailed information from such tab / data services in a number of ways, including when the viewer highlights: a particular Grid Guide program, the Announcement Window, or a Channel Announcement Slot Virtual. In one embodiment, the EPG displays relevant detailed information in the Grid Guide detailed information area. In another embodiment, the EPG connects the viewer with an external information database, such as a private network site on the Internet. 3. Panel Ads.

[00114] In one embodiment, Panel ads occupy a fixed area in the Guide and are usually full with paid ads. Located directly under the PIP in an Announcement Window, space is available in the Guide for two Dashboard ads. Each Dashboard ad occupies approximately 1/9 of the total screen area. The usable area of a Dashboard ad is 132 pixels high x 160 pixels wide, with black borders 2 pixels wide all around and 2 gray pixels on the left and right sides and between the two spaces of announcement. When a given ad slot has not been sold, the slot will be populated with a Space Owner ad, stored in ROM, and inserted into the available slot, or with a bonus ad.

[00115] An advertiser can buy both 1/9 screen areas, thus creating a single ad with a usable space of 270 pixels high by 160 pixels wide, with black borders 2 pixels wide all around and 2 gray-width pixels on the left and right sides.

[00116] In one embodiment, all Guide screens are made of "full pages". A full page is defined as an area comprising 9 channel slots. Each time a user scrolls below the 9th channel slot, a new "full page" appears. Scrolling back up will bring back the previous full page in view. Each full page may have different Dashboard ads associated with it.

[00117] In one embodiment, full pages are defined differently on selection screens. Each selection category (e.g. Movies, Sports, Kids) will be considered a full page regardless of the number of items in the list vertically. As you move horizontally from one category to the next, your Dashboard ads will change.

[00118] The number of full pages available depends on the size of the user alignment and the number of channels on or off. If there are not enough placements to support the number of full pages required for the number of Dashboard ads sold, not all Dashboard ads will appear. For example, assume 4 pairs of Dashboard ads and 4 Channel ads are saved in memory. Additionally assume that a particular user has 20 active channels in their channel alignment. Then the ads would appear as follows: [00119] The Panel 1 ad pair with placements 1-8 and the first Channel ad [00120] The Panel 2 ad pair with placements 9-16 and the second ad Channels [00121] The Panel 3 Ad Pair with Channels 17-20 and the Third and Fourth Channel Ads [00122] If the user linked more placements requiring the addition of a full fourth page, then the fourth Ad Pair of Panel would become visible.

In one embodiment the user can highlight these announcements, resulting in the automatic display of an expanded information box. This expanded information box covers the entire 2/3 grid rights. The user closes the expanded info box by moving the highlight outside the Dashboard ad or pressing the info button after the last relative info box screen has been presented. Figures 10a and 10b are graphical representations of samples in screen EPG displays showing one embodiment of the feature of presenting additional information regarding the subject matter of a highlighted Panel Ad Window.

[00124] In one embodiment, Panel ads are surrounded by flat black borders. When a panel ad is highlighted, the border becomes yellow. When a program is set for recording the border becomes red (dark red when the Panel ad is not highlighted, light red / bright when highlighted). When a program is programmed for viewing, the border becomes orange (dark orange when the Dashboard ad is not highlighted, light orange / bright when highlighted).

[00125] In one embodiment, there may be multiple information "screens" displayed sequentially in the expanded information box.

Pressing the Info button while an announcement is highlighted accesses these additional screens. There is no finite limit to the number of additional screens; Memory limitations and sales specifications will limit this number.

In one embodiment, if a Dashboard ad is highlighted, has display information associated with it, and the advertised display is still playing, the user can tune directly to the relative program by pressing the Left Action button (the Blue button). which is labeled "View") or by pressing the Enter / Select button on the remote. Pressing the View button also places the display in the Recording / Viewing Schedule for the duration of the display to allow the user to adjust the frequency daily or weekly. If the view is not currently playing, pressing the Left Action button places the view in Record Schedule / View or; pressing the Enter / Select button tunes to the channel relative to the ad display. Views added in the Recording / Viewing Schedule can be adjusted to be viewed: once, daily, or weekly. The View specification and relative Action button IDs operate the same as programming a grid view to view.

[00127] In one embodiment, if a Panel ad has display information associated with it, the display may be recorded by highlighting the announcement and pressing the Right Action button (the Green button labeled "Record"). If the display is running now, recording begins immediately and the display is placed in the Recording / Viewing Schedule for the duration of the display to allow the user to adjust the frequency daily or weekly. If the view is in the future, that view is added to the Recording / View Schedule for self-recording. Views added in the Recording / Viewing Schedule can be adjusted to be recorded: once, daily, or weekly. The Recording specification and relative Action button IDs operate the same as programming a Grid recording view.

[00128] In one embodiment, Panel ads can be dynamic. There are two areas which can be dynamic: 1.) Dashboard ad slot; and / or 2.) the Information box.

[00129] The Dashboard ad area may change over time, for example, every x seconds by rotating through a plurality of different display or text ad runs in the Dashboard ad space. When a Dashboard ad is highlighted, ad rotation stops at the look of the currently displayed ad. Dynamic rotation does not restart until the Dashboard ad is highlighted.

The information box text associated with the Panel announcement may change over time, for example, every y seconds, rotating through a plurality of different text screens. Screen rotation stops if the user presses the Info Button, displaying the first page of the info text. This option is available for advertisers to rotate different headers in the info box. The user can view subsequent pages by pressing the Info Button again. Screen rotation does not restart until after the Dashboard ad has been unreached. 4. Virtual Channel Announcement Slits.

EPG provides infomercial producers with extended capabilities to reach viewers through Virtual Channel Announcement Slots, also referred to as Channel announcements. Virtual Channel Announcement Slits appear as Grid Guide queues and typically show program titles that are scheduled for a particular channel. The EPG Grid Guide Virtual Channel Announcement Slots allow ads to be displayed as a queue in the Grid Guide program schedules. Virtual Channel Announcement Slots can be used to provide multiple exposures of a particular program in the guide. Virtual Channel Announcement Slits act as a channel entry in the Grid Guide because the viewer can record, view, schedule to view, and / or get information about the advertised program in the Info Guide information details box. Grid.

[00132] In Figure 1 of the drawing, Table 52 shows an example of a Virtual Channel Announcement Slot for a television program advertisement - it is a program listing that is out of place in the channel sense and in the sense of grid guide 22. That is, it does not appear at the usual channel position or time position in the guide, but the frame is otherwise the same as the other grid guide program listing frames 22 (including height ), except that it occupies the entire width of the frame regardless of the duration of the program. A frame for a normal program listing scrolls off the screen as the up and down arrow keys are pressed. In contrast, in one embodiment, a Virtual Channel Announcement Slit, as shown in table 52, remains on the screen at all times while the up and down arrow keys are pressed, so that the announcement remains in view. all the time.

[00133] Placement ads do not occupy a fixed area. Placement ads are placed essentially between placements in the grid. If no Channel ads have been sold, the grid will simply be a continuous list of placement / display frames with no slack. As these Channel ads take up a channel slot in the grid, it is desirable to limit how many are likely to appear on anyone's screen to ensure that the Guide is a useful source of TV programming information. Typically, there will be approximately 1 Channel ad per full page.

Channel ads are typically the height of a channel slot, the width of the grid, and are mixed with channel listings. The usable area for a Channel ad is typically 24 pixels high x 344 pixels wide, with bevel 2 pixels wide all around.

[00135] There are several types of Channel ads, including: Relative Channel, Parent, and Fixed Position ads.

[00136] Relative Channel ads appear at a position relative to the top of the grid and are spaced every n channel slots, where n is some number. These ads appear and disappear as the user scrolls through the entire pages of the Guide. It is anticipated that n will usually (but not necessarily always) equal to 9 since this is the number of channels in the PIP version grid. This would provide one ad per full page. A location for the first ad can be selected over the first page and subsequent ads follow every n channel slot. The same announcement is repeated every nth crack. This method of repeating each nth channel slot is true for both the PIP and non-PIP versions. Typically, as a user turns channels off, the spacing of these ads remains constant (every n channel slots). In case there are not enough placements to continue this spacing, ads will appear at the end of the grid listings.

[00137] Parent Channel ads are related to a specific placement located directly above the ad. A Parent Channel ad is linked to your adjacent "Parent" channel (ie the ad follows the Parent channel). Since it is desirable to limit the number of Channel ads seen on anyone's screen, the number of Parent ads will typically be limited. Additionally, if the parent channel is off, the ad will typically be displayed at the bottom of the grid.

[00138] Fixed Position Channel ads are located at a specific location, y (where y is any number) channels down from the top of the grid. If y is greater than the number of placements in the grid, the ad will be located at the end of the grid.

Except as noted above with respect to Parent and Fixed Position Channel ads, Channel ads will typically be spaced so that no more than one Channel ad is displayed at a time.

[00140] In one embodiment, Channel ads page vertical and along with channel information. These ads remain in a fixed position when the grid is scrolled horizontally. You can highlight these Channel ads just as any display title can be highlighted. When highlighted, these Channel ads display additional information in the information box just as when any channel is highlighted.

Channel ads are typically surrounded by chamfers in the same way as any display board. Channel ad enhancement is typically similar to Dashboard ad enhancement. In one embodiment, when a user highlights a Channel ad, the chamfers change to a flat yellow (not chamfered) border. When a Channel ad display is set to record the border becomes red (dark red when not highlighted, light red / bright when highlighted). When a Channel ad is programmed for viewing, the border becomes orange (dark gray when not highlighted, light orange / bright when highlighted).

In one embodiment, Channel advertisements may have multiple "sequential information box information" themes. The availability of this additional information is indicated by an "i" icon. The user can access additional information by pressing the Info button.

[00143] In one embodiment, if a Channel ad is highlighted, has display information associated with it, and the advertised display is still playing, the user can tune directly to the relative program by pressing the Left Action button (the Blue button). which is labeled "View") or by pressing the Enter / Select button on the remote. Pressing the View button also places the display in the Recording / Viewing Schedule for the duration of the display. If the view is not currently playing, pressing the Left Action button places the view in Record Schedule / View for future self-viewing; pressing the Enter / Select button tunes to the channel relative to the Channel ad display. Views added in the Recording / Viewing Schedule can be adjusted to be viewed: once, daily, or weekly. The View specification and relative Action button IDs operate the same as programming a grid view to view.

[00144] In one embodiment, if a Channel ad has display information associated with it, the display may be recorded by highlighting the advertisement and pressing the Right Action button (the Green button labeled "Record"). If the display is being broadcast on the television signal, recording begins immediately and the display is placed in the Recording / Viewing Schedule for the duration of the display. If the display is in the future, the display is added to the Recording Schedule / Vision for recording. Views added in the Recording / Viewing Schedule can be adjusted to be recorded: once, daily, or weekly. The Record specification and relative Action button IDs operate the same as recording a Grid view.

[00145] Placement ads can be dynamic. 5. Space Owner Announcements.

[00146] In one embodiment, when the Guide is initially adjusted, the initial write-off will not have been received. Dashboard ad slots must be filled with Space Owner ads that are stored in a ROM. These ads should be "timeless" as they will appear each time a TV is set up, or for the first time or after a power outage.

[00147] One use for the Dashboard ad slot is for help text. The help text that leads the user to select the ad slot could serve as a "tutorial" on how to access Dashboard ads, and additional information on the info screens, and how to view and save ads. 6. Full Screen Ads.

[00148] When the viewer first enters EPG, EPG may display a full screen ad, such as an ad that would appear in the Ad Window. The viewer can interact with the full screen ad in the same way that the viewer can interact with the Ad Window. That is, the viewer can instruct the EPG to record or to add to the view list, the infomercial or the program, if any, that is associated with the ad. 7. Automatic viewing channel.

Instead of having the last channel viewed as the first channel tuned the next time the viewer turns on the television, a channel selected by the viewer can be automatically tuned in. In one mode the viewer indicates the Automatic viewing channel in the EPG View List Function. In another embodiment, a transmitter sends a question to each viewer to enter a command whether the viewer wants the transmitter channel to be the first channel seen when the viewer first turns on the television. 8. Ad Features.

[00150] Ads can display, among other things, a graphic field, a text field, or a combination of a graphic and text field.

Graphics are typically presented in 8 bit / pixel images (using "320 mode"), 4 bit / pixel in "640 mode") and one bit / pixel. In some embodiments, there will be memory limitations. In embodiments with such memory limitations, it is expected that Panel ads will not contain graphics larger than 25% of the ad area when 4 or 8 bit / pixel graphics are used. 100% of the area can be used for a 1 bit / pixel chart. Channel graphics will typically, but not necessarily, be limited to the channel logo portion of the ad. (The use of the word "typically" here, and elsewhere in this application means "typically, but not necessarily"). The remaining portion of your Channel ad will typically be text only.

[00152] The displayed text will typically have the following characteristics: [00153] 18 and 24 point normal and condensed fonts available [00154] oblique version of the fonts [00155] underline [00156] bold [00157] centering [00158] left justification and right [00159] color can be selected once per line [00160] text could also be shown as a 1 bit / pixel bitmap only in the Dashboard ad areas.

[00161] Background colors will impact the overall look and usability of the Guide. The following describes a typical embodiment.

[00162] Panel ad background colors that can be selected by the advertiser will typically be subject to the luminance restrictions given below.

[00163] Channel ad background colors may be restricted. Display frame background colors are used as keys to show categories (movies, sports, etc.) and actions taken on a display (adjust to record or view). Although any of the most background colors could be displayed it is desirable to maintain the integrity of the display frame color schemes. Therefore, it is preferable that a limited set of background colors or a set of colors that cannot be used will be specified for the advertising agencies to use when developing Channel ad creations. Channel ad backgrounds will typically be subject to the luminance restrictions shown below.

[00164] Info box background will typically be gray and typically cannot be changed by the advertiser.

[00165] There are typically limitations on color luminance in advertisements. If the luminance is set too high, the screen image will be blistered. These limitations will be adjusted, by modality, and communicated to advertisers for their development considerations. Ads that do not meet the luminance restrictions for the particular mode will be subject to standard override limitations.

[00166] In one mode the viewer can interact with advertisements and television. For example, Tuning ads will allow the viewer to directly tune into an in-progress view of a highlighted ad unit assuming that the ad unit has program information associated with it. An in-progress view associated with an announcement is tuned directly by pressing either the Enter / Select button or the Left Action button (the blue button labeled "View").

Direct burn announcements will allow the user to record a view in progress or scheduled to be in the future of a highlighted ad unit. There is no practical limit to how far in the future an associated direct recording view can be scheduled for broadcast. A view associated with an announcement is recorded by pressing the Right Action button while the announcement is highlighted. User can select a recording frequency at once, daily or weekly. From an announcement, the user presses the Right Action button (the green button labeled "Record") to place the display on the Recording Schedule. In the event that the view is currently playing, pressing the Right Action button while highlighting an announcement allows recording of the view in progress. The display title is also placed in the Recording Schedule until the display ends in the possibility that the user wants to change the recording frequency to daily or weekly.

[00168] Vision ads consist of a program advertised in any ad slot. The advertised program can be placed in Vision Programming as long as the ad unit has program information associated with it. There is no practical limit to how far in the future an associated display can be scheduled for transmission. The Vision specification operates in much the same way as the recording specification, except that it tunes the television ("TV") in the display instead of recording it. If a user is watching TV, the channel will automatically switch to a view placed in View Program when the view begins. If the TV is turned off when a view in Vision Programming is set to begin, the TV is turned on and tuned to the desired channel (TV, not VCR implementations only). The user can select a viewing frequency at once, daily, or weekly. From an ad, the user presses the Left Action button (the Blue button labeled "View") to place the display on the Vision Schedule. In the event that the view is currently playing, pressing the Left Action button while highlighting an ad results in a tune to the view directly. The display title is also placed in the Vision Schedule until the display ends in the possibility that the user wishes to change the View frequency to daily or weekly.

[00169] Ads can have multiple levels of information. Typically, First Level Information is the ad copy and / or graphic that is displayed on screen without any user action. This comprises the Dashboard and Channel ad areas.

[00170] Typically, Second Level Information (if provided by the advertiser) is automatically made visible ("Auto Open") when the user highlights an ad unit by rolling over it. This secondary information is displayed in the info box when a Channel ad is selected and in an automatically expanded version of the info box that covers the total channel grid area when a Dashboard ad is highlighted. The "i" icon on the ad, placed at the advertiser's will, indicates that more information is available for that ad. Second level information may be text and / or graphic depending on memory availability.

Typically, the availability of Third Level Information (if provided by the advertiser) is indicated by the "i" information button on a Second Level information screen. Pressing the Info button accesses this information and causes the information box to expand so that Channel ads cover the entire grid area. This information can be multiple pages in length. Pressing the Info button in successive times cycles the user through multiple pages. Pressing the Info button from the last available screen causes the info box to shrink to its original size for all ads. Third level information may be text and / or graphic depending on memory capabilities.

[00172] Ad units can be dynamic. Enabling memory, Dashboard ad text and / or text, and info box text can change every X (where X is any number) seconds by rotating across a limit of N (where N is any number) graphic runs or different textuals. You can limit the number of dynamic ads displayed at any time.

[00173] Ad duration and start time / end time can be programmed and / or dynamic. In one embodiment, ads must be displayed at a given start time with a relative end time. The time between start and end is the duration of the ad. The minimum duration increment is typically 60 seconds. In one embodiment, an advertisement will not be automatically replaced when an advertisement end time arrives. Ads will only change when user actions cause a new "full page" or section of the guide to appear (for example by going from Grid to Choice).

[00174] Ads may rotate. For example, different ads may appear each time the user enters the same page / section of the Guide. There is no fixed limit on the number of ads rotated. Ads can be assigned a priority with the highest priority ad appearing the first time a full page or section is accessed. Then the second priority ad is displayed the next time the user sees this page and so on. The priority counter is page dependent, meaning that if the user sees the first page for a third time, he will see the third priority ad on that page and if he then scrolls to the second page for the first time, he will see the first page ad. first priority on the second page.

[00175] Ads may differ by section of Guide being viewed. For example, if a user viewing the Sports theme area, an ad for ESPN Sports Center might appear, while a different ad was displayed when the user was in the main grid.

[00176] The EPG can determine which ads to display depending on the ad being displayed on the television channel that the viewer was watching immediately before joining the EPG. That is, if a Toyota ad was showing on the channel the viewer was seeing at the time the viewer entered the EPG, then the EPG can be synced to display a correlative Toyota ad on some portion of the EPG, for example, the Announcement Window, a television program.

In one embodiment, the EPG tests the Viewer Profile to determine which ad to display at various times during the viewer section with the EPG. The EPG can designate Ad and Page priorities to represent advertiser investment and relative viewer profile.

Graphically dynamic ads typically feature different graphics every x seconds (where x is any number, with x as small as 1.0 second) rotating through n (where n is any number) graphical or textual executions. Typically, only a limited number of these ads will be displayed at any given time (probably a maximum of 1 per screen) as busy screens will decrease the efficiency of the ads and the usefulness of the Guide.

[00179] Ads should be "identifiable" and "accessible" once placed in memory to allow users to "pull" an ad, update an ad, or correct errors in the broadcast.

G. ACCESS TO PERFORMANCE PRODUCT INFORMATION 1. Product Details from Ad Window.

[00180] Viewer can highlight the Ad Window to find additional information about the advertised product. In one embodiment, the viewer highlights the Announcement Window by pressing the remote control device arrow / directional navigation keys to navigate the remote control pointer pointer to the Announcement Window location on the on-screen television monitor display. When the remote control device pointer is located in the Announcement Window on the on-screen television monitor display, the Announcement Window screen display is highlighted. In one embodiment, the Ad Window's own color will become brighter or show an illuminated effect. In another embodiment, the color of a border surrounding the Announcement Window will become brighter or show an illuminated effect. Highlighting the Ad Window will cause additional text describing the product to be displayed in the EPG Grid Guide detail box. Alternatively, EPG gives infomercial producers the opportunity to give viewers the opportunity to watch a video clip about the product being announced. The Ad Window can be optionally interactive. The Internet address of a network site that contains relevant information for the ad being displayed in the Ads Window may be displayed in the Ads Window as a network website address, as an icon, or in some other graphic display such as as a stylized Y indicating additional interactive information. In addition, viewer interaction with the Announcement Window will be monitored by the EPG to record as a part of the viewer's profile, 2. Recording for Announcement Window products.

The EPG provides viewers with the opportunity to access extended product information that the viewer is interested in. Due to the cost of buying an ad time, an increasing number of product manufacturers and advertisers produce infomercials about their products. Due to the cost of air time, many manufacturers and advertisers buy relatively cheap air time for their infomercials according to non-prime time, often on non-prime channels. The EPG gives viewers the opportunity to record an infomercial that is broadcast on a time, or on a channel, which would be inconvenient for the viewer to see in real time. If the Ad Window displays information about a particular product by pressing a button. recording will instruct the EPG to record an infomercial as long as one is scheduled for a future time. Alternatively, the viewer may assign the infomercial to the View List. 3. Recording for Announcement Window programs.

The EPG provides viewers with additional opportunities to instruct the EPG to record or watch a future-scheduled television program. The Announcement Window can display information about a future-scheduled television program. If the viewer is interested in recording the program, the viewer can instruct the EPG to record the future programmed program. In one embodiment, the viewer presses the record button on the remote control device to instruct the EPG to record the programmed program for the future. Alternatively, the viewer can instruct the EPG to add the show to the View List. Alternatively, the viewer can watch a video clip about the program.

H. CREATING A SPECTOR PROFILE I. Collect viewer profile information.

The EPG requests the viewer to provide certain profile information, including but not limited to: the viewer's zip code; the television, cable, and satellite services to which the viewer subscribes; the extension of said signatures; the type of television; the age of television; where television was purchased; the viewer's most favorite channels; the spectator's favorite types of programs; and the times when the viewer is most likely to watch television. If the viewer refuses to provide this information, the EPG will attempt to "learn" the information as described below.

[00184] In one embodiment, the EPG is able to distinguish between individual viewers and develops individualized profiles. For example, in one embodiment, each viewer has an individual PIN or other identification number. In another embodiment, each viewer uses an individualized remote. In yet another embodiment, there is an absence of a way to distinguish one viewer from another. In that case the profile is developed for the "family".

Each time the viewer interacts with the EPG or television, the EPG records the viewer's actions and the circumstances surrounding these actions. For example, when the viewer changes channels, the EPG records, among other things, information about the first channel, the channel to which it was changed, the time of change, the identification of any ads that were displayed on the first channel at the time of the change, the identification of any ads that were displayed on the channel to which it was changed , and if the viewer switched channels while in one of the EPG modes, as opposed to being in television mode. The EPG will also record all viewer instructions for recording or viewing a program, whether the instruction is Once, Daily Weekly, or Regularly. The EPG will also record if the viewer changes the volume of the television audio, and if so, what circumstances involved in the volume. If the viewer changes channels while in one of the EPG modes, then the EPG records information about what was being displayed in each of the EPG UI windows before and after the change.

The EPG also records the information when there is a lack of interaction between the viewer and the television or the EPG. For example, EPG will record if a viewer continues to see an ad instead of changing channels. The EPG calculates and records the entire length of time television is on for any particular day.

The EPG also records information that involves the viewer's interaction with external sources of information, such as the Internet. For example, the EPG records each search query criteria initiated by the viewer, the Search Engine used to search, the viewer selected items from the search response, user interaction with Internet sites, and interactions with the search engine. EPG during the same time frame while the viewer interacts with the Internet.

An alternative to collecting individual viewer profile information described above would be to provide on-screen research questions. That is the EPG could display an on-screen offer that would tell the viewer to call a toll free number for the purpose of reading an encrypted screen number for the search in exchange for a gift certificate. The offer could only be made to viewers who are viewing a particular show or a particular ad at a particular time. Survey responses would provide useful information additional search personalization, guide personalization, and target ads. 2. Analyze and characterize viewer profile information.

Viewer profile information (data collected concerning and involving a viewer's interaction with television, the EPG (including recording and viewing functions), the Internet, the World Wide Web, and any other sources of information outside the EPG, but through which the viewer interacts)) may be sent to a computer at the main television distribution terminal for analysis, or alternatively, may be analyzed by the EPG.

[00190] Viewer information is captured on an ongoing basis. Similarly, viewer profile data is updated on an ongoing basis. As a result, the viewer profile analysis program (the "Profile Program '') may be repeated at some time to incorporate additional viewer information that has been captured since the last analysis. Alternatively, the Profile Program It is a real-time program that processes each item of discrete information about a viewer as the data is captured.

The viewer profile analysis program (the "Profile Program") may be resident at the main terminal on the Internet, included as a part of the EPG, or distributed among these various possible locations. The Profile Program executes a variety of different types of analysis on viewer profile data. For example, the Profile Program performs a simple statistical analysis of the collected data. The Profile Program accumulates, among other things, the number of times the viewer; interacted with the EPG during a particular vision section; performed particular types of interactions with the EPG; saw a particular channel; interacted with the Internet during a particular viewing section; interacted with a particular network site; watched and / or recorded and / or scheduled to watch a show with a particular type of theme (e.g. comedy, sport, drama, movie, sitcom, science fiction, adventure, mystery, documentary, cooking, travel, etc.). ); and has seen and / or recorded and / or scheduled to watch a program with a particular type of subject (eg, golf, tennis, soccer, basketball, baseball, animals, food, etc.), or a particular actor or actress. The Profile Program also calculates the duration of each view and compiles, among other things, statistics about the times of day and days of the week during which the viewer watches TV, interacts with the EPG, or interacts with the Internet or Worldwide network.

Using the basic viewer profile data and simple statistics collected on a particular viewer the Profile Program "learns" to recognize a finer difference over the various types of data collected and then uses the learned information to describe a " Viewer Preference ". For example, if the Profile Program detects that the viewer sees a sports program, and that a number of sports programs are basketball games, the Profile Program analyzes the teams involved in the programs viewed. The Profile Program is thus able to determine if the viewer is a fan of a particular team. If so, the Profile Program records viewer team affiliation as a Viewer Preference.

The Profile Program performs multiple levels of sophisticated analysis and learning involving numerous comparisons of basic viewer profile data and the simple statistics collected on a particular viewer to develop the Viewer Characteristics. In this way, the Profile Program develops a multidimensional viewer profile. For example, since the Profile Program detects a Viewer Preference, the Profile Program compares, for example, the number of times the viewer interacts with the EPG or with an external information source such as the Internet / World Wide Web. , while broadcasting a Spectator Preference-related program (for example, a basketball game involving the spectator's favorite team) with, for example, the number of times the viewer interacts with the EPG or a source external information such as the Internet / World Wide Web, during a broadcast of a program that is not related to the Spectator Preference.

Also, the types of interactions in both sets of circumstances are analyzed. Thus, the Profile Program determines the Spectator's Characteristics in relation to, among other things: amplitude of attention; general interest in product advertisements; interest in specific types of product information; propensity for impulse buying; correlation of impulse buying habits with price ranges, product types, and ad formats; interest in recording and / or viewing future programs; interest in accessing additional levels of information concerning television programs; and interest in accessing the additional levels of information that pertain to product ads including the correlation of such interests with Spectator Preferences. Over time, with sufficient data, the EPG characterizes the viewer's sense of humor, chronological age, activity age, if the viewer is married, if the viewer has children, if the viewer has a pet and that The type of pet the viewer probably has, if the viewer is interested in buying a particular type of appliance, if the viewer is considering buying a car, the viewer's likely political affiliations, and a wide range of several other Viewer Features.

Further, the Profile Program analyzes an Individual Spectator Profile compared to the Spectator Profiles of others. With this cross-comparison analysis, the Profile Program can determine the possibility that the subject viewer will prefer or be interested in a subject, product, theme, movie, episode, etc. based on comparisons of similar Spectator Profiles.

I. USE OF SPECTOR PROFILE INFORMATION TO CUSTOMIZE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF EPG

The EPG and Profile Program use basic viewer profile data, simple statistics collected about a particular viewer, Viewer Preferences, and Viewer Characteristics (collectively, hereinafter, the "Viewer Profile") to customize various aspects of the EPG. The viewer has the option to block any of these automatic customization features in EPG Adjustment Mode. One aspect of EPG that will be customized is the order of channel slots shown in the Grid Guide. The order in which channel slots are displayed can be customized to display viewer favorite channels at the top / top of the Grid Guide in descending order according to the Viewer Profile.

[00197] In one embodiment, the order of channel slots is customized according to the day of the week and the time of day according to the Spectator Profile. For example, if a private viewer watches Nick at Nite on weekday nights from 7 pm to 10 pm, then the EPG automatically tunes the television when it is turned on between 7 pm and 10 pm on the appropriate Nick at Nite channel and formats the Grid Guide to show Nick at Nite's channel as the first channel in the Grid Guide. If the same viewer typically watches ESPN during Saturday and Sunday daylight hours, then the EPG automatically tunes the television when it is switched on, for example, between 7 am and 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday on one of the ESPN channels. and formats the Grid Guide to show ESPN channels as the first several channels in the Grid Guide whenever the viewer enters the Grid Guide between, for example, 7 am and 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

At the viewer option, the EPG and the Profile Program uses basic viewer profile data, simple statistics collected about a particular viewer, Viewer Preferences, and Viewer Characteristics to perform automatic navigation. At the viewer's option, auto-navigation can be performed during real-time ad broadcasts. As an additional viewer option, auto-navigation can be performed in the PIP View Function, allowing the viewer to see the currently tuned program in the main Picture Window, while providing auto-navigation in the PIP Window. Alternatively, at the viewer's option, auto-navigation can be performed in the PIP View Function, allowing the viewer to see the currently tuned program in the PIP Window, while providing auto-navigation in the Main Image Window. What's more, the viewer can choose to select a different ad to view, or manually navigate the channels of the viewer's choice.

At the viewer option, the EPG and Profile Program uses basic viewer profile data, simple statistics collected about a particular viewer, Viewer Preferences, and Viewer Features to populate the Record List and / or the View List with programs that are likely to fit the viewer's interests. In one embodiment, searches for this type of information are conducted on a computer at the main terminal. In another embodiment, questions are constructed and fed to an Internet search engine.

At the viewer's option, the EPG and the Profile Program use basic viewer profile data, simple statistics collected about a particular viewer, Viewer Preferences, and Viewer Characteristics to search for news stories that are likely to appear. adapt to the interests of the viewer. The problem that is resolved is automatically (without an editorial staff) choosing news stories from multiple news feeds to display to a particular viewer on a news service. The content of the audio portion of the news broadcast is digitized and can be stored on a central computer, on one or more network sites, on DVDs (both video and audio recordings) local to the particular viewer's television system. , or in memory on the private viewer's television system. In addition to audio content, video recordings of news stories can also be stored.

The Spectator Profile, and in some embodiments, spectator-specific entries, is then used to construct data mining research questions to locate and transmit content that coincides with the interests of the spectator profile and / or viewer-specific requests for information. News stories are then indexed (as described elsewhere in this description). The EPG presents the viewer with a custom index. In this way, the viewer selects the news stories to watch in much the same way that the viewer selects the television programs that the viewer wants to watch or record. Further, web sites containing additional information regarding indexed news stories can be posted, for example, as part of the detailed description area text presented at the time the viewer highlights a particular news story. to see.

[00202] In one embodiment, Theme Guides provide a "Smart Search" based on the Spectator Profile (which is explained more fully elsewhere in this request). That is, if a program is on two channels, the system will select the best channel based on which of the two channels the viewer watches most often. In one embodiment, Theme Guides are additionally customized according to Spectator Profile. For example, an information packet submitted with the results is used to sort the results in the sports guide consistent with the Spectator Profile. For example, the result of a game involving the Boston Red Sox would present the result for the Red Sox first to a viewer in Boston.

[00203] During tuning procedures, the EPG provides automatic channel map selection. All channel maps in the viewer's zip code are downloaded. The options regarding the zip code are displayed. In one embodiment, the viewer is required to identify the information necessary for the television to select the appropriate channel mapping option, but the television automatically selects the appropriate channel map. For example, the viewer is asked to identify, for example, the distribution service to which the viewer subscribes, for example the Colonial Cape, and a particular channel map, for example if the viewer receives the HBO on channel 43. Thus, The viewer identifies the information necessary for the television to select the appropriate channel map. Alternatively, the viewer is actually asked to select the channel map, for example, "if you have the Colonial Cape and get HBO on channel 43, get this channel map". J. USE OF SPECTOR PROFILE INFORMATION TO PROVIDE PERSONALIZED ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE SPECTOR.

The EPG and the Profile Program use Viewer Profile information to model viewer presentation and ad scheduling and to customize the EPG presentation to the user. For example, the EPG uses the Viewer Profile information to determine whether to notify the viewer of a program that involves the viewer's favorite team, an interview involving a star player of that team, and so on. The EPG is capable of such a personalized notification / announcement through, for example, an announcement in the Announcement Window, or through an announcement in a Virtual Announcement Slot. [00205] Additionally, the EPG and the Profile Program use Viewer Profile information to customize the delivery and / or schedule of broadcast ads that are visible during the live broadcast of the television program the viewer is watching. An example is customizing a message overlaid with an ad on a local geographic basis. For example, the EPG knows the geographic location of the individual viewer. The transmitter can match a zip code to standardize the message so that each zip code receives a different message, that is, the 3 Burger Kíngs in the viewer's local area. In one embodiment, personalized messages may be preloaded by zip code within the memories of EPGs of particular viewers. Preloaded messages can be transmitted by a main terminal during off hours and stored at the viewer terminal for use when the advertisement runs, for example, during a television program or in a video clip in the Announcement Window. The electronic trigger for triggering the message can be transmitted along with the television signal in real time and can identify messages stored on the user terminal that need to be applied.

In another embodiment, personalized messages are transmitted narrowly with the television advertisement. One way to narrow the transmission of personalized messages is to embed the personalized information in the ad's video stream. Another way is to broadcast a digital "watermark" in the ad's video stream.

[00207] In one embodiment, real-time ad view customization is achieved by providing multiple ad channels, automatically tuning the television to a particular ad channel at the moment during the broadcast of the television program during which an ad is scheduled. to occur, and then tuning the television back to the television program chosen by the viewer at the conclusion of the ad. In another embodiment, a service monitors ad broadcasts as they are transmitted on a particular channel and inserts a channel change command in the Vertical Erase Interval (the "VBI") when an advertisement is transmitted, said change command. channel causing the television to tune in to a particular channel for an ad broadcast that fits the Viewer Preferences.

[00208] Viewer Profile information may be reported, as with, for example, Statistical Viewer Profile information reports for many viewers. These reports could be provided for analysis by advertisers, major terminal operators, Guide producers, or others to determine, among other things, advertising personalization opportunities, narrow transmission opportunities, detailed information requests from programs, and program distribution program requests.

The EPG will attempt to capture the approximate initial purchase date (for example, the first call date) of any of the television / entertainment system components. The EPG may notify you at the appropriate time following the initial purchase of opportunities such as the purchase of an extended manufacturer warranty. In another embodiment, the terminal equipment is separately addressable provided such notification messages can be sent on the VBI to the appropriate viewer. Based on the Viewer Profile, the extended warranty offer could be modeled on the viewer's financial situation.

Another way in which the EPG utilizes the Viewer Profile information is in connection with the personalization of the "access content" of the ad messages displayed by the EPG. Viewer Profile information will include the television program that the viewer was watching immediately before joining the EPG. The EPG may display different advertisements in the Guide or Service based on the content of the television program that the viewer was viewing before entering the EPG or one of the special data services accessible through the EPG. The "access content" ad strategy provides a much more refined way to reach the consumer. For example, consider two viewers who are both watching television at 8 pm on a Tuesday night. When a viewer who was viewing "New" joins the EPG, the EPG may display an ad from an educational computer; whereas when the second viewer who was watching Major League Baseball joins the EPG, the EPG could run an ad for Goodyears Tires.

In one embodiment of this invention, a database for ad messages and virtual channel announcements is either stored in RAM at the viewer terminal or is accessible at a network site if the viewer terminal has a network connection. Internet. In either case, the advertisement items in the database are identified with coded categories that correspond to coded category IDs assigned to the broadcast television programs. (Preferably, these are the same categories that are used to choose programs in the onscreen category or theme guide.) Television program category tags could be stored in RAM as part of the EPG database and retrieved from the applicable Display Information Packet ("SIP") based on real-time clock information on tuner tuning. This information identifies a time and channel that points to the applicable SIP. After the category ID of the last program the viewer was watching in TV mode is retrieved from the EPG database, this ID is compared with the corresponding ID in the database for the stored ad messages and virtual channel ads. in RAM. In Figure 1 of the drawing, the ad items to which the tags are attached are displayed in ad windows 14 and 16 and the virtual channel ad displayed in frame 52 as described above.

[00212] Yet another way in which the EPG utilizes Viewer Profile information is in connection with the personalization of "adjacent content" of the ad messages displayed by the EPG. Viewer Profile information will include the identification of the content that the viewer currently highlighted in the EPG or the relative data service. Using this method, the EPG displays different ads depending on, for example, which view the viewer was currently highlighting in the Grid Guide, which sport is highlighted in the sports data service, or what kind of news is highlighted in a news service. (international, local, etc.).

EPG can select ads from various possible locations, including but not limited to: an ad library stored at the viewer's terminal in RAM that has been downloaded via VBI, stored at the main terminal, or accessible via a link. EPG with the Internet / World Network. Ads can be in the form of graphics, text, video clips, audio clips, and a combination thereof. Each ad can be assigned theme codes, profile code, and other selection intelligences. In one embodiment, in order to standardize ad delivery, EPG searches the available ad library to find ads that match the criteria set by advertisers for "access content", "adjacent content", and / or Viewer Profile information. In another embodiment, the EPG selects the ads to display according to a pre-established selection criteria.

The following patent application descriptions are fully incorporated herein by reference: International Application WO96 / 07270; Application No. 60 / 053,330 issued July 21, 1997; Application No. 60 / 061,119 issued October 6, 1997; and Application No. 60 / 055,237 issued August 12, 1997.

[00215] In one embodiment, library announcements are assigned to themes; the history of using an on-screen theme menu or program guide is recorded; and the story is analyzed by the EPG microprocessor to decide which ad to display.

[00216] For example, a private car advertisement may be designated for a sporting events theme. In a simple implementation this automobile advertisement would be selected for display if users of the particular EPG sport selected as a theme more often than any other theme over a prescribed period of time. Figure 7 represents the screen display for the top level theme screen; and Figure 8 represents the on-screen display for the second level theme screen. A selection of themes could be recorded when a viewer highlights a theme in Figure 7, such as "Sport." Selecting a Theme provides a screen listing, by time, channel, and title, of programs that are consistent with the selected theme on a second-level theme screen, an example of which is shown in Figure 8. usage could be written to memory by writing over the oldest data stored in memory. If desired, a more sophisticated analysis could be used. Thus, the frequency of selection could be weighed to favor newer selections over older selections or themes could be combined to determine which ad to display.

[00217] In another embodiment, advertisements in the library are designed for private television programs or television program classes; The history of use of the EPG information box is recorded in terms of frequency of visits, time spent during a single visit, and / or total time for all visits; Information boxes are correlated with television programs, and results are analyzed to decide which ad to display. Instead of the info box, any other area of the EPG screen could be monitored in a similar way to decide which ad to display. In each case, ads in the library are assigned to the types of information subjects displayed in the monitored area to better target the ads to users' interests.

In another embodiment, advertisements in the library are also designated for the particular television programs or the channel and time term television program classes; the tuner is monitored; channel and time are correlated with television programs, and results are analyzed to decide which ad to show. For example, an ad for branded athletic shoes featuring a popular basketball star could be designated for basketball programs. The footwear ad could be selected for display if the particular EPG viewer entered the EPG while watching a basketball game.

In another embodiment, advertisements in the library are also designated for particular television programs or television program classes; the history of television programs that have entered a "record - view list" as shown in figure 6 is recorded; and the results are analyzed to decide which ad to show.

The time of the monitored event can also be taken into account to distinguish between multiple users of the same EPG or relative television receiver. The assumption is that people who use EPG and watch TV at different times of day have different interests - housewives can use EPG more in the morning, children can use it early in the afternoon, and working men away from home can use it on Sunday afternoons.

The history of use as described above may be combined with the "access content" model described in Order N-60 / 055.237 to further point ads to the user's interests. Thus, if particular EPG users will select comedies as a theme more often than any other theme over a prescribed period of time, three ads may be fired and the final selection made of them depending on what type of program the viewer was viewing on television before switching to the onscreen EPG.

Illustrative Modalities The embodiments of the invention described herein are only considered to be preferred and / or illustrative of the concept of the invention; The scope of the invention is not to be restricted to such embodiments. Various and numerous other arrangements can be imagined by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, alternative display formats are possible.

Claims (10)

Method for providing a customized list of program recommendations to a user through a program guide installed on the user equipment for receiving programming, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: monitoring at least some of a user's interactions with user equipment, wherein said at least some of a monitored user's interactions comprise a first type of interaction with a media resource and a second type of interaction that is different from the first type of interaction; determining user characteristics based on monitored interactions, wherein the determined characteristics comprise a count of the first type of interaction with the media resource and a count of the second type of interaction; transmit information related to the characteristics determined to a central computer; receive from the central computer a list of recommended programs that the user is likely to be interested in based on the information transmitted; and display the list of user-recommended programs on the user's equipment. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the list of recommended programs corresponds to at least one list between a list to watch and a list to record. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the information related to the given characteristics comprises queries based on user characteristics, in which queries are designed to determine a program that the user is likely to be interested in. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission is performed using the Internet; wherein the second type of interaction is an interaction with the Internet. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of monitoring at least some of the user interactions comprises one step of: monitoring user instructions for recording and watching a program using the user equipment. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of monitoring at least some of the user interactions comprises alerting the user to information related to the user's favorite channels. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one program from the displayed list of recommended programs is removed by the user equipment in response to user instructions. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the received list of recommended programs is automatically revised by the user equipment based on the user's determined characteristics. System for providing a customized list of program recommendations to a user through a program guide installed on the user equipment for receiving programming, characterized in that it comprises: means for monitoring at least some of the user interactions with the equipment. where at least some of a monitored user's interactions comprise a first type of interaction with a media resource and a second type of interaction that is different from the first type of interaction; means for determining user characteristics based on monitored interactions, wherein the determined characteristics comprise a count of the first type of interaction with the media resource and a count of the second type of interaction; means for transmitting information related to the characteristics determined to a central computer; means for receiving from the central computer a list of recommended programs that the user is likely to be interested in based on the information transmitted; and a means to display the list of user recommended programs on the user's equipment. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the list of recommended programs corresponds to at least one list between a list to watch and a list to record, wherein the second type of interaction is an interaction with the Internet.