CA2275720C - Epg with advertising inserts - Google Patents

Epg with advertising inserts Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2275720C
CA2275720C CA2275720A CA2275720A CA2275720C CA 2275720 C CA2275720 C CA 2275720C CA 2275720 A CA2275720 A CA 2275720A CA 2275720 A CA2275720 A CA 2275720A CA 2275720 C CA2275720 C CA 2275720C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
displayed
advertisement
data
displaying
schedule information
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA2275720A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2275720A1 (en
Inventor
Henry C. Yuen
Roy J. Mankovitz
Daniel S. Kwoh
Elsie Y. Leung
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Adeia Guides Inc
Original Assignee
Index Systems LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Index Systems LLC filed Critical Index Systems LLC
Priority to CA2779619A priority Critical patent/CA2779619C/en
Publication of CA2275720A1 publication Critical patent/CA2275720A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2275720C publication Critical patent/CA2275720C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/443—OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
    • H04N21/4438—Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/431—Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
    • H04N21/4345—Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for programme selection
    • H04N21/4821—End-user interface for programme selection using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
    • H04N21/81—Monomedia components thereof
    • H04N21/812—Monomedia components thereof involving advertisement data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/76—Television signal recording
    • H04N5/78—Television signal recording using magnetic recording
    • H04N5/782—Television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Software Systems (AREA)
  • Television Systems (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
  • User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Advertisements (50) are inserted in an EPG on the screen (40) of a display monitor (20) between the individual television program listings. Specifically, a memory (22, 34) stores EPG data and advertising data. A microprocessor (24) is programmed to recover EPG data corresponding to a number of television programs and advertising data from the memory. The microprocessor controls the monitor to display the recovered EPG data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each television program listing being displayed in a separate line, and to display the recovered advertising data in a line on the screen instead of one of the television program listings. The EPG and advertising data are displayed in a first area (46) of the screen and a detail window is displayed in a second area (44) of the screen. One of the lines of EPG data is highlighted with a cursor (48). A description of the television program listing highlighted by the cursor is inserted in the second area. When the line of advertising data is highlighted with the cursor, an information relating to the advertising data is inserted in the second area.

Description

EPG WITH ADVERTISING INSERTS
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to electronic program guides that incorporate advertising messages or words.
As the number of television channels available on cable and by satellite expands, an on- screen electronic program guide (EPG) become more indispensable.
Such an EPG permits the user to sort the available present and future programming by theme, time, and channel. As a result, the user can find a program of interest more easily.
It is costly to collect EPG data for display and to transmit such data to the consumer. Thus, there is a need to find a way to recover the cost of these activities.
SUMMARY
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for displaying advertisements. The apparatus includes a memory for storing electronic program guide data and advertising data associated with a plurality of advertisements.
The apparatus also includes a display monitor having a screen, and provisions for accessing the memory to recover electronic program guide data corresponding to a number of television programs. The apparatus further includes provisions for displaying recovered electronic program guide data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each of the lines of television program listing being displayed in a separate line and provisions for displaying time and channel for at least some of the displayed television program listings. The apparatus further includes provisions for selecting an advertisement for display from said plurality of advertisements stored in the memory. The apparatus further includes provisions for accessing the memory to recover advertising data associated with a selected advertisement, and provisions for using said advertising data associated with said selected advertisement to insert the selected advertisement in a separate line on the screen between lines of the television program listings.
The recovered electronic program guide data may be displayed in a first area of the screen, and the apparatus may further include provisions for highlighting one of the lines of electronic program guide data on the screen with a cursor, provisions for displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen, and provisions for inserting a description of the television program listing highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
The apparatus may further include provisions for highlighting the line of advertising data on the screen with a cursor, and provisions for inserting information relating to the advertising data highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide (EPG) including a memory for storing EPG data and advertising data, and a display monitor having a screen. The system further includes a microprocessor for accessing the memory to retrieve a portion of the EPG data and for accessing the memory to retrieve selected advertising data therefrom, and a video processor for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved portion of the EPG data in a plurality of rows of schedule information items and for displaying the time and channel for at least a segment of the displayed television schedule information items and for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved selected advertisement on a separate row between two adjacent rows of the plurality rows of schedule information items simultaneously with the displayed retrieved portion of the EPG data.
The retrieved selected advertisement may be interactive.
The retrieved selected advertisement may include text.
The retrieved selected advertisement may be related to one or more of a product and service.
The advertising data may be displayed independently of the displayed EPG
data.
The advertising data may be displayed independently of user selections of the displayed EPG data.
The advertising data may contain information other than a channel name, channel number, and a program title.
The EPG data may be displayed for a user selectable time and the advertising data may be displayed independently of the user selected time.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG). The method involves displaying television schedule information in a plurality of rows of schedule information items and displaying the time and channel for at least some of the displayed television schedule information items. The method further involves selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements, and displaying the selected advertisement on a separate row between two adjacent rows of the plurality rows of schedule information items simultaneously with said at least some of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.
The selected advertisement may be interactive.
The selected advertisement may include text.
The selected advertisement may be related to a product or service.
The method may further involve highlighting a row of the displayed schedule information items with a cursor, displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen, and displaying a description corresponding to the highlighted row of the displayed schedule information items in a second area of the screen.
The method may further involve highlighting the displayed channel advertisement with a cursor, and displaying information relating to the highlighted channel advertisement in a second area of the screen.
The displayed channel advertisement may have substantially the same horizontal width of each of the displayed plurality of rows of schedule information items.
The displayed channel advertisement may have substantially the same vertical height of each of the displayed plurality of rows of schedule information items.
The method may further involve transmitting the advertisements and the schedule information in a vertical blanking interval of a television signal.
The displayed channel advertisement may be displayed independent of the displayed schedule information. The displayed channel advertisement may be displayed independent of user selections of the displayed schedule information.
The displayed channel advertisement may be displayed independent of a channel.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for displaying advertisements. The apparatus includes a memory for storing electronic program guide data and advertising data. The apparatus further includes a display monitor having a screen, provisions for accessing the memory to recover electronic program guide data corresponding to a number of television programs, and provisions for displaying the recovered electronic program guide data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each of the lines of television program listings being displayed in a separate line. The apparatus further includes provisions for accessing the memory to recover the advertising data, and provisions for inserting the recovered advertising data in a separate line on the screen between lines of the television program listings, wherein the advertising data contains information other than a channel name, channel number, and a program title.
The electronic program guide data may be displayed in a first area of the screen, and the apparatus may further include provisions for highlighting one of the lines of electronic program guide data on the screen with a cursor, provisions for displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data, and provisions for inserting a description of the television program listing highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
The apparatus may further include provisions for highlighting the line of the advertising data on the screen with a cursor; and provisions for inserting information relating to the advertising data highlighted by the cursor in the second area to be displayed simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for displaying advertisements. The apparatus includes a memory that stores electronic program guide data and advertising data, a display monitor having a screen, and a microprocessor that accesses the memory to recover the electronic program guide data corresponding to a number of television programs and accesses the memory to recover the advertising data. The apparatus further includes a video processor that displays the recovered electronic program guide data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each of the lines of television program listings being displayed in a separate line, the video processor configured to insert the recovered advertising data in a separate line on the screen between lines of the television program listings, wherein the advertising data contains information other than a channel name, channel number, and a program title.
The electronic program guide data may be displayed in a first area of the screen, and the apparatus may additionally include a viewer input device that highlights one of the lines of television program listings with a cursor, wherein in the video processor is configured to display a detail window in a second area of the screen, and wherein the video processor is configured to insert a description corresponding to the highlighted one of the lines of television program listings in the second area of the screen to be displayed simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
The viewer input device may be further configured to highlight the inserted line of advertising data with a cursor, and wherein the video processor may be further configured to display information relating to the highlighted line of advertising data in the second area of the screen to be displayed simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide. The method involves storing electronic program guide data and advertising data in a memory, the electronic program guide data corresponding to a plurality of television programs. The method further involves retrieving the electronic program guide data from memory, displaying the electronic program guide data in a display in lines of television program listings, each of the lines of television program listings being displayed in a separate line, retrieving the advertising data from memory, and inserting the retrieved advertising data in a separate line on the screen between lines of the television program listings, wherein the advertising data contains information other than a channel name, channel number, and a program title.
The method may further involve highlighting one of the lines of television program listings with a cursor, displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen, and displaying a description corresponding to the highlighted one of the lines of television program listings in the second area of the screen simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
The method may further involve highlighting the inserted line of advertising data with a cursor, and displaying information relating to the highlighted line of advertising data in the second area of the screen simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
The method may further involve transmitting the advertising data and the electronic program guide data in the vertical blanking interval.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for displaying channel advertisements in an electronic program guide (EPG).
The system includes a memory for storing EPG data, a display monitor having a screen, a microprocessor for accessing the memory to retrieve a portion of the EPG data, and a video processor (1) for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved portion of the EPG data in a plurality of rows of schedule information items for a plurality of programs and displaying the time and channel for the displayed schedule information items, wherein one of the programs is sponsored by an advertiser and (2) for displaying on the display monitor an advertisement for the advertiser on a separate row between two rows of the schedule information items simultaneously with the displayed retrieved portion of the EPG data, wherein the displayed advertisement is displayed adjacent to the schedule information item for the program sponsored by the advertiser.

The displayed channel advertisement may be interactive.
The displayed channel advertisement may include text.
The displayed channel advertisement may be related to one or more of a product and service.
The advertisement may be displayed independent of the displayed EPG data.
The advertisement may be displayed independent of user selections of the displayed EPG data.
The advertisement may be displayed independent of a channel.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for simultaneously displaying channel advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG). The method involves retrieving schedule information from a first memory, retrieving an advertisement from a second memory, displaying the schedule information in a plurality of rows of schedule information items and displaying the time and channel for the displayed schedule information items, and displaying the retrieved advertisement inserted on a separate row between two adjacent rows of schedule information items. The schedule information is displayed for a user selectable time and the advertisement is displayed independent of the user selected time.
The advertisement may be selected from a plurality of advertisements.
The advertisement may be other than a schedule information item.
The advertisement may be displayed independent of a channel.
The displayed advertisement may be interactive.
The displayed advertisement is related to at least one of a product and a service.
The advertisement may be selected for display based on the schedule information displayed in a row adjacent to the advertisement.
The method may further involve determining a location in the rows of schedule information items to insert the advertisement.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for displaying channel advertisements in an electronic program guide (EPG), including a first memory for storing EPG data, a second memory for storing advertising data, a display monitor having a screen, a microprocessor for accessing the first memory to retrieve a portion of the EPG data and accessing the second memory to retrieve an advertisement from the advertising data, and a video processor (1) for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved portion of the ERG
data in a plurality of rows of schedule information items and displaying the time and channel for the displayed schedule information items and (2) for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved advertisement inserted in a separate row between two adjacent rows of schedule information items. The EPG data is displayed for a user selectable time and the advertisement is displayed independent of the user selected time.
The advertisement may be selected from a plurality of advertisements.
The advertisement may be other than a schedule information item.
The advertisement may be displayed independent of a channel.
The displayed advertisement may be interactive.
The displayed advertisement may be related to at least one of a product and a service.
The advertisement may be selected for display based on the schedule information item displayed in a row adjacent to the advertisement.
The video processor may determine a location in the rows of schedule information items to insert the advertisement.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for simultaneously displaying channel advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG). The method involves storing schedule information in memory for each of a plurality of programs, storing in the memory at least one advertisement as part of the stored schedule information, and displaying on a display at least a portion of the stored program schedule information and at least one of the stored advertisements.
The at least a portion of the program schedule information and the at least one of the advertisements are displayed on the display as a plurality of row items, and the at least a portion of the program schedule information and the at least one of the advertisements are displayed on separate rows.
The at least one of the stored advertisements may be stored as an address that may link to the advertisement.
The at least one of the stored advertisements may be associated with at least one of the plurality of programs, and the step of displaying may involve displaying the at least one of the stored advertisements and the program schedule information of the program associated therewith in adjacent row items in the plurality of row items.
The association between the at least one of the stored advertisements and the at least one of the plurality of programs may be based on the scheduled time of the program.
The association between the at least one of the stored advertisements and the at least one of the plurality of programs may be based on sponsorship of the scheduled program.
At least one of the displayed advertisements may be interactive.
At least one of the displayed advertisements may relate to a service or a product.
The method may further involve highlighting a row of a displayed program schedule information item with a cursor, displaying a detail window in a second area -8a-of the display, and displaying, in the second area of the screen, information relating to the displayed program schedule information item that was highlighted.
The method may further involve highlighting a row of a displayed advertisement with a cursor, displaying a detail window in a second area of the display, and displaying, in the second area of the screen, information relating to the displayed advertisement that was highlighted.
The portion of the stored program schedule information being displayed may relate to a user-selected time, and the displayed advertisement may be independent of the user-selected time.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for simultaneously displaying channel advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG). The system includes a memory for storing schedule information and advertising data. The system also includes a display and a processor. The system is configured to store schedule information in the memory for each of a plurality of programs, store in the memory at least one advertisement as part of the stored schedule information, and display on the display at least a portion of the stored program schedule information and at least one of the stored advertisements.
The at least a portion of the program schedule information and the at least one of the advertisements are displayed on the display as a plurality of row items, and the at least a portion of the program schedule information and the at least one of the advertisements are displayed on separate rows.
The at least one of the stored advertisements may be stored as an address that links to the advertisement.
The at least one of the stored advertisements may be associated with at least one of the plurality of programs, and the system may be further configured to display the at least one of the stored advertisements and the program schedule information of the program associated therewith in adjacent row items in the plurality of row items.
The association between the at least one of the stored advertisements and the at least one of the plurality of programs may be based on the scheduled time of the program.

-8b-The association between the at least one of the stored advertisements and the at least one of the plurality of programs may be based on sponsorship of the scheduled program.
The at least one of the displayed advertisements may be interactive.
The at least one of the displayed advertisements may relate to a service or a product.
The system may be further configured to highl ight a row of a displayed program schedule information item with a cursor, display a detail window in a second area of the display, and display, in the second area of the screen, information relating to the displayed program schedule information item that was highlighted.
The system may be further configured to highl ight a row of a displayed advertisement with a cursor, display a detail window in a second area of the display, and display, in the second area of the screen, information relating to the displayed advertisement that was highlighted.
The portion of the stored program schedule information being displayed may relate to a user-selected time, and the displayed advertisement may be independent of the user-selected time.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide. The apparatus includes a memory for storing electronic program guide (EPG) data and advertising data, a display monitor having a screen, and provisions for accessing the memory to recover EPG data corresponding to a number of television programs and an address for linking the advertising data with the recovered EPG data. The apparatus further includes provisions for displaying the recovered EPG data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each television program listing being displayed in a separate line, provisions for accessing the memory to recover the advertising data according to the recovered address, and provisions for displaying the recovered advertising data in a line on the screen with the television program listings.
The advertising data may be displayed as an insert instead of one of the television program listings.

-8c-The EPG data may be displayed in a first area of the screen, and the apparatus may further include provisions for highlighting one of the lines of EPG data on the screen with a cursor, provisions for displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen and provisions for inserting a description of the television program listing highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
The apparatus may further include provisions for highlighting the advertising data on the screen with a cursor, and provisions for inserting information relating to the advertising data highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide. The method includes storing in memory electronic program guide (EPG) data and advertising data, and accessing the memory to recover the EPG data corresponding to a number of television programs and an address for advertising data for linking the advertising data with the recovered EPG data. The method further includes displaying the recovered EPG data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each television program listing being displayed in a separate line, accessing the memory to recover the advertising data according to the recovered address, and displaying the recovered advertising data in a separate line on the screen with the television program listings.
The advertising data may be displayed as an insert instead of one of the television program listings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of apparatus for carrying out the invention; and FIG. 2 is a screen format produced by the apparatus of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
United States patents 6,028,599 and 6,239,794 BI may be of interest in connection with this invention. A source of television signals 10 in FIG. 1 such as a terrestrial antenna, or a cable is connected to a television tuner 11. The output of tuner 11 is a modulated intermediate frequency signal containing video and audio television information. Tuner 11 is connected by an intermediate frequency amplifier (IF
AMP) -8d-12 to a picture detector (PICTURE DET) 13 and a sound detector (SOUND DET) 14, which produce base band video and audio signals, respectively. The audio signal is coupled by a sound amplifier (SOUND AMP) 15 to a loudspeaker 16. The video signal is coupled by a video amplifier not shown to one input of a switch 18.
Sound detector 14 and picture detector 13 are connected to the audio and video inputs, respectively, of a video cassette recorder (VCR) 17.
(Alternatively, television signal source 10 could be directly connected to the RF input of VCR 17, if its internal tuner and demodulating circuitry is to be utilized.) The output of VCR 17 is connected to the other input of switch 18. The output of switch 18 is connected to one input of a conventional picture-in-picture (PIP) integrated circuit chip 19. The output of PIP chip 19 is connected to the video input of a television receiver or monitor (TV) 20 having a screen (not shown).
An updatable data base of the schedule of program listings of all the available channels for a prescribed period of time, e.g. a day or a week, is electronically stored in a program schedule memory 22. These program listings typically include for each program the title, a program description, the day of the week, the start time of the day, the program length, and the channel on which the program is transmitted and thus available for reception at source 10. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the period of time for which the program listings are stored is different for the guides, depending upon viewer priorities and preferences. For example, the information needed to display the time specific program guide (TSPG) and channel specific program guide (CSPG) may be stored for one or two days and the information needed to display the TSPG may be stored for a week or more. The data base can be updated by a continuous data link in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of one television channel broadcast to the television receiver in well known fashion.
Alternatively, the data base can be updated by unplugging memory 22 and replacing it with a memory having the updated data base. Memory 22 is connected to a microprocessor 24 that is programmed to control the operation of the described equipment. An operating program for microprocessor 24 is stored in a read only memory (ROM) 26. A
viewer input device 28, preferably in the form of a remote IR controller, is coupled to microprocessor 24 to provide commands from the viewer.

-8e-A video processor 30 is coupled to microprocessor 24. When the viewer wishes to see television program listings, microprocessor 24 recalls a portion of the program schedule data base from memory 22 and couples it to video processor 30, where the program listings are formatted for display. Preferably, the information stored in video processor 30 is a bit map of what is displayed on the screen of television receiver 20. Video processor 30 is connected to the other input of PIP chip 19. Preferably, viewer input device 28 controls microprocessor 24 by cursor movement on the screen of television receiver 20. To this end, microprocessor 24 and video processor 30 are coupled to a cursor position register 32.
(Alternatively, the viewer can select items of information displayed on the screen by keying into viewer input device 28 code numbers assigned to these items.) Microprocessor 24 is also coupled to tuner 11 for channel change, to VCR 17 for play/record selection and start/stop, to switch 18 for selection of one of its inputs, and to PIP chip 19 for selection of the mode of PIP operation.
The format of the electronic program guide is shown in FIG. 2. The format has a background area 40 and an overlaid PIP window 42 in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. The real time, i.e., 5:11 p.m., is displayed in a sub-area 42a of PIP window 42. Background area 40 includes a banner and message prompting area 43 at the top of the screen, a program description area 44 in the upper right-hand corner of the screen adjacent to PIP window 42, and a program schedule area 46 below areas and 44. Program description area 44 includes the start time and length (duration) of the program being described. In area 46, EPG data retrieved from memory 22 is displayed in lines, each program listing being displayed in a separate line.
The viewer can move a cursor 48 vertically to highlight one of the lines of program listings displayed in area 46. The highlighted background of cursor 48 and the background of program description area 44 are preferably the same color or shade. The complete, moving images of a currently broadcast television program in real time and the current time are displayed in PIP window 42 and the audio portion of the television program displayed in PIP window 42 is reproduced by the sound system of monitor 20.
Advertising inserts are displayed on the screen between the lines of program listings in program schedule area 46 and related information or announcements are -8f-displayed in description area 44. With reference to FIG. 1, the advertising inserts are preferably transmitted in the VBI as part of the program schedule information and stored at the television receiver in RAM, represented functionally as an advertising insert memory 34. Preferably the inserts are transmitted as part of the packets of information about the programs, i.e., show information packages (SIPs), with which the advertising inserts are displayed. The apparatus of FIG.1 functions as described in United States Patent No. 6,239,794, the advertising inserts being treated as part of the program listings displayed in area 46 and the brief program descriptions displayed in area 44.
In practice, memory 34 and memory 22 could be physically incorporated in a single RAM. Addresses for the advertising inserts could be stored as part of the pre-established time lists for the programs with which the advertising inserts are displayed. Thus, the addresses link the time lists to the advertising inserts, and each advertising insert is only stored once in memory 34. By linking the advertising inserts to the time lists, the displayed advertising insert becomes time dependent.
Thus, the content of the displayed advertisements can, to some extent, be directed to the interests of the viewers. Advertisements of interest to housewives would be displayed in the morning and advertisements of interest to children would be displayed in the early evening.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, an advertising insert 50 is preferably displayed as a line below the listing, "NBC 4 NEWS" of the television program that the advertiser, e.g., Coca Cola, sponsors. However, it is not necessary that there be a relationship between the position of the advertiser and the television program, depending on the circumstances. To obtain more information about the subject of advertising insert 50, the viewer highlights the line with cursor 48; then such information is displayed in area 44, instead of information about a television program. For example, the announcement in area 44 could inform the viewer that the advertised product is on sale in a particular retail establishment at a particular price or give a more detailed product description.

Claims (82)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Apparatus for displaying advertisements comprising:

a memory for storing electronic program guide data and advertising data associated with a plurality of advertisements;

a display monitor having a screen;

means for accessing the memory to recover electronic program guide data corresponding to a number of television programs;

means for displaying recovered electronic program guide data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each of the lines of television program listing being displayed in a separate line and means for displaying time and channel for at least some of the displayed television program listings;

means for selecting an advertisement for display from said plurality of advertisements stored in the memory;

means for accessing the memory to recover advertising data associated with a selected advertisement; and means for using said advertising data associated with said selected advertisement to insert the selected advertisement in a separate line on the screen between lines of the television program listings.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which recovered electronic program guide data is displayed in a first area of the screen, the apparatus additionally comprising:
means for highlighting one of the lines of electronic program guide data on the screen with a cursor;

means for displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen;
and means for inserting a description of the television program listing highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising:

means for highlighting the line of advertising data on the screen with a cursor; and means for inserting information relating to the advertising data highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
4. A system for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide (EPG) comprising:

a memory for storing EPG data and advertising data;
a display monitor having a screen;

a microprocessor for accessing the memory to retrieve a portion of the EPG data and for accessing the memory to retrieve selected advertising data therefrom; and a video processor for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved portion of the EPG data in a plurality of rows of schedule information items and for displaying the time and channel for at least a segment of the displayed television schedule information items and for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved selected advertisement on a separate row between two adjacent rows of the plurality rows of schedule information items simultaneously with the displayed retrieved portion of the EPG data.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the retrieved selected advertisement is interactive.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the retrieved selected advertisement includes text.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the retrieved selected advertisement is related to one or more of a product and service.
8. The system of claim 4, wherein the advertising data is displayed independently of the displayed EPG data.
9. The system of claim 4, wherein the advertising data is displayed independently of user selections of the displayed EPG data.
10. The system of claim 4, wherein the advertising data contains information other than a channel name, channel number, and a program title.
11. The system of claim 4, wherein the EPG data is displayed for a user selectable time and the advertising data is displayed independently of the user selected time.
12. A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

displaying television schedule information in a plurality of rows of schedule information items and displaying the time and channel for at least some of the displayed television schedule information items;

selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements; and displaying the selected advertisement on a separate row between two adjacent rows of the plurality rows of schedule information items simultaneously with said at least some of the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected advertisement is interactive.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected advertisement includes text.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected advertisement is related to a product or service.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

highlighting a row of the displayed schedule information items with a cursor;

displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen; and displaying a description corresponding to the highlighted row of the displayed schedule information items in a second area of the screen.
17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

highlighting the displayed channel advertisement with a cursor; and displaying information relating to the highlighted channel advertisement in a second area of the screen.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the displayed channel advertisement has substantially the same horizontal width of each of the displayed plurality of rows of schedule information items.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the displayed channel advertisement has substantially the same vertical height of each of the displayed plurality of rows of schedule information items.
20. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the advertisements and the schedule information in a vertical blanking interval of a television signal.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein the displayed channel advertisement is displayed independent of the displayed schedule information.
22. The method of claim 12, wherein the displayed channel advertisement is displayed independent of user selections of the displayed schedule information.
23. The method of claim 12, wherein the displayed channel advertisement is displayed independent of a channel.
24. Apparatus for displaying advertisements comprising:

a memory for storing electronic program guide data and advertising data;

a display monitor having a screen;

means for accessing the memory to recover electronic program guide data corresponding to a number of television programs;

means for displaying the recovered electronic program guide data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each of the lines of television program listings being displayed in a separate line;

means for accessing the memory to recover the advertising data; and means for inserting the recovered advertising data in a separate line on the screen between lines of the television program listings, wherein the advertising data contains information other than a channel name, channel number, and a program title.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the electronic program guide data is displayed in a first area of the screen, the apparatus additionally comprising:

means for highlighting one of the lines of electronic program guide data on the screen with a cursor;

means for displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data; and means for inserting a description of the television program listing highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, additionally comprising:

means for highlighting the line of the advertising data on the screen with a cursor; and means for inserting information relating to the advertising data highlighted by the cursor in the second area to be displayed simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
27. Apparatus for displaying advertisements comprising:

a memory that stores electronic program guide data and advertising data;

a display monitor having a screen;

a microprocessor that accesses the memory to recover the electronic program guide data corresponding to a number of television programs and accesses the memory to recover the advertising data; and a video processor that displays the recovered electronic program guide data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each of the lines of television program listings being displayed in a separate line, the video processor configured to insert the recovered advertising data in a separate line on the screen between lines of the television program listings, wherein the advertising data contains information other than a channel name, channel number, and a program title.
28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the electronic program guide data is displayed in a first area of the screen, the apparatus additionally comprising:

a viewer input device that highlights one of the lines of television program listings with a cursor, wherein in the video processor is configured to display a detail window in a second area of the screen, and wherein the video processor is configured to insert a description corresponding to the highlighted one of the lines of television program listings in the second area of the screen to be displayed simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the viewer input device is further configured to highlight the inserted line of advertising data with a cursor, and wherein the video processor is further configured to display information relating to the highlighted line of advertising data in the second area of the screen to be displayed simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
30. A method for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide comprising:

storing electronic program guide data and advertising data in a memory, the electronic program guide data corresponding to a plurality of television programs;

retrieving the electronic program guide data from memory;

displaying the electronic program guide data in a display in lines of television program listings, each of the lines of television program listings being displayed in a separate line;

retrieving the advertising data from memory; and inserting the retrieved advertising data in a separate line on the screen between lines of the television program listings, wherein the advertising data contains information other than a channel name, channel number, and a program title.
31 The method of claim 30 further comprising:

highlighting one of the lines of television program listings with a cursor;

displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen; and displaying a description corresponding the highlighted one of the lines of television program listings in the second area of the screen simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

highlighting the inserted line of advertising data with a cursor; and displaying information relating to the highlighted line of advertising data in the second area of the screen simultaneously with the displayed electronic program guide data.
33. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

transmitting the advertising data and the electronic program guide data in the vertical blanking interval.
34. A system for displaying channel advertisements in an electronic program guide (EPG) comprising:

a memory for storing EPG data;

a display monitor having a screen;

a microprocessor for accessing the memory to retrieve a portion of the EPG data; and a video processor (1) for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved portion of the EPG data in a plurality of rows of schedule information items for a plurality of programs and displaying the time and channel for the displayed schedule information items, wherein one of the programs is sponsored by an advertiser and (2) for displaying on the display monitor an advertisement for the advertiser on a separate row between two rows of the schedule information items simultaneously with the displayed retrieved portion of the EPG data, wherein the displayed advertisement is displayed adjacent to the schedule information item for the program sponsored by the advertiser.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein the displayed channel advertisement is interactive.
36. The system of claim 34, wherein the displayed channel advertisement includes text.
37. The system of claim 34, wherein the displayed channel advertisement is related to one or more of a product and service.
38. The system of claim 34, wherein the advertisement is displayed independent of the displayed EPG data.
39. The system of claim 34, wherein the advertisement is displayed independent of user selections of the displayed EPG data.
40. The system of claim 34, wherein the advertisements is displayed independent of a channel.
41. A method for simultaneously displaying channel advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

retrieving schedule information from a first memory;
retrieving an advertisement from a second memory;

displaying the schedule information in a plurality of rows of schedule information items and displaying the time and channel for the displayed schedule information items; and displaying the retrieved advertisement inserted on a separate row between two adjacent rows of schedule information items;

wherein the schedule information is displayed for a user selectable time and the advertisement is displayed independent of the user selected time.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein the advertisement is selected from a plurality of advertisements.
43. The method of claim 41, wherein the advertisement is other than a schedule information item.
44. The method of claim 41, wherein the advertisement is displayed independent of a channel.
45. The method of claim 41, wherein the displayed advertisement is interactive.
46. The method of claim 41, wherein the displayed advertisement is related to at least one of a product and a service.
47. The method of claim 41, wherein the advertisement is selected for display based on the schedule information displayed in a row adjacent to the advertisement.
48. The method of claim 41, further comprising determining a location in the rows of schedule information items to insert the advertisement.
49. A system for displaying channel advertisements in an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

a first memory for storing EPG data;

a second memory for storing advertising data;
a display monitor having a screen;

a microprocessor for accessing the first memory to retrieve a portion of the EPG data and accessing the second memory to retrieve an advertisement from the advertising data; and a video processor (1) for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved portion of the ERG data in a plurality of rows of schedule information items and displaying the time and channel for the displayed schedule information items and (2) for displaying on the display monitor the retrieved advertisement inserted in a separate row between two adjacent rows of schedule information items;

wherein the EPG data is displayed for a user selectable time and the advertisement is displayed independent of the user selected time.
50. The system of claim 49, wherein the advertisement is selected from a plurality of advertisements.
51. The system of claim 49, wherein the advertisement is other than a schedule information item.
52. The system of claim 49, wherein the advertisement is displayed independent of a channel.
53. The system of claim 49, wherein the displayed advertisement is interactive.
54. The system of claim 49, wherein the displayed advertisement is related to at least one of a product and a service.
55. The system of claim 49, wherein the advertisement is selected for display based on the schedule information item displayed in a row adjacent to the advertisement.
56. The system of claim 49, wherein the video processor determines a location in the rows of schedule information items to insert the advertisement.
57. A method for simultaneously displaying channel advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), the method comprising:

storing schedule information in memory for each of a plurality of programs;

storing in the memory at least one advertisement as part of the stored schedule information; and displaying on a display at least a portion of the stored program schedule information and at least one of the stored advertisements, wherein:

the at least a portion of the program schedule information and the at least one of the advertisements are displayed on the display as a plurality of row items, wherein the at least a portion of the program schedule information and the at least one of the advertisements are displayed on separate rows.
58. The method of claim 57, wherein at least one of the stored advertisements is stored as an address that links to the advertisement.
59. The method of claim 57, wherein:

at least one of the stored advertisements is associated with at least one of the plurality of programs; and the step of displaying comprises displaying the at least one of the stored advertisements and the program schedule information of the program associated therewith in adjacent row items in the plurality of row items.
60. The method of claim 59, wherein the association between the at least one of the stored advertisements and the at least one of the plurality of programs is based on the scheduled time of the program.
61. The method of claim 59, wherein the association between the at least one of the stored advertisements and the at least one of the plurality of programs is based on sponsorship of the scheduled program.
62. The method of claim 57, wherein at least one of the displayed advertisements is interactive.
63. The method of claim 57, wherein at least one of the displayed advertisements relates to a service or a product.
64. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

highlighting a row of a displayed program schedule information item with a cursor;

displaying a detail window in a second area of the display; and displaying, in the second area of the screen, information relating to the displayed program schedule information item that was highlighted.
65. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

highlighting a row of a displayed advertisement with a cursor;
displaying a detail window in a second area of the display; and displaying, in the second area of the screen, information relating to the displayed advertisement that was highlighted.
66. The method of claim 57, wherein:

the portion of the stored program schedule information being displayed relates to a user-selected time; and the displayed advertisement is independent of the user-selected time.
67. A system for simultaneously displaying channel advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), the system comprising:

a memory for storing schedule information and advertising data;
a display; and a processor, wherein the system is configured to:

store schedule information in the memory for each of a plurality of programs, store in the memory at least one advertisement as part of the stored schedule information, and display on the display at least a portion of the stored program schedule information and at least one of the stored advertisements, wherein:

the at least a portion of the program schedule information and the at least one of the advertisements are displayed on the display as a plurality of row items, wherein the at least a portion of the program schedule information and the at least one of the advertisements are displayed on separate rows.
68. The system of claim 67, wherein at least one of the stored advertisements is stored as an address that links to the advertisement.
69. The system of claim 67, wherein:

at least one of the stored advertisements is associated with at least one of the plurality of programs, and the system is further configured to display the at least one of the stored advertisements and the program schedule information of the program associated therewith in adjacent row items in the plurality of row items.
70. The system of claim 69, wherein the association between the at least one of the stored advertisements and the at least one of the plurality of programs is based on the scheduled time of the program.
71. The system of claim 69, wherein the association between the at least one of the stored advertisements and the at least one of the plurality of programs is based on sponsorship of the scheduled program.
72. The system of claim 67, wherein at least one of the displayed advertisements is interactive.
73. The system of claim 67, wherein at least one of the displayed advertisements relates to a service or a product.
74. The system of claim 67, wherein the system is further configured to:

highlight a row of a displayed program schedule information item with a cursor;

display a detail window in a second area of the display; and display, in the second area of the screen, information relating to the displayed program schedule information item that was highlighted.
75. The system of claim 67, wherein the system is further configured to:
highlight a row of a displayed advertisement with a cursor;
display a detail window in a second area of the display; and display, in the second area of the screen, information relating to the displayed advertisement that was highlighted.
76. The system of claim 67, wherein:

the portion of the stored program schedule information being displayed relates to a user-selected time, and the displayed advertisement is independent of the user-selected time.
77. Apparatus for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide, comprising:

a memory for storing electronic program guide (EPG) data and advertising data;

a display monitor having a screen;

means for accessing the memory to recover EPG data corresponding to a number of television programs and an address for linking the advertising data with the recovered EPG data;

means for displaying the recovered EPG data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each television program listing being displayed in a separate line;

means for accessing the memory to recover the advertising data according to the recovered address; and means for displaying the recovered advertising data in a separate line on the screen with the television program listings.
78. Apparatus as claimed in claim 77, in which the advertising data is displayed as an insert instead of one of the television program listings.
79. The apparatus of claim 77, in which the EPG data is displayed in a first area of the screen, the apparatus additionally comprising:

means for highlighting one of the lines of EPG data on the screen with a cursor;

means for displaying a detail window in a second area of the screen;
and means for inserting a description of the television program listing highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
80. The apparatus of claim 79, additionally comprising:

means for highlighting the advertising data on the screen with a cursor;
and means for inserting information relating to the advertising data highlighted by the cursor in the second area.
81. A method for displaying advertisements in an electronic program guide, comprising:

storing in memory electronic program guide (EPG) data and advertising data;

accessing the memory to recover the EPG data corresponding to a number of television programs and an address for advertising data for linking the advertising data with the recovered EPG data;

displaying the recovered EPG data on the screen in lines of television program listings, each television program listing being displayed in a separate line;

accessing the memory to recover the advertising data according to the recovered address; and displaying the recovered advertising data in a separate line on the screen with the television program listings.
82. A method as claimed in claim 81 in which the advertising data is displayed as an insert instead of one of the television program listings.
CA2275720A 1996-12-19 1997-12-19 Epg with advertising inserts Expired - Lifetime CA2275720C (en)

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US3478496P 1996-12-19 1996-12-19
US60/034,784 1996-12-19
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CA (3) CA2844582A1 (en)
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