Systems and methods for electronic program guide data services

No: 7484233
Numero de solicitud: 11093634
Fecha archivado: 2005-03-30
Fecha emision: 2009-01-27
Tipo: B2
Demandas: 20
Hojas de dibujos: 3
Resumen: EPG services are provided, which enables a device such as a computer, a set top box or the like to collect EPG data from multiple EPG data providers or sources. The EPG data is collected at the device by EPG loaders. Each EPG loader collects EPG data from a particular source. The EPG loaders deliver the EPG data to a writer module, which performs scaling and formatting functions to the EPG data. The writer module also stores the scaled and formatted EPG data in a database or other storage. Once stored, applications gain access to the EPG data through a control module. The writer module may also be implemented by chaining EPG loaders in a priority scheme. However, EPG loader interaction reduces independence and forces more rigid interface and implementation constraints upon the design of EPG loaders. The control module provides the accessed EPG data to the applications. EPG services function to isolate the operation of the applications from the EPG data sources. Because the EPG data is stored by the writer module and accessed by the control module, the applications and EPG data sources can change independently of one another without having an effect on the ability of EPG services to collect and provide access to EPG data.
Clases de Estados Unidos:
	No:725 - Interactive video distribution systems  / No:39 - Electronic program guide
	No:725 - Interactive video distribution systems  / No:47 - User customization of display content
	No:725 - Interactive video distribution systems  / No:49 - Combined at local receiver
Inventores:
	Pietraszak Michael E.  (7)
	Fries Robert M.  (10)
	Gibson Robert S. T.  (3)
	Wray Jonathan A.  (3)
Examinador principal: Kelley Christopher
Ayundate de examinador: Sheleheda James
Agentes:
	Workman Nydegger (ORG)  (2005)
Cesionarios:
	Microsoft Corporation (ORG)  (6625)
Campo de busqueda:
	No:37 - OPERATOR INTERFACE
	No: 45 Interactive video distribution systems
	No: 47 Interactive video distribution systems
	No: 46 Interactive video distribution systems
	No: 50 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:48.49 Interactive video distribution systems
	No: 49 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:457 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:458 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:465 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:470 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:471 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:472 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:473 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:474 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:450 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:451 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:452 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:453 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:454 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:467 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:468 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:469 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:475 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:476 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:477 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:478 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:479 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:480 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:481 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:482 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:483 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:484 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:485 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:486 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:488 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:489 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:490 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:491 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:492 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:493 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:494 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:495 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:496 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:497 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:498 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:499 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:484.9 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:487 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:455 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:456 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:459 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:460 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:461 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:462 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:463 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:464 Interactive video distribution systems
	No: 5 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:466 Interactive video distribution systems
	No: 48 Interactive video distribution systems
	No:46 - Based on personal preference, profile, or viewing history (e.g., to produce redacted listing)
	No:50 - Information updating
	No:49 - Combined at local receiver
	No:5 - Payment method or scheme
	No:47 - User customization of display content
	No:48 - Combined from plural information providers (e.g., combined terrestrial and satellite sources)
	No:39 - Electronic program guide
Documentos extranjeros:
	751655 / 1997-01-31
	2212356 / 1989-06-30 / United Kingdom
	WO97/48228 / 1997-11-30
Otras referencias:
	Office Action dated Jul. 11, 2008 cited in related U.S. Appl. No. 11/046,970.
	Firesmith, Donald, “An Expanded View of Messages”, ACM Press, New York, NY vol. 4, issue 3 (Jul. 1993), p. 2-5.
Referencias:
	5550576 - Method and apparatus for merging television program schedule information received from multiple television schedule information sources
	5557724 - User interface, method, and apparatus selecting and playing channels having video, audio, and/or text streams
	5635989 - Method and apparatus for sorting and searching a television program guide
	5684525 - Merging multi-source information in a television system
	5818935 - Internet enhanced video system
	5850218 - Inter-active program guide with default selection control
	5880768 - Interactive program guide systems and processes
	5883677 - Method and apparatus for managing multiple outside video service providers
	5990883 - Unified presentation of programming from different physical sources
	6075570 - Electronic program guide system and electronic guide displaying method
	6133910 - Apparatus and method for integrating a plurality of video sources
	6157411 - Method and apparatus for compiling a repository of entertainment system data from multiple sources
	6216134 - Method and system for visualization of clusters and classifications
	6246442 - Apparatus for displaying information arranged in cells
	6442756 - System and method for transporting, processing, storing and displaying EIT and EPG information in a television system context
	6536041 - Program guide system with real-time data sources
	6577350 - Method and apparatus for displaying an electronic program guide
	6904609 - Systems and methods for electronic program guide data services
	6990677 - Application program interfaces for electronic program guide data services