ES2199449T3 - METHOD FOR NAVIGATING IN A GUIDE OF TELEVISION PROGRAMS WITH ADVERTISING. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for navigating in a guide of interactive television programs on screen, comprising the steps of: collecting data from the viewer's profile; select an ad based on viewer profile data; display a list of television programs (22) vertically in a first area of a screen (10) of a presentation monitor; display the selected ad in a second area (14, 16) of the screen located horizontally adjacent to the first area; move a screen course (36) vertically to overlight one of the television programs in the first area; and move the cursor horizontally from the first area to the second area to overlight the ad.

Description

Method to navigate a program guide Television with advertising.

Field of the Invention

The present invention is related in general with television systems, and more particularly with the presentation and recording control interface of programs television, video, advertising information and information Programming program

Background of the invention

Television viewers have analyzed historically the information provided by the guides of television program programming, to select the programs to watch. Historically, the programming guides of television shows have been listing the programs of television available according to the day of the week, time of day, Channel and program title. Historically, they were only Programming guides available for Television in print. More recently, as stated in U.S. Patent Levine number 4908713, the guides of TV shows have become available in format electronic. The most primitive versions of electronic guides of on-screen programs ("EPG") were supplied for storing scheduled program information in a electronic memory connected to the television receiver, and that it was generally provided for screen formatting and presentation of program programming information on the TV screen. EPG guides overlapped typically about television programming. Additionally, interaction capabilities with the viewer in the first EPG guides were extremely limited.

Later EPG guides provided improvements of interaction of the viewer with respect to the EPG guide, and they provided a presentation of Image-in-the-Guide ("PIG") of the television program simultaneously with the EPG guide presentation. The international application number PCT / US95 / 11173 (international publication number WO96 / 07270), WO-97/49242 was published after the oldest priority claim of the present application, and exposes a television programming system that includes a program guide that has an information area of the programming.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is set forth in the independent claim 1. Some optional features are set forth in the dependent claims.

The present invention is an improvement of the guides Previous EPG because it provides among other things:

Enhanced interaction capabilities of the viewer with the EPG guide;

Improved control of the viewer of the Video recording of the programming programmed for the future;

Enhanced features of the presentation of the EPG and navigation guide in it;

Parental control of the guide presentation EPG;

Improved access to program information for television for the viewer;

Improved opportunities for the advertiser commercial to reach the viewer;

Improved product information access for the viewer;

Creation of a viewer profile;

Use of the profile information of the viewer to customize the different aspects of the guide EPG; and

Use of the profile information of the viewer to provide a personalized presentation of advertising towards the viewer.

Description of the drawings

These and other characteristics, aspects and advantages of the present invention will come to be understood better with respect to the following description, claims attached, and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a graphic representation of a presentation of a sample screen of the EPG guide.

Figure 2 is a drawing of a part of the remote control device that shows the keys of the different activation functions of the EPG.

Figure 3 is a graphic representation of a presentation of the sample EPG on the screen, which describes the Grill Guide on the screen of the EPG guide in the Programming offset

Figures 4a and 4b are a representation graph of a presentation of the EPG guide of a sample in screen, which describes the Grill Guide on the EPG screen in channel scroll mode.

Figure 5 is a graphic representation of a presentation of the sample EPG on the screen describing the EPG in the vision programming function.

Figure 6 is a graphic representation of a presentation of the sample EPG on the screen, which describes the EPG Guide Vision / Recording Programming screen.

Figure 7 is a graphic representation of a EPG presentation of sample on screen describing the Top-level screen presentation of the guide EPG

Figure 8 is a graphic representation of a presentation of the on-screen sample EPG guide describing the display of the second level topics screen of the EPG guide.

Figure 9 is a graphic representation of a presentation of the on-screen sample EPG guide describing the EPG guide channel guide function.

Figures 10a and 10b are representations graphs of the EPG guide presentations of samples of screens that describe an embodiment of the feature of submit additional information concerning the subject subject of a Overlit panel advertising window.

Detailed description of the invention

The presentation of the international application WO96 / 07270, published on March 7, 1996 is incorporated here in its totality as a reference. The present invention is an improvement of the electronic program guide (EPG) exposed there. The device set forth in the reference PCT request is used to generate the screen presentations described below.

In figure 1 of the drawings, a realization of the EPG guide with an advertising window and advertising messages In Figure 1, a presentation is shown of television screen 10. Presentation 10 could be generated by a conventional television receiver with lines of interlaced scanning, using a VCR, by a PC monitor with progressive scan lines, or by another type of device Video presentation In the upper left corner of the screen is a PIP window (image within an image) 12. Beneath the advantage 12 are the windows of panel advertising 14, and 16 ("Advertising windows"). The windows 12, 14, and 16 each typically occupy about 1/9 of the total screen area. The rest of the screen area is typically occupied (moving from the top to the bottom of the screen) by an action key bar 18, a navigation bar 20, a grill guide 22 ("guide grill "), and an information box 24 (area of "detailed information").

In figure 2 of the drawings, a realization of a remote controller 26 to activate the functions from screen 10. Remote controller 26 might have other keys to activate the functions of a video device user, such as a television receiver, a VCR, or a box of Cable TV. The remote control 26 has the keys above, bottom, right and left 28, 30, 32 and 34, respectively, to control the movement of cursor 36 on screen 10. The cursor 36 you can select, that is, overlight, any of the windows 12, 14 or 16, by pressing the keys arrow 28 to 34, any of the titles in the Grill Guide 22, by pressing arrow keys 32 and 34, or the navigation bar 20 by pressing the arrow keys 32 and 34. The windows 12, 14, and 16 are illuminated by adding a flange around the window or by changing the color of the flange, If the flange is permanent. Titles and channels in the Guide of Grill 22 and navigation bar 20 are illuminated By changing the color.

Window overlight and / or User selections from the Grill Guide and / or the Navigation EPG display components They can be carried out in several different ways. For example, him box of a selected window, or the Grill Guide selected or the navigation component, can be made that appear with flickering effect. Another way to overlight a viewer selection is to make the selected window or function appears as brighter than the rest of the presentation from the screen. Another way even to overlight a The viewer's selection is to blur all the parts of the screen, except the component selected by the viewer. Another way to even illuminate a selection of the viewer is to make all parts of the presentation on screen, except the component selected by the viewer, appear transparent. Another way even for to illuminate a viewer's selection is to add a animation to the selected component. When one is selected part of the EPG, the system issues on-screen orders of type graphic to the screen controller (OSD), to implement one or more desired improvement techniques.

The viewer enters Guide Mode illustrated in figure 1, by pressing a key "guide" 35 and return to Full Screen Television Mode by pressing key 35 again, or by pressing of the "selection" key. The television show on real time is presented in window 12. A translucent overlay PIP Window 12 can display the title, channel (number local and / or station name), and status (blocked or unlocked) from window 12 of the television show, from so that the viewer can still see the image complete.

The PIP Window may be locked or unlocked The "lock / unlock" function is User controlled. To lock or unlock the Window PIP, the viewer can use the PIP button on the remote control device, or you can overlight and press the EPG Lock / Unlock action button. The state of Lock / unlock is recorded and maintained until the status is Zero replacement by the viewer. That is, the state of Lock / unlock the PIP Window in the EPG guide is maintained when the viewer leaves the Guide and then returns to enter the Guide, including when the viewer turns off the TV. If the viewer selects the status "lock", the last channel to which the tuner was tuned in the PIP Window it will continue to be displayed regardless of the actions exercised by the viewer. In the state of unlocked, the channel illuminated by cursor 36 in the Guide of Grill 22 will be displayed if the Grill Guide is viewing the programs broadcast in progress and the last channel issued recently in progress that was overlit will be displayed If the Grill Guide is presenting future programs.

There are generally three ways to abandon the Guide, depending on the way the viewer leaves the Guide. If the viewer, while in the EPG, you want to see in full screen mode the program shown in the PIP window, then the viewer can press the Guide on the remote control device. If the viewer, while in EPG, it illuminates a particular channel in the Grill Guide, and then press the "selection", the viewer will leave the Guide to see in the full screen mode the television show that the viewer overlit in the Guide. If the viewer, while in the EPG guide, press the "delete" button or "cancel" on the remote control device, then the viewer will leave the Guide and return to the television program that the viewer was watching immediately before entering in the guide.

Typically, in window 14 a Announcement for a program to be broadcast in the future. This anouncement is linked to the program time and channel in RAM, so that the viewer can watch or record the program automatically, by pressing the blue left button of action to watch the program, or the right green action button to  Record the program.

Typically, in window 16 a announcement of a product or service. This ad is linked to more information about the product or service in RAM, of so that the viewer can read one or more pages on the product or service in window 16, by pressing the "info" key 40 in one or more times. Alternatively this ad is linked to the time and channel in RAM, in which An announcement of information about the product or service will be broadcast, so that the viewer can see or record the ad Commercial information automatically by pressing of the "selection" key 42.

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

From window 12, 14 or 16, the viewer will move the grill guide 22 by pressing the arrow key 32. (From grill guide 22 on viewer moves to window 12, 14 or 16 using the press the arrow key 34). In the grill guide 22 the viewer moves cursor 36 to overlight one of the nine cells in which the channel and the title are visualized, with the pressing the arrow keys 28 and 30. The viewer can see the listings of the programs that are scheduled for future hours by pressing keys 32 or 34 to move horizontally around the grill.

From grill guide 22, the viewer scroll to the navigation bar 20 by pressing the arrow 28. Initially, the central button lights. For overlight a different button, press arrow key 32 or 34. To enter the screen represented by the button overlit, the "selection" key 42 is pressed.

The grill guide 22 shows the details about the program represented by the cell Overlit If more information is available, this fact is indicated by an icon and this information is displayed on the area occupied by grill guide 22, instead of the guide of the grill by pressing the "info" key 40. To return to the grill guide, press the key again "info" 40. After pressing an action button or you have activated navigation bar 20, the message from instructions can be replaced by program information in the information box 24.

In addition to the cells that represent the television programs, a virtual channel can be viewed on the grill guide 22 in cell 52. The announcement of the channel virtual can promote, for example, a television show In progress or future. Said announcement of the virtual channel of a program television is linked to the time and the program channel in RAM, so that the viewer can see or record the program automatically by pressing the "selection" key 42 as described in the memory of reference. More than one virtual channel can be stored in the RAM, but preferably only one is displayed weather.

Reference is made to memory v1.42stv of the TV Guide Plus + 98 user interface, attached here as Appendix A, whose exposure is incorporated as a reference to fully exposed here, for further description of the invention.

An embodiment of the hardware of this invention includes a circuit board comprising a matrix of doors which provides all control functions for access using the processor (for example, Motorola 68000), controlling the memory (dynamic RAM and external ROM), and some functions peripherals such as infrared input and output ("IR"), frequency synthesizer for the system paging, and data acquisition for the paging system. Inside there is a module to create an on-screen presentation, including a programmable DMA controller (direct access to memory), a color query table that provides a field called as index of colors, which can be used to select a more complicated color (more bits that can expressed in the bitmap), memory of type "first in enter, first out "(" FIFO "), for the order of pixels (which allows the system to write the pixels so fast as the system is able to write the pixels and send the pixels to the screen, according to the synchronization of default time Included in this chip is a time synchronization subsystem that generates several signals of synchronization of different times of variable frequency, from time measurement clocks of milliseconds, and for interruptions Synchronization signals for the monitor television are also generated by the subsystem of internal synchronization The system also typically includes circuits for functions including but not limited to: data receiver, memory controller, interface time synchronization with the processor, data deinterlacing, error correction and synchronous time synchronization generator with horizontal and vertical counters.

Another feature of an embodiment of EPG system hardware is that the hardware in the list of presentation is capable of video input and output in it DMA hardware The presentation processor is composed of a video section and a FIFO memory section such as a ASIC device The system has multiple clocks. The memory of screen has the ability to store 8 screen cells in A horizontal plane.

More details of the following improvements in an EPG:

A. Improved capabilities of the interaction of viewer with the EPG guide, including:

1.

A variety of operational modes

two.

Remote interfaces of the Joystick (control lever) and trackball viewer (track ball).

3.

Mechanisms of on-screen control of the context-sensitive EPG guide.

Four.

Schedule of viewed.

5.

Guide Forming "all channel", formed by channel guide and channel guide "next / previous".

B. Improved control of the viewer of the Video recording of the programming scheduled for the future, including:

Recording program displayed in the window PIP

Recording "regularly",

Re-execution filter of the recording function for recorded programs "regularly".

1.

Instruction of Jump from the recording.

two.

Update of the automatic recording list.

3.

Disc burning of recordable digital video.

Four.

Tape capacity velocity sensitive

5.

Resolution of recording instruction conflict.

6.

Guide Recording of topics.

C. Characteristic improvements in the presentation of EPG and navigation, including:

1.

Email (e-mail)

two.

Multiple "windows" viewable.

3.

Screen effects Translucent type.

Four.

Notifications in screen.

5.

Navigation bar of topics.

6.

Displacement enhanced through EPG guidance and scrolling soft.

7.

Function of "jump" in the EPG.

8.

Coding by theme colors of program programming.

9.

Controllable number of the programming days.

D. Parental control of the presentation in EPG guide screen;

E. Improved access to information on television programs by the viewer, including:

1.

Intervals of virtual channel ads and program ads in the Window  Advertising.

two.

information Additional detailed for viewer access including Internet link.

F. Improved opportunities for the publicist of Ads to reach the viewer, including:

1.

Video clips related to the products in the Advertising Window and Commercial information recording.

two.

Recording of it related to the programs in the Advertising Window.

3.

Ads in the panel.

Four.

Intervals of virtual channel ads.

5.

Advertisements inserted.

6.

Ads in fullscreen.

7.

Viewing channel automatic

8.

Functions of advertisements.

G. Improved access to product information by the viewer, including:

1.

Detail of Product in the Advertising Window.

two.

Recording of it related to the product in the Advertising Window.

3.

Recording of it related to the product in the Advertising Window.

H. Creation of the viewer's profile, including:

1.

Pick up from viewer profile information.

two.

Analysis and characterization of the profile information of the viewer.

I. Use of the profile information of the viewer to customize the different aspects of the EPG: and

J. Use of the profile information of the viewer to provide personalized presentation of publicity to the viewer.

A. Improved viewer interaction capabilities with the EPG guides. 1. Variety of operating modes

Under the improved system of EPG guides, there are multiple ways in which the viewer can Operate on the TV.

to. TV mode

In Television Mode, the viewer view a full screen presentation of the schedule of television video. In one embodiment, in order to enter the EPG guide, the viewer presses the "Guide" key on the remote control device of the viewer. In other realization, the default mode is the Grill Guide of the EPG In the case where the EPG Grill Guide is the mode by default, when the viewer turns on the television, the first thing the viewer sees is the EPG in the Mode of Grill, as described in more detail below. In a realization, according to the viewer's option, according to identify in the EPG configuration procedure, the viewer can skip the default mode of the Guide EPG grill, by selecting enter automatically in Television Mode when the viewer turns on First the television. During the procedures of configuration, the viewer can also give orders to the EPG to automatically tune in to the last viewed channel as identified when the viewer finally turned off the TV. The viewer can also give orders to the EPG guide to automatically tune to the favorite channel of the viewer, as can be deduced from the analysis of the information of the viewer profile, described below. Alternatively, the viewer can order the EPG guide to tune in automatically a particular channel, for example, a channel of news such as CNN.

b. EPG grill guide mode

In the EPG Grill Guide Mode, the EPG presents the Grill Guide, or in an alternative, a Channel Guide. The viewer may request that the Guide of the Grill occupies the full screen, and is presented on a part of the screen as an overlap of programming video television, or in the preferred embodiment, which occupies only part of the screen, typically 2/3 of the screen complete, while the programming of Television in the PIP Window of the screen. In the realization preferred, multiple windows are displayed by the viewer, as described further below, including at least: the Grill Guide Window / EPG, the PIP Window, and the Advertising Window.

Scrolling through the Guide is described later. The viewer can press the "Menu" on the remote control device to go to the part Top of the Guide.

The viewer can return to the screen full of several television video programming shapes. One way is to press the "Guide" key on the remote control device of the viewer. Another way is press the "selection" key on the control device remote viewer when cursor / overlight on display is lighting up a list of programs in particular in the Program Guide, for a program that is Available for viewing in real time. Another way is press the "last channel" key on the device remote control of the viewer to return to the program that I was watching the viewer before entering the Guide, or the last program in which the PIP window was locked (an option which is discussed below).

1.) Role of the topic guide

The EPG provides the different Theme Guides, for example, sports, movies, news, etc. Each Guide of Topics presents listings of programs associated with a topic in particular, for example, all sports programs. He Presentation format of the Theme Guide only displays the program listings, and consequently channels, for certain hours of the day, with the appropriate content for the topic selected. For example, the Sports Themes Guide will display, typically in the order of programming, only the listings of channels that incorporate sports programs that are scheduled for a certain period of time, for example, 48 hours, 8 days, etc.

2.) Recording selection function

In the recording selection function, also called Recording Function, the viewer gives orders to the EPG guide of the programs to be added to the List of Recording, which is the list of programs and information on related programming, for the programs that the viewer You want to have engravings. As further described further forward, the viewer can identify the frequency / regularity with which the viewer records each program listed on the Recording List.

The viewer can enter the Function of Recording in various ways. The viewer can press the key of "Record", if any, on the control device remote viewer Alternatively, the viewer can press an "Record" action button on the screen of the EPG guide.

3.) Vision programming function

In the Vision Programming function, also referred to as Vision Function, the viewer gives instructions to the EPG guide of the programs that have to be added to the Vision List, which is the list of programs and related programming information of the programs that the Viewer wants to see. As described below, the viewer can identify the frequency / regularity with the that the viewer wants to see each of the programs listed in the Vision List.

The viewer can enter the Function of Vision in several ways. The viewer can press the "Vision", if any, on the control device remote viewer Alternatively, the viewer can "press" the "Vision" action button on the screen the EPG guide.

4.) Data download function

In some embodiments, the data of the EPG guide programming, and / or supplementary information relevant program listings, and / or data from advertising, can be downloaded in the memory resident in the TV system of the viewer. In the realization preferred data download, the viewer will ask the EPG guide locating certain types of available information; the EPG guide will use an index of where to locate the information, and automatically connect to the appropriate data source and Download the information. Guide programming data EPG, and / or relevant supplementary information from the listings of the programs, and / or advertising data, can be downloaded from Various sources In one embodiment, the data is downloaded from Internet. In other embodiments of the data download system, the viewer is asked to tune into a channel in particular at a particular time, if the viewer is interested in accessing and downloading particular types of information.

c. Internet mode

Not all embodiments require that data are downloaded to the EPG guide memory. In a realization, EPG guide programming data, data supplementary and / or advertising data and software to format, display and navigate the programming data of the EPG guide, you have access to supplementary data and / or advertising data by the television system of the viewer through a direct link between the television system of the viewer and Internet.

In one embodiment of the direct link previously described to the Internet, the television of the viewer is connected to the Internet by telephone line or through a modem, via cable modem, by another device Bilateral communication, including communication devices by wireless modem and by other conventional methods of Internet communication. The website address of Initial connection can be supplied, for example, through the information transmitted to the television of the viewer to through the vertical erase interval ("VBI"). He viewer can also be provided with a selection of Multiple Internet Web sites of EPG guides. He viewer can use the remote control device to select one of the Internet Web sites from the guides EPG

The television system of the viewer is programmed to emulate computer online access to Internet, Once the connection between the system has been made television viewer and Internet, the user has the Bilateral communication with the Internet service provider online information related to EPG guides. The user  You can then browse through the EPG guide. Additionally, in an embodiment, in which the interface of the keyboard, the user can then enter chat conferences or in other interactive services.

2. Remote interface of the joystick viewer (lever control) and a trackball (trackball)

The video interface (UI) of the viewer Includes the remote control device and the presentation of The television monitor screen. In an embodiment of the present invention, an improvement in the UI offered by the present invention is the use of a joystick (control lever) as a substitute for remote control device configuration traditional of a circle of four arrow keys (above, bottom, left and right) with a selection key in the center. The interface (UI) of the joystick (control lever) provides a User friendly interface of the EPG guide. The use of Joystick is intuitive. The viewer / user does not have to look on the remote control once the viewer's finger Contact the remote control joystick. Consequently, the viewer can control the UI while simultaneously watching The presentation screen without interruption.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a memo in the UI offered by the present invention is the use of a trackball as a substitute for the configuration of the traditional remote control device of a four-key circle (4) (up, down, left and right) with a selection key in the center.

In both embodiments of the trackball (ball of tracking) and the joystick (control lever), there is a "cursor" on screen. The viewer uses the device Trackball remote control or joystick to navigate with the cursor to any point on the screen, the same as a PC user navigates with the cursor in a terminal window of PC.

3. Sensitive EPG on-screen control mechanisms to the context

The "keys", "buttons", "bars" of menus, and other devices of visual control mechanisms are They are presented on the screen for the control of the EPG guide. Typically, the devices of the visual control mechanisms They are sensitive to user interaction. Typically, the viewer uses the remote control device of the user interface (UI) to overlight a device particular screen control. Typically, the viewer then use the UI remote control device to select the on-screen control device Overlit

In an embodiment of the present invention, the constantly positioned on-screen control devices They are context sensitive. That is, a particular button can be displayed consistently on each screen of the EPG guide in the same position and with the same color, from one screen to the following. With sensitive control devices contextually, even though the control device in screen have the same appearance and placement of a screen to the next one, and from one way to the next, the button has a different function, and if selected, will provide a result different, depending on the screen on which the button appears. In  one embodiment, the function of the on-screen control device It is described verbatim below the control device, or if the control device is large enough, in the face of the control device.

For example, in one embodiment, as shown in figures 3, 4a and b, 5 and 6, the EPG guide has two buttons at the top of given one of the four screens shown. On each of the four different screens, the left button Superior has a different function. (As referred to in this request, the "left" and "right" addresses are refer to the left and right of the viewer, respectively). Figure 3 shows the Grill Guide in EPG guide screen in the scrolling mode of the programming. In figure 3, the left viewer button It is described as "Vision." Figures 4a and 4b show the Grill Guide on screen of the EPG guide on the Channel displacement. In figures 4a and 4b, the button The viewer's left is a toggle button, alternatively described as "Lock" and "Unlock." Figure 5 shows the EPG in the programming function of view. In figure 5, the left viewer button is described as "Cancel". Figure 6 shows the screen of Programming Vision / Recording of the EPG guide. In figure 6 the left viewer button is described as "Remove".

4. Vision programming

The EPG guide provides the viewer with the opportunity to select program titles, scheduled for its delivery in future hours, for viewing. By means of the selection of program titles, the viewer build a "list to display". The options listed to display and instructions provide functionality parallel to the recording function of the EPG guide. Instead of Automatically record the selected programs, the function of Vision automatically turns on the TV, if it is not already on, and automatically tunes the TV to the channel programmed to supply the designated program, if television It is no longer tuned to that channel. This function provides the viewer the opportunity to see a program of special interest at the scheduled time, even if the viewer has forgotten the scheduled supply. This function will also provide the parental selection of the vision of programs for children.

The viewer can enter the Function of Vision Programming in several ways. The viewer can Enter the Vision Programming Function using the selection of this function from the EPG guide menu. He viewer can also enter the Programming Function of Vision by overlighting an Advertising Window that displays an ad for a program scheduled for the future or a Virtual Channel Advertising Interval that displays a announcement of a program scheduled for the future (both systems are described in this application).

The viewer can designate any program in the Vision List as a program that the Viewer wants to watch regularly. In one embodiment, if the viewer introduces the Vision Programming Function by overlighting an Advertising Window or Virtual Channel Time Interval, then if the viewer select the designate the program to be watched "regularly", the designation expires after a certain amount of time if the publicist interrupts the execution of the ad. The planned termination is an incentive for advertisers To renew your ads.

5. Format of the "All Channels" Guide, Channel Guide format, and Channel Guide "Next" / "Previous"

The viewer can choose to see the Guide the Grill in a "all channels" format, which View each channel and program listings in a certain order already in progress or scheduled to start at a certain time in the future. In the "all channels" format, the viewer move the listings for each channel up and down, and left to right and right to left to see listings for a channel scheduled for different times during the day. Typically, the leftmost part of the guide begins with the programs programmed more previously, and continues towards the serial right through scheduled listings for hours later during the day.

As an alternative, the viewer can select the watch the programs programmed for a channel to a time (a "Channel Guide"). In this format, the viewer  scrolls up and down in the listings for a Only channel as scheduled for different times of the day. Typically, the "top" of the Channel Guide starts with the oldest scheduled program and continues on series through listings scheduled for later hours during the day. Figure 9 is a graphic representation of a shows in the presentation of the on-screen EPG guide, which shows the function of the Channel Guide of the EPG guide.

In the "Channel guide" format, the viewer can see the Channel Guide for the "channel next "and for the" previous "channel. In one embodiment, the Channels Guide "Next" and "Previous" is an option of EPG guide menus, action buttons and taskbars. In another embodiment, the remote control device of the viewer provides the "Next" and "Previous" of the Channel Guide. In another embodiment, the viewer uses the up and down arrow keys, to navigate to the next or previous Channel Guides.

B. Improved viewer control for recording Video programming planned for the future 1. Recording of the program displayed in the PIP window (picture in picture)

As discussed in more detail below, The EPG guide provides multiple "windows." A window presents the program tuned in progress. When the viewer Enter EPG guide from TV mode, the PIP window is "overlit". In one embodiment, the overlight of the PIP window is carried out by changing the color of the border around the PIP window. While the PIP window is overlit, the viewer can give orders to the EPG guide to record the program presented. In one embodiment, the viewer records the program presented in the PIP window overlit by pressing the record button on the remote control device of the viewer.

2. Option to record "regularly"

An embodiment of the present invention gives the viewer the option to record a program in particular "regularly". The "regularly" option It can be selected when the viewer overlights a title of a particular program in the Grill Guide of the EPG The viewer's selection of the option "regularly" orders the VCR control system of record the particular title on the selected channel in the selected time interval on any day of the week in That program is broadcast. If the issuance of the selected title It is advanced by another program, the new program is not recorded. He Change in broadcast programming is determined by the comparison of the selected program title with the title of the program actually broadcast. In an embodiment of the invention, assumes that the title of the broadcast program is really supported in the vertical erase interval of the television signal. When the viewer has instructed the EPG guide of "regularly" record a particular program, if the program  selected is advanced by another program, the program Advancement is not recorded and the EPG guide displays a message notifying to the viewer that the selected program was advanced and that It is not recorded.

3. Recording filter of the recording function for the programs recorded "regularly"

The EPG guide is able to detect the repetitions The identification of the program as a repetition can be carried out in the VBI (vertical erase interval) of the broadcast program In another embodiment, the information of Repeat ID is available in the detail of the Program. In one embodiment of the Recording Function, when the viewer selects the recording option of "Record", The viewer is given the option to filter the reps. Yes the viewer selects the repeat filter option, then each time the programming of the program is carried out on a regular basis, the EPG guide determines if the episode of the program Supply is identified or not as a repetition. If he episode is a repeat, and if the viewer has selected the repeat filter option for said program title, Then the EPG guide will not record the episode.

4. Skip the recording instruction

In the recording function of the EPG guide, the viewer selects title of a program for recording. Once the program has been selected, the viewer if you select the programming option of the recording. The viewer can select the options of Una Once, Daily, Weekly or Regularly, as an option of recording schedule. If the viewer has selected the daily recording option within the Journal options, Weekly or Regularly, one embodiment allows the viewer skip the program recording once. Jump instruction One time would result in the EPG guide not recording the title of the program, even though the recording instruction for that program it would remain in the list of recordings.

In the recording function of the EPG guide, the viewer can change the instruction selection of jump for all the programs on the Recording List, or for the programs selected in the Recording List. This function could be used by the viewer when leaving holidays. The programs remain on the Recording List. According the viewer option, the viewer can deactivate the skip option for all programs in the Recording List, or for the programs selected in the Recording List.

5. Automatic update of the recording list

In the EPG Guide Recording function, the EPG guide will detect changes in program programming as compared to the recording instructions for titles of the particular programs designated for the recording. In one embodiment, when the EPG guide detects the Program programming changes, the Recording List is automatically updated with the change information of the programming. For example, if a sporting event is prolonged in your run a longer time than the originally scheduled time, a schedule update information package can be transmitted through the VBI (vertical erase interval) that  update the time of the programs scheduled to be broadcast After the sporting event. The EPG guide detects the programming updates on the VBI, and update the list recording to allow the recording of any programs Follow the sports program to record as appropriate.

6. Recording on recordable digital video discs

The viewer can give orders to the EPG guide to record programs on recordable Digital Video Discs (DVD). Due to the extended storage capacity of the DVD, the viewer can instruct the EPG guide to that record and index an extended programming period. By For example, the viewer can instruct the EPG guide to record and index, for example, 4 hours of news broadcasts from CNN When the viewer is ready to see the DVD recording, the EPG guide displays the DVD index on the screen. The viewer can then select the view either from the complete DVD, or only from those parts of the recording in which the viewer is interested.

In one embodiment, level indexing is created of programs of the recorded programs. In another embodiment, it create indexing of programs internally by use of the information transmitted in the VBI of the video transmitted. In this embodiment, a CNN recording would show  probably index breakdowns that included such topics as "International News", "National News", "Sports", "Entertainment", "Business and Finance", and the weather".

In another embodiment even, the internal indexing It is created using a certain constant time interval. The index shows the start and end time interval, and the Extracts of audio content.

In another embodiment even, the software indexing analyzes the audio content of the recorded program ("Content Analysis Program"). This is typically a  addition to the use of indexing breakdown information in its entirety transmitted in the program's VBI. The program of Content Analysis uses the recognition technology of the voice to analyze, among other things, variables such as: changes in advertisers, changes in tone, changes in speed, topical words, geographical places, words nouns The Content Analysis Program then creates a topic index in addition to the topic index above described

7. Speed sensitive belt capacity

The Recording Function of the EPG guide provides a Recording List that identifies the titles of the programs that the viewer has selected for his recording. The function of the capacity of the tape sensitive to the speed, use color coding to identify in a color the titles that would fit on a tape at a speed fast tape and to identify independently with another color, the titles that would fit on a tape at a low speed of the tape.

8. Resolution of the instruction conflict of recording

The recording function of the EPG guide recognizes conflicts in the viewer's recording instructions. In one embodiment, the EPG guide Recording function invites the viewer to resolve the conflict. For example, in the function Recording, the EPG guide will accept the instructions of the viewer to record a particular program. The EPG guide Compare the newly received recording instruction with the instructions incompletely executed until that time, or not yet executed in the Recording List. If the EPG guide detects an overlap in the date, time and duration between newly received instruction on the one hand and one or more of the Recording instructions remaining in the Recording List, the EPG guide formats a message for the viewer describing the conflict. The message describes the user the instruction just received to record a particular program and instructions recording conflict in the Recording List. In the function Recording, the EPG guide will prevent the entry of instructions from Conflict in the Recording List. The EPG guide will require that the viewer review the recording instructions to remove the  conflict. In one embodiment, if the EPG guide detects that a recording instruction belongs to a program to record "only once" that has conflict in the date, time and duration with a recording instruction to record a program "recorded regularly", the EPG guide would format a message on the screen that I would suggest to the viewer to solve the "one time" conflict. In another embodiment, the EPG guide "decides" to automatically cancel the "record" instruction regularly "and record the program" only once "without any intervention of the viewer.

One way to resolve a conflict of Recording instructions is to select the alternative to record only once the program to record. In an embodiment of the guide EPG, the viewer can overlight a program in particular in the EPG guide and request a list of all recordings of said program for the week. The viewer You can then instruct the EPG guide to record the program presence In an alternative embodiment, the viewer can see an alphabetical list of all programs of the week. The viewer can mark a program for View or record from the alphabetical list.

9. Recording from theme guides

The EPG guide provides several Theme Guides, for example, sports, movie, news, etc. When he viewer selects a particular Theme Guide, by example, the Sports Themes Guide, the viewer can give instructions to the EPG guide to record an event while found in the Themes Guide without having to leave the Guide Topics and move on to the Grill Guide. For example, in the Guide Sports Topics, the viewer gives instructions to the EPG guide to add a sports event to the Recording List by doing one click on the scoreboard for a sports event in individual and / or in the list of sports programs in the Guide Sports issues.

C. Improved features in the presentation and EPG guide navigation 1. Email (e-mail)

In the preferred embodiment, the EPG Guide acts as Internet / WWW interface. In the preferred embodiment, the viewer can access the Internet to send and receive mail electronic.

In another embodiment, the television terminal is independently addressable, and the header terminal control email traffic between viewers  in your network To facilitate bilateral transmission, a 900 number or a toll free number as a link. The mail electronic can be sent to the appropriate viewer through from the VBI (vertical erase interval) to the TV addressable independently of the viewer.

2. Multiple "windows" visible

The user interface (UI) of the EPG guide provides multiple visible "windows". A window presents the Grill Guide of the EPG guide. Another window presents the image in image (PIP) window on which View the tuned program in progress. Another window presents advertising information ("Advertising Window"). The Advertising can take the form of graphic and text information. Alternatively, advertising may have the form of presentation Of video. In one embodiment, the Advertising Windows are interactive

As the viewer enters the EPG guide from the television mode, the PIP window is illuminated. He viewer can block the PIP window. Blocking the window PIP allows the viewer to continue watching the program of television that is being displayed in the PIP window while the viewer moves through the Grill Guide EPG guide programs. Unlocking the PIP window makes the video of the overlit program title in the Guide to the Grill is displayed in the PIP window.

As discussed further below, the The viewer can also illuminate the Advertising Window. In doing so, the additional text describing the product be presented in the details box of the Guide of the EPG guide grill.

If the Advertising Window displays information about a particular product, pressing a record button will will instruct the EPG guide to record the commercial announcement, at a time that is scheduled for the future. Alternatively, the Advertising window can present information about a TV show scheduled for the future, or about a series of programs to be broadcast over a period of time. In that case, pressing a record button will instruct the guide EPG to record the program scheduled for the future. Alternatively, the viewer may designate the program for The Vision List.

In one embodiment, the viewer navigates from the Grill Guide to the PIP window by pressing the left arrow roof until the cursor / overlight reach to the PIP window. From the PIP window, the viewer use the right arrow key to return to the Guide of the Grill. In one embodiment, the offset from the PIP window  to the Grill Guide causes the cursor to move to the upper part of the Grill Guide. From the part top of the Grill Guide, pressing the key Up arrow moves the cursor to the navigation bar. The Guide EPG provides several possible destinations in the navigation bar, for example, information center, sports, news, configuration, help, etc.

From the PIP window, pressing the Down arrow moves the cursor to the Advertising Window.

The viewer can set by default, or allow by default the system to illuminate a destination in particular on the navigation bar, when the viewer enters  initially in the Grill Guide.

3. Translucency screen effects

In one embodiment, the EPG guide creates effects Translucency specials. To create the translucency effect, the system alternates the presentation format pixel by pixel, in which one pixel is the color of the overlap and the next pixel in transparent.

4. Notifications on screen

The EPG guide formats screen notifications for the viewer and present the notification to the viewer. Screen notifications can be used to alert to the viewer of several possible topics of information. By For example, the EPG guide can notify the viewer that the guide EPG will start recording a particular program within a certain period of time, for example 2 minutes. The recording notification could also ask the viewer the Switching to the cable box to record the program. If he viewer indicated that the viewer did not need the guide EPG will switch to the cable box to record the program, then the EPG Guide would remove the program from the recording list. Other an example would be to notify the viewer that a program that may be of interest (for example, as determined from viewer profile analysis) will be broadcast on another channel with a certain amount of time, for example, 2 minutes. The EPG guide I could ask then if the viewer needs to see the program on the other channel. If the viewer indicates that the viewer needs to watch the program on the other channel, then the EPG Guide will automatically tune to the other channel at the time appropriate. Alternatively, the EPG guide could ask the viewer if the viewer needs to record the program in the other channel, and could then record the program at the time appropriate if the viewer answered yes.

If the television is in television mode, the notification will be displayed on screen. The notification can be displayed in several ways, including: 1.) overlapping the fullscreen; 2.) a partial screen overlap; 3.) the Real-time program video is automatically changed to PIP format, and the notification is displayed outside the PIP window; 4.) Real-time program video is automatically changed to the PIP format, and the notification is displayed inside the window PIP; 5.) as a "watermark" at some point in the screen; 6.) a screen icon is displayed, which can "press" on the viewer using the keys navigation on the remote control device of the viewer; 7.) the video of the program is compressed slightly to be embedded in a certain percentage, for example, 90% at the top of the screen, and the notification is displayed as a message from horizontal scrolling at the bottom of the screen; 8.) the video of the program is compressed slightly to fit it in certain percentage, for example, of 90% at the bottom of the screen, and the notification is displayed as a scroll message horizontal at the top of the screen.

If the television is in a different mode In television mode, the EPG guide can notify the viewer through some modification of one of the formats described above. For example, if the television is in the Grill Guide mode in a PIP format, then the EPG guide could use any of format numbers 1.), 2.), 5.), 6.), 7.), 8.), or the EPG may notify the viewer by displaying the notification on the Advertising window, a virtual ad time slot, in the detailed information window, or in a message from horizontal displacement at the top or bottom of the screen.

5. Theme navigation bar

The presentation of topics is above from the Grill Guide. In one embodiment, the presentation of the Grill Guide provides an on-screen button "page up". In one embodiment, the presentation of the Grill Guide also provides a "menu" button. He  viewer can scroll to the top of the Guide the Grill by successively pressing the on-screen button from page up, or by "pressing" the button menu.

6. Improved displacement through the EPG guide and smooth scrolling

On the top-level screen of the EPG guide in Grill Guide mode, the viewer can jump directly to a future day of programming information future.

In one embodiment, the presentation of the Guide the Grill provides an on-screen "page" button up".

Programming information of the programs for a plurality of channels it is displayed on a screen of the EPG guide in Grill Guide mode. The titles are shortened for presentation in the Grill Guide to preserve space. The full title is available for the system and is displayed in the detailed description area of the Guide to the Grill when the viewer overlights a title in the Guide of the Grill of the corresponding list of programs. But the EPG guide shortens titles, according to a set of rules to shorten the titles, so that the titles fit into the programming cells of the Grill Guide.

The viewer can scroll up or down through program listings. While I know shifts, the titles are not stretched until the displacement. Said delay in the stretching of securities accelerates the process and makes the screen appearance less confusing. While scrolling, the cursor will not overlight the part top or bottom of the screen, unless the channel is found at the top or bottom of the cast of alignment. The absence of overlight will signal the viewer that more channels remain in the direction of displacement.

An additional improvement in the user interface of the EPG guide ("UI") is the development of "displacement soft ". When the cursor reaches the second cell from the background, and a new cell appears in the background, the complete file and its contents, for example, a program title, grows gradually in height until the newly appeared cell reaches the total height of the cell. At the same time, the cell that is disappearing from the top of the screen, and the contained in said upper cell, shrinks in height until the cell disappears. This provides a smooth transition in the full screen presentation but it's not really noticeable because it changes at a speed of 1/60 of a second.

Smooth Shifting is less disorienting to viewer that a screen change from page to page, which is the displacement technique used in the on-screen guides existing. The complete bitmap does not need to be redrawn as it moves up one cell, in which only the upper cell is shrunk or compressed in dimension vertical.

In one embodiment, while the slowly scrolling, the new title that appears in the Screen is not redrawn until scrolling stops. While multiple rapid scrolling is done cells, the processor stops redrawing the cell in any of the cells during displacement; the processor wait until the scrolling stops or slows down to Redraw the cells. This allows fast scrolling because the cells do not have to recover until the screen reaches The desired point. The redrawn of the data is very intensive for the processor A special interaction between the resident software and hardware, to minimize redrawing of bitmap, and retrieve data from memory. This applies to vertical and horizontal displacement. The user remains oriented because the channel identifiers and the hours of Programming are kept displayed.

7. "Jump" in the EPG guide

The viewer can "jump" to the desired action or place in the EPG guide in several ways. In the guide from the Grill, the viewer can jump to the channel interval  for a particular channel by entering the digits of the channel identification number on the device keyboard of the remote control of the viewer. The EPG guide interprets the number and calculate the appropriate position for the EPG cursor. The Guide EPG then displays the cursor in the channel interval Appropriate on screen.

In one embodiment, the favorite channels and / or more seen from the viewer are presented as buttons on a bar of selecting favorite channels somewhere in the presentation of the EPG guide of the Grill Guide. He viewer can jump to one of the favorite channels of the viewer by "pressing" the channel button appropriate.

In another embodiment, the control device remote viewer displays the letters associated with the Numbers on the keyboard. The viewer can use a key special "Alt" to allow the viewer to press the keys as if they were alphabetic and / or alphanumeric. This  form, the viewer can enter an identified channel, such as "CNN".

In another embodiment even, the viewer You can request a drop-down menu of the identifiers of the favorite channels and being able to select a channel from the menu drop down

In another embodiment even, the viewer you can configure "bookmarks" in the EPG guide using the use of a "mark" on the remote control device of the viewer, or alternatively a "bookmark" button on the EPG Guide screen. The viewer can press the "bookmark" key when the user wishes to dial a current location for subsequent return. The viewer you can then scroll, jump, or navigate to some EPG guide position. When the viewer wishes to return to the brand position, the viewer can press the "last mark" (either on the remote control device of the viewer, or alternatively on the Guide screen EPG). The EPG guide can record a plurality of positions of trademarks. In one embodiment, the EPG guide may remember the positions of the registered trademarks after the viewer turn off the TV and then return multiple Times to the TV.

8. Programming thematic color coding of the programs

The EPG guide categorizes the agreement programs with a plurality of topics. In one embodiment, the color of the EPG guide encodes the presentation of the program in the Guide of the Grill according to the categorization of topics assigned to the Program.

9. Controllable number of programming days

Typically, the EPG guide can support only 2 days of program listings. According to the selection of viewer, the EPG guide can withstand only a single day of Program listings The single day option provides a smaller range of program listings but increases the time of answer. Alternatively, the viewer can select the be able to support any number of days of program listings, up to the number of days provided by the installation in particular, which is set by the corresponding amount of Memory storage available.

D. Parental control of the guide presentation EPG

The parent viewer initially introduces the Parental Control Function during the procedures of Initial configuration of the EPG guide. In the procedure of configuration of the EPG guide, the Father identifies all television viewers, and assign identifiers to individual viewers. The viewer Father sets also a password for the aforementioned Father viewer. The provisional application of US Pat. serial number 60/085401 ("V-CHIP Plus +: Apparatus and method of guide user interface for programmable locking of the TV and other programmable programming such as the control parental of a television receiver ") describes the Parental Control configuration procedures for identification of individual viewers and initialization of password protection, whose exposure is incorporated here as reference as set out in its entirety.

In the Parental Control Function, the Father select the channels and programs that may be visible on the Grill Guide for a particular viewer, and select the channels and / or programs that have to be blocked to Prevent its display. Children as viewers, according to are identified during the setup procedure, you will see a simplified Grill Guide, and your vision will be blocked of programs so marked by the Father. In one embodiment, the individual viewers are identified by the ID (identification) of the viewer and password. In other realization, individual viewers have devices of different remote control, whose use is also protected by password.

E. Improved access to program information television for the viewer 1. Virtual channel time intervals and announcements of programs in the advertising window

As described below, the EPG guide provides the viewer with multiple opportunities to obtain detailed information on television programs. Such as described below, the EPG guide proportional to the viewer the opportunity to select Channel Advertising Intervals Virtual or Advertising Window screens that advertise TV shows scheduled for the future, and they get additional information in the form of text or video clips.

2. Additional detailed information for the access of viewer including internet links

The EPG guide displays detailed information with regarding the listings of the programs in the information area Detailed of the Grill Guide. Detailed information can include, among other things, a detailed text description of the program, information on actors and actresses, information about the production of the program, information related to the product, identification of Internet Web sites relevant and online internet chat conferences. The Guide EPG gives the viewer the possibility to request Detailed information of such various guides / data services ways, including when the telespected over lights: a program in particular in the Grill Guide, the Sale of Advertising, or a Virtual Channel Advertising Interval. In one embodiment, the remote control device of the viewer has a powerful "Information" key. When the viewer has navigated with the illumination / cursor on the screen to a cell or particular window in the EPG guide on the screen, the viewer can press the "Information" key of the remote control device to request information additional.

In one embodiment, when the viewer superlight a particular program in the Grill Guide, in the Advertising Window, or in an Advertising Interval of Virtual Channel, or other request for detailed information request related to the program, the EPG guide connects the viewer to an external database of information, such as a site of a particular Internet web. The viewer can give instructions to the EPG guide to connect the user with guides / detailed specialized information data services, such as sports, news, or other guide / data services. In one embodiment, the link to the external data source is carried carried out by storing an address of a site of the Web in the Advertising Window or with an Interval announcement Virtual Channel Advertising in the RAM memory of the terminal user.

A sports program listed in the Guide of the Grill provides a clarifying example of how the viewer interacts with said information guide / data service specialized and detailed. When the viewer overlights a football match listed in the Grill Guide, the detail normal relative to the program is displayed in the detailed information from the Grill Guide. Additionally, they can be displayed multiple icons related to the overlit program in the Grill Guide. An icon alerts the user that the match It is already developing. Another icon indicates the availability of the specialized guide information. The viewer can select the program from the Grill Guide for the display and / or recording. Additionally, the viewer You can select the specialized guide icon. In the case of a sports program, the selection of the guide icon specialized would visualize, for example, a score marker of the match if the match were already in development in the area of Detailed information of the Grill Guide. If the match was scheduled for a later time, then the selection of the specialized guide icon you would see, for example, information about players, teams, and maybe, and odds about the match.

Another icon, displayed for example in the sports guide marker screen, provides the viewer the option to connect to the Internet, for example, with a particular website that provides information additional about the match, including an online chat about the match. In one embodiment, the EPG guide is switched to a screen Complete to view the website of the Internet. In other realization, the EPG guide visualizes the Internet Web site in the screen area previously occupied by the Guide of the Grill and / or the Grill Guide and Advertising Window, while continuing to view the video presentation in real-time tuned television program in progress in the PIP window Alternatively, the EPG guide can display the Internet Web site in the PIP window, and display the television program tuned in progress in the area of screen previously occupied by the Grill Guide and / or the Guide of the Grill and the Advertising Window. The website of Internet to which the EPG guide is initially connected ("site of the contact Web ") can be a specialized directory, using default hyperlinks for the viewer to Other quotes of interest. The website of the Internet can additionally, or in an alternative, offer capabilities of search the viewer to locate information on interest.

Once the viewer is connected to an information guide / specialized data service, the viewer can use the guide / data service to address a particular information contained in the Grill Guide the EPG Guide. For example, a viewer selects a program of news to see it. While you are watching the program news, the news station describes an event that includes Some astronauts The viewer selects the guide icon of news / data services and connects to a website at Internet, which describes among other things the additional information about the particular event that includes astronauts. He viewer uses the search engine offered by the site of the contact website to locate additional information about Astronauts themselves. On the following Web sites, a program of the Discovey channel mentions something concerning the astronauts themselves. The viewer instructs the EPG guide to locate any event of the referral program, and programming said Program to be recorded. In one embodiment, a address similar to the PLUS CODE system to link, or record, the scheduled program

The viewer can search for an index, available on the Internet and created by a data service of news, programs and television news reports Recorded. The viewer can search the index. If he viewer selects one of the indexed reports, will be displayed a video clip of the indexed report in the occupied screen area by the screen of the Internet Web site, or any area alternative or part of the on-screen presentation. He viewer can instruct the EPG guide to record the video clip

The EPG guide is able to integrate the information additional provided by the special data services in the EPG guide screen. For example, in the case of a service sports data, the EPG guide can format the screen of the list of programs and / or sports markers for a match with a color coding, depending on the stage of the match. For example, if the match is developing, the guide EPG will format the program listing and / or the bookmarks of sports for said match with a color, for example, green; if he match is over, the program listing and / or the markers Endings may be in a different color, for example, blue. If he match are unfolding, the viewer can overlight and select the marker box and scroll from the marker box to the match shown on television. In a realization, the selected television sports program appears in the PIP Window or in the Advertising Window, allowing the viewer to read the history related to the sports program in the sports guide while watching the corresponding television sports program.

The EPG guide is also able to link between news in a special news guide and programs TV related. The viewer can link to a news program to watch or record said program using the overlighting and selection of news in a guide news. In one embodiment, the television news program selected appears in the PIP window or in the Window Advertising, allowing the viewer to read the history in the news guide while watching a news show of TV that informs about the event.

In one embodiment, the VBI (erase interval vertical) for the selected channels is dedicated to provision of a special data service. For example, him ESPN VBI vertical erase interval would support service only of sports data. In one embodiment, as an incentive for support this data, the data service would visualize the program ESPN TV in the PIP window. Since the tuner has to configure to ESPN to capture the data, the signal from television is available for window display PIP

F. Improved opportunities for the ad publicist to reach the viewer 1. Video clips related to the products of the Advertising window and commercial announcement recording

The EPG Guide provides advertisers with commercial ads with expanded possibilities to reach the viewers through the Advertising Window. Due to the cost of acquiring advertising time slots, a number Growing manufacturers and distributors of products generate commercial ads about their products, and then acquire relatively inexpensive time slots for your ads from according to the schedule of maximum audience hours, with frequency in non-main channels. The EPG guide provides ad generators the opportunity to provide the viewer the opportunity to record a commercial ad that broadcast at the same time, or on a channel, which would be inconvenient for the viewer to see it in real time.

If the Advertising Window displays information about a particular product, pressing a record button will will instruct the EPG guide to record an announcement or a advertising, which was scheduled for a later time. Alternatively, the viewer can designate the ad commercial or advertising for the Display List. Alternatively, the EPG guide provides advertisers with commercial ads the opportunity to supply the viewer the opportunity to see a video clip about the product being announced.

In one embodiment, the video clip associated with the product and / or program displayed in the Advertising Window shows when the viewer overlights the Window of Advertising. Depending on the realization and the selections of the viewer option, the video clip is displayed in the window PIP, in the Advertising Window, or in full screen. To video clip termination, the EPG guide typically returns to mode where the viewer was operating immediately before select the option that activated the display of the video clip

2. Recording of the related program in the window advertising

The EPG guide provide distributors of television programming with additional opportunities to get to the viewer. The Advertising Window can display information about a planned television program for a future. If the viewer is interested in recording the program, the viewer can opt for alternative actions. For example, in one embodiment, the viewer may give instructions to the EPG guide to record the program planned for the future. In one embodiment, the viewer presses the recording on the remote control device, to give instructions to the EPG guide to record the program planned for the future. Alternatively, the viewer can give instructions to the EPG guide to add the program to the Vision List. Alternatively, the viewer can instruct the EPG guide to view a video clip about the program. Even the viewer can instruct the EPG guide to connect the user with specialized information / data services detailed, such as sports, news, or other services of guides / data. The EPG guide provide the viewer with the possibility to request detailed information of such services of guides / data in various ways, including when the viewer Overlight: a particular program in the Grill Guide, in the Advertising Window, or in the Advertising Interval of Virtual Channel In one embodiment, the EPG guide displays relevant detailed information in the detailed information area  from the Grill Guide. In another embodiment, the EPG guide connects to the viewer with an external database of information, such as a site of a particular Web on the Internet.

3. Panel announcements

In one embodiment, Panel ads occupy a fixed area in the Guide and are filled with paid announcements. Located directly below the PIP Window and the Window Advertising, there is space available in the Guide for two panel ads. Each panel ad occupies approximately 1/9 of the total screen area. The usable area of a Panel is 132 pixels high x 160 pixels wide, with flanges blacks of a width of 2 pixels around, and 2 pixels of gray on the left and right sides and between the two spaces of the ad. When a given advertising space is not sold, the space will be filled with a free space ad, stored in the ROM memory, and inserted into the available space, or with a bonus announcement.

A publicist can buy both areas of 1/9 of the screen, creating a single ad with a usable space 270 pixels high by 160 pixels wide, with two black flanges with a width of 2 pixels around it, and 2 pixels wide gray on the left and right sides.

In one embodiment, all the screens of the Guide are composed of "printed pages". One page printed is defined as an area comprising 9 intervals of the channel. Each time a user moves below the 9 * x channel interval, a new "printed page" appears. The return offset will bring the printed page prior to the view. Each printed page can have different panel ads associated to it.

In one embodiment, the printed pages are defined differently in the Classification screens. Each classification category (for example, movies, sports, children, etc.) will be considered as a printed page without Import the number of concepts in the list vertically. According the user moves horizontally from one category to the Next, the panel ads will change.

The number of available printed pages depends of the size of the user distribution and the number of channels on or off. In case there are not enough channels to support the number of printed pages needed to the number of panel ads sold, not all will be displayed Panel ads. For example, suppose they have been saved in memory 4 pairs of panel ads and 4 channel ads. Additionally, suppose a particular user has 20 active channels in your channel distribution. Then the ads They would be displayed as follows:

Pair of panel ads with channels 1-8 and the first channel announcement

Pair 2 of panel ads with channels 9-16 and the second channel announcement

Pair 3 of panel ads with channels 17-20 and the third and fourth channel announcements.

If the user will activate more channels than required adding a fourth printed page, then it would become visible the fourth pair of panel ads.

In one embodiment, the user can overlight these ads, leading to display automatic of an expanded information box. This picture of expanded information covers all 2/3 of the right grill. The user closes the information box expanded by shifting the illumination out of the announcement of the panel or by pressing the information button after that the last screen of the information box has been presented related. Figures 10a and 10b are graphic representations of Sample EPG guide presentations on screen, which describe an embodiment of the function of presenting information additional concerning a subject subject of a Window of Panel advertising that is overlit.

In one embodiment, the panel ads are surrounded by matt black flanges. When a panel ad is Overlit, the edges turn yellow. When a program is set to record, the flange turns red (red dark when the panel ad is not overlit, red clear / bright when overlit). When a program is program for display, the flange turns orange (dark orange when the panel ad is not overlit, and light orange / bright when overlit).

In one embodiment, there may be multiple "screens" of information displayed sequentially in the expanded information box. Pressing the Information button while an ad is overlit you have access to additional screens There is no finite limit on the number of additional screens; memory limitations and Sales requirements will limit this number.

In one embodiment, if a panel ad is overlit, has information about a show associated with the same, and the published show is activated in course, the user can tune directly to the program related, by pressing the left Action button (the blue button that is labeled "View") or with the Pressing the Enter / Select button on the remote control. Pressing the View button also shows the show in the Recording Schedule / See the duration of the show for allow the user to set the frequency in daily mode or weekly. If the show is not activated in progress, by pressing the Left Action button the show is placed in the Recording Schedule / Watch, or by pressing the Enter / Select the channel related to the Show in the ad. The shows added to the Recording Schedule / Watch can be configured to be viewed: only once, daily, or weekly. The function of See and Action button operate in the same way as if you programmed a show to see it from the Grill.

In one embodiment, if a panel ad has information of a show associated with it, the show can be recorded by lighting up the ad and pressing the right Action button (Green button, labeled "Recording"). If the show is unfolding Now, the recording starts immediately, and the show is places in the Recording Schedule / Watch with the duration of the show, to allow the user to configure in daily mode or weekly If the show is activated in the future, this show is added to the Recording Schedule / See for the self recording. The shows added to the Programming of Recording / Watch can be set to be recorded: only once, daily, or weekly. The Recording function and the button Related action operate in the same way as if you programmed a show for recording from the Grill.

In one embodiment, panel ads can Be dynamic There are two areas that can be dynamic: 1.) the panel ad space; and / or 2.) the table of Information.

The panel ad area may change over time, for example, every x seconds rotating towards a plurality of graphic or textual executions in the Panel ad space. When an ad on the panel is overlit, the rotation of the announcement stops in the visual of the announcement presented in progress. The dynamic rotation does not restart until the Panel announcement suppresses the overlight.

The text of the information box associated with the announcement of the panel may change over time, for example, each and seconds rotating through different screens of text. Screen rotation stops if the user presses the Information button, displaying the first page of the information text. This option is available for advertisers to rotate different headlines in the information box. The user can see subsequent pages by pressing the information button again. Screen rotation does not restart until after the panel announcement is suppressed.

4. Time intervals of the virtual channel

The EPG guide provides producers of commercial ads with extended possibilities to reach to the viewer through Channel Ad Intervals Virtual, also known as Channel ads. The virtual channel ad intervals appear as rows of the Grill Guide, and typically show the titles of programs that are planned for a particular channel. The EPG grid virtual channel ad intervals provide ads to display as a row in the schedule of the Grill Guides of the programs. The intervals of virtual channel ads can be used to provide Multiple exposures of a particular program in the guide. Virtual channel ad intervals act as an entry  of the channel in the Grill Guide because the viewer can record, watch, schedule to watch, and / or get information about the  program announced in the details table of the information of the Grill Guide.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, cell 52 show an example of a virtual channel ad interval for an advertisement for a television show, which is a list of programs as channels and misplaced hours in the Guide Grill 22. That is, it does not appear in the position of the channel usual or in the position of the hours in the guide, but the cell it is similar on the other hand to the other cells in the list of grill guide programs 22 (including height), except that it occupies the total width of the cell regardless of the duration of the program The program listing cell normal scrolls off the screen as the Up and down arrow keys. On the contrary, in a realization, the ad range of the virtual channel, such as the one shown in cell 52, remains on screen at all times as the up and down arrow keys are pressed, so The ad remains visible at all times.

Channel ads do not occupy an area fixed. Channel ads are essentially inserted between The grill channels. If there are no channel ads sold, the grill will simply be a continuous list of Channel cells / shows without free spaces. As these  Channel ads take an interval of the channel on the grill, it's desirable to limit the number that appears on the screen, to ensure that the Guide be a useful source of programming information of TV. Typically, there will be approximately one channel ad for each printed page.

Channel ads are typically of the height of a channel interval, and the width of the grill, and they are intermingled with channel listings. The area Usable of a channel ad is typically 24 pixels of height x 344 pixels wide, with boxes with a width of 2 pixels all around.

There are several types of channel ads that include: associated ads, parent ads, and ads from fixed position channels.

The associated channel announcements appear in a relative position at the top of the grid and are separated at each n channel intervals, where n is a certain number. These ads appear and disappear as the user browses through the printed pages of the guide. It is anticipated that n will usually (although not necessarily always) equal to 9, since this is the number of channels on the grid of the PIP version. This would provide an ad for each printed page. The place for the first ad can be selected on the first page and the following ads follow in every n channel intervals. The same announcement is repeated at every n intervals. This method of repeating at every n channel intervals is true for both versions of the PIP window and not PIP. Typically, as the user deactivates channels, the separation of these advertisements remains constant (at every n channel intervals). In the event that there are not enough channels to continue this separation, the ads will appear at one end of the grid listings.

Parent Channel ads are related with a specific channel located directly above the ad. A parent channel ad is set to its adjacent channel "father" (that is, the ad follows the parent channel). Market Stall that it’s desirable to limit the number of channel ads seen on any other screen, the number of parent ads typically It will be limited. Additionally, if the parent channel is deactivated, the ad will typically be displayed at the bottom of the grill.

Fixed position channel announcements are located at a specific position, and (where and is a certain number) channels down from the top of the grill. If and is greater than the number of grill channels, the ad is located at the end of the grill.

Except as noted above with regarding the announcements of parent and fixed position channels, Channel ads will typically be separated, so that No more than one channel ad is displayed at the same time.

In one embodiment, the channel ads are paginated vertically throughout the listing information of the channels. These ads remain in a fixed position when the grill is displaced horizontally. The user can overlight these channel ads just in the way that any show title can be illuminated. To be  overlit, these channel ads display information additional in the information box, just like when Overlight any channel.

Channel ads are surrounded typically by bezels just like any cell in the shows. Channel announcement overlight is typically similar to the overlighting of a panel ad. In one embodiment, when a user overlights an advertisement for a channel, the bezels change to a matte yellow flange (without beveled). When a channel show is set to be recorded, the flange turns red (dark red when not is overlit, light red / bright when overlit). When an ad show is scheduled to be seen, the flange turns orange (orange dark when not overlit, and light orange / bright when overlit).

In one embodiment, the channel announcements It has multiple and sequential "screens" from the box information. The availability of this additional information is indicated by an "i" icon. The user can have access to the Additional information by pressing the information button.

In one embodiment, if a channel ad is overlit, or have information about the show associated with the same, and the announced show is unfolding, the user can directly tune the related program by pressing the left action button (the blue button which is labeled "View") or by pressing the button Enter / Select on the remote control. Pressing the button See also places the show in the Record / Watch Programming In the duration of the show. If the show is not developing, pressing the left action button places the Show in the Record / Watch Programming for the vision later; pressing the Enter / Select button tunes the channel related to the show in the announcement of the channel. The shows added to the Record / Watch Schedule can set to be seen: only once, daily, or weekly. The See function and the related Action button they operate in the same way as if a show were scheduled to See from the Grill.

In one embodiment, if an ad for a channel has information about the show associated with it, the show can be recorded by the illumination of the announcement, and pressing the right action button (green button, labeled as Record). If the show is already being supplied in the television signal, the recording will begin immediately and the show is set in the Programming of Record / Watch for the entire duration of the show. If the show It is active in the future, the show is added to the Programming Record / Watch for recording. The shows added to the Schedule Record / Watch can be configured to be recorded: only once, daily, or weekly. The Record function and the related action button operate in the same way as if recorded a show from the Grill.

The channels can be dynamic.

5. Space reservation announcements

In one embodiment, when the Guide is configured for the first time, the initial download of information will not be received. Panel ad spaces have to be filled with ad reservation ads that are stored in ROM. These ads have to be timeless, since they will appear every time the TV is configure, either for the first time or after a cut of electric power.

A use of the panel ad space is for Help text The help text that invites the user to select ad space serves as a "tutorial" of how to access panel ads, additional information of information, and how to watch and record from ads.

6. Full screen ads

When the viewer first enters the EPG guide, the EPG guide can display a screen ad complete, such as an ad that would be displayed in the Window Advertising The viewer can interact with the announcement of full screen in the same way as the viewer You can interact with the Advertising Window. That is, the viewer can instruct the EPG guide to record, or to add to the display list, commercial ads or programs, if there is only one, that is associated with the ad.

7. Auto display channel

Instead of having the last channel seen as the first channel tuned in the next time the viewer Turn on the TV, a selected channel could be tuned by the viewer. In one embodiment, the viewer indicates the automatic view channel in the View List Function of the EPG guide. In another embodiment, a station sends a question in screen to each viewer to enter a command if the viewer wants the channel of the station to be the first channel displayed when the viewer first turns on the TV.

8. Ad features

Ads can offer, among other things, of a graphic field, a text field or a combination of fields of graphics and text.

Graphics are typically presented in images 8-bit / pixel (using "320 mode"), 4-bit / pixel (in "640 mode"), and 1 bit / pixel. In some embodiments, There will be memory limitations. In embodiments with said memory limitations, panel ads are expected contain graphics not exceeding 25% of the ad area when 4 or 8 bit / pixel graphics are used. 100% of the area can used by a 1 bit / pixel graphic. The graphics of the Channel ads will be limited, but not necessarily, to the logo part of the ad channel. (The use here of the word "typically", and anywhere in this application, means "typically, but not necessarily"). The part Remaining channel ad will typically be text only.

The displayed text will typically have the following features:

Normal and condensed available sources of 18 and 24 points.

Oblique version of the sources.

Underlined

Bold font

Centered

Left and right justification

Possibility of selecting the color once per line

The text could also be visualized as a 1 bit / pixel bitmap only in the ad areas of the panel.

The colors of the phone will have an impact on the global appearance and in the use of the Guide. Exposed to The following describes a typical embodiment.

Panel ad background colors can selected by the advertiser, and will typically be subject to the brightness limitations set forth below.

Channel and background colors may be limited The background colors of the show cells are used as keys to show the categories of shows (movies, sports, etc.) and for actions taken in a show (set to be recorded or viewed). Although any phone color could be displayed, it is desirable maintain the integrity of cell color schemes of the shows. Consequently, it is likely that a set limited background colors or a set of colors that you cannot I will use, can be specified for the agencies of advertising to use in the development and creation of advertisements for channels Channel ad funds will be subject typically to the luminosity limitations exposed more ahead.

The bottom of the information box will be typically gray and typically cannot be changed by the advertiser.

There are typically limitations on luminance of colors in ads. If the luminance is set too much high, the screen image will be whitened. These limitations will be configured, according to the realization, and communicated to Advertisers for consideration of their development. The Ads that do not meet the brightness limitations for the particular realization will be subject to limitations of default override.

In one embodiment, the viewer can Interact with advertisements and television. For example, the tuned ads will allow the viewer to tune in directly with a show in development from a block of an overlit ad, assuming the ad block have program information associated with it. The show in progress associated with an ad is tuned directly by pressing either the Enter / Select button or the left action button (blue button labeled as "See").

Direct recording ads will allow user record a show in development or scheduled to be activated in the future from an ad unit Overlit There is no practical time limit in which you can Schedule a show to be broadcast for recording direct. A show associated with an ad is recorded by pressing the right action button while the ad is Overlit The user can select the frequency of recording, only once, daily, or weekly. From An announcement, the user presses the right action button (button green labeled "Record") to place the show in Recording Schedule In the event that the show is developing, by pressing the right action button while If an ad is illuminated, the recording of the show that is unfolding. The show's title is it also places in the Recording Schedule, until the end of the show in case the user wishes to modify the recording frequency daily or weekly.

Vision ads consist of a program Announced in any viewing space. The program advertised can be placed in Vision Programming as long as the ad unit has program information associated with the same. There is no practical time limit in which you can Schedule a show to be broadcast for recording direct. The Vision function operates in the same way as the Recording function, except that it tunes the TV ("TV") with the show instead of recording it. If a user you are watching TV, the channel automatically changes to a show located in the Vision Programming when the  show. If the TV is turned off when the show on the Vision Programming is scheduled to start, TV will be turn on and tune to the desired channel (implementations only on TV, and not on the VCR). The user can select one vision frequency only once, daily or weekly. TO From an ad, the user presses the left Action button (blue button labeled "Vision") to place the show on Vision Programming. In case the show is already broadcasting in progress, pressing the left action button during the illumination of an advertisement gives rise to the Direct tuning to the show. The title of show is also placed in the Vision Programming until The show ends if the user wishes modify the frequency of vision in daily or weekly mode.

Ads can have multiple levels of information. Typically, the first level information is the copy of the ad and / or graphics displayed on screen without Any action by the user. This includes the areas of panel and channel announcement.

Typically, second level information (yes it is supplied by the advertiser) it becomes visible automatically ("Auto-opening") when the user Overlight an ad unit by scrolling. This secondary information is presented in the table of information, when the channel is selected, and in a version enlarged table of information on which the grill of the full channel when a panel ad is illuminated. The icon "i" in the ad, located at the advertiser’s discretion, indicates that there is more information available for that ad. The  Second level information can be text and / or graphics depending on memory availability.

Typically, the availability of information Third level (if supplied by the advertiser) is indicated by the information button "i" on an information screen Second level By pressing the information button you have access to that information and the information box is caused to expand for channel ads to cover the entire area of Grill. Pressing the information button several times successive, the user navigates through multiple pages. Pressing the information button from the last screen available causes the information box to contract to Its original size for all ads. This information from third level can be text and / or graphics depending on the memory capabilities

Ad units can be dynamic. The memory allows the graphics and / or the text of the panel ads and the text of the information box to change every X seconds (where X is a certain number) rotating through a limit of N (where N is a certain number) graphic or text executions. There is the ability to limit the number of dynamic ads displayed at any time.

The duration and the start / end time of the Ad can be scheduled and / or dynamic. In a realization, the ads must be displayed at a time of start given with an associated termination time. The time between The start and end is the duration of the announcement. He Minimum duration increase is typically 60 seconds. In one embodiment, an ad will not be replaced automatically when the ad termination arrives. Ads only will change when the user's actions cause a new "printed page", or the appearance of a new section of the guide (for example, going from the Grill to Classification)

Ads can rotate. For example, the different ads may appear every time the user Enter the same page / section of the Guide. There is no limit on the  number of ads placed in rotation. Ads may have assigned a priority, in which the highest priority ad is display the first time a page or section is accessed. Then, the second priority ad is displayed at the same time. next time the user views this page and so on. The priority counter depends on the page, which means yes the user sees the first page for a third time, the third priority ad on that page and if you scroll to the second page for the first time, the third ad will be seen priority on the second page.

Ads may differ by section of the Guide that is being viewed. For example, if a user is viewing the Sports subject area, you may see an announcement from the Center for ESPN Sports, while a different ad will be presented when the user is on the main grill.

The EPG guide can determine the ad to display depending on the ad that is being displayed in the television channel that the viewer was watching immediately before entering the EPG guide. I mean, if I know I was showing a Toyota ad on the channel that the viewer was watching the instant the viewer entered the EPG Guide, then the EPG guide can be timed to that displays a Toyota correlative ad in a certain part of the EPG guide, for example, in the Advertising window, of a TV show

In one embodiment, the EPG Guide checks the Profile of the Televiewer to determine which is the announcement to display at different times during the viewer's session in the EPG guide. The EPG guide can assign the priorities of the ad and page, to represent the investment of Advertiser and the relative profile of the viewer.

Dynamic ads graphically present typically different graphics in every x seconds (where x is a certain number, in which x is as small as 1.0 second) rotating through n (where n is a certain number) graphic or text executions. Typically, only one limited number of these ads will be displayed at the same time  (probably with a maximum of 1 per screen), since Traffic screens will reduce the effectiveness of ads and the usefulness of the Guide.

Ads must be "identifiable" and "accessible" once placed in memory, in order to allows advertisers to "extract" an ad, update a announcement, or correct transmission errors.

G. Improved access to product information by viewer part 1. Product detail of the advertising window

The viewer can overlight the Window Advertising to locate additional information about the Product announced. In one embodiment, the viewer illuminate the Advertising Window by pressing the keys of arrow navigation / remote control device address to navigate with the pointer of the remote control device to the location of the Advertising Window in the presentation in TV monitor screen. When the pointer of Remote control device is located in the Window Advertising on the screen presentation of the monitor television, the on-screen presentation of the Advertising Window It will be overlit. In one embodiment, the color of the own Advertising window will become brighter or show a lighted effect In another embodiment, the color of a flange that surround the Advertising Window will become brighter or Show a lighting effect. Overlighting the Window of Advertising will cause the additional text describing the Product is displayed in the detail table of the Guide of the EPG guide grill. Alternatively, the EPG guide provides the producers of commercial ads, with the opportunity to provide the viewer with the opportunity to watch a video clip About the product being advertised.

The Advertising Window can be optionally interactive The Internet address of a Web site that contains relevant information with the ad that is being displayed in the Advertising Advantage in said window as an address of a website, as an icon, or with some other graphic presentation, such as a stylized "i", indicating additional interactive information. Additionally, the viewer's interaction with the Advertising Window will be monitored by the EPG guide to record as part of the profile of the viewer.

2. Recording of the advertising window related to the product

The EPG guide provides viewers with the opportunity to access extended product information on which the viewer is interested. Due to the cost of buy advertising time, a growing number of manufacturers of products and distributors generate commercial advertisements about their products. Due to the cost of the airtime, many manufacturers and distributors buy a relatively short airtime economical for your commercial ads according to the schedules outside peak hours, often in channels that do not have a maximum audience. The EPG Guide provides the viewer the opportunity to record an ad commercial that is broadcast within an hour, or on a channel, that was Convenient for the viewer to see it in real time. If the Advertising window displays information about a product in particular, pressing the record button will instruct the EPG guide to record the ad, even scheduled for a later time Alternatively, the viewer may designate the commercial for the Vision List.

3. Recording of the advertising window related to programs

The EPG guide provides viewers Additional opportunities to instruct the EPG guide to record or watch a television program scheduled for future. The Advertising Window can display information about a television program programmed for the future. If he viewer is interested in recording the program, the viewer can instruct the EPG guide to record the program planned for the future. In one embodiment, the viewer presses the record button on the device of the remote control to instruct the EPG guide to record the Program scheduled for the future. Alternatively, the viewer can instruct the EPG guide to add the program to the Vision List. Alternatively, the viewer You can view a video clip about the program.

H. Creation of a viewer profile 1. Collection of profile information from viewer

The EPG Guide requests that the viewer provide certain profile information, including but without limitation: postal code of the viewer; services of television, cable or satellite to which the viewer; duration of the mentioned payments; the kind of TV; the age of the television; where the television was bought; the viewer's favorite channels; favorite types of viewer programs; and the hours during which the viewer is likely to watch television. If he viewer declines to provide this information, the EPG guide will try to "learn" from the information as stated more ahead.

In one embodiment, the EPG guide is capable of distinguish between individual viewers, and develops individualized profiles. For example, in one embodiment, each viewer has an individual PIN or another number of ID. In another embodiment, each viewer uses a individualized remote unit. In another embodiment even, there is the lack of a way to distinguish one viewer from another. In that case, the profile is developed by the "family".

Each time the viewer interacts with the EPG guide or with television, the EPG guide records the actions of the viewer and the circumstances surrounding such actions. By For example, when the viewer changes the channels, the EPG guide record among other things the information on the first channel, the channel to which you change, the time the change was made, the programming identification that was displayed in the first channel, the identification of the programming that was displayed on the channel to which it was changed, the time of change, the identification of any ad that had been displayed on the first channel at the time of the change, the identification of any advertisement that it would have been displayed on the changed channel, and if the viewer Changed channels while in one of the modes of the EPG guide, differently from being in TV mode. The EPG guide will also record all the viewer's instructions to record or watch a program, the type instruction being by only once, daily, weekly or regularly. EPG guide will record also if the viewer changes the audio volume of the TV, and the circumstances surrounding the change in volume. If the viewer changes the channels while in one of EPG Guide modes, then the EPG guide records the information about what was displayed in each of the windows of the user interface (UI) of the EPG guide before and after change.

The EPG guide also records the information when there is an absence of interaction between the viewer and the TV or the EPG guide. For example, the EPG guide will record if the viewer continues to watch an ad instead of changing the channels The EPG Guide calculates and records the total duration of time that the TV is on on any particular day.

The EPG Guide also records the information that surrounds the viewer's interaction with external sources of information, such as the Internet. For example, the EPG guide records each one of the search request criteria initiated by the viewer, the Search Engine used to perform the search, the products selected by the viewer from of the search response, user interaction with the Internet sites, and viewer interactions with the EPG guide during the same time window as the viewer Interact with the Internet.

An alternative to collecting information from individual profile of the viewer described above, would be Provide inquiries from an online survey. That is, the EPG guide would display an offer on screen that would say to viewer who will call a toll-free number in order to read an encrypted number on the screen for the survey in exchange for a gift certificate. The offer would be made only to viewers who were watching a particular program or a ad in particular and at a particular time. The answers of the survey would provide useful information for the Survey customization, guide customization, and for Objective advertising.

2. Analysis and characterization of the information of the viewer profile

The viewer profile information (data collected concerning and surrounding the interaction of TV viewer with the EPG guide (including the recording and viewing of functions), Internet, the WEB network, and any other sources of information external to the EPG, but to  through which the viewer interacts) can be sent to a computer at the head of a television distribution for analysis, or alternatively, to be analyzed by the EPG guide.

The information about the viewer is captured on an ongoing basis. Similarly, data from Viewer profile are updated on an ongoing basis. In consequently, the viewer profile analysis program (the "Profile Program") can be repeated at an interval of determined time to incorporate additional information on the viewer that has been captured since the last analysis. Alternatively, the Profile Program is a time program real that processes each discrete unit of information about a viewer as data is captured.

The profile analysis program viewer (the "Profile Program") may be a resident in the terminal header, included as part of the EPG guide, or distributed through these different possible positions. He Profile Program executes several different types of analysis in Viewer profile data. For example, the Program Profile executes simple statistical analysis of the data collected. The Profile Program accumulates, among other things, the number of times the viewer: interacted with the EPG guide during a particular viewing session; executed types in particular of interactions with the EPG guide; saw a channel in particular; interacted with the Internet during a session of particular visualization, interacting with a website in particular; visualized and / or recorded and / or programmed to watch a program with a particular type of subject (for example, comedy, sports, drama, movies, sitcoms, science fiction, adventures,  mystery, documentaries, cooking, travel, etc.); and who saw and / or recorded and / or programmed the display of a program with a type in particular subject (for example, golf, tennis, soccer, basketball, baseball, animals, food, etc.), or an actor or actress in particular. The Profile Program also calculates the duration of each vision and compiles, among other things, statistics on hours of the day and days of the week during which the viewer watches television, interacts with the EPG guide, or interacts with the Internet or the WEB network.

Using viewer profile data basic and simple statistics collected on a viewer in particular, the Profile Program "learns" to  recognize a more accurate breakdown on the different types of data collected, and then use the information learned to describe a "viewer preference". For example, yes the Profile Program detects that the viewer sees the sports programs, and that the various sports programs are refer to basketball games, the Profile Program analyzes the equipment included in the programs seen. The Program of Profile is able, in this way, to determine if the viewer is A fan of that particular team. If so, the Program Profile records the viewer's team affiliation as a Television Viewer Preference.

The Profile Program runs multiple levels of sophisticated analysis and learning, including numerous comparisons of viewer profile data, and statistics collected on a particular viewer, for Develop the Features of the Televiewer. Thus, The Profile Program develops a multidimensional profile of the viewer. For example, once the Profile Program Detects a Televiewer Preference, Profile Program compare, for example, the number of times the viewer interacts with the EPG guide or an external source of information, such as Internet / WEB, during a broadcast broadcast of a program that relates to the Televiewer's Preference (for example, a basketball game that includes the team viewer's favorite) with, for example, the number of times that the viewer interacts with the EPG guide, or a source of external information such as Internet / WEB, during a broadcast of dissemination of a program that is not related to the Preference of the Televiewer.

Additionally, the types of interactions in both sets of circumstances. Thus, The Profile Program determines the Characteristics of the Viewer in relation to, among other things: coverage of attention, general interest in product announcements; interest in specific types of product information; tendency to impulse buying; correlation of impulse buying habits with the price ranges; types of products, and advertising formats; interest in recording and / or watching programs scheduled for the future; interest in accessing additional levels of information concerning television programs; and interest in accessing additional levels of information concerning the announcements of products, including the correlation of said interest with the Television viewer preferences. Over time, and with data enough, the EPG guide characterizes the sense of humor of the viewer, chronological age, activity age, if the viewer is married, if the viewer has children, if the viewer has a pet and what kind of animal domestic probably has the viewer, if the viewer are interested in buying a particular type of small appliance, if the viewer is considering the purchase of  a car, probable viewer political affiliations, and A wide range of other Features of the Televiewer.

Additionally, the Profile Program analyze an individual Televiewer Profile compared to Profiles of other viewers. With this analysis of intercomparison, the Profile Program can determine the probability that the subject viewer will prefer or be interested in a subject, product, theme, movie, episode, etc., in particular, based on comparisons with the Profiles of Similar viewer.

I. Use of the profile information of the viewer to customize the different aspects of the guide EPG

The EPG guide and the Profile Program use the viewer profile data, statistics collected about a particular viewer, Preferences Televiewer and Televiewer Characteristics (collectively, hereinafter referred to as "Profile of viewer "), to customize the different aspects of the EPG guide. The viewer has the option to block any of these automatic customization functions in the EPG Guide Configuration. An aspect of the EPG guide will be customized in the order of the channel intervals presented in the Grill Guide. The order in which it Present the intervals of the channels can be customized, to present the viewer's favorite channels in the part top / start of the Grill Guide in descending order of agreement with the Televiewer Profile.

In one embodiment, the order of the intervals of The channels are customized according to the day of the week and the time of day according to the Televiewer's Profile. By For example, if a viewer frequently watches the program of "Nick at Nite" in the afternoons every day from 7 pm to 10 pm, then the EPG guide automatically tunes the television to turn on between 7 pm and 10 pm, on the appropriate channel of "Nick at Nite" and format the Grill Guide to show the channel of "Nick at Nite" as the first channel of the Guide Grill. If the same viewer typically watches the program ESPN during the daylight hours on Saturday and Sunday, then the guide  EPG automatically tunes the television when it turns on between, for example, from 7 am to 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday, in one of ESPN channels, and format the Grill Guide to display ESPN channels as the first channels in the Guide to the Grill when the viewer enters the Grill Guide Enter, for example, 7 am to 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Depending on the viewer's option, the EPG guide and The Profile Program uses the profile data of the viewer, the statistics collected on a viewer in Particular, Televiewer Preferences and Features Televiewer, to execute automatic navigation. Agree With the viewer's option, self navigation can be executed during the broadcast of the publicity in real time. According to the viewer's option, self navigation It can be executed in the PIP Vision function, allowing the viewer watch the program that is tuned in progress in the Main Image window, while the self navigation in the PIP Window. Alternatively, depending on the option. of the viewer, self navigation can be performed in the Function of PIP Vision, allowing the viewer to watch the program tuned in progress in the PIP Window while provides self navigation in the Main Image Window. Additionally, the viewer can select the option to select a different ad to display, or browse manually on channels according to the viewer's selection.

Depending on the viewer's option, the EPG guide and The Profile Program uses the basic profile data of the viewer, the basic statistics collected on a particular viewer, TV Viewer Preferences and Features of the Televiewer, to populate the List of Recording and / or the Vision List with programs that are probably adapt to the viewer's interest. In one embodiment, the searches of this type of information are carried out in a central computer in the system header. In another embodiment, the queries are configured and are supplied to an engine of Internet search.

Depending on the viewer's option, the EPG guide and The Profile Program uses the basic profile data of the viewer, the basic statistics collected on a particular viewer, TV Viewer Preferences and Features of the Televiewer to find new stories that They probably fit the viewer's interests. He problem that is solved is automatically (without a staff editorial) select new stories from multiple new seeds to visualize a particular viewer in News services. The content of the audio part of the news broadcast is digitized and can be stored in a central computer, on one or more websites, on a DVD (recordings audio and video) local on the television system of the particular viewer, or in memory in the system television of the viewer in particular. In addition to the content of audio, you can also store the video recordings of the new histories.

The Viewer's Profile, and in some realizations, the specific entrance of the viewer is used to build requests to search for data sources, to locate and provide content that matches the interests of the viewer's profile and / or the specific requests of the information viewer. The new stories are indexed then (as described somewhere in this exhibition). The EPG guide presents the viewer with a personalized index. From this way, the viewer selects the new stories to see in the same way that the viewer selects the television programs, which the viewer wishes to watch or record. Additionally, the sites of the web pages that contain additional information concerning the new indexed stories  they can be sent, for example, as part of a text area of detailed description presented at the time the viewer over lights a particular news story for viewing.

In one embodiment, the Theme Guides provide the "Smart Classification" based on the Televiewer Profile (which is explained more fully in somewhere in this memory). That is, if a program is found in two channels, the system will select the best channel based on which of the two the viewer usually sees with more frequency In one embodiment, the Theme Guides are customized in addition to the Televiewer Profile. For example, an information broadcast broadcast package sent with the markers is used in order to order the markings in the sports guide consistent with the Profile of the Viewer. For example, the scoreboard of a match that include the Boston Red Sox would display the Red Sox markers firstly for a viewer in Boston.

During the configuration procedures, the EPG guide provides channel map selection in form automatic All channel maps are downloaded in the code viewer's postcard. The options related to the code Postcards are displayed. In one embodiment, the viewer is invites you to identify the information necessary for the television to select the channel mapping option appropriate, but the television automatically selects the map of appropriate channels. For example, the viewer is invited to identify, for example, the distribution service to which you are paid the viewer, for example, Colonial Cable, and a map of particular channels, for example, on which you receive HBO on the channel 43. In this way, the viewer identifies the information necessary for television to select the channel map appropriate. Alternatively, the viewer is invited select the channel map, for example, "if you have the Colonial Cable and has HBO on channel 43, opt for this map of channels. "

J. Use of user profile information to provide personalized advertising presentation to viewer

The EPG guide and the Profile Program use the Viewer Profile information to customize the presentation and scheduling of announcements to the viewer, and to customize the presentation of the EPG guide to the user. By For example, the EPG guide uses the profile information of the Televiewer to determine if the viewer is notified of the programming of a program that includes the favorite team of the viewer, a talk show that includes a player star of said team, etc. The EPG guide is capable of such personalized notification / announcement through, for example, a ad in the Advertising Window, or through an ad in the Virtual Ads Channel Interval.

Additionally, the EPG guide and the Program of Profile use the viewer profile information to customize the presentation and / or scheduling of ads broadcasts that are visible during the actual broadcast time of the TV show the viewer is watching. A example is the personalization of an overlapping message in an ad on a local geographic basis. For example, the EPG guide knows the geographical location of the individual viewer. The station can package the match with the zip code to customize the message, so that each zip code gets a message different, that is, the 3 Burger King establishments in the local area of the viewer. In one embodiment, the messages Customized can be preloaded by zip code in the EPG guide memories of viewers in particular. The preloaded messages can be transmitted through a network header during free hours and stored in the viewer terminal to use when running ads, for example, during a television show or in a video clip in the Advertising Window. The electronic trigger that trigger message execution can be transmitted together with the real-time television signal, and can identify the messages stored in the user's terminal that needs to be Applied

In another embodiment, personalized messages They are broadcasted with the televised ad. A way of issuing personalized messages in narrowband is embed custom information in the video stream of the ad. Another way is to transmit a digital "watermark" in the video stream of the ad.

In one embodiment, the customization of the Real-time display of ads is achieved providing multiple advertising channels, through tuning  from the TV automatically to an advertising channel on particular at the time during the broadcast of the program television during which the announcement is scheduled to take place, and then tuning the television back to the show television selected by the viewer at the end of the ad. In another embodiment, a service monitors emissions of ads as they are broadcast on a particular channel and Insert a channel change order in the Delete Interval Vertical ("VBI") when an ad is issued, in which the mentioned channel change order causes the television to tune to a particular channel for the broadcast of an ad suitable to the Television Preferences.

The viewer profile information can communicate as, for example, statistical reports of the Televiewer Profile information for many viewers These reports could be provided for your analysis by advertisers, network header operators, Guide producers, or others, to determine among others things marketing customization opportunities, narrowband emission opportunities, requirements for program detail information, and programming requirements of program distribution.

The EPG guide will try to capture the purchase date Approximate initial (for example, date of first power on) of any component of the television / entertainment system. The EPG guide can notify the user the appropriate time after the initial purchase of opportunities, such as the purchase of a extended manufacturer warranty. In one embodiment, the equipment terminal is addressable separately, providing that said notification messages can be sent in the interval of vertical erase (VBI) to the appropriate viewer. Based on the Viewer Profile, the extended warranty offer could be adapted to the financial situation of the viewer.

Another way the EPG guide uses the Televiewer profile information is in relation with the personalization of the "access content" of the Advertising messages displayed by the EPG guide. The Televiewer profile information will include the program of television that the viewer was watching immediately before of entering the EPG guide. The EPG guide can display different Ads in the Guide or Service, based on the content of the TV show that the viewer was watching before enter the EPG Guide, or one of the data services specials accessible through the EPG guide. The strategy of "access content" advertising provides a much more refined way of addressing the consumer. For example, consider two viewers who are both watching television at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday night. When a viewer who has been watching "Nova" enters the EPG guide, the EPG guide could display an ad for educational computers; While that when the second viewer who has been watching the Major League Baseball enters the EPG guide, the EPG guide could View an ad for Goodyear tires.

In an embodiment of this invention, a base of data from advertising messages and virtual channel ads it is stored in a RAM memory in the viewer's terminal, or it is accessible on a website site if the terminal of the viewer has an internet connection. In any case, the products of the ads in the database are labeled with coded categories that correspond to the labels of the coded categories assigned to television programs issued. (Preferably, these are the same categories as have used to classify programs in the category in screen or in the topic guide). The category tags of TV programs could be stored in RAM as part of the EPG database, and recovering from the package of applicable show information ("SIP"), based on the real-time clock and configuration information tuner. This information identifies a time and a channel that points to the applicable SIP. After retrieving the tag from the category of the last program that the viewer was watching in the TV mode of the EPG guide database, this tag is matched to the corresponding tag in the database of ad messages and channel ads virtual stored in RAM. In figure 1 of the drawings, the products of the advertisements to which they are attached the labels are displayed in an advertising window 14 and 16, and the announcement of the virtual channel displayed in cell 52 such as described above.

Another way even using the EPG guide the Televiewer profile information is in relation to the personalization of "adjacent content" of messages of advertising displayed by the EPG guide. The information of Viewer Profile will include content identification that the viewer has overlit in the EPG or service guide of related data. Using this method, the EPG guide display different ads, depending on which one it is for example the show that the viewer has overlit in progress in the Grill Guide, about what sport you have overlit in a sports data service, or what kind of news is there overlit in a news service (international, local, etc.).

The EPG guide can select ads from several possible places, including but not limited to: one library of ads stored in the viewer's terminal in the RAM that was downloaded through the interval of vertical erase (VBI), stored in the network header, or accessible through an EPG guide link with the Internet / WEB. Ads can take the form of graphics, text, video clips, audio clips, and combinations thereof. Each ad can be assigned subject codes, profile codes, and other systems smart selection. In one embodiment, in order to customize the presentation of advertising, the EPF guide seeks the library of ads available to locate ads that match the criteria set by advertisers for the "access content", "adjacent content", and / or the Viewer Profile information. In another embodiment, the EPG guide selects the ads for display, okay with the pre-established selection criteria.

The exposures of the following requests for Patents are incorporated herein in their entirety as a reference: international application WO96 / 07270; application number 60/053330 filed on July 21, 1997; application number 60/061119 filed on October 6, 1997; and application number 60/055237 filed on August 12, 1997.

In one embodiment, the ads in the library are assigned to topics; the history of using a theme menu On screen or the program guide is recorded; and the history is analyze by the EPG guide microprocessor to decide which is The announcement to present.

For example, a particular ad for cars could be assigned to a theme of events of sports. In a simple implementation, this announcement of cars would be selected for display, if the Sports users selected from the EPG guide in particular they had it as a more frequent topic than any other topic during a prescribed period of time. Figure 7 represents the on-screen display of the top level theme; and figure 8 represents the on-screen presentation of the second screen of Second level topics. The selection of tracks could be recorded when the viewer illuminates a subject in figure 7, such like "sports." Selecting a topic you get a list in screen, for hours, channels, and titles, of the programs that are consistent with the selected theme on a screen of themes second level, an example of this being shown in the figure 8. The usage history could be recorded in a memory by Overwriting old data stored in memory. Yes If desired, a more sophisticated analysis could be used. A) Yes well, the frequency of the selection could be weighted to further favor recent selections over selections old or themes can be combined to determine which ad It would be displayed.

In another embodiment, the ads in the library are assigned to particular television programs or classes of television programs; the usage history of the box EPG guide information is recorded, in terms of frequency of visits, time spent during a single visit, and / or the total time of all visits; the information boxes are correlated with television programs, and results They are analyzed to decide which ad to display. In place of the information box, any area of the screen of the EPG guide could be monitored in a similar way, to Decide which ad to display. In each case, the ads in the library are assigned to the types or subjects of the information displayed in the monitored area, so that better focus the objective of the ads to the interests of the users

In another embodiment, the ads in the library are also assigned to particular television programs or kinds of television shows in terms of channels and of hours; the tuner is monitored; the channel and time are correlated with television programs, and results They are analyzed to decide which ad to display. By For example, an advertisement for branded athletic shoes with a popular basketball star could be assigned to the programs of  basketball. The announcement of the shoes would be selected for your visualization if the EPG guide viewer in particular is introduced into the EPG while watching a game of basketball.

In another embodiment, the ads in the library are also assigned to particular television programs or to television show classes; history of programs entered in a "list of recording-vision "is the one shown in figure 6; and the results are analyzed to decide which is the ad to visualize.

The time of the monitored event can be taken in order to distinguish between multiple users of the same EPG guide or the same associated television receiver. The assumption is that the public who uses the EPG guide and who is watching television at different times of the day have different interests or housewives who can use the EPG guide with more frequency during the morning, and can be used by children in the afternoons, and men who work outside the house that the They can use Sunday afternoons.

The usage history as described previously it can be combined with the mode of "access by contents "described in application number 60/055237, for Direct the ads to the interests of the user. So, if the users of a particular EPG guide select comedies such as a topic more frequent than any other topic during a period of prescribed time, three ads could be tagged, and the final selection made from them would depend on what type program was watching the viewer before switching to the EPG guide on the screen.

Illustrative embodiments

The embodiments of the invention described herein they are only considered as preferred and / or illustrative of the concept of the invention; The scope of the invention is not limited to said embodiments. Different and several others can be designed configurations by skilled technicians in the art without deviate from the invention. For example, formats are possible Alternative screens.

Claims (22)

1. A method to navigate a guide interactive television programs on screen, comprising the stages of: collect data from the viewer's profile; select an ad based on data from viewer profile; display a list of television programs (22) vertically in a first area of a screen (10) of a presentation monitor; display the selected ad in a second area (14, 16) of the screen located horizontally adjacent to the first area; move a screen course (36) vertically to overlight one of the television shows in the first area; and move the cursor horizontally from the first area to the second area to overlight the ad. 2. The method of claim 1, which additionally comprises the step of activating a function with regarding the overlit advertisement. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the function consists of displaying the details on the screen overlit advertisement. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the details are displayed in the second area instead of the ad. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the details are displayed in a third area of the screen distinct from the first and second areas. 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the advertisement promotes a future television show, and the function consists of storing the time and channel of the television program Future for recording or later viewing. 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the function is to establish a link to an Internet website to display still images or video on the screen in the second area instead of the ad. 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the function is to establish a link to an Internet website, to display still images or video in a third area of the screen different from the first and second areas. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the scrolling stage illuminates the announcement for the visualization of a border around the second area. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the scrolling stage overlays a program for visualize in a color that contrasts with the other programs. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area of the screen includes program titles and one or more ad titles, program titles for display a list of television programs and the titles of the ads to display ads from the programs of future television. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein Ad titles remain in a fixed position in the screen, as the viewer moves through the list of television shows. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein Viewer profile information includes data from viewer interaction selected from the group comprising user interactions with the program guide interactive, television viewing features of the viewer, viewer interactions with a device remote control, and viewer interactions with a network of computers. 14. The method of claim 1, which It also includes tuning to an ad channel that supports an ad extracted according to the preferences of the viewer. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the ad is based on a television channel that is tuned in advance of the guide display interactive programs 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the ad is associated with a particular subset of TV show listings, and ad presentation varies based on the subset of program listings of television displayed in the first area of the screen. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the ad is displayed for an amount of time default, and in which a different ad is displayed after the completion of an amount of time default 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the different ad is not displayed after the termination of the predetermined amount of time does overlight the ad. 19. The method of claim 2, wherein the ad promotes a product or service, and in which the function is to display the details on screen about the product or service. 20. The method of claim 2, wherein the ad promotes a product or service, and the function is display a time and a channel of a television program associated with the product or service. 21. The method of claim 2, wherein the function is to display a video clip on the screen overlit advertisement. 22. The method of claim 2, wherein The function is to establish a link to an Internet website for access additional information about the ad Overlit