Patents Assigned to Starsight Telecast, Inc.
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Patent number: 8925018Abstract: An on-screen menu method and system for controlling the functions of integrated electronic devices and a television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day and an interconnected series of menus to control the features of the integrated electronic devices. An input device allows the viewer to move a pointer over different interactive areas of the guide and the function performed when the area is activated is displayed in a contextual help window. Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with the guide.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2014Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: StarSight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Theresa A. Alba, Marcia A. Casement, William De Stein, David Folker, Keith W. Hunwick, Kenneth D. Johnson
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Patent number: 8918809Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Schein, James J. Leftwich, David M. Folker, Keith Hunwick, Theresa Alba, Molly K. King
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Patent number: 8893182Abstract: An improved television guide system. According to one embodiment of the invention, television guide information is provided that includes multiple occurrences of a single show. The guide system of the present invention allows the user to identify a show and, thereafter, identify when the identified show will be played again. Accordingly, the user may more easily select shows for viewing or recordation.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Schein, David P. Warden, Molly K. King, Theresa A. Alba, Robert E. Russman
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Patent number: 8869204Abstract: A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Brian Lee Klosterman, Steven Schein
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Patent number: 8850477Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as television screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Schein, Sean A. O'Brien, James Jay Leftwich, Susan Broughton
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Patent number: 8806538Abstract: A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Brian Lee Klosterman, Steven Schein
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Patent number: 8776125Abstract: A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Starsight Telecast Inc.Inventors: Brian Lee Klosterman, Steven Schein
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Publication number: 20140181870Abstract: A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: STARSIGHT TELECAST INC.Inventors: Brian Lee Klosterman, Steven Schein
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Publication number: 20140173431Abstract: A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: STARSIGHT TELECAST INC.Inventors: Brian Lee Klosterman, Steven Schein
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Publication number: 20140150027Abstract: An on-screen menu method and system for controlling the functions of integrated electronic devices and a television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day and an interconnected series of menus to control the features of the integrated electronic devices. An input device allows the viewer to move a pointer over different interactive areas of the guide and the function performed when the area is activated is displayed in a contextual help window. Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with the guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.Inventors: Theresa A. Alba, Marcia A. Casement, William De Stein, David Folker, Keith W. Hunwick, Kenneth D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20140137157Abstract: An on-screen menu method and system for controlling the functions of integrated electronic devices and a television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day and an interconnected series of menus to control the features of the integrated electronic devices. An input device allows the viewer to move a pointer over different interactive areas of the guide and the function performed when the area is activated is displayed in a contextual help window. Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with the guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.Inventors: Theresa A. Alba, Marcia A. Casement, William De Stein, David Folker, Keith W. Hunwick, Kenneth D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20140101698Abstract: An improved television guide system. According to one embodiment of the invention, television guide information is provided that includes multiple occurrences of a single show. The guide system of the present invention allows the user to identify a show and, thereafter, identify when the identified show will be played again. Accordingly, the user may more easily select shows for viewing or recordation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.Inventors: Steven M. Schein, David P. Warden, Molly K. King, Theresa A. Alba, Robert E. Russman
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Publication number: 20140040943Abstract: A multiple Interactive Program Guide (IPG) system provides different television programming and different IPGs to several different users respectively. A single set-top box is capable of providing programming and scheduling data to several different television sets. Each of the different IPGs share a common database. Therefore, a first IPG being viewed by a first user can display data added or modified via a second IPG by a second user of the system. Furthermore, the data added or modified by the second user can influence the viewing rights of the first user. Also, all the competing and conflicting requests for limited resources, such as VCR scheduled recordings, will be brought to the users' attention and will be displayed by the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: James H. Knowles, Kenneth David Johnson, Gordon Chang
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Patent number: 8646005Abstract: A system and method for displaying an electronic program schedule guide is provided. The system has areas for displaying program schedule information. In addition, the system also has areas that may be used for advertising programs, products or services. In another embodiment, the system has areas for displaying messages to the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Brian Lee Klosterman, Steven M. Schein
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Patent number: 8615782Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Schein, Sean A. O'Brien, James Jay Leftwich, Susan Broughton
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Patent number: 8578414Abstract: An on-screen menu method and system for controlling the functions of integrated electronic devices and a television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day and an interconnected series of menus to control the features of the integrated electronic devices. An input device allows the viewer to move a pointer over different interactive areas of the guide and the function performed when the area is activated is displayed in a contextual help window. Various control glyphs provide for recursive interaction with the guide.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Theresa A. Alba, Marcy A. Casement, William DeStein, David Folker, Keith W. Hunwick, Kenneth D. Johnson
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Patent number: 8566871Abstract: A multiple Interactive Program Guide (IPG) system provides different television programming and different IPGs to several different users respectively. A single set-top box is capable of providing programming and scheduling data to several different television sets. Each of the different IPGs share a common database. Therefore, a first IPG being viewed by a first user can display data added or modified via a second IPG by a second user of the system. Furthermore, the data added or modified by the second user can influence the viewing rights of the first user. Also, all the competing and conflicting requests for limited resources, such as VCR scheduled recordings, will be brought to the users' attention and will be displayed by the system.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2005Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: James H Knowles, Kenneth D Johnson, Gordon Chang
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Patent number: 8539528Abstract: The present invention provides a tuning scheme for coordinating schedule information and programs received from multiple sources (26, 28, 30 and 34). In the preferred embodiment, an identifier associated with the program's channel (52) is used to identify a source device (26, 28, 30 or 34). When a user selects a program (60 or 62) listed in displayed schedule information (50), the system (10) reads the source identifier attached to the program's channel (52). The system (10) then carries out an automatic switching/tuning such that the required source device (26, 28, 30 or 34) is input to the destination device (22), and a tuner is then tuned to the selected program's channel (52).Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventor: Brian Lee Klosterman
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Patent number: 8522282Abstract: An improved television guide system. According to one embodiment of the invention, television guide information is provided that includes multiple occurrences of a single show. The guide system of the present invention allows the user to identify a show and, thereafter, identify when the identified show will be played again. Accordingly, the user may more easily select shows for viewing or recordation.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Schein, David P. Warden, Molly K. King, Theresa A. Alba, Robert E. Russman
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Patent number: 8453174Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Schein, James J. Leftwich, David M. Folker, Keith Hunwick, Theresa Alba, Molly K. King