Patents Assigned to Starsight Telecast
  • Publication number: 20070094684
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Schein, David Warden, Molly King, Theresa Alba, Robert Russman
  • Patent number: 7210159
    Abstract: Television schedule information transmission and utilization systems transmit TV schedule data and associated network control messages provided by computer as packets via the Video Blanking Interval (VBI) lines in the TV signal from various television program providers. This data is acquired by regional data processing systems and forwarded by the regional data processing systems to subscriber units and used to construct an internal database. This internal database can be accessed by the subscriber unit to display a TV schedule for the channels that are received by the user's TV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Roop, Alan R. Ebright, Jeffrey J. Kochy, David P. Warden, Konstantine Sokolik, Giambattista A. Alegiani
  • Patent number: 7209640
    Abstract: Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells (26), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell (26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: StarSight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Young, John H Roop, Alan R Ebright, Michael W Faber, David Anderson
  • Patent number: 7187847
    Abstract: Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells (26), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell (26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: StarSight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Young, John H Roop, Alan R Ebright, Michael W Faber, David Anderson
  • Patent number: 7162729
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M Schein, David P Warden, Molly K King, Theresa A Alba, Robert E Russman
  • Patent number: 7151886
    Abstract: Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells (26), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell (26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: StarSight Telecast Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Young, John H Roop, Alan R Ebright, Michael W Faber, David Anderson
  • Patent number: 7137135
    Abstract: 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 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. Additionally, a video window is interactive and provides tuning functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Michael Schein, Jim Leftwich, David M. Folker, Keith Hunwick
  • Patent number: 7062777
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Theresa A. Alba, Marcia A. Casement, William De Stein, David Folker, Keith W. Hunwick, Kenneth D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7047549
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Schein, David P. Warden, Molly K. King, Theresa A. Alba, Robert E. Russman
  • Publication number: 20050138657
    Abstract: An electronic programming guide generator utilizes filters to select only programming filtered to display in an electronic programming guide display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventor: James Leftwich
  • Publication number: 20050125822
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule system with a user interface which allows a user to control access to television programs by time, rating, content, and/or channel. Furthermore, the user may set a limit on pay-per-view (PPV) spending to limit the purchase of PPV programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: StarSight Telecast, Incorporated
    Inventors: Marcy Casement, Andrew Burgess, David Folker
  • Patent number: 6850693
    Abstract: Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells (26), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell (26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Young, John H. Roop, Alan R. Ebright, Michael W. Faber, David Anderson
  • Publication number: 20040210935
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule and/or listing 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 and/or listing information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule and/or listing information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule and/or listing information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Schein, Sean A. O'Brien, Brian L. Klosterman, Kenneth A. Milnes
  • Publication number: 20040111745
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: StarSight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Schein, Sean A. O'Brien, James Jay Leftwich, Susan Broughton
  • Patent number: 6732369
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Schein, Sean A. O'Brien, James Jay Leftwich, Susan Broughton
  • Publication number: 20040031050
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Lee Klosterman
  • Publication number: 20040008971
    Abstract: Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells (26), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell (26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Young, John H. Roop, Alan R. Ebright, Michael W. Faber, David Anderson
  • Publication number: 20030235401
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for programming a VCR is provided. The system, utilizing a programming controller, presents a display on the viewer's television which contains a pattern representing a plurality of time intervals. The user programs the controller by indicating what time intervals on what week and on what channel are to be recorded. The controller then continually compares the current time with the programmed time until a match is found. When a match is found the controller activates the VCR, tunes the VCR to the desired channel, and initiates recording. When the controller determines that the VCR has recorded for the desired length of time, it stops the VCR from further recording and turns off the power to the VCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: StarSight Telecast Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Milnes, Steven Schein
  • Publication number: 20030222975
    Abstract: A preview system activated from an on-screen programming guide displays a video preview of a selected particular program on the display screen. The video preview is displayed on less than the full screen so that the video can be highly-compressed to save bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Lee Klosterman
  • Publication number: 20030208758
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule and/or listing 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 and/or listing information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as television screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule and/or listing information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule and/or listing information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Starsight Telecast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Schein, Sean A. O'Brien, Brian L. Klosterman, Kenneth A. Milnes