Patents by Inventor Edward B. Knudson
Edward B. Knudson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20100287591Abstract: An interactive media guidance system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. Options may be provided that allow the user to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all or selected channels for some or all episodes including reruns, new episodes, network or syndicated episodes, on all or only on selected days.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, Thomas R. Lemmons, Kevin D. Satterfield, Donald W. Allison, Michael D. Ellis
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Patent number: 7827585Abstract: An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Joel G Hassell, Edward B Knudson, L. Joe Hedges, Michael D Ellis, David M Berezowski
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Patent number: 7793322Abstract: An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2003Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Joel G. Hassell, Edward B. Knudson, L. Joe Hedges, Michael D. Ellis, David M. Berezowski
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Publication number: 20100223642Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, David M. Rudnick, Michael D. Ellis, Daniel C. Hagenbuch, Joel G. Hassell, Robert A. Knee, Steven J. Reynolds
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Patent number: 7784081Abstract: An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to select a program for recording onto the digital storage device. The program guide may then provide the user a list of programs that includes at least one listing for a recorded program. The user may select a recorded program listing and the program guide will transfer the corresponding program from the digital storage device to a secondary storage device.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Joel G. Hassell, Edward B. Knudson, L. Joe Hedges, Michael D. Ellis, David M. Berezowski
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Patent number: 7779440Abstract: An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2009Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventor: Edward B. Knudson
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Publication number: 20100205634Abstract: An interactive television program guide system and method is provided. Time separators are displayed within lists of program listings to allow users to more easily view the program listings. On-screen arrows have their display characteristics changed according to user actions. Similar program listings are displayed only once when using search program listings. Users are provided with an opportunity to view channel information before setting channels as favorites. Information from local information services is provided in program guide display screens that are configurable by a main facility. Users are provided with an opportunity to centrally lock and unlock programs, and to bypass locks when desired.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2009Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: Rovi Technologies CorporationInventors: Edward B. Knudson, Michael D. Ellis, W. Benjamin Herrington, Steven C. Williamson, Pamela L. McKissick, William L. Thomas, David M. Berezowski, Kenneth F. Carpenter, JR., Jeffrey Ross, Daniel C. Hagenbuch, Steven J. Reynolds, David M. Rudnick
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Patent number: 7774812Abstract: A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, Michael D. Ellis, William L. Thomas, Bruce L. Davis
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Publication number: 20100192172Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which interactive television program guide advertisement usage is monitored. Advertisement usage may be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are transmitted from a television distribution facility to user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored by monitoring when advertisements are received by the user television equipment. Advertisement usage information may also be monitored at the time at which advertisements are displayed by a program guide. Less important data may be filtered from the collected advertisement usage data. Other activities that may be monitored include the viewing activities of the user, which program guide screens are displayed, and which non-program-guide applications are used. Real-time ratings information (e.g., real-time ratings of the popularity of certain television programs, video games, or other applications) may be provided to users in real time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: William L. Thomas, Joel G. Hassell, Edward B. Knudson, Connie T. Marshall, Thomas R. Lemmons, Franklin E. Boyer, David M. Berezowski, Donald C. Kern, Michael D. Ellis
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Publication number: 20100192179Abstract: A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Edward B. Knudson
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Publication number: 20100175078Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which targeted advertisements may be presented to a user and targeted actions taken in the program guide based on the user's interests. The program guide monitors the user's interactions with the program guide to determine the user's interests. Interactions that may be monitored include interactions that indicate the categories of programming that interest the user (e.g., movies, sports, children's programming, etc.), setting a reminder for a program, purchasing a program, requesting information on a program, browsing program listings for a particular time or channel, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, Michael D. Ellis, Robert A. Knee, Kenneth F. Carpenter, Jr.
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Publication number: 20100154001Abstract: A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment such as a set-top box. The program guide provides an operator showcase in the form of one or more operator showcase television listings screens, each of which contains a set of television listings information. The sets of television listings information are generated by querying a database of television listings data in a database in the set-top box. Each database query is based on content criteria previously selected by the cable system operator or other service provider. The service provider is also able to define the format with which the television listings information is displayed in the television listings screens. A title and logos may also be selected by the service provider for each screen. The operator showcase television listings screens may therefore by customized and branded by the service provider.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Edward B. Knudson, William L. Thomas, Bruce L. Davis
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Publication number: 20090320071Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, Joel G. Hassell, Michael D. Ellis, William L. Thomas
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Publication number: 20090260037Abstract: An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system provides for designating a preferred media type which reflects the user's interests. The program guide system also provides the user with the option of designating favorite channels. The user is subsequently allowed to navigate among only favorite channels of the preferred media type.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Inventor: Edward B. Knudson
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Patent number: 7603685Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Edward B Knudson, Joel G Hassell, Michael D Ellis, William L Thomas
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Patent number: 7571453Abstract: An interactive program guide system is provided in which an interactive program guide offers a user access to content from multiple available media types. The program guide system allows the designation of at least one channel as a favorite channel based on user selection from multiple channels of at least one media source. The multiple channels are associated with one or more of the available media types. The program guide system also allows the designation of at least one of the available media types as a preferred media type for a current viewing session independently from designating a favorite channel. In addition, a user has the option of navigating among only favorite channels of the preferred media types.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventor: Edward B. Knudson
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Publication number: 20090070817Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may inform a program guide of the user's interests. Information on the user's interests may be stored in a preference profile. There may be more than one preference profile, each for a different user. Each preference profile contains a number of preference attributes (program titles, genres, viewing times, channels, broadcast characteristics, etc.). A preference level (e.g., strong or weak like, strong or weak dislike, illegal, mandatory, don't care, etc.) that is indicative of the user's level of interest is associated with each preference attribute. Preference profiles may be used to restrict the programs that are listed in various program listings display screens and may be used to limit the channels to which the program guide allows the user to tune.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: TV Guide Networks, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Edward B. Knudson, Thomas R. Lemmons, Joel G. Hassell, Robert A. Knee, Kevin B. Easterbrook
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Publication number: 20090019485Abstract: A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Ellis, Edward B. Knudson
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Publication number: 20080307460Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, David M. Rudnick, Michael D. Ellis, Daniel C. Hagenbuch, Joel G. Hassell, Robert A. Knee, Steven J. Reynolds
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Publication number: 20080263599Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: United Video Properties, Inc.Inventors: Edward B. Knudson, David M. Rudnick, Michael D. Ellis, Daniel C. Hagenbuch, Joel G. Hassell, Robert A. Knee, Steven J. Reynolds