Patents by Inventor Steven M. Horiwitz

Steven M. Horiwitz 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).

  • Altering locks on programming content
    Patent number: 6785901
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for flexible locking and unlocking programming content. Programming content and the content of the programming content is often described by electronic program guide (EPG) data or guide data. Using the guide data, a user is able to create, alter and unlock locks on the programming content. Locking and unlocking the programming content can be based on characteristics of the programming content such as the duration of the programming content, start times of the programming content, end times of the programming content, content descriptors and ratings of the programming content and the like. The ability to create and unlock locks is flexible and can be directed specifically to particular programs within a channel or to specific channels. The ability to create and unlock locks can further be based on user profiles such that the programming content provided to particular users is determined by the user's profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: WEBTV Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Horiwitz, Jeff Yaksick