Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Ward, III
Thomas E. Ward, III 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: 20140250462Abstract: An EPG database for a home entertainment system includes files that contain information about television programs retrievable by time and channel. The files are linked to each other so information about, a future television program can be obtained by accessing a file about a current television program. A current television program displayed on the screen of a home entertainment system includes an announcement or advertisement of a future television program. The availability of an electronic program guide function (e.g., record, watch, details, display time, display channel, display by theme, and Internet connection) is signaled during, before, or after the announcement. A command is issued to invoke the EPG function. The information about the future television program is retrieved from the file about the current television program in fee database. The EPG function is executed with the retrieved information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: Index Systems, Inc.Inventors: Henry C. Yuen, Thomas E. Ward, III, Eric Shalkey, P. Christopher Shoaff
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Patent number: 8732757Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Patent number: 8726311Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Patent number: 8635649Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2002Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Patent number: 8448209Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Patent number: 8336071Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2010Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Publication number: 20110154397Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2011Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Douglas B. Macrae, Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
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Patent number: 7941818Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2007Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Index Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Ted Nesson
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Patent number: 7921441Abstract: The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2004Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Douglas B Macrae, Thomas E Ward, III, Kenneth S Hancock, Jonathan B Orlick
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Publication number: 20110035771Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Publication number: 20110035770Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Kenneth Hancock, Douglas B. Macrae
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Publication number: 20100319020Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a computer system for managing advertisements for use in an interactive electronic television program guide (EPG) comprising: a memory storing information regarding advertisements to be displayed on the EPG including one or more of the group of: times of day of ad display, duration of ad displays, location of ad displays, days of week of ad displays, television programs broadcast at or about the time of ad display; rotation rate for ads, number of ads being rotated with the ad, memory required for storage of ad at EPG location, payment rates for ads. The invention determines the distribution of advertisements based on the information stored in the memory and distributes advertisements to the EPG based on the determined distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Henry C. Yuen, Thomas E. Ward, III, Douglas B. Macrae
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Publication number: 20100257553Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a computer system for managing advertisements for use in an interactive electronic television program guide (EPG) comprising: a memory storing information regarding advertisements to be displayed on the EPG including one or more of the group of: times of day of ad display, duration of ad displays, location of ad displays, days of week of ad displays, television programs broadcast at or about the time of ad display; rotation rate for ads, number of ads being rotated with the ad, memory required for storage of ad at EPG location, payment rates for ads. The invention determines the distribution of advertisements based on the information stored in the memory and distributes advertisements to the EPG based on the determined distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONInventors: Henry C. Yuen, Thomas E. Ward, III, Douglas B. Macrae
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Patent number: 6756997Abstract: The present invention is an improvement over previous Electronic Programming Guides (“EPG”) in that it provides, among other things: Improved viewer interaction capabilities with the EPG; improved viewer control of video recording of future-scheduled programming; improved features to the EPG display and navigation; parental control of the EPG display; improved television program information access by the viewer; improved opportunities for the commercial advertiser to reach the viewer; improved product information access by the viewer; creation of a viewer's profile; utilization of viewer profile information to customize various aspects of the EPG; and utilization of viewer profile information to provide customized presentation of advertising to the viewer.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2000Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Gemstar Development CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Ward, III, Douglas B. Macrae