公开(公告)号：US08051450B2

公开(公告)日：2011-11-01

申请号：US10686984

申请日：2003-10-16

Applicant: James O. Robarts ,  David S. Byrne ,  Steve Fluegel ,  Gabe Newell ,  Dan Newell ,  Kenneth Abbott

Inventor： James O. Robarts ,  David S. Byrne ,  Steve Fluegel ,  Gabe Newell ,  Dan Newell ,  Kenneth Abbott

IPC: H04N7/16 ,  H04N7/173 ,  G06F15/00 ,  H04N5/445

CPC classification number: H04N21/466 ,  H04N5/44543 ,  H04N5/765 ,  H04N5/775 ,  H04N5/781 ,  H04N5/782 ,  H04N5/85 ,  H04N7/163 ,  H04N7/165 ,  H04N21/25891 ,  H04N21/4314 ,  H04N21/4331 ,  H04N21/4332 ,  H04N21/4334 ,  H04N21/434 ,  H04N21/44222 ,  H04N21/4438 ,  H04N21/4532 ,  H04N21/4622 ,  H04N21/4661 ,  H04N21/4668 ,  H04N21/4751 ,  H04N21/4755 ,  H04N21/4756 ,  H04N21/4782 ,  H04N21/482 ,  H04N21/4821 ,  H04N21/4826 ,  H04N21/4828 ,  H04N21/6143 ,  H04N21/6175 ,  H04N21/84 ,  H04N21/858 ,  H04N21/8586

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) organizes and presents programming information to the viewer and allows for creation of queries to facilitate both simple and complex searches of the programming information. The EPG is configured to automatically identify programs that a viewer is likely to prefer. The EPG collects viewing preferences of a viewer and, using these preferences; automatically develops queries for identifying programs that the viewer is likely to watch. The EPG also enables multiple viewers to merge their individual queries into one composite query or to run queries in background to periodically check for programs and notify the viewer when a program is identified. Queries are saved in an EPG database in a hierarchic structure with directories and sub-directories to make it easy for a viewer for organizing and retrieval. Also the EPG creates queries for a channel, network name or program using a 10-key keypad. The EPG is configured to interpret the data as representing all possible choices.

Abstract translation: 电子节目指南（EPG）向观众组织并呈现节目信息，并允许创建查询以促进对节目信息的简单和复杂的搜索。 EPG被配置为自动识别观看者可能喜欢的节目。 EPG收集观看者的观看偏好，并且使用这些偏好自动开发用于识别观看者可能观看的节目的查询。 EPG还使多个观看者能够将其各自的查询合并为一个复合查询，或者在后台运行查询以定期检查程序，并在识别程序时通知查看者。 查询以具有目录和子目录的分层结构保存在EPG数据库中，以使查看器易于组织和检索。 EPG也使用10键小键盘创建对频道，网络名称或节目的查询。 EPG被配置为将数据解释为表示所有可能的选择。

公开(公告)号：US20050278741A1

公开(公告)日：2005-12-15

申请号：US10686984

申请日：2003-10-16

Applicant: James Robarts ,  David Byrne ,  Steve Fluegel ,  Gabe Newell ,  Dan Newell ,  Kenneth Abbott

Inventor： James Robarts ,  David Byrne ,  Steve Fluegel ,  Gabe Newell ,  Dan Newell ,  Kenneth Abbott

IPC: G06F17/30 ,  H04N5/445 ,  H04N5/765 ,  H04N5/775 ,  H04N5/781 ,  H04N5/782 ,  H04N5/85 ,  H04N7/16 ,  H04N7/20 ,  H04N21/258 ,  H04N21/431 ,  H04N21/433 ,  H04N21/434 ,  H04N21/442 ,  H04N21/443 ,  H04N21/45 ,  H04N21/462 ,  H04N21/466 ,  H04N21/475 ,  H04N21/4782 ,  H04N21/482 ,  H04N21/61 ,  H04N21/84 ,  H04N21/858 ,  H04H9/00

CPC classification number: H04N21/466 ,  H04N5/44543 ,  H04N5/765 ,  H04N5/775 ,  H04N5/781 ,  H04N5/782 ,  H04N5/85 ,  H04N7/163 ,  H04N7/165 ,  H04N21/25891 ,  H04N21/4314 ,  H04N21/4331 ,  H04N21/4332 ,  H04N21/4334 ,  H04N21/434 ,  H04N21/44222 ,  H04N21/4438 ,  H04N21/4532 ,  H04N21/4622 ,  H04N21/4661 ,  H04N21/4668 ,  H04N21/4751 ,  H04N21/4755 ,  H04N21/4756 ,  H04N21/4782 ,  H04N21/482 ,  H04N21/4821 ,  H04N21/4826 ,  H04N21/4828 ,  H04N21/6143 ,  H04N21/6175 ,  H04N21/84 ,  H04N21/858 ,  H04N21/8586

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) organizes and presents programming information to the viewer and allows for creation of queries to facilitate both simple and complex searches of the programming information. According to one aspect, the EPG is configured to automatically identify programs that a viewer is likely to prefer. The EPG collects viewing preferences of a viewer and, based upon the these viewing preferences, automatically develops queries for identifying programs that the viewer is likely to want to watch. The EPG further enables multiple viewers to merge their individual queries into one composite query or to run queries in background to periodically check for programs and notify the viewer when a program is identified. Queries are saved in an EPG database in a hierarchic structure with directories and sub-directories to make it easy for a viewer to organize and retrieve queries. Another aspect concerns creating queries for a channel, network name or program name using a 10-key keypad. The viewer enters digits in the number or name, one digit at a time. With each entry, the viewer might intend to enter a number or letter. The EPG is configured to interpret the data as representing all possible choices, including the number and letters associated with the key. For instance, when a viewer depresses the key with number “5,” the EPG interprets that data to mean “5” or “j” or “k” or “1.” The EPG identifies all programs, channels, and networks which begin with the number or letters. As the viewer continues to enter data, the list of programs, channel, and networks dynamically narrows so that after a few button presses, the viewer is presented with a short list of possible choices.

Abstract translation: 电子节目指南（EPG）向观众组织并呈现节目信息，并允许创建查询以促进对节目信息的简单和复杂的搜索。 根据一个方面，EPG被配置为自动识别观看者可能喜欢的节目。 EPG收集观看者的观看偏好，并且基于这些观看偏好，自动开发用于识别观看者可能想要观看的节目的查询。 EPG还允许多个观看者将其各自的查询合并为一个复合查询，或者在后台运行查询以定期检查程序，并在识别出程序时通知查看者。 查询以具有目录和子目录的分层结构保存在EPG数据库中，以便查看者组织和检索查询。 另一方面涉及使用10键小键盘创建对频道，网络名称或节目名称的查询。 观众输入数字或名称，每次一位数字。 对于每个条目，查看者可能打算输入一个数字或字母。 EPG被配置为将数据解释为表示所有可能的选择，包括与该键相关联的数字和字母。 例如，当观众按下具有数字“5”的键时，EPG将该数据解释为“5”或“j”或“k”或“1”。 EPG识别所有以数字或字母开头的节目，频道和网络。 当观众继续输入数据时，程序，频道和网络列表动态变窄，以便在按下几个按钮之后，向观众呈现可能选择的简短列表。