Gemstar Development Corporation Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140208362 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING ADVERTISEMENT RESPONSIVE TO EPG INFORMATION - 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. | 07-24-2014 |
20140196074 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PARENTAL CONTROL USING V-CHIP PLUS+ AND MASTER PASSWORD - A method and apparatus for exercising access control over television programs using a parental control user interface that has different functions is provided. The method requires a password to enter into a master mode for obtaining access to all the functions of the parental control user interface. Once in the master mode, the user may enter a criterion for blocking a television program from being viewed or recorded or the user can override an already blocked television program. | 07-10-2014 |
20140089980 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING ADVERTISEMENT RESPONSIVE TO EPG INFORMATION - 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. | 03-27-2014 |
20130097145 | SEARCH ENGINE FOR VIDEO AND GRAPHICS - A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user. | 04-18-2013 |
20130067507 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PARENTAL CONTROL USING V-CHIP PLUS+ AND MASTER PASSWORD - A method and apparatus for exercising access control over television programs using a parental control user interface that has different functions is provided. The method requires a password to enter into a master mode for obtaining access to all the functions of the parental control user interface. Once in the master mode, the user may enter a criterion for blocking a television program from being viewed or recorded or the user can override an already blocked television program. | 03-14-2013 |
20130014164 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING VIDEO CLIPS - A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time or stored video clip images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window. | 01-10-2013 |
20120167136 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING TELEVISION PROGRAMS AND RELATED TEXT - A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time or stored video clip images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162518 | SIMULATED PIP WINDOW IN EPG - A first signal representing a reduced size video program is transmitted from a central location to a plurality of user terminals in a television signal. A second signal representative of an EPG is generated at one of the user terminals. The first and second signals are linearly combined and applied to a display monitor to display the reduced size video program and the EPG on the screen of the monitor simultaneously in a PIG format. In one embodiment a plurality of reduced size video programs are transmitted in the television signal and one of them is selected for display in a PIG format by marking the program listing in the EPG corresponding to the selected reduced size video program with a cursor. | 06-28-2012 |
20120030698 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PARENTAL CONTROL USING V-CHIP PLUS+ AND MASTER PASSWORD - A method and apparatus for exercising access control over television programs using a parental control user interface that has different functions is provided. The method requires a password to enter into a master mode for obtaining access to all the functions of the parental control user interface. Once in the master mode, the user may enter a criterion for blocking a television program from being viewed or recorded or the user can override an already blocked television program. | 02-02-2012 |
20110167451 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, STORING AND PROCESSING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE DATA FOR ON-SCREEN DISPLAY - A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window. | 07-07-2011 |
20110154397 | PREMIUM CHANNEL PROMOTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - 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. | 06-23-2011 |
20110022620 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSOCIATING AND PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT OF DIFFERENT TYPES WHICH SHARE ATRRIBUTES - Systems and methods are provided for associating and providing media content of different types which share attributes. When an audio asset is selected for playback, visual media content, which includes the audio asset, may be identified and associated with the audio asset. The realted visual media content may be displayed during playback of the audio asset to provide a compelling visual component during audio asset playback. | 01-27-2011 |
20110016492 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORWARDING MEDIA ASSET EVENTS - Systems and methods are provided for forwarding media asset events. A media asset event may be scheduled on a first device for a particular time. At the particular time, the first device may determine whether the user is within a perceivable range of the first device and may provide access to the media asset when the user is within a perceivable range of the first device. If the user is outside a perceivable range of the first device, data associated with the media asset event may be automatically transmitted to a second device. If the user is within a perceivable range of the second device, the media asset and media asset event may be provided to the user on the second device. If the user is outside a perceivable range of the second device, the media asset may be stored to on the second device and/or forwarded to another device. | 01-20-2011 |
20100333151 | CROSS PLATFORM ENTERTAINMENT ARCHITECTURE - A broadcast video platform that includes a first communications interface, a second communications interface, and a decoder. The first communications interface is coupled to a broadcast-based user equipment device and is configured to receive a request for a video item from the user equipment device according to a first transport protocol. The second communications interface is coupled to a server and configured to provide to the server the request according to a second transport protocol and to receive the video item in binary format. The decoder is configured to decode the requested video item. | 12-30-2010 |
20100333137 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTENT SCHEDULING ACROSS MULTIPLE DEVICES - Methods and systems for scheduling media content presentation across multiple devices are disclosed. A media planner application generates media event presentation schedules for one or more users based on user-scheduled media events and automatic media event recommendations. Media events can be scheduled for presentation on multiple user devices, including portable devices. Media event recommendations can be generated based at least in part on user preferences and habits, such as user media preferences, device availability, device usage, device connectivity, and user mood. | 12-30-2010 |
20100319020 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADVERTISING TRAFFIC CONTROL AND BILLING - 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. | 12-16-2010 |
20100313130 | SEARCH ENGINE FOR VIDEO AND GRAPHICS - A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312795 | SEARCH ENGINE FOR VIDEO AND GRAPHICS - A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user. | 12-09-2010 |
20100312761 | SEARCH ENGINE FOR VIDEO AND GRAPHICS - A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user. | 12-09-2010 |
20100293457 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALPHANUMERIC NAVIGATION AND INPUT - Systems and methods for supporting user input in a media guidance application is provided. A visual keypad including a non-alphanumeric pane with at least one non-alphanumeric or function button may rotate, or orbit, around some or all of the core alphabet block. The non-alphanumeric pane may be redisplayed or repositioned closer or adjacent to the current cursor position within the visual keypad. Enhanced user input features, such as automatic string completion, automatic next character selection, automatic cursor movement, and automatic character removal, may be combined with the non-alphanumeric pane. | 11-18-2010 |
20100275230 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING TELEVISION PROGRAMS AND RELATED TEXT - A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time or stored video clip images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window. | 10-28-2010 |
20100247072 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING A DATABASE OF TELEVISION SCHEDULE INFORMATION - Compressed codes of as few as 1 to 8 digits, which are decoded by a decoder to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information, identify single TV programs or a category of programs and are stored at a central location accessible over telephone lines through pay-per-use, toll free or regular toll numbers from remote locations. The channel, date, time and length information is used to select channels, start recording, and stop recording at the appropriate time or to control viewing on a TV. | 09-30-2010 |
20100247071 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING A DATABASE OF TELEVISION SCHEDULE INFORMATION - Compressed codes of as few as 1 to 8 digits, which are decoded by a decoder to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information, identify single TV programs or a category of programs and are stored at a central location accessible over telephone lines through pay-per-use, toll free or regular toll numbers from remote locations. The channel, date, time and length information is used to select channels, start recording, and stop recording at the appropriate time or to control viewing on a TV. | 09-30-2010 |
20100186033 | PREMIUM CHANNEL PROMOTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - 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. | 07-22-2010 |