System and method for displaying program listings in an interactive electronic program guide
US5630119A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 13, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/84
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an interactive entertainment distribution network including a headend which is connected to provide programs to a plurality of user interface units in individual homes. The user interface units are configured to run electronic program guides for displaying available programs categorized by discrete time slots. Each of the programs has a scheduled time period which occupies at least a portion of one or more of the discrete time slots. The headend maintains a database with a plurality of program data records. Each program data record is indexed by one of a plurality of bucket numbers. The bucket numbers correspond respectively to the plurality of discrete time slots. Each particular program is represented by a program data record and associated bucket number for each of the one or more discrete time slots which the program occupies. The electronic program guide requests programming information from the headend by specifying one or more bucket numbers to the headend.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.