Terminal for suggesting programs offered on a television program delivery system
US5798785A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/478
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A novel reprogrammable set top terminal for a television program delivery system which suggests programs for viewing is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for reprogramming set top terminals, and selecting and displaying programs to suggest to subscribers for viewing. The invention is particularly useful in television program delivery systems with hundreds of channels of programming, a menu driven program selection system, and a program control information signal which carries data and identifies the available program choices. Specifically, the invention relates to remote reprogramming of terminal memory and the gathering and analysis of data for selecting programs to suggest to a subscriber. The invention is a terminal which includes a circuit for receiving incoming signals, a processor, memory, and a circuit to generate menu screens for display on a TV or monitor. Various data gathering and analysis techniques are used to customize selection of programs for display on a menu.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.