Unified presentation of programming from different physical sources
US5990883A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/482
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a system and method for selecting content from a plurality of different physical sources and from a variety of content sources that are available from the physical sources. In one example, physical sources comprise different signal sources or types, such as terrestrially broadcast signals and cable television signals. Content sources comprise different channels or network sources. The method includes a step of displaying an integrated listing of content entries for selection by a user, wherein each content entry is associated with both a content source and a physical source from which particular content is available. The system accepts a selection from the user of a single content entry, and in response renders the content source associated with the selected single content entry from the physical source that is also associated with the selected single content entry. The invention also includes steps of obtaining content data for a plurality of different content sources in a variety of data formats, and of translating the content data into an integrated database having a predefined schema.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.