Program guide with selectable advertisements and pseudo-ads
US6799327B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/478
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Television program guides are equipped with advertisements and “pseudo-ads.” Pseudo-ads generally include non-advertising subject matter such as games, weather information, celebrity interviews, etc. Pseudo-ads are mixed in with regular advertisements as they are displayed. In one embodiment of the invention, viewers may customize the display of advertising information using buttons on a remote control or set-top box to display desired regular advertisements or pseudo-ads. Both regular and pseudo-ads may be selected to obtain additional information or to initiate associated actions. These and other aspects of the invention help to maintain the viewer's interest in the program guide, and allow more advertisements to be viewed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.