Patent · US Active

Method and system for selective initial television channel display

US8789104B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
13References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 11, 2002
Grant dateJul 22, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 13, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/4532
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A novel electronic program guide (EPG) based method and system for the distribution and display of programs enables the system service provider to determine which program a subscriber will initially see upon power-up of the subscriber's television receiver. The service provider maintains one or more Initial Program Display Tables that list information about programs to be displayed upon power-up of subscribers' receivers, from highest to least priority. The Initial Program Display Table or Tables are periodically transmitted to all subscribers and stored by the subscribers' set-top boxes. Upon power-up of a subscriber's receiver, the set-top box will attempt to cause the receiver to immediately display the highest ranked program from the Initial Program Display Table. The service provider controls which programs are displayed upon initial power-up and the ranking of programs in the case where there is difficulty displaying the highest ranked program.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.