Real time personal channel
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorChristopher P Gilboy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A viewer can select one of a plurality of personal channels on a set-top box (10) and receive preferred programming on that channel irrespective of the true channel on which such programs are actually carried. The set-top box stores a look-up table (38) that identifies for each personal channel, the start time and true channel for each preferred program associated with a corresponding personal channel. Upon selection of the personal channel, the look-up table is scrutinized to determine which preferred program should be selected. Upon selection, the preferred program is displayed on the personal channel.
Claims28
A method of providing a viewer with a personal viewing channel that displays the viewer's preferred programs irrespective of the true channel on which the programs are carried, said viewer's preferred programs being compiled into a program listing prior to the viewer selecting the personal viewing channel, comprising the steps of:
- storing information indicative of the true channel and start broadcast time of each viewer preferred program based on the compiled program listing;
- scrutinizing the stored information to identify which preferred program should appear on said personal viewing channel in accordance with its start broadcast time;
- and
- displaying, on said personal viewing channel, said identified preferred program.
A method of providing a viewer with a personal viewing channel that displays the viewer's preferred programs irrespective of the actual channel on which the programs are broadcast, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a program listing of viewer preferred programs prior to the viewer selecting the personal viewing channel;
- storing information indicative of the actual channel and start broadcast time of each of the viewer preferred programs;
- scrutinizing the stored information to identify which of the preferred programs should appear on said personal viewing channel in accordance with their start broadcast time;
- and
- displaying, on said personal viewing channel, said identified preferred program.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.