Electronic program guide using markup language
AssigneeUnited Video Properties, Inc.
InventorsThomas R Lemmons, Jon C Zaring
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interactive television program guide is provided. Program guide display elements are arranged and styled using markup language documents. These markup language documents may also indicate and select program guide functions. The program guide interprets the markup language documents and generates the display screens and program guide functionality without user intervention. The program guide may also be updated by supplying new markup language documents that modify display screens and program guide functionality. The markup language documents may be supplied by a main facility or a television distribution facility.
Claims18
A method for allowing an operator to update aspects of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user's user television equipment, the method comprising:
- allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user's user television equipment without intervention by the user;
- updating aspects of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide;
- and
- generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.
A system for allowing an operator to update aspects of an interactive television program guide on a user's user television equipment, the system comprising:
- means for allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide on the user's user television equipment without intervention by the user;
- means for updating aspects of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide;
- and
- means for generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.
A machine readable medium comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:
- allowing an operator to update aspects of an interactive television program guide on a user's user television equipment, the method comprising:
- allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide on the user's user television equipment without intervention by the user;
- updating aspects of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide;
- and
- generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.