IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0681354
(2001-03-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Fries,Robert M.
- Pietraszak,Michael E.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
20 |
초록
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An electronic program guide (EPG) hardware card is disclosed. The card is insertable into a television tuning device having EPG capability. A non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, is situated within a case of the hardware card, and has data stored thereon representing one or more loader program
An electronic program guide (EPG) hardware card is disclosed. The card is insertable into a television tuning device having EPG capability. A non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, is situated within a case of the hardware card, and has data stored thereon representing one or more loader programs for the device. Each program corresponds to an EPG provider, and gives the device the capability to receive EPG information from this provider. The case of the hardware card may have a form factor such as a Smart Card, a Compact Flash, a Smart Media, or another form factor. Alternatively, the data stored on the card represents non-executable information corresponding to an EPG provider. A business model and a server-based embodiment are also disclosed.
대표청구항
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The invention claimed is: 1. A hardware card for insertion into a television tuning device having electronic program guide capability, the hardware card configured to enable the television tuning device to compatibly process encoded electronic program guide information, the encoded electronic progr
The invention claimed is: 1. A hardware card for insertion into a television tuning device having electronic program guide capability, the hardware card configured to enable the television tuning device to compatibly process encoded electronic program guide information, the encoded electronic program guide information being encoded to prevent use of the electronic program guide information at the television tuning device until the electronic program guide information has been purchased, comprising: a case having a form factor; a non-volatile memory situated within the case and having loadable data stored thereon that can be loaded onto the television tuning device, portions of the loadable data comprising a specification specifying settings for accessing a purchased portion of electronic program guide information over a corresponding transmission network along with settings for compatibly processing the purchased portion of encoded electronic program guide information, the loadable data including: an indication of a communication mechanism for communicating with the specified electronic program guide provider via the corresponding transmission network; and additional distinguishing information distinguishing the purchased portion of electronic programming guide information from other electronic programming guide information maintained by the specified electronic program guide provider; and means for providing the loadable data to the television tuning device, for configuring the television tuning device to connect to the specified electronic program guide provider over the corresponding transmission network, for configuring the television tuning device to decode the purchased portion of electronic program guide information and for transferring the additional distinguishing information to the specified electronic program guide provider; and wherein the specified electronic program guide provider, upon being connected to by the television tuning device via the indicated communication mechanism, uses the additional distinguishing information to identify the purchased portion of electronic program guide information from among other electronic program guide information maintained at the specified electronic program guide provider, and thereafter enables the television tuning device to access the purchased portion of electronic program guides information. 2. The hardware card of claim 1, wherein the loadable data represents one or more loader programs for the television tuning device, each loader program corresponding to an electronic program guide provider. 3. The hardware card of claim 2, wherein each loader program includes specification of a transmission network over which encoded electronic program guide information is received from the electronic program guide provider to which the loader program corresponds. 4. The hardware card of claim 3, wherein the transmission network comprises at least one of: a dial-up modem, Ethernet, in-band, out-of-band, vertical-blanking interrupt (VBI). 5. The hardware card of claim 2, wherein each loader program includes a database segment to transfer the loader program into the television tuning device. 6. The hardware card of claim 2, wherein each loader program includes a segment to provide a user interface. 7. The hardware card of claim 1, wherein the loadable data represents non-executable information decodable by the television tuning device to access electronic program guide information from an electronic program guide provider. 8. The hardware card of claim 7, wherein the non-executable information is decodable by a decoder segment of the television tuning device. 9. The hardware card of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises flash memory. 10. The hardware card of claim 1, wherein the television tuning device comprises a set-top box. 11. The hardware card of claim 1, wherein the form factor comprises one of: a Smart Card form factor, a Compact Flash form factor, and a Smart Media form factor. 12. A hardware card as recited in claim 1, wherein the hardware card further includes information specifying to a user what the user must do to load, to the television tuning device, the data that enables the television tuning device to access the one or more electronic program guides. 13. A hardware card as recited in claim 12, wherein the information specifies that the user must enter at least one of a credit card number and an authentication code. 14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the server enables the television tuning device to access the one or more electronic program guides by providing the one or more electronic program guides to the tuning device. 15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the additional distinguishing information indicates a level of quality of the purchased portion of electronic program guide information. 16. A television tuning system comprising: a television tuning device including: an outer case having a slot to accept a hardware card; internal components hard-coded to a particular electronic program guide provider; and other internal components configured to receive information loaded into the television tuning device from a hardware card inserted into the slot to allow for reception of electronic program guide information from other electronic program guide providers in addition to the particular electronic program guide provider hard coded into the internal components; a hardware card configured to enable the television tuning device to compatibly process electronic program guide information, the electronic program guide information being encoded to prevent use of the electronic program guide information at the television tuning device until the electronic program guide information has been purchased, the hardware card including: a case having acceptable form factor for insertion into the slot; a non-volatile memory situated within the case and having loadable data stored thereon that can be loaded onto the television tuning device, portions of the loadable data comprising a specification specifying settings for accessing a purchased portion of electronic program guide information over a corresponding transmission network along with settings for compatibly processing the purchased portion of encoded electronic program guide information, the loadable data including: an indication of a communication mechanism for communicating with the specified electronic program guide provider via the corresponding transmission network; and additional distinguishing information distinguishing the purchased portion of electronic programming guide information from other electronic programming guide information maintained by the specified electronic program guide provider: and a storage locations storing an electronic program guide loader program corresponding to the electronic program guide provider, the stored electronic program guide loader program designed to access loadable information stored on the hardware card to configure the television tuning device to access the purchased portion of electronic program guide information from the electronic program guide provider, the stored electronic program guide loader program including: an EPG decoding segment configured to use the loadable information to decode the purchased portion of electronic program guide information received from the specified electronic program guide provider via the corresponding transmission network; a database segment configured to transfer the loadable data for the electronic program guide provider into the other internal components; and a user interface segment configured to displays instructions corresponding to what a user must do to load the loadable data for the electronic program guide provider onto the television tuning device and to enable the television tuning device to access the purchased portion of electronic program guide information from the electronic program guide provider over the corresponding transmission network; means for switching to the specified electronic program provider to access the purchased portion of electronic program guide information in accordance with and in response to accessing the loadable information stored on the hardware card; and one or more connections within the outer case to communicatively couple the television tuning device to a display. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the form factor comprises one of: a Smart Card form factor, a Compact Flash form factor, and a Smart Media form factor. 18. The device of claim 16, wherein the hardware card has a non-volatile memory on which non-executable information is stored that is decodable by a decoder segment of the television tuning device, the non-executable information, when decoded by the decoder segment, providing the device with the capability to receive the electronic program guide information. 19. A method comprising: accepting an inserted hardware card into a slot of a television tuning device communicatively coupled to a display; and, accessing data stored on the hardware card to enable the device to receive a purchased portion of electronic program guide information, from an electronic program guide provider, wherein the purchased portion of electronic program guide information is different than other electronic program guide information that the television tuning device was hard-coded to receive, such that accessing the data stored on the hardware card effectively enables the television tuning device to change electronic program guide information received at the television tuning device; wherein the data of the hardware card includes: portions of loadable data comprising a specification specifying settings for accessing the purchased portion of encoded electronic program guide information over a corresponding transmission network along with settings for compatibly processing the purchased portion of encoded electronic program guide information, the loadable data including: an indication of a communication mechanism for communicating with the specified electronic program guide provider via the corresponding transmission network; and additional distinguishing information distinguishing the purchased portion of encoded electronic programming guide information from other electronic programming guide information maintained by the specified electronic program guide provider; an EPG decoding segment for the specified electronic program guide provider, wherein the EPG decoding segment includes means for decoding the purchased portion of encoded EPG information obtained from the specified electronic program guide provider via the corresponding transmission network; a database segment having means for enabling transfer of the data from the hardware card onto the television tuning device such that the television tuning device can decode the purchased portion of encoded electronic program guide information received via the transmission network; and a user interface segment which displays instructions corresponding to what a user must do to load the data one the television tuning device and to enable the television tuning device to access the purchased portion of electronic program guide information via the corresponding transmission network; and switching to the purchased electronic program guide information in accordance with and in response to accessing the data stored on the hardware card to override the display of existing electronic program guide information. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein accessing the data stored on the hardware card includes loading the data from the hardware card into the television tuning device. 21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein each of the said electronic program guide provider and the said another electronic program guide provider encode the electronic program guide information differently. 22. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein each of the said electronic program guide provider and the said another electronic program guide provider encode the electronic program guide information differently. 23. The method of claim 19, further comprising removing the hardware card from the slot of the television tuning device. 24. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the type of electronic program guide information corresponds to a type of quality. 25. A method as recited in claim 19, further including: a server, upon being connected to by the television tuning device, using identification information obtained from the hardware card to determine a type of programming information that has been purchased by a consumer of the card, and that thereafter provides the one or more electronic program guides to the television tuning device. 26. A method of doing business comprising: offering a consumer one or more electronic program guide hardware cards for purchase, the cards able to be inserted into a corresponding slot of a television tuning device used by the consumer, each card enabling the television tuning device to switch access from a first electronic program guide provider that the television tuning device is programmed to access for obtaining electronic program guide information to a purchased portion of electronic program guide information from a different electronic program guide provider to obtain different electronic program guide information; purchasing, by the consumer, an electronic program guide hardware card for desired electronic program guide information; and, loading the electronic program guide hardware card into the television tuning device, wherein loading the electronic program guide hardware card causes the television tuning device to access the purchased portion of electronic program guide information in accordance with and in response to data stored in the purchased electronic program guide hardware card; wherein the data stored in the electronic program guide hardware card includes: portions of loadable data comprising a specification specifying settings for accessing the purchased portion of electronic program guide information over a corresponding transmission network along with settings for compatibly processing the purchased portion of electronic program guide information, the loadable data including: an indication of a communication mechanism for communicating with the specified electronic program guide provider via the corresponding transmission network; and additional distinguishing information distinguishing the purchased portion of electronic programming guide information from other electronic programming guide information maintained by the specified electronic program guide provider; an EPG decoding segment the specified electronic program guide providers, wherein the EPG decoding segment includes means for decoding he purchased portion electronic program guide information obtained from the specified electronic program guide provider via the corresponding transmission network; a database segment having means for enabling transfer of the data onto the television tuning device such that the television tuning device can decode the purchased portion of electronic program guide information received via the corresponding transmission network; and a user interface segment which displays instructions corresponding to what a user must do to load the data one the television tuning device and to enable the television tuning device to access the purchased portion of electronic program guide information via the corresponding transmission network. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein loading the electronic program guide hardware card into the television tuning device is performed by the consumer. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein loading the electronic program guide hardware card into the television tuning device is performed by a merchant. 29. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the first electronic program guide provider supplied the television tuning device to the consumer. 30. The method of claim 26, further initially comprising receiving of the television tuning device by the consumer. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein receiving of the television tuning device by the consumer includes purchasing of the television tuning device by the consumer. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein receiving of the television tuning device by the consumer includes providing of the television tuning device by a merchant to the consumer free-of-charge to the consumer. 33. The method of claim 30, wherein receiving of the television tuning device by the consumer includes receiving by the consumer of an electronic program guide hardware card along with the television tuning device. 34. The method of claim 30, further comprising accessing a provider server by the television tuning device to receive the different electronic program guide information associated with the electronic program guide hardware card inserted into the television tuning device. 35. The method of claim 30, further comprising, as part of the purchasing by the consumer of the electronic program guide hardware card, registering the hardware card with a provider server to indicate the different electronic program guide information associated with the electronic program guide hardware card.
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