US 6,177,931 · Granted 2001-01-23

The Patent That Turned Your TV Guide Into a Smart Assistant

Before Netflix and streaming menus, someone had to invent the electronic program guide—basically a digital TV schedule that actually talked back to you. This patent covers how a TV box could learn what you like to watch, suggest shows, let you record programs, and even show you personalized ads, all from one interactive screen.

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The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a system that combines a television program guide with viewer interaction tools, recording controls, and personalized content suggestions. What's protected here is the method of displaying program schedules alongside advertising, letting viewers create profiles based on their viewing habits, and using those profiles to customize what shows and ads appear on the screen. Specifically, it covers the integration of viewer control (like recording a future program) with dynamic, profile-based customization of the guide interface itself.

Why it matters

In 1998, electronic program guides were clunky and passive—you scrolled, you looked, that was it. This patent describes the leap toward interactive, personalized TV experiences that learn your tastes and adapt what they show you. It laid conceptual groundwork for modern recommendation systems and targeted advertising that now power streaming platforms. The assignee, Index Systems, helped pioneer how cable and satellite TV companies could turn a simple schedule into a data-gathering, revenue-generating interactive tool.

Real-world use

Every time you open your cable box or streaming app and see recommended shows based on what you've watched before, or when an on-screen guide suggests a recording for you, you're seeing the core idea from this patent in action.

Original USPTO abstract

The present invention is an improvement over previous Electronic Programming Guides (“EPG”) in that it provides, among other things: Improved viewer interaction capabilities with the EPG; improved viewer control of video recording of future-scheduled programming; improved features to the EPG display and navigation; parental control of the EPG display; improved television program information access by the viewer; improved opportunities for the commercial advertiser to reach the viewer; improved product information access by the viewer; creation of a viewer's profile; utilization of viewer profile information to customize various aspects of the EPG; and utilization of viewer profile information to provide customized presentation of advertising to the viewer.

Patent details

Publication number: US 6,177,931
Filing date: 1998-07-21
Grant date: 2001-01-23
Assignee: Index Systems, Inc.
Inventor(s): ALEXANDER RONALD, DIAS STEPHEN, HANCOCK KENNETH S., LEUNG ELSIE Y., MACRAE DOUGLAS, NG ARTHUR Y., O'NEIL SHAWN, SCHOAFF PETER CHRISTOPHER, SUTTON JONATHON, WARD, III THOMAS EDWARD, WESTBERG THOMAS, YUEN HENRY C.
CPC class: H04N21/42204

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