US2014082668A1PendingUtilityA1

Television message system

55
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 26, 1998Filed: May 30, 2008Published: Mar 20, 2014
Est. expiryAug 26, 2018(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Pamela L. MckissickWilliam L. ThomasMichael D. EllisMark A. RegoubyJoel G. Hassell
H04N 21/4756H04N 7/17309H04N 21/812H04N 21/4316H04N 21/454H04N 21/42204H04N 21/4782H04N 7/17318H04N 21/25866H04N 21/4532H04N 21/47815H04N 21/4755H04N 21/44204H04N 21/4751H04N 21/4786G06Q 30/0601H04N 21/2408H04N 21/2543H04N 7/147H04N 21/252H04N 21/4753H04N 21/4788H04N 21/4758H04N 21/4622G06Q 30/02H04N 21/2665H04N 21/84H04N 21/47211H04N 21/4781H04N 21/6582H04N 21/44224H04H 20/02
55
PatentIndex Score
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A television message system is provided that allows users at user television equipment devices that are connected to a television distribution facility to transmit messages to each other relating to a television program or other suitable subject. The television message system permits users to participate in evaluations, contests, promotions, and surveys related to a television program while watching that television program. The television message system also permits users to compose and send a message to a television program entity. The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient. The gift may be an electronic gift certificate for pay-per-view programming. The television message system may be based on an interactive television program guide or a set-top box application implemented on a set-top box.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for allowing a user of a messaging system to provide a broadcast program evaluation to a designated recipient, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the user, an evaluation of the broadcast program while video of the broadcast program is displayed;   receiving, from the user, an input designating a recipient of the evaluation;   automatically adding an identity of the broadcast program to the evaluation; and   sending the evaluation to the designated recipient via the messaging system, wherein the identity of the broadcast program is automatically included with the evaluation, and wherein the designated recipient is given access to the evaluation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation includes a textual commentary. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the textual commentary is selected from a list of standard messages. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the list of standard messages is predetermined by an interactive television program guide. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the list of standard messages is determined by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a user input designating a recipient of the evaluation further comprises receiving a user selection of the recipient from an address book. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the address book groups recipients based on their interests in television programs. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation includes graphics. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation includes audio. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation includes video. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the evaluation on the message system until the recipient accesses the evaluation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcast program is a television program. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcast program is a currently broadcast program that the user is currently viewing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the messaging system includes a program guide application. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation comprises a qualitative rating that reflects how much the user likes the broadcast program. 
     
     
         16 . A messaging system for allowing a user to provide a broadcast program evaluation to a designated recipient, the messaging system being configured to:
 receive, from the user, an evaluation of the broadcast program while video of the broadcast program is displayed;   receive, from the user, an input designating a recipient of the evaluation;   automatically add an identity of the broadcast program to the evaluation; and   send the evaluation to the designated recipient via the messaging system, wherein the identity of the broadcast program is automatically included with the evaluation, and wherein the designated recipient is given access to the evaluation.   
     
     
         17 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the evaluation includes a textual commentary. 
     
     
         18 . The messaging system of  claim 17 , wherein the textual commentary is selected from a list of standard messages. 
     
     
         19 . The messaging system of  claim 18 , wherein the list of standard messages is predetermined by an interactive television program guide. 
     
     
         20 . The messaging system of  claim 18 , wherein the list of standard messages is determined by the user. 
     
     
         21 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the user input designating a recipient of the evaluation further comprises a user selection of the recipient from an address book. 
     
     
         22 . The messaging system of  claim 21 , wherein the address book groups recipients based on their interests in television programs. 
     
     
         23 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the evaluation includes graphics. 
     
     
         24 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the evaluation includes audio. 
     
     
         25 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the evaluation includes video. 
     
     
         26 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the messaging system is further configured to store the evaluation on the message system until the recipient accesses the evaluation. 
     
     
         27 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the broadcast program is a television program. 
     
     
         28 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the broadcast program is a currently broadcast program that the user is currently viewing. 
     
     
         29 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the messaging system includes a program guide application. 
     
     
         30 . The messaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the evaluation comprises a qualitative rating that reflects how much the user likes the broadcast program.

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