Donald Paul Allison

US Patent:

6118443, Sep 12, 2000

Filed:

Jul 8, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/889526

Inventors:

Donald Wayne Allison - Tulsa OK
Steven Carl Williamson - Broken Arrow OK
Walter Benjamin Herrington - Tulsa OK

Assignee:

United Video Properties, Inc. - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

H04N 710
H04H 100

US Classification:

345327

Abstract:

An interactive program guide system is provided. The program guide system has a logically flat navigator menu structure made up of program guide categories and selectable program guide options. Program guide categories correspond to fairly broad groups of program guide features. Selectable program guide options correspond to more specific program guide features. Each program guide category has associated selectable program guide options. Program guide categories may be displayed in a row across the top of the display screen. Selectable program guide options may be displayed in the same column as the program guide category with which they are associated. A highlight region may be positioned on one of the selectable program guide options. The selectable program guide options may be scrolled using a pair of vertical cursors. Pressing a horizontal cursor while the highlight region is on one of the selectable program guide options causes a new program guide category and associated column of selectable program guide options to be displayed in place of the originally displayed program guide category and associated selectable program guide options.

US Patent:

7562377, Jul 14, 2009

Filed:

Aug 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/914970

Inventors:

Donald W Allison - Tulsa OK, US
Steven C Williamson - Broken Arrow OK, US
Walter B Herrington - Tulsa OK, US

Assignee:

United Video Properties, Inc. - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 45, 725 40, 725 44

Abstract:

An interactive program guide system is provided. The program guide system has a logically flat navigator menu structure made up of program guide categories and selectable program guide options. Program guide categories correspond to fairly broad groups of program guide features. Selectable program guide options correspond to more specific program guide features. Each program guide category has associated selectable program guide options. Program guide categories may be displayed in a row across the top of the display screen. Selectable program guide options may be displayed in the same column as the program guide category with which they are associated. A highlight region may be positioned on one of the selectable program guide options. The selectable program guide options may be scrolled using a pair of vertical cursors. Pressing a horizontal cursor while the highlight region is on one of the selectable program guide options causes a new program guide category and associated column of selectable program guide options to be displayed in place of the originally displayed program guide category and associated selectable program guide options.

US Patent:

8296802, Oct 23, 2012

Filed:

Aug 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/652911

Inventors:

Thomas R Lemmons - Sand Springs OK, US
Donald W Allison - Tulsa OK, US
Jerry D Henshaw - Tulsa OK, US
Connie T Marshall - Muskogee OK, US

Assignee:

United Video Properties, Inc. - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 13/00
H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 44, 725 39, 725 43, 725 45, 725 53, 348564, 715841

Abstract:

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

US Patent:

8302126, Oct 30, 2012

Filed:

Aug 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/894693

Inventors:

Donald Wayne Allison - Tulsa OK, US
Steven Carl Williamson - Broken Arrow OK, US
Walter Benjamin Herrington - Tulsa OK, US

Assignee:

United Video Properties, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 45, 725 49, 709219

Abstract:

An interactive program guide system is provided. The program guide system has a logically flat navigator menu structure made up of program guide categories and selectable program guide options. Program guide categories correspond to fairly broad groups of program guide features. Selectable program guide options correspond to more specific program guide features. Each program guide category has associated selectable program guide options. Program guide categories may be displayed in a row across the top of the display screen. Selectable program guide options may be displayed in the same column as the program guide category with which they are associated. A highlight region may be positioned on one of the selectable program guide options. The selectable program guide options may be scrolled using a pair of vertical cursors. Pressing a horizontal cursor while the highlight region is on one of the selectable program guide options causes a new program guide category and associated column of selectable program guide options to be displayed in place of the originally displayed program guide category and associated selectable program guide options.

US Patent:

8555316, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

Jun 24, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/168150

Inventors:

Thomas R. Lemmons - Sand Springs OK, US
Donald W. Allison - Tulsa OK, US
Jerry D. Henshaw - Tulsa OK, US
Connie T. Marshall - Muskogee OK, US

Assignee:

United Video Properties, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/445

US Classification:

725 43, 725 40, 725 44, 725 53, 725116

Abstract:

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

US Patent:

20010013126, Aug 9, 2001

Filed:

Jan 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/770865

Inventors:

Thomas Lemmons - Sand Springs OK, US
Donald Allison - Tulsa OK, US
Jerry Henshaw - Tulsa OK, US
Connie Marshall - Muskogee OK, US

Assignee:

United Video Properties, Inc. - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

G06F003/00
H04N005/445
G06F013/00

US Classification:

725/053000, 725/039000

Abstract:

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

US Patent:

20030115603, Jun 19, 2003

Filed:

Apr 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/115762

Inventors:

Thomas Lemmons - Sand Springs OK, US
Donald Allison - Tulsa OK, US
Jerry Henshaw - Tulsa OK, US
Connie Marshall - Muskogee OK, US

Assignee:

United Video Properties, Inc. - Tulsa OK

International Classification:

G06F003/00
H04N005/445
G06F013/00

US Classification:

725/053000, 725/039000, 725/044000

Abstract:

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

US Patent:

20040078815, Apr 22, 2004

Filed:

Nov 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/719289

Inventors:

Thomas Lemmons - Sand Springs OK, US
Donald Allison - Tulsa OK, US
Jerry Henshaw - Tulsa OK, US
Connie Marshall - Muskogee OK, US

International Classification:

H04N005/445
G06F013/00
G06F003/00

US Classification:

725/047000, 725/052000, 725/044000, 725/045000

Abstract:

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.