How Devices Organize TV Shows in Program Guides
This patent describes how a device can display a program guide that groups media content icons into sub-categories, and then dynamically reorganizes those icons when a group is selected to make browsing easier.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods of displaying content”
This patent describes how a device can display a program guide that groups media content icons into sub-categories, and then dynamically reorganizes those icons when a group is selected to make browsing easier. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
A device shows a program guide with multiple icon groupings. Each grouping represents a sub-category of media content, like 'action movies' within the 'movies' category. Inside each grouping are icons for individual media items, such as a specific movie. When a user selects an icon grouping, the program guide updates. This update changes how the icons within that specific grouping are arranged. After this reorganization, the user can then select an individual icon to perform an operation, like playing the movie.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover program guides that display all content items without grouping them into sub-categories.
- Does not cover interfaces where selecting a grouping does not change how its icons are organized.
- Does not cover content selection that happens in a single input action, rather than a two-step process of grouping selection then item selection.
- Does not cover content guides for non-media content, such as file browsers or app lists.
- Does not cover program guides that only change the visual appearance of a grouping upon selection, without reorganizing its internal icons.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the system's ability to dynamically reorganize the display of icons *within* a selected sub-category grouping, rather than just highlighting the group or moving to a new screen, making it easier to browse specific content.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Smart TV operating systems
Streaming device interfaces (e.g., Roku, Apple TV)
Cable television set-top box guides
Video-on-demand services
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This approach aims to make finding specific shows or movies simpler by first narrowing down choices into sub-categories and then presenting those choices in a more organized way. It helps users navigate large libraries of media content more efficiently. This can improve the user experience on devices like smart TVs and streaming boxes, where content discovery is key.
Filed
December 23, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies that develop operating systems for smart TVs and streaming devices, such as Google (Android TV), Apple (tvOS), Amazon (Fire TV), Roku, Samsung, and LG, are continually refining their content discovery interfaces. These companies focus on intuitive ways for users to browse and select from vast media libraries.
Market impact
This type of content display system contributes to the ongoing evolution of user interfaces for media consumption. By offering more intuitive ways to navigate content, it helps differentiate streaming platforms and smart TV experiences. It supports the trend towards personalized and easily discoverable content in a crowded media landscape.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
A device shows a program guide with multiple icon groupings. Each grouping represents a sub-category of media content, like 'action movies' within the 'movies' category. Inside each grouping are icons for individual media items, such as a specific movie. When a user selects an icon grouping, the program guide updates. This update changes how the icons within that specific grouping are arranged. After this reorganization, the user can then select an individual icon to perform an operation, like playing the movie.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the system's ability to dynamically reorganize the display of icons *within* a selected sub-category grouping, rather than just highlighting the group or moving to a new screen, making it easier to browse specific content.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover program guides that display all content items without grouping them into sub-categories.
- Does not cover interfaces where selecting a grouping does not change how its icons are organized.
- Does not cover content selection that happens in a single input action, rather than a two-step process of grouping selection then item selection.
- Does not cover content guides for non-media content, such as file browsers or app lists.
- Does not cover program guides that only change the visual appearance of a grouping upon selection, without reorganizing its internal icons.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$17K – $54K
Midpoint $34K · 18.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How Devices Organize TV Shows in Program Guides (U.S. Patent No. 12,739,475). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12739475/systems-and-methods-of-displaying-content
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Devices Organize TV Shows in Program Guides cover?
This patent describes how a device can display a program guide that groups media content icons into sub-categories, and then dynamically reorganizes those icons when a group is selected to make browsing easier.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This approach aims to make finding specific shows or movies simpler by first narrowing down choices into sub-categories and then presenting those choices in a more organized way. It helps users navigate large libraries of media content more efficiently. This can improve the user experience on devices like smart TVs and streaming boxes, where content discovery is key.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover program guides that display all content items without grouping them into sub-categories.
Patent monitoring