INTERACTIVE TELEVISION SYSTEM WITH NEWSGROUPS
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive television system is provided that supports newsgroup features. An interactive television application, such as an interactive television program guide, may be used to allow a user to view and post newsgroup messages to one or more newsgroup servers. The newsgroup servers may be located at a television distribution facility. The newsgroup servers may be Usenet servers accessed via the Internet. The user may use the newsgroup feature while watching television programming or while otherwise viewing other content provided by the interactive television application. Cross-referencing may be used to allow the user to access content related to a particular subject matter. Parental control features may be used to limit access to certain newsgroups. Newsgroup messages may contain links to other content made available through the interactive television application.
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Citations
198 Claims
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1-186. -186. (canceled)
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187. A method for simultaneously displaying television program listings and newsgroup content to a user on user television equipment having a display, comprising:
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cross-referencing a plurality of television program listings and a plurality of newsgroup content based on the subject matter of the television program listings and the newsgroup content, the cross-referencing comprising; searching through information related to the television program listings and newsgroup content, and noting information that is associated with the particular subject matter of the television program listings and newsgroup content; and updating a cross-reference database for the particular subject matter based on the search performed on the information; displaying a television program in a first section of the display; identifying newsgroup content cross-referenced with the displayed television program by accessing the cross-reference database; and simultaneously displaying the identified newsgroup content in a second section of the display. - View Dependent Claims (188, 189, 190, 191, 192)
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193. A system for simultaneously displaying television programs and newsgroup content to a user on user television equipment including a display, comprising:
user television equipment configured to; cross-reference a plurality of television program listings and a plurality of newsgroup content based on the subject matter of the television program listings and newsgroup content, the cross-referencing comprising; searching through information related to the television program listings and newsgroup content, and noting information that is associated with the particular subject matter of the television program listings and newsgroup content; and updating a cross-reference database for the particular subject matter based on the search performed on the information; display a television program in a first section of the display; identify newsgroup content cross-referenced with the displayed television program by accessing the cross-reference database; and simultaneously display the identified newsgroup content in a second section of the display. - View Dependent Claims (194, 195, 196, 197, 198)
Specification