PREMIUM CHANNEL PROMOTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.
36 Citations
28 Claims
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1-12. -12. (canceled)
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13. A system comprising:
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a receiving location for receiving a first television channel and a second television channel, wherein the first television channel is regularly available and the second television channel is regularly unavailable; a detector at the receiving location for detecting whether the second television channel has become available, and generating an indication that the second television channel is available; and a processor coupled to the detector, the processor configured to notify a viewer, in response to the indication, that the second channel is available. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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receiving a first television channel and a second television channel, wherein the first television channel is regularly available and the second television channel is regularly unavailable; monitoring the second television channel to detect whether the second television channel has become available; generating an indication when the second television channel is available; and notifying a viewer, in response to the indication, that the second television channel is available. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification