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Program guide system with real-time data sources

  • US 6,536,041 B1
  • Filed: 01/12/1999
  • Issued: 03/18/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An interactive television program guide system in which program listings data for live events is provided by a main facility for use in an interactive television program guide implemented at least partially on user television equipment, wherein the interactive television program guide maintains a database and wherein real-time data for the live events is provided by a source of real-time data that is separate from the main facility, comprising:

  • means for generating first keys at the main facility that are each associated with the program listings data for a particular live event;

    means for distributing the program listings data for the live events and the associated first keys from the main facility to the interactive television program guide;

    means for creating second keys at the source of the real-time data which are each associated with the real-time data for a particular live event;

    means for distributing the real-time data for the live events and the associated second keys from the source of real-time data to the interactive television program guide; and

    means at the interactive television program guide for comparing the first keys and the second keys to determine which of the real-time data received from the source of real-time data is associated with which program listings data.

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