Interactive television systems with digital video recording and adjustable reminders
First Claim
1. A method for using an interactive television application in an interactive television system in which television programs from network-based equipment are delivered to users at user equipment over communications paths, wherein the network-based equipment, the user equipment and the interactive television application are used to implement a video recorder that records television programming, the method comprising:
- displaying an on-screen option on the user equipment of a given user that allows the user to set a reminder for a television program of interest, wherein the television program of interest has a scheduled broadcast time, wherein the user is allowed to set a reminder for a time selected from a plurality of times, wherein the plurality of times includes the scheduled broadcast time and at least one later time, and wherein the at least one later time is a time after the scheduled broadcast time and at which the television program of interest is not scheduled to be broadcast;
upon selection by the user of a time from the at least one later time, recording the television program of interest using the video recorder;
displaying the reminder for the television program of interest on the user equipment at a time selected by the user, wherein the time selected by the user is one of the at least one later time; and
allowing the user to use the video recorder to play back the recorded television program of interest from the video recorder on the display at the time selected by the user in response to the user selecting the displayed reminder.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method for using an interactive television application in an interactive television system in which television programs from network-based equipment are delivered to users at user equipment over communications paths, wherein the network-based equipment, the user equipment and the interactive television application are used to implement a video recorder that records television programming, the method comprising:
-
displaying an on-screen option on the user equipment of a given user that allows the user to set a reminder for a television program of interest, wherein the television program of interest has a scheduled broadcast time, wherein the user is allowed to set a reminder for a time selected from a plurality of times, wherein the plurality of times includes the scheduled broadcast time and at least one later time, and wherein the at least one later time is a time after the scheduled broadcast time and at which the television program of interest is not scheduled to be broadcast; upon selection by the user of a time from the at least one later time, recording the television program of interest using the video recorder; displaying the reminder for the television program of interest on the user equipment at a time selected by the user, wherein the time selected by the user is one of the at least one later time; and allowing the user to use the video recorder to play back the recorded television program of interest from the video recorder on the display at the time selected by the user in response to the user selecting the displayed reminder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. User equipment for use in an interactive television system in which an interactive television application is used in delivering television programs from network-based equipment to users at the user equipment over communications paths, wherein the network-based equipment, the user equipment and the interactive television application are used to implement a video recorder that records television programming, the user equipment for each user comprising:
-
control circuitry; a user input interface for providing the user with an opportunity to provide user inputs to the control circuitry; and a display for displaying the television programs, wherein the control circuitry, user input interface, and display are configured to; display an on-screen option on the display for the user that allows the user to set a reminder for a television program of interest, wherein the television program of interest has a scheduled broadcast time, wherein the user is allowed to set a reminder for a time selected from a plurality of times, wherein the plurality of times includes the scheduled broadcast time and at least one later time, and wherein the at least one later time is a time after the scheduled broadcast time and at which the television program of interest is not scheduled to be broadcast; upon selection by the user of a time from the at least one later time, record the television program of interest using the video recorder; display the reminder for the television program of interest on the display at a time selected by the user, wherein the time selected by the user is one of the at least one later time; and allow the user to use the video recorder to play back the recorded television program of interest from the video recorder on the display at the time selected by the user in response to the user selecting the displayed reminder. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method of providing a television program to a user of an interactive program guide comprising:
-
allowing the user to select a television program before its scheduled broadcast time using the interactive television program guide implemented on user equipment; allowing the user to watch the selected television program at its scheduled broadcast time; monitoring the user equipment to determine if the user watches the selected television program at its scheduled broadcast time; and providing a recording of the selected television program for the user'"'"'s later viewing if the user does not watch the selected television program at its scheduled broadcast time as determined by the monitoring step. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
Specification