Locally-updated interactive program guide
First Claim
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1. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising steps of:
- receiving a plurality of listings of a first type via a subscriber television network;
receiving data related to at least one local device capable of communicating with the DHCT;
providing a user with an IPG, the IPG including a first IPG menu screen that includes the plurality of listings of the first type and at least one listing of a second type corresponding to the data related to the at least one local device, wherein the plurality of listings of the first type and the at least one listing of the second type are displayed as elements in an IPG grid; and
providing, within the IPG, an option for a user to access a second IPG menu screen, the second IPG menu screen including at least one designation associated with the at least one local device, wherein the second IPG menu screen enables the user to select the at least one designation to be accessible to a user through the first IPG menu screen,wherein the data related to the at least one local device includes personal calendar information from a computer.
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Abstract
A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) includes receiving from a user a request for an IPG, and providing the user with an IPG that includes listings that were received by a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) via a subscriber television network, as well as other listings that were not received by the DHCT via the subscriber television network.
311 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising steps of:
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receiving a plurality of listings of a first type via a subscriber television network; receiving data related to at least one local device capable of communicating with the DHCT; providing a user with an IPG, the IPG including a first IPG menu screen that includes the plurality of listings of the first type and at least one listing of a second type corresponding to the data related to the at least one local device, wherein the plurality of listings of the first type and the at least one listing of the second type are displayed as elements in an IPG grid; and providing, within the IPG, an option for a user to access a second IPG menu screen, the second IPG menu screen including at least one designation associated with the at least one local device, wherein the second IPG menu screen enables the user to select the at least one designation to be accessible to a user through the first IPG menu screen, wherein the data related to the at least one local device includes personal calendar information from a computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A Digital Home Communication Terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the DHCT comprising:
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a communications interlace that receives functionality information from at least one local device, wherein the functionality information is related to a functionality of the local device; logic configured to provide an Interactive Program Guide (IPG) that includes a first IPG menu screen including; at least one television program listing; and at least one listing related to the at least one local device; and logic configured to provide a second IPG menu screen, the second IPG menu screen including; at least one functionality related to the at least one local device; and at least one user selectable option of displaying any number of functionality listings in the first IPG menu screen, wherein the local device includes a computer, and wherein the functionality is one of an electronic calendar functionality. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for providing an interactive program guide (IPG) via a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, the method comprising steps of:
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receiving a plurality of listings of a first type via a subscriber television network; receiving data related to at least one local device configured to communicate with the DHCT; providing a user with an IPG menu screen that includes the plurality of listings of the first type and at least one listing of a second type corresponding to the data related to the at least one local device, wherein the plurality of listings of the first type and the at least one listing of the second type are displayed as elements in an IPG grid, and wherein the first IPG menu screen includes at least one time indicator associated with the displayed elements of the IPG grid; and in response to receiving user input for viewing functionality related to the at least one listing of the second type, removing the at least one time indicator associated with the displayed elements from the first IPG menu screen. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification