Interactive program guide systems and processes

• US 8,296,802 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lemmons, Thomas R, Allison, Donald W, Marshall, Connie T, Henshaw, Jerry D
• Primary Examiner(s): Beliveau, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Langhnoja, Kunal
• Application Number:
  US10/652,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,344 Days
• Field of Search: 725/45, 725/43, 725/39, 380/211
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer'"'"'s television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

Claims

1. A method for providing program schedule information using a computer processor, comprising:

displaying a first display comprising;

a plurality of day options, wherein each day option corresponds to a different 24-hour interval for which program schedule information is available, and wherein the plurality of day options simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month for which program schedule information is available, and

a plurality of non-selectable portions, wherein each non-selectable portion corresponds to a day for which program schedule information is not available, wherein the plurality of non-selectable portions simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month;

receiving by the computer processor a selected day option of one of the plurality of day options; and

displaying a second display associated with the selected day option.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a second display comprises displaying a second display comprising a portion of the program schedule information that corresponds to the selected day option.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying at least one day part;

receiving a selected day part of one of the at least one day part; and

displaying the second display so that the portion of the program schedule information corresponds to both the selected day option and the selected day part.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the at least one day part as part of the first display.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one day part comprises a plurality of day parts and wherein each of the plurality of day parts corresponds to an equal portion of a day.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of day parts corresponds to a four hour period.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising selecting a default day part as the selected day part prior to receiving the selected day part.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the default day part corresponds to program schedule information that was previously viewed in the interactive program guide.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one day part comprises a plurality of day parts, further comprising:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day parts;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction; and

receiving as the selected day part one of the plurality of day parts designated by the cursor.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising repositioning the cursor to a first of the plurality of day parts when a user attempts to move the cursor beyond a last of the plurality of day parts.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising redisplaying the second display so that other program schedule information corresponding to one of the plurality of day parts other than the selected day part is displayed.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one day part is defined by a transmission from a remote location.

13. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a piece of program schedule information included in the portion of the program schedule information displayed in the second display; and

displaying a television program corresponding to the selection.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a piece of program schedule information included in the portion of the program schedule information displayed in the second display; and

displaying a television program corresponding to the selection.

15. The method of claim 2, further comprising redisplaying the second display so that other program schedule information not corresponding to the selected day option is displayed.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

redisplaying the first display so that at least one new day option is displayed which corresponds to a different month than the plurality of day options previously displayed; and

receiving as the selected day option one of the at least one new day option designated by the cursor.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of day options is defined by a transmission from a remote location.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a default day option as the selected day option prior to receiving the selected day option.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the default day option corresponds to program schedule information that was previously viewed in the interactive program guide.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction; and

receiving as the selected day option one of the plurality of day options designated by the cursor.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising repositioning the cursor to a first of the plurality of day options when a user attempts to move the cursor beyond a last of the plurality of day options.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

allowing the cursor to be repositioned to only one of the plurality of day options; and

receiving as the selected day option one of the plurality of day options designated by the cursor.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the plurality of day options and the plurality of non-selectable portions so that the plurality of day options have a different style of appearance from the plurality of non-selectable portions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the different style of appearance comprises the plurality of day options having a different display border than the plurality of non-selectable portions.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

redisplaying the first display so that at least one new day option is displayed which corresponds to a different month than the plurality of day options previously displayed; and

receiving as the selected day option one of the at least one new day option designated by the cursor.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of day options comprises seven day options.

27. An interactive program guide system that displays program schedule information on a display comprising:

a user input device; and

a control unit that (a) causes to be displayed a first display having a plurality of day options, wherein each day option corresponds to a different 24-hour interval for which program schedule information is available, and wherein the plurality of day options simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month for which program schedule information is available, the first display also having a plurality of non-selectable portions, wherein each non-selectable portion corresponds to a day for which program schedule information is not available and wherein the plurality of non-selectable portions simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month, (b) receives from the user input device a selected day option of one of the plurality of day options, and (c) causes to be displayed a second display associated with the selected day option.

28. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the second display comprises a portion of the program schedule information that corresponds to the selected day option.

29. The interactive program guide system of claim 28, wherein the control unit:

causes at least one day part to be displayed;

receives from the user device a selected day part of one of the at least one day part; and

causes the second display to be displayed so that the portion of the program schedule information corresponds to both the selected day option and the selected day part.

30. The interactive program guide system of claim 29, wherein the control unit causes the at least one day part to be displayed as part of the first display.

31. The interactive program guide system of claim 29, wherein the at least one day part comprises a plurality of day parts and wherein each of the plurality of day parts corresponds to an equal portion of a day.

32. The interactive program guide system of claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of day parts corresponds to a four hour period.

33. The interactive program guide system of claim 29, wherein the control unit selects a default day part as the selected day part prior to receiving the selected day part.

34. The interactive program guide system of claim 33, wherein the default day part corresponds to program schedule information that was previously viewed in the interactive program guide.

35. The interactive program guide system of claim 29, wherein the at least one day part comprises a plurality of day parts and wherein the control unit:

causes a cursor designating one of the plurality of day parts to be displayed;

receives from the user input device a cursor movement instruction;

repositions the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction; and

receives as the selected day part one of the plurality of day parts designated by the cursor.

36. The interactive program guide system of claim 35, wherein the control unit repositions the cursor to a first of the plurality of day parts when a user attempts to move the cursor beyond a last of the plurality of day parts.

37. The interactive program guide system of claim 36, wherein the control unit causes the second display to be redisplayed so that other program schedule information corresponding to one of the plurality of day parts other than the selected day part is displayed.

38. The interactive program guide system of claim 29, wherein the at least one day part is defined by a transmission from a remote location.

39. The interactive program guide system of claim 29, wherein the control unit:

receives from the user input device a selection of a piece of program schedule information included in the portion of the program schedule information displayed in the second display; and

causes a television program corresponding to the selection to be displayed.

40. The interactive program guide system of claim 28, wherein the control unit:

receives from the user input device a selection of a piece of program schedule information included in the portion of the program schedule information displayed in the second display; and

causes a television program corresponding to the selection to be displayed.

41. The interactive program guide system of claim 28, wherein the control unit causes the second display to be redisplayed so that other program schedule information not corresponding to the selected day option is displayed.

42. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the control unit:

causes a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options to be displayed;

receives from the user input device a cursor movement instruction;

repositions the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

causes the first display to be redisplayed so that at least one new day option is displayed which corresponds to a different month than the plurality of day options previously displayed; and

receives as the selected day option one of the at least one new day option designated by the cursor.

43. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of day options is defined by a transmission from a remote location.

44. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the control unit selects a default day option as the selected day option prior to receiving the selected day option.

45. The interactive program guide system of claim 44, wherein the default day option corresponds to program schedule information that was previously viewed in the interactive program guide.

46. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the control unit:

causes a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options to be displayed;

receives from the user input device a cursor movement instruction;

repositions the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction; and

receives as the selected day option one of the plurality of day options designated by the cursor.

47. The interactive program guide system of claim 46, wherein the control unit repositions the cursor to a first of the plurality of day options when a user attempts to move the cursor beyond a last of the plurality of day options.

48. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the control unit:

causes a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options to be displayed;

receives from the user input device a cursor movement instruction;

repositions the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

allows the cursor to be repositioned to only one of the plurality of day options; and

receives as the selected day option one of the plurality of day options designated by the cursor.

49. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the control unit causes the plurality of day options and the plurality of non-selectable portions to be displayed so that the plurality of day options have a different style of appearance from the plurality of non-selectable portions.

50. The interactive program guide system of claim 49, wherein the different style of appearance comprises the plurality of day options having a different display border than the plurality of non-selectable portions.

51. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the control unit:

causes a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options to be displayed;

receives from the user input device a cursor movement instruction;

repositions the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

causes the first display to be redisplayed so that at least one new day option is displayed which correspond to a different month than the plurality of day options previously displayed; and

receives as the selected day option one of the at least one new day option designated by the cursor.

52. The interactive program guide system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of day options comprises seven day options.

53. A system that displays program schedule information on a display, the system comprising:

means for displaying a first display comprising;

a plurality of day options, wherein each day option corresponds to a different 24-hour interval for which program schedule information is available, and wherein the plurality of day options simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month for which program schedule information is available, and

a plurality of non-selectable portions, wherein each non-selectable portion corresponds to a day for which program schedule information is not available and wherein the plurality of non-selectable portions simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month;

means for receiving a selected day option of one of the plurality of day options; and

means for displaying a second display associated with the selected day option.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the second display comprises a portion of the program schedule information that corresponds to the selected day option.

55. The system of claim 54, further comprising:

means for displaying at least one day part;

means for receiving a selected day part of one of the at least one day part; and

means for displaying the second display so that the portion of the program schedule information corresponds to both the selected day option and the selected day part.

56. The system of claim 55, further comprising means for displaying the at least one day part as part of the first display.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein the at least one day part comprises a plurality of day parts and wherein each of the plurality of day parts corresponds to an equal portion of a day.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein each of the plurality of day parts corresponds to a four hour period.

59. The system of claim 55, further comprising means for selecting a default day part as the selected day part prior to receiving the selected day part.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the default day part corresponds to program schedule information that was previously viewed in the interactive program guide.

61. The system of claim 55, wherein the at least one day part comprises a plurality of day parts, further comprising:

means for displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day parts;

means for receiving a cursor movement instruction;

means for repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction; and

means for receiving as the selected day part one of the plurality of day parts designated by the cursor.

62. The system of claim 61, further comprising means for repositioning the cursor to a first of the plurality of day parts when a user attempts to move the cursor beyond a last of the plurality of day parts.

63. The system of claim 62, further comprising means for redisplaying the second display so that other program schedule information corresponding to one of the plurality of day parts other than the selected day part is displayed.

64. The system of claim 55, wherein the at least one day part is defined by a transmission from a remote location.

65. The system of claim 55, further comprising:

means for receiving a selection of a piece of program schedule information included in the portion of the program schedule information displayed in the second display; and

means for displaying a television program corresponding to the selection.

66. The system of claim 54, further comprising:

means for receiving a selection of a piece of program schedule information included in the portion of the program schedule information displayed in the second display; and

means for displaying a television program corresponding to the selection.

67. The system of claim 54, further comprising means for redisplaying the second display so that other program schedule information not corresponding to the selected day option is displayed.

68. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

means for displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

means for receiving a cursor movement instruction;

means for repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

means for redisplaying the first display so that at least one new day option is displayed which corresponds to a different month than the plurality of day options previously displayed; and

means for receiving as the selected day option one of the at least one new day option designated by the cursor.

69. The system of claim 57, wherein the plurality of day options is defined by a transmission from a remote location.

70. The system of claim 53, further comprising means for selecting a default day option as the selected day option prior to receiving the selected day option.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the default day option corresponds to program schedule information that was previously viewed in the interactive program guide.

72. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

means for displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

means for receiving a cursor movement instruction;

means for repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction; and

means for receiving as the selected day option one of the plurality of day options designated by the cursor.

73. The system of claim 72, further comprising means for repositioning the cursor to a first of the plurality of day options when a user attempts to move the cursor beyond a last of the plurality of day options.

74. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

means for displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

means for receiving a cursor movement instruction;

means for repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

means for allowing the cursor to be repositioned to only one of the plurality of day options; and

means for receiving as the selected day option one of the plurality of day options designated by the cursor.

75. The system of claim 53, further comprising means for displaying the plurality of day options and the plurality of non-selectable portions so that the plurality of day options have a different style of appearance from the plurality of non-selectable portions.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the different style of appearance comprises the plurality of day options having a different display border than the plurality of non-selectable portions.

77. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

means for displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

means for receiving a cursor movement instruction;

means for repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

means for redisplaying the first display so that at least one new day option is displayed which corresponds to a different month than the plurality of day options previously displayed; and

means for receiving as the selected day option one of the at least one new day option designated by the cursor.

78. The system of claim 53, wherein the plurality of day options comprises seven day options.

79. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon which, when executed by a processing device of a computer system with a display and a user input, configures the computer system for:

displaying a first display comprising;

a plurality of day options, wherein each day option corresponds to a different 24-hour interval for which program schedule information is available, and wherein the plurality of day options simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month for which program schedule information is available, and

a plurality of non-selectable portions, wherein each non-selectable portion corresponds to a day for which program schedule information is not available and wherein the plurality of non-selectable portions simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month;

receiving a selected day option of one of the plurality of day options; and

displaying a second display associated with the selected day option.

80. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 wherein the second display comprises a portion of the program schedule information that corresponds to the selected day option.

81. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 80 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying at least one day part;

receiving a selected day part of one of the at least one day part; and

displaying the second display so that the portion of the program schedule information corresponds to both the selected day option and the selected day part.

82. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 81 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for displaying at least one day part as part of the first display.

83. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the at least one day part comprises a plurality of day parts and wherein each of the plurality of day parts corresponds to an equal portion of a day.

84. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 83 wherein each of the plurality of day parts corresponds to a four hour period.

85. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 81 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for selecting a default day part as the selected day part prior to receiving the selected day part.

86. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 85 wherein the default day part corresponds to program schedule information that was previously viewed in the interactive program guide.

87. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the at least one day part comprises a plurality of day parts, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day parts;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction; and

receiving as the selected day part one of the plurality of day parts designated by the cursor.

88. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 87 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for repositioning the cursor to a first of the plurality of day parts when a user attempts to move the cursor beyond a last of the plurality of day parts.

89. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 88 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for redisplaying the second display so that other program schedule information corresponding to one of the plurality of day parts other than the selected day part is displayed.

90. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the at least one day part is defined by a transmission from a remote location.

91. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 81 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a selection of a piece of program schedule information included in the portion of the program schedule information displayed in the second display; and

displaying a television program corresponding to the selection.

92. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 80 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving a selection of a piece of program schedule information included in the portion of the program schedule information displayed in the second display; and

displaying a television program corresponding to the selection.

93. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 80 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for redisplaying the second display so that other program schedule information not corresponding to the selected day option is displayed.

94. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

redisplaying the first display so that at least one new day option is displayed which corresponds to a different month than the plurality of day options previously displayed; and

receiving as the selected day option one of the at least one new day option designated by the cursor.

95. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 wherein the plurality of day options is defined by a transmission from a remote location.

96. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for selecting a default day option as the selected day option prior to receiving the selected day option.

97. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 96 wherein the default day option corresponds to program schedule information that was previously viewed in the interactive program guide.

98. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction; and

receiving as the selected day option one of the plurality of day options designated by the cursor.

99. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 98 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for repositioning the cursor to a first of the plurality of day options when a user attempts to move the cursor beyond a last of the plurality of day options.

100. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

allowing the cursor to be repositioned to only one of the plurality of day options; and

receiving as the selected day option one of the plurality of day options designated by the cursor.

101. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for displaying the plurality of day options and the plurality of non-selectable portions so that the plurality of day options have a different style of appearance from the plurality of non-selectable portions.

102. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 101 wherein the different style of appearance comprises the plurality of day options having a different display border than the plurality of non-selectable portions.

103. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

displaying a cursor designating one of the plurality of day options;

receiving a cursor movement instruction;

repositioning the cursor in response to the cursor movement instruction;

redisplaying the first display so that at least one new day option is displayed which corresponds to a different month than the plurality of day options previously displayed; and

receiving as the selected day option one of the at least one new day option designated by the cursor.

104. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 79 wherein the plurality of day options comprises seven day options.

105. A method for providing program schedule information using a computer processor, comprising:

displaying a first display comprising a plurality of day options arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each day option corresponds to a day for which program schedule information is available, and wherein the plurality of day options simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month for which program schedule information is available, and wherein a plurality of portions of the two-dimensional array correspond to a plurality of days for which program schedule information is not available and simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers;

receiving by the computer processor a selected day option of one of the plurality of day options; and

displaying a second display associated with the selected day option.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein each row of the two-dimensional array of day options corresponds to one calendar week.

107. An interactive program guide system that displays program schedule information on a display comprising:

a user input device; and

a control unit that;

(a) causes to be displayed a first display comprising a plurality of day options arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each day option corresponds to a day for which program schedule information is available, and wherein the plurality of day options simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month for which program schedule information is available, and wherein a plurality of portions of the two-dimensional array correspond to a plurality of days for which program schedule information is not available and simultaneously indicate a corresponding plurality of day numbers,

(b) receives from the user input device a selected day option of one of the plurality of day options, and

(c) causes to be displayed a second display associated with the selected day option.

108. The interactive program guide system of claim 107, wherein each row of the two-dimensional array of day options corresponds to one calendar week.

109. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon which, when executed by a processing device of a computer system with a display and a user input, configures the computer system for:

displaying a first display comprising a plurality of day options arranged in a two dimensional array, wherein each day option corresponds to a day for which program schedule information is available, and wherein the plurality of day options simultaneously indicates a corresponding plurality of day numbers of days of a month for which program schedule information is available and wherein a plurality of portions of the two-dimensional array correspond to a plurality of days for which program schedule information is not available and simultaneously indicate corresponding plurality of day numbers;

receiving a selected day option of one of the plurality of day options; and

displaying a second display associated with the selected day option.

110. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 109, wherein each row of the two-dimensional array of day options corresponds to one calendar week.

111. A method for providing program schedule information using a computer processor, comprising:

displaying a first display comprising separate first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of selectable day options each corresponding to a different day for which program schedule information is available, wherein the first portion also comprises a plurality of non-selectable portions each corresponding to a day for which program schedule information is not available and simultaneously indicating a day number of a day of a month, and wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of selectable time interval options, wherein each selectable time interval corresponds to one of a plurality of time intervals for which program schedule information is available;

receiving by the computer processor a selected day option from the first portion;

receiving by the computer processor a selected time interval from the second portion; and

displaying a second display associated with the selected day option and selected time interval.

112. The method of claim 111, wherein the first and second portions are arranged horizontally with respect to each other in the first display.

113. The method of claim 111, wherein the plurality of selectable time interval options are arranged in a vertical array in the second portion.

114. The method of claim 111, wherein the plurality of selectable day options are arranged in a two-dimensional array in the first portion.

115. An interactive program guide system that displays program schedule information on a display comprising:

a user input device; and

a control unit that;

(a) causes to be displayed a first display comprising separate first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of selectable day options each corresponding to a different day for which program schedule information is available wherein the first portion also comprises a plurality of non-selectable portions each corresponding to a day for which program schedule information is not available and simultaneously indicating a day number of a day of a month, and wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of selectable time interval options, wherein each selectable time interval corresponds to one of a plurality of time intervals for which program schedule information is available;

(b) receives from the user input device a selected day option from the first portion;

(c) receives from the user input device a selected time interval from the second portion; and

(d) displays a second display associated with the selected day option and selected time interval.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein the first and second portions are arranged horizontally with respect to each other in the first display.

117. The method of claim 115, wherein the plurality of selectable time interval options are arranged in a vertical array in the second portion.

118. The method of claim 115, wherein the plurality of selectable day options are arranged in a two-dimensional array in the first portion.

119. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon which, when executed by a processing device of a computer system with a display and a user input, configures the computer system for:

displaying a first display comprising separate first and second portions, wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of selectable day options each corresponding to a different day for which program schedule information is available, wherein the first portion also comprises a plurality of non-selectable portions each corresponding to a day for which the program schedule information is not available and simultaneously indicating a day number of a day of a month, and wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of selectable time interval options, wherein each selectable time interval corresponds to one of a plurality of time intervals for which program schedule information is available;

receiving a selected day option from the first portion;

receiving a selected time interval from the second portion; and

displaying a second display associated with the selected day option and selected time interval.

120. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 119, wherein the first and second portions are arranged horizontally with respect to each other in the first display.

121. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 119, wherein the plurality of selectable time interval options are arranged in a vertical array in the second portion.

122. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 119, wherein the plurality of selectable day options are arranged in a two-dimensional array in the first portion.