Interactive program guide system providing an application program interface for non-program guide applications
First Claim
1. A method for using an interactive program guide system in which an interactive program guide application is at least partially implemented on user equipment of a user, comprising:
- implementing a plurality of non-program-guide applications that each provides an interactive component, wherein each of the non-program-guide applications runs on a processor of the user equipment separately from the interactive program guide application;
storing an application program interface that allows the plurality of non-program-guide applications to use program guide functions of the interactive program guide application when providing the interactive component to the user;
activating an option within the interactive program guide application to schedule a reminder to access the interactive component from at least one of the non-program-guide applications;
launching the at least one of the non-program-guide applications with the interactive program guide application; and
calling the application program interface from the at least one of the non-program-guide applications to provide the interactive component using one of the program guide functions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide application and non-program-guide applications are at least partially implemented on user television equipment. A program guide program application interface is provided that is used to maintain a consistent user interface between the program guide application and the non-program-guide applications. The user may select certain non-program-guide applications as favorites and may set parental controls for certain non-program-guide applications. While the non-program-guide application operates, the program guide may check for events that require immediate attention. When such an event is detected, operation of the non-program-guide application may be suspended and the user may be asked whether the detected event should take place or whether operation of the non-program-guide application should be resumed. The program application interface may perform authentication and access rights determination functions. Reminders may be set for the content of non-program-guide applications.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for using an interactive program guide system in which an interactive program guide application is at least partially implemented on user equipment of a user, comprising:
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implementing a plurality of non-program-guide applications that each provides an interactive component, wherein each of the non-program-guide applications runs on a processor of the user equipment separately from the interactive program guide application; storing an application program interface that allows the plurality of non-program-guide applications to use program guide functions of the interactive program guide application when providing the interactive component to the user; activating an option within the interactive program guide application to schedule a reminder to access the interactive component from at least one of the non-program-guide applications; launching the at least one of the non-program-guide applications with the interactive program guide application; and calling the application program interface from the at least one of the non-program-guide applications to provide the interactive component using one of the program guide functions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An interactive program guide system comprising:
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user equipment on which an interactive program guide application and a plurality of non-program-guide applications that each provides an interactive component are at least partially implemented, wherein each of the non-program-guide applications runs on a processor of the user equipment separately from the interactive program guide application, the interactive program guide application having an application program interface that allows the plurality of non-program-guide applications to use program guide functions of the interactive program guide application when providing the interactive component to the user, wherein the application program interface activates an option within the interactive program guide application to schedule a reminder to access the interactive component from at least one of the non-program guide applications, wherein the interactive program guide application launches the at least one of the non-program-guide applications, and wherein the at least one of the non-program-guide application calls the application program interface to provide the interactive component using one of the program guide functions. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for using an interactive video guide system in which an interactive video guide application is at least partially implemented on user equipment of a user, comprising:
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implementing a plurality of non-video-guide applications that each provides an interactive component, wherein each of the non-video-guide applications runs on a processor of the user equipment separately from the interactive video guide application; storing an application program interface that allows the plurality of non-video-guide applications to use video guide functions of the interactive video guide application when providing the interactive component to the user; activating an option within the interactive video guide application to schedule a reminder to access the interactive component from at least one of the non-video-guide applications; launching the at least one of the non-video-guide applications with the interactive video guide application; and calling the application program interface from the at least one of the of non-video-guide applications to provide the interactive component using one of the video guide functions. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification