US2003066085A1PendingUtilityA1

Internet television program guide system

44
Assignee: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES INC APriority: Dec 10, 1996Filed: Nov 1, 2002Published: Apr 3, 2003
Est. expiryDec 10, 2016(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Franklin E. BoyerTimothy B. DemersDonald W. AllisonMark A. RegoubySteven C. WilliamsonJoanna L. HensleyW. Benjamin HerringtonPaul N. Reddy
H04N 5/445H04N 7/163H04N 21/478H04N 21/64322H04N 21/6175H04N 21/4381H04N 21/4622H04N 21/4821H04N 21/4782H04N 21/84H04N 21/8153H04N 21/482H04N 7/17318H04N 21/4828H04N 5/45H04N 21/6125H04N 21/4725H04N 21/47211H04N 21/8586H04N 21/47H04N 21/8549H04N 21/435H04N 21/4316H04N 21/235H04N 21/26283
44
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view and select television program guide listings, including listings for pay-per-view programs. A program information web page may be provided for programs selected by the user. The program information page may include a selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip of the selected program. An order web page may be provided for users to order selected pay-per-view programs over the Internet by selecting an on-screen option in the order web page.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing web pages of information to a user of an Internet television program guide system, the method comprising: 
 providing web pages of program listings from a web server to a user multimedia system over an Internet communications link, wherein the web pages of program listings include program listings for scheduled pay-per-view programs;    providing a pay-per-view program information web page for a pay-per-view program listing selected by the user to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link; and    providing a selectable option for allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program over the Internet communications link.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the selected pay-per-view program before ordering the selected pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to specify a file-type for the video clip.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one scheduled time listing for which the selected pay-per-view program is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the at least one scheduled time listing is a selectable hyperlink.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selectable option is a hyperlink, the method further comprising: 
 providing an order web page from the web server in response to the user selecting the hyperlink; and    allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program with the order web page.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing instructions on how to order the selected pay-per-view program on the order web page.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions include a customer service telephone number and procedures for obtaining a personal identification number.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the order web page prompts the user to enter user-specific information used to verify the user's identity.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user-specific information is a personal identification number.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user-specific information is a telephone number.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a cable system operator for processing.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a third party order fulfillment processor linked to a cable headend.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 automatically processing the order and verification data using equipment at the cable headend; and    arranging for delivery of the selected pay-per-view program.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using equipment at the cable headend to direct the multimedia system to display the selected pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 processing the order and verification data entered on the order web page with the web server; and    transmitting authorization information from the web server to equipment located at the user's premises to allow display of the selected pay-per-view program.    
     
     
         18 . An Internet television program guide system for providing web pages of information to a user, the system comprising: 
 means for providing web pages of program listings from a web server to a user multimedia system over an Internet communications link, wherein the web pages of program listings include program listings for scheduled pay-per-view programs;    means for providing a pay-per-view program information web page for a pay-per-view program listing selected by the user to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link; and    means for providing a selectable option for allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program over the Internet communications link.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the selected pay-per-view program before ordering the selected pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to specify a file-type for the video clip.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one scheduled time listing for which the selected pay-per-view program is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein each of the at least one scheduled time listing is a selectable hyperlink.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the selectable option is a hyperlink, further comprising: 
 means for providing an order web page in response to the user selecting the hyperlink; and    means for allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program with the order web page.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising means for providing instructions on how to order the selected pay-per-view program on the order web page.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions include a customer service telephone number and procedures for obtaining a personal identification number.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the order web page prompts the user to enter user-specific information used to verify the user's identity.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the user-specific information is a personal identification number.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the user-specific information is a telephone number.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising means for electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a cable system operator for processing.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising means for electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a third party order fulfillment processor linked to a cable headend.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 means for automatically processing the order and verification data using equipment at the cable headend; and    means for arranging for delivery of the selected pay-per-view program.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising means for using equipment at the cable headend to direct the multimedia system to display the selected pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 means for processing the order and verification data entered on the order web page with the web server; and    means for transmitting authorization information from the web server to equipment located at the user's premises to allow display of the selected pay-per-view program.    
     
     
         35 . A machine-readable medium for use in providing web pages of information to a user of an Internet television program guide system, comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 providing web pages of program listings from a web server to a user multimedia system over an Internet communications link, wherein the web pages of program listings include program listings for scheduled pay-per-view programs;    providing a pay-per-view program information web page for a pay-per-view program listing selected by the user to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link; and    providing a selectable option for allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program over the Internet communications link.    
     
     
         36 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the selected pay-per-view program before ordering the selected pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         37 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         38 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 36 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with an opportunity to specify a file-type for the video clip.  
     
     
         39 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one scheduled time listing for which the selected pay-per-view program is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         40 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 39 , wherein each of the at least one scheduled time listing is a selectable hyperlink.  
     
     
         41 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the selectable option is a hyperlink, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 providing an order web page from the web server in response to the user selecting the hyperlink; and    allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program with the order web page.    
     
     
         42 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 41 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing instructions on how to order the selected pay-per-view program on the order web page.  
     
     
         43 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the instructions include a customer service telephone number and procedures for obtaining a personal identification number.  
     
     
         44 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 41 , wherein the order web page prompts the user to enter user-specific information used to verify the user's identity.  
     
     
         45 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein the user-specific information is a personal identification number.  
     
     
         46 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein the user-specific information is a telephone number.  
     
     
         47 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 44 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a cable system operator for processing.  
     
     
         48 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 44 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a third party order fulfillment processor linked to a cable headend.  
     
     
         49 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 48 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 automatically processing the order and verification data using equipment at the cable headend; and    arranging for delivery of the selected pay-per-view program.    
     
     
         50 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 49 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for using equipment at the cable headend to direct the multimedia system to display the selected pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         51 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 44 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 processing the order and verification data entered on the order web page with the web server; and    transmitting authorization information from the web server to equipment located at the user's premises to allow display of the selected pay-per-view program.    
     
     
         52 . A method for providing web pages of information to a user of an Internet television program guide system, the method comprising: 
 providing web pages of program listings from a web server to a user multimedia system over an Internet communications link;    providing a program information web page for a program listing selected by the user to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link, wherein the program information web page includes at least one selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the selected program; and    providing the video clip to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link in response to the user selecting the at least one selectable option.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the at least one selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to specify a file-type for the video clip.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the video clip is a preview for the selected program.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the video clip is an interview related to the selected program.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the video clip is a promotion related to the selected program.  
     
     
         58 . An Internet television program guide system for providing web pages of information to a user, the system comprising: 
 means for providing web pages of program listings from a web server to a user multimedia system over an Internet communications link;    means for providing a program information web page for a program listing selected by the user to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link, wherein the program information web page includes at least one selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the selected program; and    means for providing the video clip to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link in response to the user selecting the at least one selectable option.    
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the at least one selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 58 , further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to specify a file-type for the video clip.  
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the video clip is a preview for the selected program.  
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the video clip is an interview related to the selected program.  
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the video clip is a promotion related to the selected program.  
     
     
         64 . A machine-readable medium for use in providing web pages of information to a user of an Internet television program guide system, comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 providing web pages of program listings from a web server to a user multimedia system over an Internet communications link;    providing a program information web page for a program listing selected by the user to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link, wherein the program information web page includes at least one selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the selected program; and    providing the video clip to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link in response to the user selecting the at least one selectable option.    
     
     
         65 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 64 , wherein the at least one selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         66 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 64 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with an opportunity to specify a file-type for the video clip.  
     
     
         67 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 64 , wherein the video clip is a preview for the selected program.  
     
     
         68 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 64 , wherein the video clip is an interview related to the selected program.  
     
     
         69 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 64 , wherein the video clip is a promotion related to the selected program.

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