Multiple interactive electronic program guide system and methods

Abstract

A multiple Interactive Program Guide (IPG) system provides different television programming and different IPGs to several different users respectively. A single set-top box is capable of providing programming and scheduling data to several different television sets. Each of the different IPGs share a common database. Therefore, a first IPG being viewed by a first user can display data added or modified via a second IPG by a second user of the system. Furthermore, the data added or modified by the second user can influence the viewing rights of the first user. Also, all the competing and conflicting requests for limited resources, such as VCR scheduled recordings, will be brought to the users' attention and will be displayed by the system.

1 . A system for managing a plurality of interactive electronic program guides (IPGs) comprising: 
 a plurality of tuners for receiving telecast data for a plurality of television channels and tuning to respective television channels of the plurality of television channels;    a first memory for storing information specific to each of the plurality of IPGs;    a second memory for storing information common to the plurality of IPGs;    a microprocessor coupled to the first memory, the second memory, and the plurality of tuners for processing the information for the plurality of IPGs; and    a plurality of displays for displaying the respective telecast data for the respective television channel and for displaying the respective IPG.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an IPG data extractor coupled to the microprocessor for receiving the plurality of telecast data and extracting IPG data from the plurality of telecast data for the plurality of IPGs.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the first memory, the second memory, the microprocessor, and the IPG data extractor reside in a single electronic device.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the single electronic device is a set-top box.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the single electronic device is a computer.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of displays simultaneously displays a respective telecast data independent of each other.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of displays simultaneously displays a respective telecast data and a respective IPG in different locations is a household.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an on-screen scheduled events list shared by the plurality of IPGs and including an aggregate list for one or more of the group individual recordings, future PPV purchases, and scheduled tunes.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for customizing each of the plurality of IPGs.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the means for customizing includes means for displaying a sorted list of the television channel identifications based on favorite channels for respective IPG users.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the means for customizing includes means for displaying only selected television channel identifications.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the means for customizing includes means for displaying advertisements for respective IPG users.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the advertisements for respective IPG users are interactive.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the advertisements for respective IPG users promote a pay-per-view program and include means for ordering the promoted a pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the customization data for each of the plurality of IPGs is stored in a plurality of respective user profiles.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the means for customizing includes means for displaying advertisements for respective IPG users responsive to respective user profiles.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one VChip coupled to the microprocessor for parental blocking of television programs based on a user-defined criterion.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the VChip blocks the television programs based on a plurality of ratings, the channel identifications, the program titles, or the starting times.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for supporting a hierarchy of multiple user passwords.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the hierarchy of multiple user passwords includes a master password for allowing a user with the master password to block television programs, make changes to the plurality of IPGs, or override changes to the plurality of IPGs.  
     
     
         21 . A television set-top box for managing a plurality of interactive electronic program guides (IPGs) comprising: 
 means for receiving telecast data for a plurality of television channels and tuning to respective television channels of the plurality of television channels;    means for r storing information specific to each of the plurality of IPGs;    means for storing information common to the plurality of IPGs;    means for processing the information for the plurality of IPGs; and    means for displaying the respective telecast data for the respective television channel and for displaying the respective IPG.    
     
     
         22 . A method for managing a plurality of interactive electronic program guides (IPGs) comprising: 
 receiving telecast data for a plurality of television channels;    storing in a memory data specific to each of the plurality of IPGs;    storing in the memory data common to the plurality of IPGS;    processing the stored data for the plurality of IPGs; and    displaying the plurality of IPGs on a plurality of respective monitors.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising displaying a scheduled events list shared by the plurality of IPGs and including an aggregate list for one or more of the group individual recordings, future PPV purchases, and scheduled tunes.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising customizing each of the plurality of IPGs.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of customizing includes displaying a sorted list of television channel identifications based on favorite channels.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the customizing step includes displaying advertisements for respective IPG users.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the advertisements for respective IPG users are interactive.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the customizing step includes displaying advertisements promoting a pay-per-view program and interacting with the displayed advertisement for ordering the promoted a pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the customizing step includes storing in a plurality of user profiles data for each of the plurality of IPGs respectively.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of blocking television programs based on a user-defined criterion.