Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with remote product ordering

Abstract

An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The television program schedule information is displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information and displays a portion of the program schedule information on the receiver. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information, wherein the product or service is associated with the program, such as a program transcript or videocassette. The viewer utilizes the remote control apparatus to generate a first command for displaying information on the receiver describing the product or service, and a second command for placing an order for the product or service. The data processor receives the user control commands and in response to the first command causes the video display generator to display information describing the product or service and in response to the second command generates an order for the product or service.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for allowing users to order products from a central location using an interactive television program guide while at home using a one-step ordering process comprising: 
 providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide, wherein the product is a product other than electronically-delivered video and wherein the product is related to television programming; and    ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide.    
     
     
         2 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide comprises: 
 generating a user product request using the interactive television program guide; and  
 providing the user product request to the central location using the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising retrieving information previously stored for the user.  
     
     
         4 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide comprises providing an indicator that indicates to the user a single button that the user may depress on a remote control to order a product; and  
 ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide comprises ordering the product from the central location in response to the user depressing the single button on the remote control.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide comprises providing an onscreen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product brochure; and  
 ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide comprises ordering a product brochure from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide comprises providing an onscreen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a television-related product; and  
 ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide comprises ordering the television-related product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide comprises displaying the on-screen message with a personal computer.  
     
     
         8 . A method for allowing users to order products using an interactive television program guide while at a remote location using a one-step ordering process comprising: 
 displaying information identifying a product at the remote location using the interactive television program guide wherein the product is a product other than electronically-delivered video and wherein the product is related to television programming;    in response to a single action being performed by the user at the remote location, providing product information to a central system for an identified product using the interactive television program guide;    receiving the product information at the central location; and    processing the product information at the central location for ordering the identified product.    
     
     
         9 . The method defined in  claim 8  wherein displaying information identifying a product at the remote location using the interactive television program guide comprises displaying information indicating the single action.  
     
     
         10 . The method defined in  claim 8  wherein: 
 the single action comprises the depressing of a button on a remote control by the user; and  
 in response to a single action being performed by the user at the remote location using the interactive television program guide, providing product information to a central system for an identified product comprises in response to the depressing of a button on a remote control by the user at the remote location, providing product information to a central system for an identified product using the interactive television program guide.  
 
     
     
         11 . A home shopping system for allowing users to order products from a central location while at home using a one-step ordering process within an interactive television program guide comprising: 
 means for providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide, wherein the product is a product other than electronically-delivered video and wherein the product is related to television programming; and    means for ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide.    
     
     
         12 . The system defined in  claim 11  wherein the means for ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide comprises: 
 means for generating a user product request using the interactive television program guide; and  
 means for providing the user product request to the central location.  
 
     
     
         13 . The system defined in  claim 11  further comprising means for retrieving information previously stored for the user.  
     
     
         14 . The system defined in  claim 11  wherein: 
 the means for providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide comprises means for providing an indicator that indicates to the user a single button that the user may depress on a remote control to order a product; and  
 the means for ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide comprises means for ordering the product from the central location in response to the user depressing the single button on the remote control.  
 
     
     
         15 . The system defined in  claim 11  wherein: 
 the means for providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide comprises means for providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product brochure; and  
 the means for ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide comprises means for ordering a product brochure from the central location in response to the user performing the single action.  
 
     
     
         16 . The system defined in  claim 11  wherein: 
 the means for providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide comprises means for providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a television-related product; and  
 the means for ordering the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide comprises means for ordering the television-related product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action.  
 
     
     
         17 . The system defined in  claim 11  wherein the means for providing an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product using the interactive television program guide comprises means for displaying the on-screen message with a personal computer.  
     
     
         18 . A home shopping system for allowing users to order products while at a remote location using a one-step ordering process from within an interactive television program guide comprising: 
 means for displaying information identifying a product at the remote location using the interactive television program guide, wherein the product is a product other than electronically-delivered video and wherein the product is related to television programming;    means for providing product information to a central system for an identified product in response to a single action being performed by the user at the remote location using the interactive television program guide;    means for receiving the product information at the central location; and    means for processing the product information at the central location for ordering the identified product.    
     
     
         19 . The system defined in  claim 18  wherein the means for displaying information identifying a product at the remote location using the interactive television program guide comprises means for displaying information indicating the single action.  
     
     
         20 . The system defined in  claim 18  wherein: 
 the single action comprises the depressing of a button on a remote control by the user; and  
 the means for providing product information to a central system for an identified product in response to a single action being performed by the user at the remote location using the interactive television program guide comprises means for providing product information to a central system for an identified product in response to the depressing of a button on a remote control by the user at the remote location.  
 
     
     
         21 . A system for allowing users to order products from a central location using a one-step ordering process within an interactive television program guide comprising: 
 a video display generator;    a user interface; and    a microcontroller programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display an onscreen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform with the user interface to order a product using the interactive television program guide, wherein the product is other than electronically-delivered video and wherein the product is related to television programming, and (2) order the product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action with the user interface.    
     
     
         22 . The system defined in  claim 21  wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) generate a user product request, and (2) provide the user product request to the central location.  
     
     
         23 . The system defined in  claim 21  wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to retrieve information previously stored for the user.  
     
     
         24 . The system defined in  claim 21  wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display an indicator that indicates to the user a single button that the user may depress on a remote controller to order a product using the interactive television program guide, and (2) order the product from the central location in response to the user depressing the single button on the remote controller.  
     
     
         25 . The system defined in  claim 21  wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a product brochure, and (2) order a product brochure from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         26 . The system defined in  claim 21  wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to direct the video display generator to display an on-screen message that indicates to a user a single action that the user may perform to order a television-related product using the interactive television program guide, and (2) order the television-related product from the central location in response to the user performing the single action using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         27 . The system defined in  claim 21  wherein the microcontroller is a microcontroller for a personal computer.  
     
     
         28 . A system for allowing users to order products while at a remote location using a one-step ordering process from within an interactive television program guide comprising: 
 a video display generator;    a user interface;    a remote controller programmed to (1) direct the video display generator to display information identifying a product at the remote location using the interactive television program guide, wherein the product is a product other than electronically-delivered video and wherein the product is related to television programming, and (2) provide product information to a central system for an identified product in response to a single action being performed by the user at the remote location with the user interface using the interactive television program guide; and    a receiver at a central location configured to (1) receive the product information, and (2) process the product information for ordering the identified product.    
     
     
         29 . The system defined in  claim 28  wherein the microcontroller is further programmed to direct the video display generator to display information indicating the single action.  
     
     
         30 . The system defined in  claim 28  wherein: 
 the single action comprises the depressing of a button on a remote controller by the user; and  
 the microcontroller is further programmed to provide product information to a central system fo an identified product in response to the depressing of a button on the remote controller by the user at the remote location.