Electronic program guide with related-program search feature

Abstract

A system for searching for programs is provided. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the given program in which the user has indicated an interest. The system may locate program listings that are related to the given program. The located program listings may be related to the given program based on attributes of the given program. The system may display a list of located listings and allow the user to select listings from the list. The system may tune to a program selected from the list, may display an information display screen for a program selected from the list, etc. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to configure and save search parameters. The system may sort related program listings based on the attributes of the given program. The system may provide the user with the opportunity to retrieve saved searches to locate currently available program listings and the opportunity to delete a saved search, rename, a saved search, receive automatic notifications of programs matching a saved search, etc.

1 - 10 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         11 . A method for allowing a user of an interactive television program guide system to search for television program listings, wherein a remote control is used to interface with an interactive television program guide implemented at least partially on user television equipment, the method comprising: 
 displaying a display screen that includes a video for a given program;    allowing the user to use a single key on the remote control while the video for the given program is being displayed to direct the program guide system to locate program listings related to the given program based on attributes of the given program; and    displaying a display screen including the program listings located by the system.    
     
     
         12 . The method defined in  claim 11 , further comprising sorting the program listings located by the system for display.  
     
     
         13 . The method defined in  claim 11 , further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to select any of the displayed program listings.  
     
     
         14 . The method defined in  claim 13 , further comprising tuning to a particular program when the user selects a listing for the particular program from the displayed listings.  
     
     
         15 . The method defined in  claim 13 , further comprising tuning to a current program when the user selects a particular one of the displayed listings that lists a current program.  
     
     
         16 . The method defined in  claim 13 , further comprising displaying an information display screen that contains information related to a particular one of the displayed listing when the user selects that particular listing.  
     
     
         17 . The method defined in  claim 11 , further comprising locating programs based on attributes of the given program.  
     
     
         18 . An interactive television program guide system for searching for television program listings, comprising: 
 an interactive television program guide implemented at least partially on user television equipment and configured to: 
 display a display screen that includes a video for a given program;  
 allow the user to use a single key on a remote control while the video for the given program is being displayed;  
 direct the interactive television program guide to locate program listings related to the given program based on attributes of the given program; and  
 display a display screen that includes the program listings located by the system.  
   
     
     
         19 . The system defined in  claim 18 , wherein the user television equipment is further configured to sort the program listings located by the system for display.  
     
     
         20 . The system defined in  claim 18 , wherein the user television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to select any of the displayed program listings.  
     
     
         21 . The system defined in  claim 20 , wherein the user television equipment is further configured to tune to a particular program when the user selects a listing for the particular program from the displayed listings.  
     
     
         22 . The system defined in  claim 20 , wherein the user television equipment is further configured to tune to a current program when the user selects a particular one of the displayed listings that lists a current program.  
     
     
         23 . The system defined in  claim 20 , wherein the user television equipment is further configured to display an information display screen that contains information related to a particular one of the displayed listing when the user selects that particular listing.  
     
     
         24 . The system defined in  claim 18 , wherein the user television equipment is further configured to locate programs based on attributes of the given program.  
     
     
         25 - 40 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         41 . An interactive television program guide system for searching for television program listings, comprising: 
 means for displaying a display screen that includes a video for a given program;    means for allowing the user to use a single key on a remote control while the video for the given program is being displayed to direct the program guide system to locate program listings related to the given program based on attributes of the given program; and    means for displaying a display screen including the program listings located by the system.    
     
     
         42 . The system defined in  claim 41 , further comprising means for sorting the program listings located by the system for display.  
     
     
         43 . The system defined in  claim 41 , further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to select any of the displayed program listings.  
     
     
         44 . The system defined in  claim 43 , further comprising means for tuning to a particular program when the user selects a listing for the particular program from the displayed listings.  
     
     
         45 . The system defined in  claim 43 , further comprising means for tuning to a current program when the user selects a particular one of the displayed listings that lists a current program.  
     
     
         46 . The system defined in  claim 43 , further comprising means for displaying an information display screen that contains information related to a particular one of the displayed listing when the user selects that particular listing.  
     
     
         47 . The system defined in  claim 41 , further comprising means for locating programs based on attributes of the given program.  
     
     
         48 . A machine readable medium for searching for television program listings having machine program logic recorded therein for: 
 displaying a display screen that includes a video for a given program;    allowing the user to use a single key on a remote control while the video for the given program is being displayed to direct the program guide system to locate program listings related to the given program based on attributes of the given program; and    displaying a display screen including the program listings located by the system.    
     
     
         49 . The machine readable medium of  claim 48 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for locating sorting the program listings located by the system for display.  
     
     
         50 . The machine readable medium of  claim 48 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for locating providing the user with an opportunity to select any of the displayed program listings.  
     
     
         51 . The machine readable medium of  claim 50 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for locating tuning to a particular program when the user selects a listing for the particular program from the displayed listings.  
     
     
         52 . The machine readable medium of  claim 50 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for locating tuning to a current program when the user selects a particular one of the displayed listings that lists a current program.  
     
     
         53 . The machine readable medium of  claim 50 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for locating displaying an information display screen that contains information related to a particular one of the displayed listing when the user selects that particular listing.  
     
     
         54 . The machine readable medium of  claim 48 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for locating programs based on attributes of the given program.  
     
     
         55 . A method for searching for television program listings, comprising: 
 providing a user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program;    displaying an on-screen list of attributes related to the given program in response to the user indicating an interest in the given program;    providing the user with an opportunity to select at least one attribute to define the parameters of a search; and    providing the user with an opportunity to save the search using the interactive television program guide.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising: 
 providing the user with an opportunity to select a saved search; and    displaying a list of program listings related to the selected saved search.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising: 
 providing the user with an opportunity to name a saved search.    
     
     
         58 . An interactive television program guide system for searching for television program listings, comprising: 
 an interactive television program guide implemented at least partially on user television equipment and configured to: 
 provide a user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program;  
 display an on-screen list of attributes related to the given program in response to the user indicating an interest in the given program;  
 provide the user with an opportunity to select at least one attribute to define the parameters of a search; and  
 provide the user with an opportunity to save the search using the interactive television program guide.  
   
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the television program guide is further configured to: 
 provide the user with an opportunity to select a saved search; and    display a list of program listings related to the selected saved search.    
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the television program guide is further configured to: 
 provide the user with an opportunity to name a saved search.    
     
     
         61 . An interactive television program guide system for searching for television program listings, comprising: 
 means for providing a user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program;    means for displaying an on-screen list of attributes related to the given program in response to the user indicating an interest in the given program;    means for providing the user with an opportunity to select at least one attribute to define the parameters of a search; and    means for providing the user with an opportunity to save the search using the interactive television program guide.    
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 means for providing the user with an opportunity to select a saved search; and    means for displaying a list of program listings related to the selected saved search.    
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 means for providing the user with an opportunity to name a saved search.    
     
     
         64 . A machine readable medium for searching for television program listings having machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 providing a user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program;    displaying an on-screen list of attributes related to the given program in response to the user indicating an interest in the given program;    providing the user with an opportunity to select at least one attribute to define the parameters of a search; and    providing the user with an opportunity to save the search using the interactive television program guide.    
     
     
         65 . The machine readable medium of  claim 64 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 providing the user with an opportunity to select a saved search; and    displaying a list of program listings related to the selected saved search.    
     
     
         66 . The machine readable medium of  claim 64 , further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 providing the user with an opportunity to name a saved search.