Promotional philosophy for a video-on-demand-related interactive display within an interactive television application

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an interactive display having indicators of video-on-demand programs are described. The systems and methods select indicators for inclusion in the interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm.

1 . A method for providing video-on-demand program listings in an interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm comprising: 
 receiving video-on-demand program listings, advertisements associated with video-on-demand programs, and data that define the promotional selection algorithm;    selecting one or more of the video-on-demand program listings for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm as defined by the data; and    selecting one or more of the advertisements for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm; and    generating an interactive display that presents the video-on-demand program listings and the advertisements selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.    
     
     
         2 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the interactive display is a browse display that provides a user with an opportunity to browse through the video-on-demand program listings selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         3 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the interactive display is a video-on-demand program listings display that provides a user with an opportunity to navigate within the video-on-demand program listings selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         4 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the interactive display is a screening room that provides a user with an opportunity to preview a video-on-demand program associated with a program listing selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising providing the video-on-demand program listings.  
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein selecting one or more of the video-on-demand program listings comprises selecting the one or more of the video-on-demand program listings according to a user preference profile.  
     
     
         8 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 generating a selection log; and    updating the promotional selection algorithm based on the selection log.    
     
     
         9 . A system in which video-on-demand program listings are provided in an interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm comprising: 
 means for receiving video-on-demand program listings, advertisements associated with video-on-demand programs, and data that define the promotional selection algorithm;    means for selecting one or more of the video-on-demand program listings for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm as defined by the data;    means for selecting one or more of the advertisements for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm; and    means for generating an interactive display that presents the video-on-demand program listings and the advertisements selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.    
     
     
         10 . The system defined in  claim 8  wherein the interactive display is a browse display that provides a user with an opportunity to browse through the video-on-demand program listings selected by the means for selecting according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         11 . The system defined in  claim 9  wherein the interactive display is a video-on-demand program listings display that provides a user with an opportunity to navigate within the video-on-demand program listings selected by the means for selecting according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         12 . The system defined in  claim 9  wherein the interactive display is a screening room that provides a user with an opportunity to preview a video-on-demand program associated with a program listing selected by the means for selecting according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . The system defined in  claim 9  further comprising means for providing the video-on-demand program listings.  
     
     
         15 . The system defined in  claim 9  wherein the means for selecting one or more of the video-on-demand program listings comprises means for selecting the one or more of the video-on-demand program listings according to a user preference profile.  
     
     
         16 . The system defined in  claim 9  further comprising: 
 means for generating a selection log; and    means for updating the promotional selection algorithm based on the selection log.    
     
     
         17 . A system in which video-on-demand program listings are provided in an interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm comprising: 
 a communications device configured to receive video-on-demand program listings, advertisements associated with video-on-demand programs, and data that define the promotional selection algorithm;    an indicator selector configured to select one or more of the video-on-demand program listings for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm as defined by the data, the indicator selector is further configured to select one or more of the advertisements for inclusion in the interactive display according to the promotional selection algorithm; and    an interactive application configured to generate an interactive display that presents the video-on-demand program listings and the advertisements selected according to the promotional selection algorithm.    
     
     
         18 . The system defined in  claim 15  wherein the interactive display is a browse display that provides a user with an opportunity to browse through the video-on-demand program listings selected by the indicator selector according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         19 . The system defined in  claim 17  wherein the interactive display is a video-on-demand program listings display that provides a user with an opportunity to navigate within the video-on-demand program listings selected by the indicator selector according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         20 . The system defined in  claim 17  wherein the interactive display is a screening room that provides a user with an opportunity to preview a video-on-demand program associated with a program listing selected by the indicator selection according to the promotional selection algorithm.  
     
     
         21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . The system defined in  claim 17  further comprising a data source configured to provide the video-on-demand program listings.  
     
     
         23 . The system defined in  claim 17  wherein the indicator selector is further configured to select one or more of the video-on-demand program listings according to a user preference profile.  
     
     
         24 . The system defined in  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a log generator configured to generate a selection log; and    a log analyzer configured to receive the selection log and update the promotional selection algorithm based on the selection log.