Series recording using an interactive television program guide

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. In addition, other options may be provided that allow the user to determine, for example, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all channels on which the program airs or only on a selected channels, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for all episodes including reruns or only new episodes, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for network or syndicated episodes, and whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all days or only on selected days of the week. Before the scheduled broadcast time of each episode of each selected program series, the system sends a reminder message to the user that reminds the user of the program episode or sends a record command to a videocassette recorder to initiate recording of the episode. The system allows a user to view a list of all currently requested program reminders and scheduled program recordings. The user may update, change, or cancel any entry in either list or the system may automatically update the lists to match new broadcast schedule information. If the user sets a reminder or schedules a recording that conflicts with an existing reminder or recording, the system may inform the user of the conflict and allow the user to resolve the conflict or the system may resolve the conflict.

1 - 254 . (canceled)  
     
     
         255 . A method for recording television programs on user television equipment, comprising: 
 allowing a user to select a program for recording;    determining whether the selected program is an episode of a series of programs; and    in response to the determination that the program is not an episode of a series of programs: 
 providing an option to record the program that is not an episode of a series of programs; and  
 omitting an option to record a series of programs.  
   
     
     
         256 . The method of  claim 255 , further comprising providing an option to schedule a reminder for the program.  
     
     
         257 . The method of  claim 255 , further comprising omitting an option to schedule a reminder for a series of programs.  
     
     
         258 . The method of  claim 255 , further comprising recording the program to a storage device.  
     
     
         259 . The method of  claim 258 , wherein the storage device is located at a server.  
     
     
         260 . The method of  claim 255 , further comprising, in response to the determination that the program is an episode of a series of programs, providing an option to record the program that is an episode of a series of programs to a storage device.  
     
     
         261 . The method of  claim 260 , further comprising recording the program to the storage device.  
     
     
         262 . The method of  claim 261 , wherein the storage device is located at a server.  
     
     
         263 . The method of  claim 260 , further comprising providing an option to record the series of programs related to the program to the storage device.  
     
     
         264 . The method of  claim 255 , further comprising displaying a program recording update screen that provides at least one additional option to the user.  
     
     
         265 . The method of  claim 264 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to delete a scheduled recording.  
     
     
         266 . The method of  claim 264 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to update a scheduled recording.  
     
     
         267 . The method of  claim 260 , further comprising displaying a program recording update screen that provides at least one additional option to the user.  
     
     
         268 . The method of  claim 267 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to delete a scheduled recording.  
     
     
         269 . The method of  claim 267 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to update a scheduled recording.  
     
     
         270 . The method of  claim 267 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to delete the scheduled recording of a single episode.  
     
     
         271 . The method of  claim 267 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to delete the scheduled recording for an entire series of programs.  
     
     
         272 . The method of  claim 255 , wherein the omitting the option to record the series of programs comprises preventing the selection of the option to record the series of programs.  
     
     
         273 . A system for recording television programs on user television equipment of a plurality of users, the system comprising: 
 a display device;    a user interface;    user television equipment on which an interactive television program guide is at least partially implemented, wherein the interactive television program guide is programmed to:    display on the display device at least one program listing related to at least one program currently scheduled to be recorded;    allow a user using the user interface to select a program listing from the at least one displayed program listing;    determine whether a program that corresponds to the program listing is an episode of a series of programs; and    in response to the determination that the program is not an episode of a series of programs: 
 provide an option to record the program that is not an episode of a series of programs; and  
 omit an option to record a series of programs.  
   
     
     
         274 . The system of  claim 273 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to provide an option to schedule a reminder for the program.  
     
     
         275 . The system of  claim 273 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to omit an option to schedule a reminder for a series of programs.  
     
     
         276 . The system of  claim 273 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to record the program to a storage device.  
     
     
         277 . The system of  claim 276 , wherein the storage device is located at a server.  
     
     
         278 . The system of  claim 273 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to, in response to the determination that the program is an episode of a series of programs, provide an option to record the program that is an episode of a series of programs to a storage device.  
     
     
         279 . The system of  claim 278 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to record the program to the storage device.  
     
     
         280 . The system of  claim 279 , wherein the storage device is located at a server.  
     
     
         281 . The system of  claim 278 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to provide an option to record the series of programs related to the program to the storage device.  
     
     
         282 . The system of  claim 273 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to display a program recording update screen that provides at least one additional option to the user.  
     
     
         283 . The system of  claim 282 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to delete a scheduled recording.  
     
     
         284 . The system of  claim 282 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to update a scheduled recording.  
     
     
         285 . The system of  claim 278 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to display a program recording update screen that provides at least one additional option to the user.  
     
     
         286 . The system of  claim 285 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to delete a scheduled recording.  
     
     
         287 . The system of  claim 285 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to update a scheduled recording.  
     
     
         288 . The system of  claim 285 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to delete the scheduled recording of a single episode.  
     
     
         289 . The system of  claim 285 , wherein the at least one additional option allows the user to delete the scheduled recording for an entire series of programs.  
     
     
         290 . The system of  claim 273 , wherein the interactive television program guide omits the option to record the series of programs by preventing the selection of the option to record the series of programs.