US2005278768A1PendingUtilityA1

Internet television program guide system

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Assignee: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES INCPriority: Dec 10, 1996Filed: Apr 26, 2005Published: Dec 15, 2005
Est. expiryDec 10, 2016(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Franklin E. BoyerTimothy B. DemersDonald W. AllisonMark A. RegoubySteven C. WilliamsonJoanna L. HensleyW. Benjamin HerringtonPaul N. Reddy
H04N 5/445H04N 21/47H04N 21/47211H04N 21/4381H04N 21/4821H04N 21/26283H04N 21/4725H04N 21/6175H04N 21/478H04N 7/163H04N 21/4782H04N 21/6125H04N 21/4622H04N 21/235H04N 5/45H04N 21/64322H04N 21/84H04N 21/8153H04N 21/4828H04N 21/435H04N 21/8549H04N 21/4316H04N 21/8586H04N 21/482H04N 7/17318
50
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 80 . (canceled)  
     
     
         81 . A method for providing web pages of information to a user of an Internet television program guide system, the method comprising: 
 providing web pages of program listings from a web server to a user multimedia system over an Internet communications link, wherein the web pages of program listings include program listings for scheduled pay-per-view programs;    providing a pay-per-view program information web page for a pay-per-view program listing selected by the user from the web pages of program listings to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link; and    providing a selectable option in the pay-per-view program information page for allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program over the Internet communications link.    
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the selected pay-per-view program before ordering the selected pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the at least one selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to specify a file-type for the video clip.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one scheduled time listing for which the selected pay-per-view program is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         86 . (canceled)  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the selectable option is a hyperlink, the method further comprising: 
 providing an order web page from the web server in response to the user selecting the hyperlink; and    allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program with the order web page.    
     
     
         88 - 89 . (canceled)  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the order web page prompts the user to enter user-specific information used to verify the user's identity.  
     
     
         91 - 92 . (canceled)  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a cable system operator for processing.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a third party order fulfillment processor linked to a cable headend.  
     
     
         95 - 96 . (canceled)  
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising: 
 processing the order and verification data entered on the order web page with the web server; and    transmitting authorization information from the web server to equipment located at the user's premises to allow display of the selected pay-per-view program.    
     
     
         98 . An Internet television program guide system for providing web pages of information to a user, the system comprising: 
 means for providing web pages of program listings from a web server to a user multimedia system over an Internet communications link, wherein the web pages of program listings include program listings for scheduled pay-per-view programs;    means for providing a pay-per-view program information web page for a pay-per-view program listing selected by the user from the web pages of program listings to the multimedia system over the Internet communications link; and    means for providing a selectable option in the pay-per-view information web page for allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program over the Internet communications link.    
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the selected pay-per-view program before ordering the selected pay-per-view program.  
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 99 , wherein the at least one selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 99 , further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to specify a file-type for the video clip.  
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the pay-per-view program information web page includes at least one scheduled time listing for which the selected pay-per-view program is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         103 . (canceled)  
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the selectable option is a hyperlink, further comprising: 
 means for providing an order web page in response to the user selecting the hyperlink; and    means for allowing the user to order the selected pay-per-view program with the order web page.    
     
     
         105 - 106 . (canceled)  
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 104 , wherein the order web page prompts the user to enter user-specific information used to verify the user's identity.  
     
     
         108 - 109 . (canceled)  
     
     
         110 . The system of  claim 107 , further comprising means for electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a cable system operator for processing.  
     
     
         111 . The system of  claim 107 , further comprising means for electronically submitting order and verification data entered on the order web page to a third party order fulfillment processor linked to a cable headend.  
     
     
         112 - 113 . (canceled)  
     
     
         114 . The system of  claim 107 , further comprising: 
 means for processing the order and verification data entered on the order web page with the web server; and    means for transmitting authorization information from the web server to equipment located at the user's premises to allow display of the selected pay-per-view program.    
     
     
         115 - 131 . (canceled)  
     
     
         132 . A method for providing web pages of information to a user of an Internet program guide system, the method comprising: 
 delivering to a user multimedia system a web page from a web server over an Internet communications link, wherein the web page includes at least one selectable option that is associated with a program available for ordering;    receiving a user selection of the selectable option; and    in response to receiving the user selection, delivering to the user multimedia system a program information web page for the program associated with the selectable option from the web server over the Internet communications link, wherein the program information web page includes another selectable option for allowing the user to order the program over the Internet communications link.    
     
     
         133 . The method of  claim 132 , wherein the program information web page includes a further selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the program before ordering the program.  
     
     
         134 . The method of  claim 133 , wherein the further selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 132 , wherein the another selectable option is a hyperlink, the method further comprising: 
 receiving another user selection of the hyperlink;    in response to receiving the another user selection of the hyperlink, delivering to the user multimedia system an order web page from the web server over the Internet communications link; and    providing the user with an opportunity to order the program from the order web page.    
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 135 , wherein the order web page prompts the user to enter user-specific information to verify the user's identity.  
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 136 , further comprising: 
 receiving from the user the user-specific information on the order web page;    processing the order and user-specific information entered on the order web page with the web server; and    receiving authorization information from the web server to equipment located at the user's premises to allow display of the program.    
     
     
         138 . The method of  claim 132  further comprising: 
 receiving a user selection of another selectable option to order the program over the Internet communications link; and    delivering the program to the user multimedia system.    
     
     
         139 . The method of  claim 132  wherein the user multimedia system is one of a set top box and a personal computer.  
     
     
         140 . A system for providing web pages of information to a user of an Internet program guide system, comprising: 
 means for delivering to a user multimedia system a web page from a web server over an Internet communications link, wherein the web page includes at least one selectable option that is associated with a program available for ordering;    means for receiving a user selection of the selectable option; and    in response to the means for receiving the user selection, means for delivering to the user multimedia system a program information web page for the program associated with the selectable option from the web server over the Internet communications link, wherein the program information web page includes another selectable option for allowing the user to order the program over the Internet communications link.    
     
     
         141 . The system of  claim 140 , wherein the program information web page includes a further selectable option for allowing the user to view a video clip related to the program before ordering the program.  
     
     
         142 . The system of  claim 141 , wherein the further selectable option is a selectable image.  
     
     
         143 . The system of  claim 140 , wherein the another selectable option is a hyperlink, the system further comprising: 
 means for receiving another user selection of the hyperlink;    in response to the means for receiving the another user selection of the hyperlink, means for delivering to the user multimedia system an order web page from the web server over the Internet communications link; and    means for providing the user with an opportunity to order the program from the order web page.    
     
     
         144 . The system of  claim 143 , wherein the order web page prompts the user to enter user-specific information to verify the user's identity.  
     
     
         145 . The system of  claim 144 , further comprising: 
 means for receiving from the user the user-specific information on the order web page;    means for processing the order and user-specific information entered on the order web page with the web server; and    means for receiving authorization information from the web server to equipment located at the user's premises to allow display of the program.    
     
     
         146 . The system of  claim 140  further comprising: 
 means for receiving a user selection of another selectable option to order the program over the Internet communications link; and    means for delivering the program to the user multimedia system.    
     
     
         147 . The system of  claim 140  wherein the user multimedia system is one of a set top box and a personal computer.

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