Availability and expiration reminders for rentable media

Abstract

The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable media services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes adding a media title to a media title list in response to user input.

1 . A method implemented by a television set-top terminal (“STT”) comprising the steps of: 
 providing on a single screen for display a plurality of titles corresponding to respective media presentations, wherein each displayed title on the single screen is associated with a respective reminder previously set, wherein each respective reminder indicates interest in being reminded of a media presentation corresponding to the title associated with the reminder; and    providing for display a first list and a second list on the single screen, wherein the second list is distinct from the first list, wherein the first list includes at least one title of a currently available media presentation and the second list includes at least one title of a coming soon media presentation that is not currently available, and wherein the future release date of a media presentation corresponding to a title in the second list is displayable through viewer selection of its title in the second list.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each displayed title on the single screen corresponds to a respective video-on-demand presentation.  
     
     
         3 . A method implemented by a television set-top terminal (“STT”) comprising the steps of: 
 providing on a single screen for display a plurality of titles corresponding to respective media presentations, wherein each displayed title on the single screen is separated into a respective group of titles according to the respective availability of the media presentation corresponding to the displayed title; and    associating each displayed title on the single screen with a respective reminder previously set, wherein each respective reminder indicates interest in being reminded of a media presentation corresponding to the title associated with the reminder.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each displayed title on the single screen corresponds to a respective video-on-demand presentation.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a first displayed title on the single screen is transferred from a second group of titles to a first group of titles responsive to a change in the availability of the media presentation corresponding to the first displayed title.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second group of titles corresponds to media presentations not currently available and having respective future release dates.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a first group of titles on the single screen corresponds to currently available media presentations and a second group of titles on the single screen corresponds to coming soon media presentations not currently available.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the future release date of a media presentation corresponding to a first displayed title in the second group of titles is displayable through viewer selection of the first displayed title in the second group of titles.  
     
     
         9 . A method implemented by a television set-top terminal (“STT”) comprising the steps of: 
 providing a list of rentable video presentations by their respective titles, wherein a start time of one of the rentable video presentations to be transmitted from a remote location at a time corresponding to the start time is specified by a viewer;    receiving viewer input configured to select one of the titles from the list of rentable video presentations;    associating the selected rentable video presentation with a reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input; and    responsive to associating the selected rentable video presentation with the reminder list, providing reminder information to the viewer, the reminder information being configured to remind the viewer within the availability period of the selected rentable video presentation of the expiration time of its availability period.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of providing reminder information is performed responsive to viewer input requesting access to the reminder list.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of providing reminder information is performed responsive to viewer input requesting access to a list of video presentations currently available for rent.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of providing reminder information is performed via a displayed barker.  
     
     
         13 . A television set-top terminal (STT) comprising: 
 memory configured to store program code; and    a processor programmed by the program code to enable the STT to:    provide on a single screen for display a plurality of titles corresponding to respective media presentations, wherein each displayed title on the single screen is associated with a respective reminder previously set, wherein each respective reminder indicates interest in being reminded of a media presentation corresponding to the title associated with the reminder, said displayed single screen including a first list and a second list, wherein the second list is distinct from the first list, wherein the first list includes at least one title of a currently available media presentation and the second list includes at least one title of a coming soon media presentation that is not currently available, and wherein the future release date of a media presentation corresponding to a title in the second list is displayable through viewer selection of its title in the second list.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each displayed title on the single screen corresponds to a respective video-on-demand presentation.  
     
     
         15 . A television set-top terminal (STT) comprising: 
 memory configured to store program code; and    a processor programmed by the program code to enable the STT to:    provide on a single screen for display a plurality of titles corresponding to respective media presentations, wherein each displayed title on the single screen is separated into a respective group of titles according to the respective availability of the media presentation corresponding to the displayed title; and    associate each displayed title on the single screen with a respective reminder previously set, wherein each respective reminder indicates interest in being reminded of a media presentation corresponding to the title associated with the reminder.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each displayed title on the single screen corresponds to a respective video-on-demand presentation.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a first displayed title on the single screen is transferred from a second group of titles to a first group of titles responsive to a change in the availability of the media presentation corresponding to the first displayed title.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second group of titles corresponds to media presentations not currently available and having respective future release dates.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a first group of titles on the single screen corresponds to currently available media presentations and a second group of titles on the single screen corresponds to coming soon media presentations not currently available.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the future release date of a media presentation corresponding to a first displayed title in the second group of titles is displayable through viewer selection of the first displayed title in the second group of titles.  
     
     
         21 . A television set-top terminal (STT) comprising: 
 memory configured to store program code; and    a processor programmed by the program code to enable the STT to:    provide a list of rentable video presentations by their respective titles, wherein a start time of one of the rentable video presentations to be transmitted from a remote location at a time corresponding to the start time is specified by a viewer; 
 receive viewer input configured to select one of the titles from the list of rentable video presentations;  
 associate the selected rentable video presentation with a reminder list responsive to receiving the viewer input; and  
 responsive to associating the selected rentable video presentation with the reminder list, provide reminder information to the viewer, the reminder information being configured to remind the viewer within the availability period of the selected rentable video presentation of the expiration time of its availability period.  
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is programmed by the program code to enable the STT to provide reminder information responsive to viewer input requesting access to the reminder list.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is programmed by the program code to enable the STT to provide reminder information responsive to viewer input requesting access to a list of video presentations currently available for rent.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is programmed by the program code to enable the STT to provide reminder information via a displayed barker.