Television message system

Abstract

A television message system is provided that allows users at user television equipment devices that are connected to a television distribution facility to transmit messages to each other relating to a television program or other suitable subject. The television message system permits users to participate in evaluations, contests, promotions, and surveys related to a television program while watching that television program. The television message system also permits users to compose and send a message to a television program entity. Users can send messages through the television message system to users at personal computers who are connected to the user's television distribution facility through a communications network. The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient. The gift may be an electronic gift certificate for pay-per-view programming. The television message system may be based on an interactive television program guide or a set-top box application implemented on a set-top box.

1 . A method for distributing messages in a television messaging system, comprising: 
 receiving from a first user a list of identities corresponding to a plurality of users that belong to a group of users;    storing the received list of identities;    receiving from the first user a command to transmit at least one message to the plurality of users; and    transmitting the at least one message to at least one user television equipment device of the plurality of users in response to receiving the command.    
     
     
         2 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the group of users is defined by an interest.  
     
     
         3 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein the interest is an interest in at least one of a television program, a channel, a category of programs, a movie and a news segment.  
     
     
         4 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising receiving identity information from the plurality of users.  
     
     
         5 . The method defined in  claim 4  further comprising including the identity information in the list of identities.  
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 4  wherein receiving identity information from the plurality of users comprises obtaining permission to receive the identity information.  
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 6  wherein obtaining permission to receive the identity information comprises sending the plurality of users a message indicating that the first user has requested the identity information.  
     
     
         8 . The method defined in  claim 7  further comprising allowing the first user to receive the identity information from the plurality of users in response to the plurality of users accepting the first user's request.  
     
     
         9 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising determining whether there is at least one messaging option available for a particular television program.  
     
     
         10 . The method defined in  claim 9  further comprising receiving the first user's selection of the at least one messaging option in response to determining that there is at least one messaging option available for the particular television program.  
     
     
         11 . A system for distributing messages, the system comprising: 
 an interactive application implemented at least partially on control circuitry configured to:    receive from a first user a list of identities corresponding to a plurality of users that belong to a group of users;    store the received list of identities;    receive from the first user a command to transmit at least one message to the plurality of users; and    transmit the at least one message to at least one user television equipment device of the plurality of users in response to receiving the command.    
     
     
         12 . The system defined in  claim 11  wherein the group of users is defined by an interest.  
     
     
         13 . The system defined in  claim 12  wherein the interest is an interest in at least one of a television program, a channel, a category of programs, a movie and a news segment.  
     
     
         14 . The system defined in  claim 11  wherein the interactive application is further configured to receive identity information from the plurality of users.  
     
     
         15 . The system defined in  claim 14  wherein the interactive application is further configured to include the identity information in the list of identities.  
     
     
         16 . The system defined in  claim 14  wherein the interactive application is configured to obtain permission to receive the identity information.  
     
     
         17 . The system defined in  claim 16  wherein the interactive application is configured to send the plurality of users a message indicating that the first user has requested the identity information.  
     
     
         18 . The system defined in  claim 17  wherein the interactive application is further configured to allow the first user to receive the identity information from the plurality of users in response to the plurality of users accepting the first user's request.  
     
     
         19 . The system defined in  claim 11  wherein the interactive application is further configured to determine whether there is at least one messaging option available for a particular television program.  
     
     
         20 . The system defined in  claim 19  wherein the interactive application is further configured to receive the first user's selection of the at least one messaging option in response to determining that there is at least one messaging option available for the particular television program.