Program guide system with preference profiles

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may inform a program guide of the user's interests. Information on the user's interests may be stored in a preference profile. There may be more than one preference profile, each for a different user. Each preference profile contains a number of preference attributes (program titles, genres, viewing times, channels, broadcast characteristics, etc.). A preference level (e.g., strong or weak like, strong or weak dislike, illegal, mandatory, don't care, etc.) that is indicative of the user's level of interest is associated with each preference attribute. Preference profiles may be used to restrict the programs that are listed in various program listings display screens and may be used to limit the channels to which the program guide allows the user to tune.

1 - 180 . (canceled)  
     
     
         181 . A method for using an interactive program guide implemented on user media equipment, the method comprising: 
 providing an option for a user to create a preference profile, wherein the preference profile is indicative of the user's programming interests;    providing an option for the user to display a list of programs, wherein all of the programs on the list are based on the preference profile; and    displaying the list of programs in the interactive program guide.    
     
     
         182 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein providing the option for the user to create the preference profile comprises: 
 providing an option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes that are indicative of the user's programming interests; and    providing an option for the user to select one of at least several preference levels for each of the plurality of selected preference attributes,    wherein the selected preference attributes and the selected preference levels are associated with the preference profile.    
     
     
         183 . The method of  claim 182  further comprising: 
 providing an option for the user to select a preference scope that is associated with the preference profile.    
     
     
         184 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on broadcast times of the listed programs.  
     
     
         185 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on channels of the listed programs.  
     
     
         186 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on the priorities of the listed programs.  
     
     
         187 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on the titles of the listed programs.  
     
     
         188 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein the user is allowed to access a plurality of preference profiles, the method further comprising: 
 providing an option for the user to select at least one of the plurality of preference profiles,    wherein the displayed list of programs is based on the selected preference profiles.    
     
     
         189 . The method of  claim 181  further comprising: 
 providing an option for the user to set a reminder for at least one of the programs on the displayed list.    
     
     
         190 . The method of  claim 181  further comprising: 
 providing an option for the user to tune to at least one of the available programs on the displayed list, wherein the available programs are currently available for viewing.    
     
     
         191 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein providing the option for the user to create the preference profile comprises: 
 providing an option for the user to select at least one program; and    creating the preference profile based on the characteristics of the selected programs.    
     
     
         192 . The method of  claim 191 , wherein the characteristics of the selected programs are selected from the group consisting of: title, genre, channel, rating, series, actor, actress, topic, keyword, start time, language, critics' rating and original programming.  
     
     
         193 . The method of  claim 181  further comprising: 
 providing an option for the user to select at least one program; and    modifying the preference profile based on the characteristics of the selected programs.    
     
     
         194 . The method of  claim 193 , wherein the characteristics of the selected programs are selected from the group consisting of: title, genre, channel, rating, series, actor, actress, topic, keyword, start time, language, critics' rating and original programming.  
     
     
         195 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein all of the programs on the displayed list are substantially currently available for viewing by the user.  
     
     
         196 . The method of  claim 181 , wherein: 
 a program is displayed on the user media equipment; and    the displayed list of programs is displayed on top of the displayed program.    
     
     
         197 . An interactive program guide system implemented on user media equipment, wherein the system is configured to: 
 provide an option for a user to create a preference profile, wherein the preference profile is indicative of the user's programming interests;    provide an option for the user to display a list of programs, wherein all of the programs on the list are based on the preference profile; and    display the list of programs in the interactive program guide.    
     
     
         198 . The system of  claim 197 , when configured to provide the option for the user to create the preference profile, is further configured to; 
 provide an option for the user to select a plurality of preference attributes that are indicative of the user's programming interests; and    provide an option for the user to select one of at least several preference levels for each of the plurality of selected preference attributes,    wherein the selected preference attributes and the selected preference levels are associated with the preference profile.    
     
     
         199 . The system of  claim 198 , wherein the system is further configured to: 
 provide an option for the user to select a preference scope that is associated with the preference profile.    
     
     
         200 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on broadcast times of the listed programs.  
     
     
         201 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on channels of the listed programs.  
     
     
         202 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on the priorities of the listed programs.  
     
     
         203 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the list of displayed programs is ordered based on the titles of the listed programs.  
     
     
         204 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the user is allowed to access a plurality of preference profiles and wherein the system is further configured to: 
 provide an option for the user to select at least one of the plurality of preference profiles,    wherein the displayed list of programs is based on the selected preference profiles.    
     
     
         205 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the system is further configured to: 
 provide an option for the user to set a reminder for at least one of the programs on the displayed list.    
     
     
         206 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the system is further configured to: 
 provide an option for the user to tune to at least one of the available programs on the displayed list, wherein the available programs are currently available for viewing.    
     
     
         207 . The system of  claim 197 , when the system is configured to provide the option for the user to create the preference profile, is further configured to: 
 provide an option for the user to select at least one program; and    create the preference profile based on the characteristics of the selected programs.    
     
     
         208 . The system of  claim 207 , wherein the characteristics of the selected programs are selected from the group consisting of: title, genre, channel, rating, series, actor, actress, topic, keyword, start time, language, critics' rating and original programming.  
     
     
         209 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein the system is further configured to: 
 provide an option for the user to select at least one program; and    modify the preference profile based on the characteristics of the selected programs.    
     
     
         210 . The system of  claim 209 , wherein the characteristics of the selected programs are selected from the group consisting of: title, genre, channel, rating, series, actor, actress, topic, keyword, start time, language, critics' rating and original programming.  
     
     
         211 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein all of the programs on the displayed list are substantially currently available for viewing by the user.  
     
     
         212 . The system of  claim 197 , wherein: 
 a program is displayed on the user media equipment; and    the system is further configured to display the list of programs on top of the displayed program.