Video on demand methods and systems

Abstract

An entertainment head-end provides broadcast programming, video-on-demand services, and HTML-based interactive programming through a distribution network to client terminals in subscribers' homes. A number of different features are provided, including novel user interfaces, enhanced video-on-demand controls, a variety of interactive services (personalized news, jukebox, games, celebrity chat), and techniques that combine to provide user experiences evocative of conventional television.

1 . A method of presenting video entertainment comprising:
 receiving a composite signal comprising plural transmission channels;   mapping the transmission channels to plural viewing channels wherein viewing channels have moniker's that distinguish different programming;   on certain of said viewing channels, providing broadcast programming channels;   displaying an electronic programming guide including at least said plural viewing channels and at least one additional viewing channel comprising a favorite's channel listed amongst the plural viewing channels; and   upon receiving an indication of a favorite's channel selection, displaying a list of multiple locally stored programs on a single favorite's page.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising recording a favorite broadcast program when a terminal is not activated to display the favorite broadcast program. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising listing the recorded favorite broadcast program in the list of multiple locally stored programs when the single favorite's page is displayed. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the list of multiple locally stored programs on the single favorite's page has the multiple locally stored programs listed by title and length. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising playing back one of the locally stored programs upon receiving an indication of a selection made on the single favorite's page. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein upon completion of playing back a selected locally stored program, the played back program is not deleted after viewing. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein after completion of playing back a selected locally stored program, the played back program is overwritten as needed for newly recorded programs. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the multiple locally stored programs on a single favorite's page are recorded from the broadcast programming channels. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the multiple locally stored programs were recorded because a terminal was not activated to display a favorite broadcast program during broadcast. 
   
   
       10 . A computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
 receiving plural transmission channels;   mapping the transmission channels to plural viewing channels having moniker's that distinguish different programming;   on certain of the plural viewing channels displaying broadcast programming;   displaying an electronic programming guide comprising the plural viewing channels and at least one additional viewing channel comprising a favorite's channel listed amongst the other viewing channels; and   upon receiving a selection indication of the favorite's channel, displaying a list of plural locally recorded programs.   
   
   
       12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the list includes the title and length of the plural locally recorded programs. 
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  further comprising instructions for recording a favorite broadcast program received on a transmission channel when a terminal is not activated to display the favorite broadcast program. 
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  further comprising instructions for listing a recorded favorite broadcast program in the list of plural locally recorded programs. 
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  further comprising instructions for playing back one of the plural locally recorded programs upon receiving an indication of a program selection. 
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15  further comprising instructions for recording over a played back locally recorded program when memory is needed for recording a new program. 
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plural locally recorded programs was recorded from broadcast programming. 
   
   
       18 . A system for receiving a composite signal comprising plural transmission channels and providing entertainment, the system comprising:
 a display;   a remote control;   a digital processor;   volatile and non-volatile memory;   at least one network connection; and   digital processor executable instructions for performing a method comprising,
 mapping the transmission channels to viewing channels comprising moniker's that distinguish different programming, 
 on certain of said viewing channels, providing broadcast programming channels, 
 displaying an electronic programming guide having the viewing channels and at least one additional viewing channel comprising a favorite's channel listed amongst the other viewing channels, and 
 displaying a list of multiple locally stored programs upon receiving a selection of the favorite's channel. 
   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the digital processor executable instructions for performing a method further comprise instructions for recording a favorite broadcast program when the display is not activated to display the favorite broadcast program. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the digital processor executable instructions for performing a method further comprise instructions for listing the recorded favorite broadcast program in the list of multiple locally stored programs when the favorite's channel is selected. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the list of multiple locally stored programs are listed by title and length. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the digital processor executable instructions for performing a method further comprise instructions for playing back one of the locally stored programs upon receiving an indication of a selection of a program in the list. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein upon completion of playing back a selected locally stored program, the program is not deleted after viewing. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the digital processor executable instructions for performing a method further comprise instructions for recording over a played back locally stored program as needed for newly recorded programs.