US2009133078A1PendingUtilityA1

Systems and methods for automatically purchasing and recording popular pay programs in an interactive media delivery system

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Assignee: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES INCPriority: Nov 16, 2007Filed: Nov 16, 2007Published: May 21, 2009
Est. expiryNov 16, 2027(~1.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Royce HamanoGevorg Gevorgyan
H04N 21/4661H04N 7/163H04H 60/27H04N 21/4334H04N 21/47211H04N 21/6181H04N 21/4826H04H 60/65H04N 21/47214G06Q 30/06H04N 5/76H04N 21/4532H04N 5/765H04N 5/775
51
PatentIndex Score
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A system and method for automatically purchasing and recording popular pay program is disclosed. The pay programs are selected based on defined criteria and popularity. The most popular pay program that meets defined criteria will be automatically recorded and purchased. Notifications and confirmations are provided before purchase of pay programs.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for automatically purchasing and recording popular pay programs in an interactive media delivery system, comprising:
 determining the popularity of pay programs for a defined time period;   in response to the determining:   recording the most-popular pay programs for the defined time period;   purchasing, up to a defined spending limit, the most-popular pay programs for the defined time period;   receiving a user input identifying a pay program that has been recorded and purchased; and   in response to the input, playing back the identified popular pay program.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein recording the most-popular programs comprises recording only the purchased most-popular pay programs. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising deleting un-purchased, recorded most-popular pay programs. 
     
     
         4 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the pay programs are pay-per-view programs or video-on-demand programs. 
     
     
         5 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the defined period of time is defined by a user of the interactive media delivery system. 
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein automatically purchasing and recording the most-popular pay programs comprises automatically purchasing and recording the most-popular pay programs at a user-specified time within the time period. 
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein automatically purchasing and recording the most-popular pay programs comprises automatically purchasing and recording the most-popular pay programs within the time period at a user-specified frequency. 
     
     
         8 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein:
 the method further comprises receiving a user input defining a filter; and   automatically purchasing and recording the most-popular pay programs comprises automatically purchasing and recording only the most-popular pay programs matching the filter.   
     
     
         9 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising providing a notification when a pay program is purchased or about to be purchased. 
     
     
         10 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein automatically purchasing and recording the most-popular pay programs comprises not purchasing and recording a pay program in response to a user input indicating that the pay program should not be purchased. 
     
     
         11 . The method defined in  claim 1  further comprising prompting the user to indicate whether the user would like pay programs, similar to at least one automatically purchased and recorded program, automatically purchased and recorded for the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the defined spending limit is a flat rate for a defined number of most-popular pay programs. 
     
     
         13 . A system for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to automatically purchase and record popular pay programs in an interactive media delivery system, comprising:
 control circuitry and an input device, the control circuitry configured to:   determine the popularity of pay programs for a defined time period;   in response to determining the popularity of pay programs:   record the most-popular pay programs for the defined time period;   purchase, up to a defined spending limit, the most-popular pay programs for the defined time period;   receive a user input from the input device identifying a pay program that has been recorded and purchased; and   in response to the input, play back the identified popular pay program.   
     
     
         14 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to record only the purchased most-popular pay programs. 
     
     
         15 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to delete un-purchased, recorded most-popular pay programs. 
     
     
         16 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the pay programs are pay-per-view programs or video-on-demand programs. 
     
     
         17 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to allow the defined period of time to be defined by a user of the interactive media delivery system. 
     
     
         18 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically purchase and record the most-popular pay programs at a user-specified time within the time period. 
     
     
         19 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically purchase and record the most-popular pay programs within the time period at a user-specified frequency. 
     
     
         20 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive a user input from the input device defining a filter; and   automatically purchase and record the most-popular pay programs that match the filter.   
     
     
         21 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide a notification when a pay program is purchased or about to be purchased. 
     
     
         22 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to not automatically purchase and record a pay program in response to a user input indicating that the pay program should not be purchased. 
     
     
         23 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to prompt the user to indicate whether the user would like pay programs, similar to at least one automatically purchased and recorded program, automatically purchased and recorded for the user. 
     
     
         24 . The system defined in  claim 13  wherein the defined spending limit is a flat rate for a defined number of most-popular pay programs. 
     
     
         25 - 36 . (canceled)

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