Program guide system with real-time data sources

Abstract

A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times. When data has expired it may be removed from the database.

1 - 190 . (canceled) 
   
   
       191 . A method for determining a status of a live program, the method comprising:
 storing a plurality of program listings each corresponding to programs having scheduled broadcast times;   obtaining information from a real-time news data source indicating a current status of one of the programs corresponding to one of the stored program listings;   updating the stored plurality of program listings based on the information obtained from the real-time news data source to reflect the current status of the one of the programs; and   identifying whether the one of the programs has ended based on the current status indicated by the information obtained from the real-time news data source.   
   
   
       192 . The method of  claim 191 , wherein:
 the status information further indicates a change in the scheduled broadcast time of the one of the programs; and   the stored plurality of program listings are updated to reflect the change in the scheduled broadcast time of the one of the programs.   
   
   
       193 . The method of  claim 191  further comprising scheduling a function for the one of the programs using the updated program listing for the one of the programs. 
   
   
       194 . The method of  claim 193 , wherein the function is at least one of a recording function, a reminder function and purchasing of pay-per-view events function. 
   
   
       195 . The method of  claim 191 , wherein:
 the one of the programs is a live sporting event; and   identifying whether the one of the programs has ended comprises:
 displaying the program listing for the one of the programs, wherein the displayed program listing includes a final score of the sporting event; and 
 generating an indicator for display with the program listing that indicates to a user that the sporting event is over. 
   
   
   
       196 . The method of  claim 191 , wherein the information is obtained from the real-time news data source periodically every several seconds. 
   
   
       197 . The method of  claim 191 , wherein the current status includes at least one of time remaining in a sporting event corresponding to the one of the programs, time elapsed in the sporting event corresponding to the one of the programs, a current score in the event corresponding to the one of the programs, and delay and availability information for the sporting event corresponding to the one of the programs. 
   
   
       198 . The method of  claim 191 , wherein:
 the one of the programs is currently being broadcast; and   the information that is obtained from the real-time news data source includes a score of a game corresponding to the one of the programs and is obtained while the one of the programs is currently being broadcast;   further comprising determining when the one of the programs that is currently being broadcast ends based on the score obtained from the real-time news data source.   
   
   
       199 . The method of  claim 191  further comprising:
 obtaining, with the information from the real-time news data source, an identifier associated with an event corresponding to the obtained information;   searching, based on the identifier, the plurality of program listings to identify the one of the plurality of program listings that corresponds to the event; and   updating the identified one of the plurality of program listings with the current status indicated by the obtained information.   
   
   
       200 . A method for identifying when a program has ended at a user equipment device, the method comprising:
 storing a program listing corresponding to a live sporting event program, wherein the program listing includes program schedule information;   receiving the live sporting event program at the user equipment, wherein the live sporting event program runs beyond the program schedule information of the program listing;   monitoring a real-time news feed to obtain score information for the live sporting event program;   determining when the live sporting event program has ended based on the score information received from the real-time news feed; and   in response to determining when the live sporting event program has ended, updating the program schedule information of the program listing corresponding to the live sporting event.   
   
   
       201 . A system for determining a status of a live program, the system comprising:
 a memory configured to store a plurality of program listings each corresponding to programs having scheduled broadcast times; and   control circuitry configured to:
 obtain information from a real-time news data source indicating a current status of one of the programs corresponding to one of the stored program listings; 
 update the stored plurality of program listings based on the information obtained from the real-time news data source to reflect the current status of the one of the programs; and 
 identify whether the one of the programs has ended based on the current status indicated by the information obtained from the real-time news data source. 
   
   
   
       202 . The system of  claim 201 , wherein:
 the status information further indicates a change in the scheduled broadcast time of the one of the programs; and   the stored plurality of program listings are updated to reflect the change in the scheduled broadcast time of the one of the programs.   
   
   
       203 . The system of  claim 201  further comprising scheduling a function for the one of the programs using the updated program listing for the one of the programs. 
   
   
       204 . The system of  claim 203 , wherein the function is at least one of a recording function, a reminder function and purchasing of pay-per-view events function. 
   
   
       205 . The system of  claim 201 , wherein:
 the one of the programs is a live sporting event;   the control circuitry is further configured to:
 display the program listing for the one of the programs, wherein the displayed program listing includes a final score of the sporting event; and 
 generate an indicator for display with the program listing that indicates to a user that the sporting event is over. 
   
   
   
       206 . The system of  claim 201 , wherein the information is obtained from the real-time news data source periodically every several seconds. 
   
   
       207 . The system of  claim 201 , wherein the current status includes at least one of time remaining in a sporting event corresponding to the one of the programs, time elapsed in the sporting event corresponding to the one of the programs, a current score in the event corresponding to the one of the programs, and delay and availability information for the sporting event corresponding to the one of the programs. 
   
   
       208 . The system of  claim 201 , wherein:
 the one of the programs is currently being broadcast; and   the information that is obtained from the real-time news data source includes a score of a game corresponding to the one of the programs and is obtained while the one of the programs is currently being broadcast;   wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine when the one of the programs that is currently being broadcast ends based on the score obtained from the real-time news data source.   
   
   
       209 . The system of  claim 201  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 obtain, with the information from the real-time news data source, an identifier associated with an event corresponding to the obtained information;   search, based on the identifier, the plurality of program listings to identify the one of the plurality of program listings that corresponds to the event; and   update the identified one of the plurality of program listings with the current status indicated by the obtained information.   
   
   
       210 . A system for identifying when a program has ended at a user equipment device, the system comprising:
 a memory configured to store a program listing corresponding to a live sporting event program, wherein the program listing includes program schedule information; and   control circuitry configured to:
 receive the live sporting event program at the user equipment, wherein the live sporting event program runs beyond the program schedule information of the program listing; 
 monitor a real-time news feed to obtain score information for the live sporting event program; 
 determine when the live sporting event program has ended based on the score information received from the real-time news feed; and 
 in response to determining when the live sporting event program has ended, update the program schedule information of the program listing corresponding to the live sporting event.