Guide system and method of operation

Abstract

A system and method for displaying a simplified electronic program schedule guide on a user's television monitor is provided. In one embodiment, the program schedule guide is abbreviated to include only the programs currently available for viewing on a subset of the available channels. In another embodiment, the program guide screen visually distinguishes between programs for the convenience of the viewer.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of displaying a guidance application on a user equipment device, comprising:
 storing data containing program information for one or more sources in a computer readable memory;   retrieving program information for a plurality of programs associated with the one or more sources;   determining at least one program of the plurality of programs that is sponsored by an advertiser; and   in response to the determining, displaying the program information for the at least one sponsored program according to a first style of text, and displaying the program information for the remaining programs of the plurality of programs according to a second style of text, wherein the first style of text and the second style of text are different.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the displayed program information for the at least one sponsored program according to the first style of text is more likely to draw a user's attention relative to the displayed program information for the remaining programs according to the second style of text. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first style of text comprises at least one of a typeface, a background color, a foreground color, a display space, a program description, and a placement of the program information that is different from the second style of text. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein displaying the program information for the at least one sponsored program according to the first style of text comprises displaying the program information for the at least one sponsored program above the program information for the remaining programs displayed according to the second style of text. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein determining the at least one sponsored program comprises receiving a selection of the least one sponsored program from a system operator. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein displaying program information for the plurality of programs comprises displaying a plurality of cells having the program information. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein displaying the program information for the at least one sponsored program according to the first style of text comprises displaying the one or more cells having the program information according to the first style of text. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein retrieving program information for a plurality of programs comprises retrieving program information for programs which are presently available for viewing. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein retrieving program information for a plurality of programs comprises retrieving program information for programs based on a theme selected by the user. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the program information for the at least one sponsored program and the remaining programs is displayed as an overlay that at least partially covers a currently playing program. 
     
     
         41 . A system for displaying a media guidance application on a user equipment device, the system comprising a computer processor configured to:
 store data containing program information for one or more sources in a computer readable memory;   retrieve program information for a plurality of programs associated with the one or more sources;   determine at least one program of the plurality of programs that is sponsored by an advertiser; and   in response to the determining, display the program information for the at least one sponsored program according to a first style of text, and display the program information for the remaining programs of the plurality of programs according to a second style of text, wherein the first style of text and the second style of text are different.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the displayed program information for the at least one sponsored program according to the first style of text is more likely to draw a user's attention relative to the displayed program information for the remaining programs according to the second style of text. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the first style of text comprises at least one of a typeface, a background color, a foreground color, a display space, a program description, and a placement of the program information that is different from the second style of text. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein displaying the program information for the at least one sponsored program according to the first style of text comprises displaying the program information for the at least one sponsored program above the program information for the remaining programs displayed according to the second style of text. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein determining the at least one sponsored program comprises receiving a selection of the least one sponsored program from a system operator. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein displaying program information for the plurality of programs comprises displaying a plurality of cells having the program information. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein displaying the program information for the at least one sponsored program according to the first style of text comprises displaying the one or more cells having the program information according to the first style of text. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein retrieving program information for a plurality of programs comprises retrieving program information for programs which are presently available for viewing. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein retrieving program information for a plurality of programs comprises retrieving program information for programs based on a theme selected by the user. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the program information for the at least one sponsored program and the remaining programs is displayed as an overlay that at least partially covers a currently playing program.