Internet television program guide system

Abstract

An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system.

1 - 80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . A method for searching for a listing in an interactive guide, the method comprising:
 receiving a search text string;   receiving a selection of a search field from a plurality of available search fields;   searching for at least one listing among a plurality of program listings, wherein each of the plurality of program listings includes a plurality of fields that correspond to the plurality of available search fields, and wherein the at least one listing comprises the search text string in one of the plurality of fields of the listing corresponding to the selected search field and   displaying an interactive guide display screen that includes the at least one listing.   
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the searching for the at least one listing comprises searching for a program listing. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by title. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by actor. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by category. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by description. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by rating. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the receiving of the selection of the search field comprises receiving a search by genre. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the searching for the at least one listing comprises searching for a channel. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 81  further comprising sorting the at least one listing according to user-specified criteria. 
     
     
         91 . A system for searching for a listing in an interactive guide, the system comprising:
 a user input device that receives input corresponding to a search text string and receives input corresponding to a selection of a search field from a plurality of available search fields;   a processor that receives the search text string and the selection of the search field and searches for at least one listing among a plurality of program listings, wherein each of the plurality of program listings includes a plurality of fields that correspond to the plurality of available search fields, wherein the at least one listing comprises the search text string in one of the plurality of fields of the listing corresponding to the selected search field; and   a user viewing device that displays an interactive guide display screen that includes the at least one listing.   
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the at least one listing comprises a program listing. 
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by title. 
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by actor. 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by category. 
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by description. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by rating. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the user input device receives input corresponding to a search by genre. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the at least one listing comprises a channel. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 91  wherein the processor sorts the at least one listing according to user-specified criteria. 
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 91 , wherein the user input device is a set-top box. 
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 91 , wherein the at least one listing includes at least one of a program title, channel, or start time. 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 91 , wherein the processor is part of a web server. 
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 91 , wherein the interactive guide display screen includes information that identifies the selected search field. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 81  further comprising:
 providing a system, wherein the system comprises distinct software modules embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and wherein the distinct software modules comprise a search text module, a search field options module, and a data processing module, wherein the search text string is received by the search text module, and wherein the search field is received by the search field options module, and wherein the searching is performed by the data processing module based on input provided in response to input from the search text module and the search field option module. 
 
     
     
         106 . A non-transitory computer program product including instructions for searching for a listing in an interactive guide which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising:
 providing a system, wherein the system comprises distinct software modules, and wherein the distinct software modules comprise a search text module, a search field options module, and a data processing module;   receiving a search text string, wherein the search text string is received by the search text module;   receiving a selection of a search field from among a plurality of available search fields; and   searching for a listing among a plurality of program listings, wherein each of the plurality of program listings includes a plurality of fields that correspond to the plurality of available search fields, and wherein the listing comprises the search text string in one of the plurality of fields of the listing corresponding to the selected search field, and wherein the searching is performed by the data processing module based on input provided to the search text module and the search field option module.