Electronic program guide with advance notification

Abstract

A non-frame television program guide notification system is provided. The system allows a user at a system to order and receive notifications of non-frame television programs. The user can order notifications by selecting a program or supplying a program title directly. The user can specify when and how often the notifications will be generated and received. If desired, the user can view a list of all currently requested notifications. Entries can be added to the list or the user can cancel a previously ordered notification.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for accessing unavailable programs, comprising:
 generating a display, using control circuitry, of a plurality of interactive program listings associated with currently unavailable programs that will be available to a user in the future;   receiving, using the control circuitry, a user selection of an interactive program listing of the plurality of interactive program listings, the selected interactive program listing being associated with a program that is not currently available to the user when the user selection is received, wherein the user selection is stored;   receiving, after the user selection is received, new availability data that identifies programs that are available during a current time frame;   determining, using the control circuitry, based on the stored user selection, that the received new availability data includes availability information for the user selected interactive program listing associated with the program that was not available to the user when the user selection was received;   generating, in response to the determination, a display of a message, using the control circuitry, that informs the user about availability of the program, associated with the interactive program listing previously selected by the user, that was not available to the user when the user selection of the interactive program listing was received; and   causing the interactive program listing, previously selected by the user, that is associated with the program that was not available to the user when the user selection of the interactive program listing was received, to be visually distinguished from the plurality of interactive program listings that have not been previously selected by the user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the currently unavailable programs are outside a program listings time frame, wherein programs listed within the program listings time frame are currently available to the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising generating a display of information with the plurality of interactive program listings, wherein the information informs the user that the currently unavailable programs are outside the program listings time frame. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein receiving the new availability data comprises periodically receiving the new availability data that identifies programs that are available during the current time frame. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein causing the previously selected interactive program listing to be visually distinguished comprises:
 generating for display, using the control circuitry, a symbol on the previously selected interactive program listing, wherein the symbol visually distinguishes the previously selected interactive program listing that from the plurality of interactive program listings that have not been previously selected by the user.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating a display of information with the plurality of interactive program listings, wherein the information informs the user that the currently unavailable programs are expected to be available at a later time. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating for display a list of programs for which the message is to be generated. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein generating the display of the message includes generating an e-mail message. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein generating the display of the message includes generating a reminder message. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising allowing the user to set up a configuration of the message. 
     
     
         27 . A system for accessing unavailable programs comprising control circuitry configured to:
 generate a display of a plurality of interactive program listings associated with currently unavailable programs that will be available to a user in the future;   receive a user selection of an interactive program listing of the plurality of interactive program listings, the selected interactive program listing being associated with a program that is not currently available to the user when the user selection is received, wherein the user selection is stored;   receive, after the user selection is received, new availability data that identify programs that are available during a current time frame;   determine, based on the stored user selection, that the received new availability data include availability information for the user selected interactive program listing associated with the program that was not available to the user when the user selection was received;   generate, in response to the determination, a display of a message that informs the user about availability of the program, associated with the interactive program listing previously selected by the user, that was not available to the user when the user selection of the interactive program listing was received; and   cause the interactive program listing, previously selected by the user, that is associated with the program that was not available to the user when the user selection of the interactive program listing was received, to be visually distinguished from the plurality of interactive program listings that have not been previously selected by the user.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the currently unavailable programs are outside a program listings time frame, wherein programs listed within the program listings time frame are currently available to the user. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate a display of information with the plurality of interactive program listings, wherein the information informs the user that the currently unavailable programs are outside the program listings time frame. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry configured to receive the new availability data comprises control circuitry configured to periodically receive the new availability data that identifies programs that are available during the current time frame. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry configured to cause the previously selected interactive program listing to be visually distinguished comprises control circuitry configured to:
 generate for display a symbol on the previously selected interactive program listing, wherein the symbol visually distinguishes the previously selected interactive program listing that from the plurality of interactive program listings that have not been previously selected by the user.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate a display of information with the plurality of program listings, wherein the information informs the user that the currently unavailable programs are expected to be available at a later time. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate for display a list of programs for which the message is to be generated. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the message includes an e-mail message. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the message includes a reminder message. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to allow the user to set up a configuration of the message.