Program guide system for recording television programs

Abstract

An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for blocking media assets using a media guidance application at user equipment, comprising:
 receiving a user identifier at the user equipment;   determining, based on comparison with a user identifier stored in memory, that the received user identifier allows a user to block media content;   receiving a user input comprising a single command subsequent to selection of a media content by the user; and   in response to receiving the single command, storing a blocking instruction to prevent access to the selected media content until the user identifier is re-entered.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the media content is a first media content, further comprising:
 generating for display a plurality of listings of media content; and   highlighting a second media content of the plurality of listings of media content.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising automatically selecting the second media content based on the highlighting. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 subsequent to highlighting the second media content of the plurality of listings of media content:
 generating for display a prompt to input the single command to block the second media content; and 
 receiving the single command to block the second media content. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user input is a second user input, and wherein receiving the user identifier at the user equipment comprises:
 generating for display a prompt on a display screen to enter the user identifier; and   receiving a first user input of the user identifier.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the user identifier is a personal identification number. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the determining further comprises:
 retrieving the user identifier stored in the memory; and   comparing each successive character of the received user identifier to each successive character of the stored user identifier.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving the user input comprising the single command subsequent to selection of the media content by the user comprises:
 receiving the selection of the media content;   generating for display a portion of the media content;   subsequent to generating for display the portion of the media content, receiving the user input comprising the single command.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving re-entry of the user identifier; and   permitting access to the selected media content.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 automatically storing a blocking instruction for a second media content, wherein the first media content and the second media content are episodes of a series.   
     
     
         23 . A system for blocking media assets using a media guidance application at user equipment, the system comprising:
 storage circuitry; and   control circuitry configured to:   receive a user identifier at the user equipment;
 determine, based on comparison with a user identifier stored in memory, that the received user identifier allows a user to block media content; 
 receive a user input comprising a single command subsequent to selection of a media content by the user; and 
 in response to receiving the single command, store a blocking instruction to prevent access to the selected media content until the user identifier is re-entered. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the media content is a first media content and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 generate for display a plurality of listings of media content; and   highlight a second media content of the plurality of listings of media content.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically select the second media content based on the highlighting. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 subsequent to highlighting the second media content of the plurality of listings of media content:
 generate for display a prompt to input the single command to block the second media content; and 
 receive the single command to block the second media content. 
   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the user input is a second user input and wherein the control circuitry configured to receive the user identifier at the user equipment is further configured to:
 generate for display a prompt on a display screen to enter the user identifier; and   receive a second user input of the user identifier.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the user identifier is a personal identification number. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 retrieve the user identifier stored in the memory; and   compare each successive character of the received user identifier to each successive character of the stored user identifier.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry configured to receive the user input comprising the single command subsequent to selection of the media content by the user is further configured to:
 receive the selection of the media content;   generate for display a portion of the media content;   subsequent to generating for display the portion of the media content, receive the user input comprising the single command.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive re-entry of the user identifier; and   permit access to the selected media content.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 automatically store a blocking instruction for a second media content, wherein the first media content and the second media content are episodes of a series.