Interactive electronic television program guide with database configurability

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment containing a memory. The system allocates the memory among different categories of program guide data used by the program guide. When new channels are added to the channel line-up, the program guide adjusts its memory allocation accordingly. When it is desired to install a new non-program-guide application on the user television equipment in addition to the program guide, memory can be reallocated to accommodate the new application.

1 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . A method for controlling memory allocation in a user media device, the method comprising:
 transmitting, from a remote server to the user media device, a first instruction to allocate a first amount of memory to storing media data;   determining whether additional memory space is available on the user media device; and   in response to determining that additional memory space is available, transmitting, from the remote server to the user media device, a second instruction to allocate a second amount of memory to storing media data, wherein the user media device increases an allocation of memory space for storing media data based on the second instruction.   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising:
 in response to determining that insufficient additional memory space is available, transmitting, from the remote server to the user media device, a third instruction to free up addition memory space. 
 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising:
 in response to determining that insufficient additional memory space is available, transmitting, from the remote server to the user media device, a third instruction to decrease the first amount of memory allocated to storing media data. 
 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the media data includes program information for a plurality of media sources, and wherein determining that additional memory space is available comprises determining that at least one media source in the plurality of media sources has been eliminated. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein determining that additional memory space is available comprises determining that an application has been or will be removed from the user media device. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein determining that additional memory space is available comprises determining that a level of media data storage has been modified on the user media device. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising in response to determining that additional memory space is available on the user media device, transmitting to the remote server information on the amount of additional memory space available on the user device. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising transmitting from the user media device to the remote server, an indication that the second amount of memory has been allocated for storing media data. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the media data includes program information for a plurality of programs, the method further comprising prioritizing the storage of media data based on a respective category of programming associated with each of the plurality of programs. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 73  further comprising transmitting, from the remote server to the user media device, a third instruction to decrease the first amount of memory allocated to storing media data to accommodate installation of a new application on the user media device. 
     
     
         83 . A system for controlling memory allocation in a user media device, the system comprising:
 a memory configured to store media data; and   control circuitry configured to:   receive, from a remote server, a first instruction to allocate a first amount of memory to storing media data;   allocate the first amount of memory to storing media data based on the first instruction;   in response to the remote server determining that additional memory space is available on the user media device, receive from the remote server, a second instruction to allocate a second amount of memory to storing media data; and   increase the allocation of memory space for storing media data based on the second instruction.   
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive, from the remote server, a third instruction to free up addition memory space in response to the remote server determining that insufficient additional memory space is available; and   increase the allocation of memory space for storing media data based on the third instruction.   
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive, from the remote server, a third instruction to decrease the first amount of memory allocated to storing media data in response to the remote server determining that insufficient additional memory space is available; and   decrease the allocation of memory space for storing media data based on the third instruction.   
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the media data includes program information for a plurality of media sources, and wherein the remote server is configured to determine that additional memory space is available by determining that at least one media source in the plurality of media sources has been eliminated. 
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the remote server is configured to determine that additional memory space is available by determining that an application has been or will be removed from the user media device. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the remote server is configured to determine that additional memory space is available by determining that a level of media data storage has been modified on the user media device. 
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the control circuitry if further configured to transmit to the remote server information on the amount of additional memory space available on the user device. 
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transmit to the remote server an indication that the second amount of memory has been allocated for storing media data. 
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the media data includes program information for a plurality of programs, the control circuitry further configured to prioritize the storage of media data based on a respective category of programming associated with each of the plurality of programs. 
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 receive, from the remote server, a third instruction to decrease the first amount of memory allocated to storing media data to accommodate installation of a new application on the user media device; and   decrease the allocation of memory space for storing media data based on the third instruction.