Series recording options using an interactive television program guide

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. In addition, other options may be provided that allow the user to determine, for example, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all channels on which the program airs or only on a selected channels, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for all episodes including reruns or only new episodes, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for network or syndicated episodes, and whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all days or only on selected days of the week. Before the scheduled broadcast time of each episode of each selected program series, the system sends a reminder message to the user that reminds the user of the program episode or sends a record command to a videocassette recorder to initiate recording of the episode. The system allows a user to view a list of all currently requested program reminders and scheduled program recordings. The user may update, change, or cancel any entry in either list or the system may automatically update the lists to match new broadcast schedule information. If the user sets a reminder or schedules a recording that conflicts with an existing reminder or recording, the system may inform the user of the conflict and allow the user to resolve the conflict or the system may resolve the conflict.

1 - 254 . (canceled)  
     
     
         255 . A method for displaying television programs on user television equipment of a plurality of users, comprising: 
 displaying at least one program listing related to at least one program currently scheduled for recording;    allowing a user to select a program listing from the at least one displayed program listing;    determining whether a program corresponding to the program listing is an episode of a series of programs;    in response to the determination that the program is an episode of a series of programs: 
 providing the user with at least one program recording option for the program; and  
 providing the user with at least one series recording option for the series of programs related to the program.  
   
     
     
         256 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one program listings are arranged in a list.  
     
     
         257 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one program recording option includes an option to cancel the recording of the program.  
     
     
         258 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option includes an option to cancel the recording of the series of programs, wherein the series of programs is scheduled for recording.  
     
     
         259 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one program recording option includes an option to update the program which is scheduled for recording.  
     
     
         260 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option includes an option to update the recording of the series of programs, wherein the series of programs is scheduled for recording.  
     
     
         261 . The method of  claim 255  further comprising recording on a server.  
     
     
         262 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for particular episodes that are part of the series on specific channels on which the episode is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         263 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for particular episodes that are part of the series on all channels on which the episode is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         264 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for particular episodes that are part of the series on specific days of the week on which the episode is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         265 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for particular episodes that are part of the series on all days of the week on which the episode is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         266 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for first-run broadcasts of episodes that are part of the series.  
     
     
         267 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for rerun broadcasts of episodes that are part of the series.  
     
     
         268 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for syndicated broadcasts of episodes that are part of the series.  
     
     
         269 . The method of  claim 255  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for all rerun, first-run, network, syndicated, and previously unrecorded broadcasts of episodes that are part of the series.  
     
     
         270 . A system for displaying television programs on user television equipment of a plurality of users, the system comprising: 
 a display device;    a user interface;    an interactive television program guide implemented at least partially on circuitry, wherein the interactive television program guide is programmed to:    display on the display device at least one program listing related to at least one program currently scheduled to be recorded;    allow a user using the user interface to select a program listing from the at least one displayed program listing;    determine whether a program that corresponds to the program listing is an episode of a series of programs;    in response to the determination that the program is an episode of a series of programs: 
 provide the user with at least one program recording option for the program; and  
 provide the user with at least one series recording option for the series of programs related to the program.  
   
     
     
         271 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one program listings are arranged in a list.  
     
     
         272 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one program recording option includes an option to cancel the recording of the program.  
     
     
         273 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option includes an option to cancel the recording of the series of programs, wherein the series of programs is scheduled for recording.  
     
     
         274 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one program recording option includes an option to update the program which is scheduled for recording.  
     
     
         275 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option includes an option to update the recording of the series of programs, wherein the series of programs is scheduled for recording.  
     
     
         276 . The system of  claim 270  further comprising a server and wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to record on the server.  
     
     
         277 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for particular episodes that are part of the series on specific channels on which the episode is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         278 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for particular episodes that are part of the series on all channels on which the episode is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         279 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for particular episodes that are part of the series on specific days of the week on which the episode is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         280 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for particular episodes that are part of the series on all days of the week on which the episode is to be broadcast.  
     
     
         281 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for first-run broadcasts of episodes that are part of the series.  
     
     
         282 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for rerun broadcasts of episodes that are part of the series.  
     
     
         283 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for syndicated broadcasts of episodes that are part of the series.  
     
     
         284 . The system of  claim 270  wherein the at least one series recording option is an option to schedule a recording for all rerun, first-run, network, syndicated, and previously unrecorded broadcasts of epidoses that are part of the series.