US2006015906A1PendingUtilityA1

Internet television program guide system

49
Assignee: BOYER FRANKLIN EPriority: Dec 10, 1996Filed: Jul 22, 2005Published: Jan 19, 2006
Est. expiryDec 10, 2016(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Franklin E. BoyerTimothy B. DemersDonald W. AllisonMark A. RegoubySteven C. WilliamsonJoanna L. HensleyW. Benjamin HerringtonPaul N. Reddy
H04N 5/445H04N 21/26283H04N 21/64322H04N 7/17318H04N 21/8586H04N 5/45H04N 21/478H04N 21/47211H04N 21/8549H04N 21/435H04N 21/235H04N 21/4828H04N 21/4622H04N 21/482H04N 21/4381H04N 21/6175H04N 21/4725H04N 7/163H04N 21/8153H04N 21/4821H04N 21/47H04N 21/4782H04N 21/84H04N 21/6125H04N 21/4316
49
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Claims

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.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 80 . (canceled)  
     
     
         81 . A method for searching for a listing in an interactive television program 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 the at least one listing comprises the search text string in a field of the listing corresponding to the selected search field; and    displaying an interactive television program 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 television program 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 the at least one listing comprises the search text string in a field of the listing corresponding to the selected search field; and    a user viewing device that displays an interactive television program 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.

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