System and method for displaying advertising, video, and program schedule listing

Abstract

A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

1 - 87 . (canceled)  
     
     
         88 . A method for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of television schedule information items in a display;    selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements; and    simultaneously displaying the selected advertisement in a horizontal relation to the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.    
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the selecting an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements is being made independent of a user's selection of a television schedule information item.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the displayed advertisement is interactive.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the displayed plurality of television schedule information items includes the time and channel for at least a portion of the displayed television schedule information items  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the displayed advertisement includes one or more of text, graphics, and video.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the displayed advertisement is related to one or more of a product and a service.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , further comprising ordering the one or more of a product and a service by selecting the displayed advertisement.  
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising displaying additional information about the advertisement when the displayed interactive advertisement is selected by a user.  
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the displayed advertisement is related to a television program.  
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , further comprising tuning to the television program by selecting the displayed advertisement.  
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 96 , further comprising scheduling a recording of the television program by selecting the displayed advertisement.  
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the displayed advertisement is related to a pay television program.  
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , further comprising ordering the pay television program by selecting the displayed advertisement.  
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the plurality of television schedule information items are displayed in a program information region of the display having a vertical height and wherein the selected advertisement is displayed substantially within the vertical height of the program information region of the display.  
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the selected advertisement is displayed substantially horizontally with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items in a substantially square area.  
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the selected advertisement is displayed substantially horizontally aligned with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.  
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the selected advertisement is displayed substantially horizontally with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items in a rectangular area having a substantially larger vertical length than a horizontal width.  
     
     
         105 . A system for simultaneously displaying advertisements with an electronic program guide (EPG), the electronic program guide operative to: 
 display a plurality of television schedule information items in a display;    select an advertisement for display from a plurality of advertisements; and    simultaneously display the selected advertisement in a horizontal relation to the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.    
     
     
         106 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the plurality of television schedule information items are displayed in a program information region of the display having a vertical height and wherein the selected advertisement is displayed substantially within the vertical height of the program information region of the display.  
     
     
         107 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the selected advertisement is displayed substantially horizontally with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items in a substantially square area.  
     
     
         108 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the selected advertisement is displayed substantially horizontally aligned with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items.  
     
     
         109 . The system of  claim 105 , wherein the selected advertisement is displayed substantially horizontally with the displayed plurality of television schedule information items in a rectangular area having a substantially larger vertical length than a horizontal width.