Systems and methods for contextually linking television program information

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for accessing a previously broadcast program from a remote digital archive, the method comprising:
 accessing a remote digital archive database, wherein the remote digital archive database contains a plurality of previously broadcast programs;   displaying a listing of the plurality of previously broadcast programs, wherein the listing includes an original broadcast date for each program; and   in response to receiving a user selection of at least one of the plurality of previously broadcast programs, providing the selected program to the user from the database.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the remote digital archive database is accessed over the Internet. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein providing the selected program to the user from the database comprises playing the selected program. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein providing the selected program to the user from the database comprises downloading the selected program. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the listing of the plurality of previously broadcast programs comprises a listing of a plurality of previously broadcast episodes for a selected program. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the listing of the plurality of previously broadcast programs is arranged chronologically. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing more information to the user about the selected program from a contextually linked database. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising searching the remote digital archive database for the plurality of previously broadcast programs. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the searching comprises searching for programs having one or more attributes in common with a particular program. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising monitoring the remote digital archive database for one or more programs and automatically downloading the one or more programs when they become available. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the accessing and displaying is performed through a television equipment device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the accessing and displaying is performed through a computer. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 accessing a program schedule information database for a plurality of scheduled programs;   displaying a listing of programs, wherein the listing includes both the plurality of scheduled programs and the plurality of previously broadcast programs;   in response to receiving a user selection of a program from the listing:
 when the program is one of the plurality of scheduled programs, determining when the program is available; and 
 when the program is one of the plurality of previously broadcast programs, providing the selected program to the user from the remote digital archive database. 
   
     
     
         35 . A system for accessing a previously broadcast program from a remote digital archive, the system comprising:
 a remote digital archive database containing a plurality of previously broadcast programs;   a display processor for displaying a listing of the plurality of previously broadcast programs, wherein the listing includes an original broadcast date for each program;   a processor for receiving a user selection of at least one of the plurality of previously broadcast programs, and for providing the selected program to the user from the database in response to the input device receiving the user selection.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the remote digital archive database is accessed over the Internet. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor provides the selected program to the user from the database by playing the selected program. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor provides the selected program to the user from the database by downloading the selected program. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the listing of the plurality of previously broadcast programs comprises a listing of a plurality of previously broadcast episodes for a selected program. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the listing of the plurality of previously broadcast programs is arranged chronologically. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a contextually linked database containing additional information about the selected program; and   the display processor displaying the additional information to the user.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor searches the remote digital archive database for the plurality of previously broadcast programs. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the processor searching the remote digital archive database comprises searching for programs having one or more attributes in common with a particular program. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising the processor monitoring the remote digital archive database for one or more programs and automatically downloading the one or more programs when they become available. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the display processor and processor are incorporated in a television equipment device. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the display processor and processor are incorporated in a computer. 
     
     
         47 . A system for accessing a previously broadcast program from a remote digital archive, the system comprising:
 a remote digital archive database containing a plurality of previously broadcast programs;   a program schedule information database containing a listing of a plurality of scheduled programs;   a display processor for displaying a listing of programs, wherein the listing includes the plurality of scheduled programs and the plurality of previously broadcast programs;   a processor that, in response to receiving a user selection of a program from the listing of programs, is configured to:
 determine when the program is available when the program is one of the plurality of scheduled programs; and 
 provide the selected program to the user from the remote digital archive database when the program is one of the plurality of previously broadcast programs.