Interactive computer system for providing television schedule information

Abstract

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

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . An interactive guidance system accessible by a user comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 access, through the Internet, a first database for downloading computer software that is capable of searching and receiving information on the Internet; 
 access, through the Internet, a second database that stores program information, wherein the second database is remote to the processor; 
 execute the computer software to search and receive information from the Internet including program information from the second database responsive to selections of the user. 
   
     
     
         49 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the first database and the second database are the same. 
     
     
         50 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the program information includes program title, date, channel, time, and duration. 
     
     
         51 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the computer software provides capabilities for automatically tuning to and automatically recording a selected program title or channel. 
     
     
         52 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the processor is further configured to access a third database for providing previews of upcoming programs related to a selected program. 
     
     
         53 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide an icon on a display, and in response to selection of the icon, the processor establishes a link to the second database. 
     
     
         54 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide an icon on a display, and in response to selection of the icon, the processor establishes a link to a product database for purchasing a product. 
     
     
         55 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide an icon on a display, and in response to selection of the icon, the processor establishes a link to a service provider database for information independent of the user's program choice. 
     
     
         56 . The guidance system of  claim 55 , wherein the service provider database includes news, weather, sports, scores, financial data, or local traffic. 
     
     
         57 . The guidance system of claim  47 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide a virtual agent for automatically searching the Internet and providing pointers to locations in the Internet that may interest the user. 
     
     
         58 . The guidance system of  claim 57 , wherein the virtual agent learns from previous user choices for customizing the guidance system for each particular user. 
     
     
         59 . The guidance system of  claim 57 , further comprising a chatroom Internet site related to a selected program. 
     
     
         60 . The guidance system of claim  47 , further comprising a section for providing information about a particular future program. 
     
     
         61 . The guidance system of  claim 60 , wherein the information about a particular future program includes at least one of a picture, video, and descriptive text. 
     
     
         62 . The guidance system of  claim 60 , wherein the section for providing information about a particular future program is interactive in response to user input. 
     
     
         63 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the processor is located in at least one of a television, a set-top box, and a VCR. 
     
     
         64 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , further comprising a user input device that includes at least one of a remote control device, a keyboard, and a voice input. 
     
     
         65 . The guidance system of  claim 48 , wherein the received information is displayed in a guide format. 
     
     
         66 . A method for organizing and using program information comprising the steps of:
 accessing, through the Internet, a first database through the Internet for downloading a computer software to search and receive information on the Internet;   accessing, through the Internet, a second database that stores program information; and   executing the computer software for searching, formatting, and receiving information including program information from the Internet.   
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the first database and the second database are the same. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising the steps of:
 selecting a program title or a channel for automatic tuning or automatic recording; and   executing the computer software to automatically tune to or record the selected program title or the selected channel.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the step of storing program information comprises storing program title, date, channel, time, and duration. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising the step of displaying previews of upcoming programs related to a selected program. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising providing an icon on a display, and in response to selection of the icon, establishing a link to the second database. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising providing an icon on a display, and in response to selection of the icon, establishing a link to a product database for purchasing a product. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising providing an icon on a display, and in response to selection of the icon, establishing a link to a service provider database for information independent of the user's program choice. 
     
     
         74 . The guidance system of  claim 73 , wherein the service provider database includes news, weather, sports, scores, financial data, or local traffic. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising automatically searching the Internet and providing pointers to locations in the Internet that may interest the user. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , further comprising learning from previous user choices and customizing a display for each particular user. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising establishing a link to a chatroom Internet site related to a selected program and entering the chatroom. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 66 , further comprising providing information about a particular future program. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the information about a particular future program includes at least one of a picture, video, and descriptive text. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the section for providing information about a particular future program is interactive in response to user input. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the received information is displayed in a guide format.