Program guide system with flip and browse advertisements

Abstract

An interactive television program guide is provided in which advertisements may be displayed in program listings display regions on program guide screens. The program listings display regions may be browse displays or flip displays. The program guide screens contain video for the current channel to which the user is tuned. The program listings display regions containing the advertisements may be overlaid on top of the current channel. Alternatively, the video for the current channel may be provided in a reduced-size video window. The advertisements may contain video. The advertisements may be used to promote television programs and conventional goods and services. Advertisements may be selectable. When a user selects an advertisement, the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to order products or services, request information, set reminders for upcoming programs, view program descriptions, record programs, or take other such actions.

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A system in which an interactive media guide is implemented on user equipment comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 generate for display a program listings display overlaid on a display of a first video program; and 
 remove the program listings display using a special effect. 
   
     
     
         62 . The system defined in  claim 61 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a user selection of a desired special effect for use in removing the program listings display. 
     
     
         63 . The system defined in  claim 61  wherein the special effect is one of a wipe, glide, dissolve, collapse, bounce or explosion. 
     
     
         64 . The system defined in  claim 61  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate for display the program listings display partially overlaid on the display of the first video program. 
 
     
     
         65 . The system defined in  claim 64  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate for display a highlight positioned on a first program listing of the program listings display; 
 change the position of the highlight from the first program listing to a selectable item in the program listings display in response to a first user indication; and 
 update the program listings display to replace a display of the first program listing with a display of a second program listing in response to a second user indication while the highlight is positioned on the selectable item. 
 
     
     
         66 . The system defined in  claim 64  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate for display the program listings display as a flip display,
 wherein when the program listings display is displayed as a flip display, responsive to a user indication,
 the display of the first video program is updated to display a second video program; and 
 the program listings display is updated to replace a display of a first program listing with a display of a second program listing associated with the second video program. 
 
 
 
     
     
         67 . The system defined in  claim 64  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 generate for display the program listings display as a browse display,
 wherein when the program listings display is displayed as a browse display, responsive to a user indication,
 the program listings display is updated to replace a display of a first program listing with a display of a second program listing, without updating the display of the first video program. 
 
 
 
     
     
         68 . A method for using an interactive media guide implemented on user equipment comprising:
 generating for display a program listings display overlaid on a display of a first video program; and   removing the program listings display using a special effect.   
     
     
         69 . The method defined in  claim 68  further comprising receiving a user selection of a desired special effect for use in removing the program listings display. 
     
     
         70 . The method defined in  claim 68  wherein the special effect is one of a wipe, glide, dissolve, collapse, bounce or explosion. 
     
     
         71 . The method defined in  claim 68  further comprising:
 generating for display the program listings display overlaid partially on the display of the first video program. 
 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71  further comprising:
 generating for display a highlight position on a first program listing of the program listings display; 
 changing the position of the highlight from the first program listing to a selectable item in the program listings display in response to a first user indication; and 
 updating the program listings display to replace a display of the first program listing with a display of a second program listing in response to a second user indication while the highlight is positioned on the selectable item. 
 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71  further comprising:
 generating for display the program listings display as a flip display,
 wherein when the program listings display is displayed as a flip display, responsive to a user indication,
 updating the display of the first video program to display a second video program; and 
 updating the program listings display to replace a display of a first program listing with a display of a second program listing associated with the second video program. 
 
 
 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71  further comprising:
 generating for display the program listings display as a browse display,
 wherein when the program listings display is displayed as a browse display, responsive to a user indication,
 updating the program listings display to replace a display of a first program listing with a display of a second program listing, without updating the display of the first video program.