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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08 / 837,025, filed Apr. 11, 1997, which is continuation-in-part of Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60 / 022,826, filed on Jul. 26, 1996, and 60 / 015,648, filed on Apr. 19, 1996, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 537,650, filed on Oct. 2, 1995, the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for providing information to television viewers, and more particularly to systems and methods for allowing the viewer to retrieve, initiate a subscription to, search, select and interact with television schedule and / or listing information located in a remote database, computer network or on-line service, e.g., a network server on the Internet or World Wide Web. [0003] As the number of television stations in a metropolitan area or on a cable network has increased, the number o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information on a visual interface, and for allowing the viewer to retrieve, initiate a subscription to, search, select and interact with information located in a remote database, computer network or on-line service, such as a network server on the Internet or World Wide Web. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of visual interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and other interactive display devices. 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 or computer network to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV, and other interactive display devices. The present invention also provides systems and methods for allowing the viewer to navigate and interact with a program guide that is displayed, for example, on the viewer's television screen. The program guide will usually include a schedule and / or listing information area that depicts the programs that are available from a directory, library, or archival source or being presented on each channel at each time during the day, week or month. With an input device, such as a remote control device, pointing device, mouse, keyboard, microphone or the like, the viewer can browse through the schedule and / or listing information area and / or obtain more information about programs of particular interest.

[0007] In one embodiment, the present invention includes an interactive computer system which provides television schedule and / or listing information. All or portions of this television schedule information may be provided to a television system, a computer monitor, a PCTV and other interactive display devices. The interactive computer system can use the television schedule information to control various peripheral devices in the television system. Peripheral devices are, for example, televisions, video tape recorder(s), set-top boxes (including cable boxes), digital storage devices, and the like. In the preferred embodiment, a memory located within a personal computer stores a computer program and received data. These data include the television schedule information and eventually the digital files of the programs themselves. A processor uses the computer program to organize the television schedule and / or listing information into a desired format. The television schedule and / or listing information is then displayed on a television screen or on a computer monitor / display in the desired format.

Problems solved by technology

Offering this type of information to the television viewer can be difficult, however, because there are currently hundreds of different programs broadcast every day and eventually there will be an unlimited number of programs available, both current and digitally archived.

In addition, the available information changes at a rapid pace, which makes it even more difficult to provide this information in present television schedule guides.

One problem with this existing system is that it is often difficult to motivate a viewer to request information or send in a contribution after the broadcast of the commercial or program.

Viewers will often forget the advertisement or simply lose motivation to spend money or request information after the commercial or program is over.

Another problem is that companies sponsoring these commercials or programs would often like to provide their viewers with further information, if the viewers could be identified or if the viewer requests the additional information.

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