Systems and methods for providing a program as a gift using an interactive application

Abstract

A television message system is provided that allows users at user television equipment devices that are connected to a television distribution facility to transmit messages to each other relating to a television program or other suitable subject. The television message system permits users to participate in evaluations, contests, promotions, and surveys related to a television program while watching that television program. The television message system also permits users to compose and send a message to a television program entity. Users can send messages through the television message system to users at personal computers who are connected to the user's television distribution facility through a communications network. The television message system also allows a user to purchase a gift related to television programming for a recipient. The gift may be an electronic gift certificate for pay-per-view programming. The television message system may be based on an interactive television program guide or a set-top box application implemented on a set-top box.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 356,245, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 099,301, filed Aug. 26, 1998.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to television message systems, and more particularly, to techniques for supporting the transmission of messages in a television environment that may include an interactive television program guide. [0003] A popular aspect of the Internet and other networking environments relates to e-mail messages. A network or Internet user can send e-mail messages to other users of the network or the Internet. Messages are delivered to a server where they are held until downloaded by a client such as a personal computer. The recipient of a message can access it at any time from the server and read it at his convenience. [0004] Telev...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing a television message system that receives television programming over a communications path from a television distribution facility such as a cable system headend. The television message system allows users to transmit messages relating to a given television program to users who are currently watching that television program.

[0013] The message system allows messages to be transmitted between users at user television equipment devices. The user television equipment devices may be connected to a television distribution facility (such as a cable system headend) by coaxial cables or other suitable communications paths that carry television signals. In an illustrative configuration, the system eliminates the need for additional communications paths physically separate from the paths that carry television signal broadcast channels for the transmission of messages.

Problems solved by technology

However, there is generally no way in which users of a traditional e-mail message system may easily view a television program while exchanging messages about that program.

A user might locate a television in the same room as the user's personal computer, but such an arrangement would be awkward to view.

Moreover, many households locate their televisions in the living room, but are reluctant to locate their computers in the living room.

Previously known systems have not provided an integrated system allowing television viewers to view television programming and to exchange messages with other television viewers independent of the Internet.

Previously known systems also have not provided television viewers with the opportunity to send messages to exclusively other viewers of a television program or channel.

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