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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 837,298, filed on Apr. 11, 1997, which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60 / 022,826, filed on Jul. 26, 1996, and 60 / 015,648, filed on Apr. 19, 1996, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 537,650, filed on Oct. 2, 1995, the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 837,025, filed Apr. 11, 1997, and its Appendices A, B, and C, the complete disclosure which is also 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, search, select and interact with television schedule information located in a remote database, c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a system and method for allowing the user to contextually link with a remote database, network server or on-line service, and search, select, and / or initiate a subscription to more information relating to specific areas of interest or concerns associated with a program in the television schedule information system. In this embodiment, the system includes a viewer interface having a display for displaying television schedule and / or listing information to a viewer, a data line coupled to the display for communicating with an external computer network, and a memory having software for retrieving linking data from the computer network. Preferably, the linking data is contextually related to information in the television schedule guide, such as a program's title or content. The external computer network will preferably include the Internet, the World Wide Web and other existing network servers. In this way, the user of the television schedule system may conduct a comprehensive search for information and / or related products, offers, and services about a particular program / television show or for information and / or related products, offers, and services relating to the show, the actors, the actresses, and show's theme and the like.

Problems solved by technology

Offering this type of information to the television viewer can be difficult, however, because their are hundreds of different programs broadcast every day.

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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