Tracking and providing availability status of personal bi-directional services

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for accessing services in a television system. In one embodiment, a DHCT presents a subscriber an EPG presentation containing a plurality of selectable bi-directional services that are purchasable for a period of time and rendered to a buying subscriber on an individualized basis as offered by the cable television system. The subscriber navigates an EPG menu presentation with an input device such as a remote control device and selects a purchasable service by choosing the visual representation that corresponds to the desired service. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selected command into an executable program call that queries service availability and, if the service is available, initiates the selected bi-directional audiovisual service on a personalized session.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. utility application having Ser. No. 09 / 896,470, filed Jun. 29, 2001, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates in general to the field of television systems, and more particularly, to a user interface for accessing bi-directional services in television systems.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Historically, television services have been comprised of analog broadcast audio and video signals. Cable television systems now receive broadcasts and retransmit them with other programming to users over land-line networks, typically comprising fiber optic cable and / or coaxial cable. With the recent advent of digital transmission technology, cable television systems are now capable of providing much more than the traditional analog broadcast video. In addition, two-way and advanced one-way communications between a subscriber and a cable system headen...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, EPGs are provisioned for traditional broadcast services and not for a new breed of services based on bi-directional audio and / or visual communication that can be offered on an individualized basis to a subscriber.

As system operators of cable television systems continue to add services and applications, a problem exists in both making the subscriber aware of and also in providing quick access to the new services and channels.

Because of the large number of subscribers in a cable television network, the large number of bi-directional communication services offered, the fact that each service may be distinct and individually rendered, a problem exists in providing a subscriber a quick and efficient method to access these services.

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