 System for generating, distributing and receiving an interactive user interface |
| The invention is an information distribution system comprising a head end wherein a user interface ... |
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| MPEG transport stream remultiplexer |
| OF THE INVENTION FIG. 2 shows a remultiplexer 100 according to an embodiment of the present ... |
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| MPEG transport stream remultiplexer |
| OF THE INVENTION FIG. 2 shows a remultiplexer 100 according to an embodiment of the present ... |
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| Apparatus and method for multiplexing with small buffer depth |
| It is known that the delay introduced by a multiplexing system increases when buffer sizes or depth ... |
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| Adaptive rate control for insertion of data into arbitrary bit rate data streams |
| The present invention provides a method and apparatus for adaptive control of the rate of data ... |
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| Brandwidth optimization of video program bearing transport streams |
| These and other objects are achieved according to the present invention. An illustrative ... |
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| Method and system for emulating and HTTP server through a broadcast carousel |
| OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Interactive Television Architecture Interactive television provides a way ... |
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| Display control apparatus and method and display apparatus |
| The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has as ... |
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| Method and apparatus for displaying images |
| What is claimed is: 1. A method for picture display, comprising: a first step of determining kind ... |
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Interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion
| Details |
Inventors: Knudson, Edward B.; Ellis, Michael D.; Thomas, William L.; Davis, Bruce L.;
Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc. (Tulsa, OK)
Primary Examiner: Flynn; Nathan
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fish & Neave, Treyz; G. Victor
A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION This and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing a system that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from an interactive program guide.
The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of one or more packages of pay programs.
If the selected program is part of a package of programs, the user is provided with information regarding the package, so that the user may purchase the package if desired.
If the selected program is part of multiple packages, information on each package may be provided.
When a user purchases a package, the program guide determines whether the package contains repetitive programming (e.
g.
, whether the package involves the continuous broadcast of a single movie during a given 24 hour period).
If the package contains repetitive programming, the program guide automatically sets reminders for each program in the package subsequent to any reminder set by the user.
Just before the scheduled broadcast time of each program in the package, the program guide displays a suitable reminder message on the user's television.
The program guide monitors the user's activity to determine whether the user has watched any of the programs in a repetitive package (e.
g.
, by determining whether the user has turned on the set-top box and tuned the set-top box to the channel for a program in the package during its scheduled broadcast time.
) If the user has not watched any of the programs in the package, the program guide continues to issue reminders just before each program is broadcast.
Once the user watches one of the programs in the package, the remainder of the reminders are cancelled.
The program guide also monitors the user's activity to determine whether the user has failed to watch any of the programs in purchased package.
If the user does not watch any of the programs in a purchased package, the program guide cancels the purchase.
The user may be provided with an opportunity to reschedule the cancelled package if the package is still available for purchase
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