Program guide system for recording television programs

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an interactive program guide system in which programs may be selected for recording from the program guide.
The program guide may be implemented using a set-top box or other suitable equipment.
Programs are recorded using a videocassette recorder or other suitable video recording device.
At the scheduled broadcast time of the program selected for recording, the program guide system tunes the set-top box to the television channel of the selected program and directs the videocassette recorder to begin recording the program.
The system is compatible with combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.
If recording is to be performed using a TV/VCR, the system displays a message informing the user when recording is about to begin.
The message asks the user whether the user desires to continue with the recording of the selected program.
If the user indicates a desire not to continue recording, recording is cancelled.
If the user indicates a desire to continue with recording, the system tunes to the appropriate channel and directs the videocassette recorder portion of the TV/VCR to begin recording.
If the user does not respond, it is assumed that the TV/VCR is off, so the system transmits a suitable command to turn on the TV/VCR before directing the videocassette recorder portion of the TV/VCR to begin recording.
Consecutive programs on different channels can be recorded without loosing any portion of either program by eliminating some of the buffer segments recorded with previously known systems.
Locked programs may be recorded using several techniques.
One technique for handling locked programs involves determining whether a program selected from a program guide has previously been locked.
If the selected program has been locked, the system requests that a parent enter a parental control personal identification number (PIN) .
Only if the PIN is correct is the selected program unlocked and recorded at the scheduled broadcast time of the selected program