MXPA00010665A - Program guide system with flip and browse advertisements - Google Patents

Abstract

An interactive television program guide is provided in which advertisements may be displayed in program listings display regions on program guide screens. The program listings display regions may be browse displays or flip displays. The program guide screens contain video for the current channel to which the user is tuned. The program listings display regions containing the advertisements may be overlaid on top of the current channel. Alternatively, the video for the current channel may be provided in a reduced-size video window. The advertisements may contain video. The advertisements may be used to promote television programs and conventional goods and services. Advertisements may be selectable. When a user selects an advertisement, the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to order products or services, request information, set reminders for upcoming programs, view program descriptions, record programs, or take other such actions.

Description

PROGRAMMING GUIDE SYSTEM WITH QUICK REVIEW AND SEARCH OF ADVERTISING WARNINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to interactive television programming guides, and more particularly, to techniques for presenting advertising to users of such television programming guides. Cable, satellite and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Traditionally, viewers have consulted printed television programming calendars to determine the programs that are being broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactive electronic television programming guidelines have been developed that allow information about television programs to be displayed on a television viewer's television. Interactive programming guides are typically implemented in control boxes. The programming guide data transmission is illustrated in EP-A-0 772 360 (Sony Corporation). Such programming guides allow users to view the advertisements with data of the programs in different formats of visual presentation. For example, a user may instruct the programming guide to display an announcement grid with program data organized in the form of a list sorted by channel or ordered by schedules. Users can also search and categorize program listings by topic (for example, movies, sports, etc.) or by title (ie alphabetically). A user can obtain additional information about a program by placing a highlight region on the advertisement of a desired program and pressing an "info" button.The user can buy a paid program from the programming guide by placing the highlighting region on the advertisement of a program and pressing an "OK" button.Some systems allow the user to select a program to record by placing the highlighting region on the advertisement of a program and pressing a "record." It is also known in the art to obtain a video of display of programming guide in addition to program listings For example, WO-A-97/9242 (Starsight Telecast Inc.) shows a programming guide that allows the user to watch a video broadcast and simultaneously watch lists of programs. Lists of programs with a quick review and search display can generate an overlay that contains program list information for a single channel. For example, US-A-5 585 866 shows overlays of quick review and search regions.

Visual presentations for search contain information about programs that are available in channels other than the channel that the user is currently tuning. The user can search through program announcements for other channels and other times, using directional keys, without changing the channel that is in use. Visual presentations for quick review contain information for the channel currently in use. When the visual presentation for quick review is activated, using the buttons to scroll up and down the channels achieves both change the channel that is seen at that time and also that the visual presentation for quick review is updated accordingly. Although visual representations for quick review and search are useful, it would be convenient for the user of such visual presentations to have more information available. For example, it would be convenient to have advertisements available in visual presentations for quick review and search, in order to provide additional information to the user of such visual presentations. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a television programming guide system that provides advertising in presentations visuals for quick review and search. It is also an object of the invention to provide a television program guide system with special effects to remove such visual presentations for quick review and search from the user's television screen. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the invention are fulfilled in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing a system having an interactive programming guide that supplies video (including audio) for the channel in use., and a region for the visual presentation of program announcements containing a program advertisement for a single channel and an advertisement. The display region of program announcements may be either a visual presentation for search, in which the channel or schedule of the program announcement may be different from the channel or schedule in use at that time, or a visual presentation for quick review , in which the channel of the program announcement and the channel in use are the same. A presentation for search can be provided, in which a user can change the channel of the program announcement by clicking on a highlight to an ad adjacent to the program advertisement, with a directional key, and activating that directional key again after the notice advertising has been highlighted. The advertisement may be selectable. When the user selects the advertisement, the programming guide can execute an appropriate action. If the advertisement is related to programming, when selecting the warning, the programming guide can be instructed to execute a task related to programming, such as setting a reminder for a program, tuning a program, recording a program, requesting a program payment, etc. If the advertisement is a conventional notice, when the notice is selected, it can be indicated to the programming guide that helps in the ordering of a product or service, that processes a request for additional information, that exhibits additional information, etc. In the region of presentation of program announcements, multiple advertisements can be supplied. The notices can contain text, graphics and video. The region of presentation of program announcements can be removed by the programming guide using a special effect such as a gradual enlargement of the image, a fade of the image, a gradual disappearance of the image, etc.

Other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagram of a system in which an interactive television programming guide is implemented in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a diagram of a system similar to the system of Figure 1 showing how the servers can be located in network nodes, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 is a simplified plan view of an illustrative remote control, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of conventional visual representations for search. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of conventional visuals for quick review. Figure 6 is a diagram of an illustrative visual representation for search, containing an advertisement, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7 is a diagram of another illustrative visual representation for search, containing an advertisement, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating how a visual display containing an advertisement can be provided with a highlight that can be navigated to the advertisement in accordance with the present invention. Figure 9 is a diagram of an illustrative visual display for quick review, containing an advertisement, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating how a representation for search or for quick review can be removed from the user's television screen using a special effect. Figure 11 is a flow chart illustrating intervening steps in the provision of visual representations for quick review and search, and in the removal of such visual presentations from the user's television screen, using special effects. Figure 12 is a diagram of another illustrative visual representation, for quick review or search, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 13 is a diagram of an illustrative billboard in accordance with the present invention. Figure 14 is a flowchart of the steps involved in the provision of a selectable advertisement, and in the execution of appropriate actions in the programming guide, in response to the selection of the advertisement by a user, in accordance with the with the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figure 1 there is shown an illustrative programming guide system, 30, in accordance with the present invention. The main installation 32 contains a database of programming guides, 34, for storing information of programming guides such as data of listings of the programming guide, information on orders of paid programs, promotional information on television programs, etc. The main installation 32 also contains an advertising database, 36, for storing advertising information. The information of the databases 34 and 36 can be transmitted to the installation for television distribution, 38, through the communications link 40. The link 40 can be a satellite link, a link by telephone network, a link by cable or fiber optics, a microwave link, a combination of such links, or any other appropriate communications channel. If it is desired to transmit video signals (for example, for advertising and promotional videos) by the link 40 in addition to the data signals, a relatively high bandwidth link such as a satellite link is generally preferable, rather than a link of relatively low bandwidth such as a telephone link. The television distribution facility 38 is an installation for distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system terminal, an air television distribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facility. The programming guide information transmitted by the main facility 32 to the television distribution facility, 38, includes television program announcement data such as program schedules, their channels, titles, descriptions, etc. The transmitted program information also includes data from paid programs such as price information for individual programs and channels with subscription, time windows for requesting programs and channels, telephone numbers for ordering that can not be made by pulses, etc. The advertising information transmitted by the main facility 32 to the television distribution facility 38 includes advertisements with text, graphics and video for various products and services. If desired, some of the information on programming and advertising guides may be provided using data sources in facilities other than the main facility 32.

For example, data relating to the processing of orders of paid programs (for example billing data and the like) can be generated by an order processing and billing system that is separate from main facility 32 and separate from the distribution facility of television 38. Similarly, the advertising information may be generated by an advertising facility that is separate from the main facility 32 and the television distribution facility 38. Regardless of its source, the advertising information may be maintained in a server 42 within the television distribution facility 38, if desired. The server 42 may be able to handle text, graphics and video. The television distribution facility 38 distributes advertising and program guide information to the user's television equipment, 44, of multiple users, via the communication channels 46. The user's television equipment can be any suitable equipment for provide television to the user, which contains sufficient processing capabilities to implement an interactive television programming guide. Ways 46 can be cable links, fiber optic links, satellite links, broadcast links, or other suitable link or combination of such links. Any suitable communications system can be used to transmit data via tracks 46, including in-band transmissions, out-of-band transmissions, digital transmissions, analog transmissions, cable transmissions, satellite transmissions, air transmissions, multi-channel multipoint distribution service transmissions. (MMDS), etc. If desired, the data of the programming guide can be distributed by an out-of-band channel in tracks 46 or by a band track, such as the vertical extinction range (VBI). The advertising information can be distributed using a series of appropriate techniques. For example, advertisements with text and graphics can be distributed by an out-of-band channel using an out-of-band modulator. Video notices can also be distributed in this way, although large amounts of video information can be distributed more efficiently using one or more digital channels on tracks 56. Such digital channels can also be used to distribute text and graphics. Each user has a receiver, which typically consists of a box that is placed on the television such as the box that is placed on the television, 48, but which can be another suitable television equipment, such as an advanced television receiver in which circuits have been integrated similar to the circuits of the box that is placed on the television, or a television with personal computer (PC / TV). The data of the programming guide can be periodically distributed to the boxes that are placed on the television, 48. The television distribution installation 38 can also periodically interrogate the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, to request certain information (for example, information about the paid program account or information regarding programs that have been purchased and viewed using locally generated authorization techniques). The main installation 32 preferably contains a processor to handle information distribution tasks. Each box that is placed on the television, 48, preferably contains a processor for handling tasks associated with the implementation of a programming guide application in the box that is placed on the television, 48. The television distribution facility 38 may contain a processor to handle tasks associated with the distribution of information from the programming and advertising guide.

Each box that is placed on the TV, 48, is typically connected to an optional VCR 50 so that the selected television programs can be recorded. Each video recorder 50 is connected to a television 52. To record a program, the box that is placed on the television, 48, tunes to a particular channel and sends control signals to the VCR 50 (for example, using an infrared transmitter) that tell the VCR 50 to start and stop recording at the appropriate times. During the use of the interactive television programming guide, implemented in the box that is placed on the television, 48, the advertisements of the television programming can be presented visually on the television 52. Each box that is placed on the television, 48 , video recorder 50, and television 52, can be controlled by one or more remote controls 54 or any other interface suitable for data entry by the user, such as a wireless keyboard, mouse, trackball , specialized keypad, etc. The communication channels 46 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow the television distribution installation 38 to distribute to the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, the scheduled television programming, the paid programming, advertising videos and other promotional videos. , and other video information, in addition to the information on programming and advertising guides that are not in video. It can be supplied to the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or both, analog and digital) through the communication channels 46. If desired, the announcement information of programs and advertising can be distributed by means of one or more distribution facilities that are similar to the television distribution installation 38, although separated from it, using communication routes that are separated from the communication channels 46. Certain functions such as the purchase of paid programs may require that the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, transmit data to the television distribution facility 38 via the communication channels 46. If desired, such data may be transmitted by telephone lines or other separate communication channels. If functions such as these are provided using separate facilities of the television distribution installation 38, some of the communications involving boxes that are placed on the television, 48, can be made directly with the separate facilities. Users can interactively request information, products, or additional services. Such orders can be satisfied by execution facilities 49 and 51. If desired, orders can be transmitted directly to the execution facilities, such as execution facility 51, through links 53, which can be telephone links , Internet or other appropriate communication links. The orders can also be transmitted to the television distribution facility 38 via links 46, where the billing system of the television distribution facility can be used. After the television distribution facility 38 has processed the user's order, the television distribution facility 38 can transmit the order to the execution facility 49 via the link 55. A number of techniques can be used to distribute related videos. with advertising. For example, if each communication path 46 includes a number of traditional analog television channels, one or more of these channels can be used to support a number of digital channels. The bandwidth of each analog channel that is used to support digital channels can support ten or more such digital channels. If desired, the videos can be supplied from the server 42 in a continuous cycle arrangement in these digital channels. The information supplied to the box that is placed on the television, 48, can then be used to determine which digital channels to tune in when it is time to display a desired video. As an alternative, the videos can be supplied upon request. With this criterion, the box that is placed on the television, 48, and the server 42 can dialogue to determine a channel in which to provide the desired video. The videos that originate in the main installation 32 or in a separate installation are preferably distributed to the user's television equipment, 44, using these or other suitable techniques. As shown in Figure 2, server capabilities 42 can be provided using servers 56 located at network nodes 58. Servers such as servers 56 can be used in place of server 42 or can be used in conjunction with a server 42 located in a television distribution facility. The graphic information for advertisements can be downloaded periodically (for example once a day) to the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, of Figure 1, and stored locally. The graphic information can be accessed locally when needed, by means of the programming guide implemented in the box that is placed on the television, 48. Alternatively, the graphic information can be supplied in a continuous cycle arrangement in one or more digital channels on the tracks 46. With such a continuous cycle arrangement, it is preferably lowered periodically (for example once a day) to the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, a map indicating the location of the graphic information more recent. This allows the content of the digital channels to be updated. The programming guides in the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, can use the map to locate desired graphic information in the digital channels. Another criterion involves using a server such as server 42 or servers 56 (Figure 2) to provide the graphic information after a box that is placed on the television, 48, and that server have dialogued to establish a descent operation. A bitmap or other suitable set of graphic information can then be downloaded from the server to the box that is placed on the television. If desired, the server can download instructions that inform the box that is placed on the TV where the desired graphic information can be located on a particular digital channel. The graphic information can be periodically updated if the server that is responsible for downloading the instructions to inform the box that is placed on the television about the location of the graphic information is also periodically updated. The text information for the advertisements can be supplied to the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, using the same channels that are used to distribute the data of the programming guide. For example, the advertising data of the database 36 of Figure 1 can be supplied to the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, using the link 40, the television distribution facility 38, and the communication routes. 46. The text information can be stored locally in the boxes that are placed on the television, 48, and periodically updated (for example, once a day). Text information, graphic information, and videos for advertising may also be distributed using a combination of these techniques or any other suitable technique. If desired, the information relating to advertising (whether video, graphic, text, or a combination of video, graphics and text) is presented to the user based on the interests of the user, as determined by the user's interactions. with the programming guide. This is described in Knudson et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 034,939, filed March 4, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In Figure 3 there is shown a suitable remote control 60 that can be used to operate the programming guide implemented in the user's television set, 44. The remote control 60 has directional keys 62, a select button or "OK" 64, buttons for moving up and down the channels 66. The remote control 60 also has several other buttons to control the user's programming guide and television equipment, which are not displayed to avoid complicating the drawings too much. Figure 4 shows a visual presentation layout for search, of a conventional programming guide. On the screen of the user's television, 68, a video for the channel in use is displayed in which the box that is placed on the television, of which the user has (in other words, the channel in use that the user is tuned in) is displayed. is watching). When the user presses a directional key on the remote control, the visual presentation for search, 70, is provided as an overlay on top of the screen 68. Initially, the visual presentation for search, 70, contains program announcement information for the channel and schedule in use at that time (for example, channel 6 and 10:30 AM), as shown in the upper screen in Figure 4. If the user presses a directional key, the video for the channel in use that is displayed in the screen 68 it is not changed, but the information of the program announcement in the visual presentation for search, 70, is changed to the next available channel (for example, channel 7), as shown in the lower screen of Figure 4. As indicated by arrows 72, the user can use directional keys to search for a program advertisement for various other channels and schedules, without disturbing the video for the channel in use at that time., which is being displayed on the screen 68. If the user places a broadcast of a program of interest that goes at that moment, the user can press an "OK" button on the remote control that tells the programming guide to tune the channel for that program. By pressing the "OK" button when the program announcement in the visual presentation for search is a future program, the programming guide is instructed to provide an opportunity to set a reminder for that program. In Figure 5 a conventional visual presentation arrangement for quick review is shown. The video for the channel in use, which the user has tuned, is displayed on the screen 74. When the user presses a key to scroll up and down the channels, the visual presentation for quick review, 76, is provided as a overlaying above the screen 74. As shown in the upper screen of Figure 5, the quick review display 76 contains program announcement information for the channel in use (for example, channel 6). If the user presses a key to scroll up and down the channels, the video of the channel in use at that time, which is displayed on screen 74, is changed to the next available channel (for example, channel 7) and the program announcement information in the quick review visual presentation, 76, is also changed to the next available channel (for example, channel 7), as shown in the lower screen of Figure 4. As shown in the Figures 4 and 5, in a mode (search mode), the programming guide provides announcements of overlapping programs (the visual presentation for search), which are allowed to leave the synchronization with the channel that is in use at that moment; while in another mode (quick review mode), the programming guide supplies announcements of overlapping programs (the visual presentation for quick review) in which the channel that is in use and the program advertisement that appears superimposed remain in synchronization. The user can activate the programming guide either in the search mode or in the quick review mode, using the appropriate keys of the remote control (for example, direction keys for the search mode and keys for moving up and down by the channels, for the quick review mode In accordance with the present invention, the programming guide provides visual presentations for search and for quick review containing advertising announcements In Figure 6 an illustrative visual presentation is shown, for search, which can be supplied by the programming guide The video for the channel that is in use, which the user is tuning in (that is, the box that is placed on the television, 48, of Figure 1), is displayed on the screen 78. When the user presses an appropriate key, such as a directional key 62 (Figure 3), the programming guide implemented in the television equipment 44 of the user Figure 1 provides the display for search, 80, as an overlay on top of screen 78 (which may be, for example, the television screen 52 of Figure 1). The visual presentation for search, 80, contains the advertisement 82 and may contain a logo 83. The advertisement 82 may contain text, graphics (including animation), and video. The advertisement 82 may be a notice relating to the programming that is used to promote a program or a television channel, or it may be a conventional advertisement used to promote products and services that are not related to programming. If desired, the advertisement 82 may be selectable by the user (for example, using keys of the remote control). If the warning 82 is selectable, when the warning 82 is selected by the user, the programming guide can execute various actions. The content of advertisement 82 can be cycled (that is, periodically replaced by another advertisement). As they are cycled, a gradual disappearance of the image can be delivered between advertisements. When the user resorts to the visual presentation for search, 80, by pressing a directional key 62, the visual presentation for search, 80, contains the program advertisement 84 for the channel (for example, channel 6) and timetables that are in use , as shown in the upper screen of Figure 6. If the user presses a directional key, the video for the channel that is in use, which is displayed on screen 78, is not changed, but the program announcement 84 in the display for search, 80, is changed to the next available channel (for example, channel 7), as shown in the lower screen of Figure 6. As indicated by arrows 86, the user can use keys directional to search for advertisements of programs in other different channels, without disturbing the video for the channel that is being viewed, which is displayed on the screen 78. If the user locates a program of interest with the visual presentation for search, 80, the user pued e Press the "OK" button 64 to indicate to the programming guide that you tune the channel for that program. As shown in Figure 7, the programming guide can provide a visual presentation for search, 88, which allows the user to browse program announcements looking for programs that are scheduled to be airing at times other than the current time. Arrow keys 90 indicate that the user can use left and right directional keys 62 to instruct the programming guide to display program announcement information 92 for different schedules.

By pressing the "OK" key 64 when the program that appears in the visual presentation for search 88 is a future program, you can indicate to the programming guide that it provides an opportunity to set a reminder for the program, or that you program the recording of the program. Program. As with the arrangement of Figure 6, the search display, 88, of Figure 7, contains an advertisement 94. If the advertisements such as notices 82 and 94 are selectable, the visual presentation for search may be provided with a mobile highlighting, as shown in Figure 8. When the search display, 104, of Figure 8 is initially superimposed on the screen 106 (eg, when the user first presses a directional key 64), the The programming guide supplies a highlight 108 placed on the program announcement 110, as shown in the upper screen of Figure 8. If the user presses an upward directional key, 62, the program announcement 110 is changed to the program announcement. of the next available channel, and the highlight 108 remains placed on the program announcement. If the user presses a downward directional key, 62, the program announcement 110 is not changed. However, the highlight 108 is placed on the advertisement 112, as shown in the central screen of Figure 8. A subsequent activation of the downward directional key, 62, instructs the programming guide to replace the program announcement. existing 110 (for example, the program announcement for channel 2) by the previous channel's program announcement (for example, the program announcement of channel 1), as shown in the lower screen of Figure 8. When the visual presentation for search is as shown in the lower screen of Figure 8, a new activation of the key Directional down, 62, allows more to run the program announcements, but does not move the highlight 108. The activation of the upward directional key, 62, when the visual presentation for search is as shown in the lower screen of Figure 8 , moves the highlighting back to the program announcement 110, without changing the channel of the program announcement 110. Another way in which the programming guide can allow the user to select advertisements such as notices 82 and 94, is to provide a special button on the remote control. If desired, the left and right directional keys can be used to access the advertisements (for example, group advertisements to the left or right of the program advertisement). Figure 9 shows a visual presentation for quick review 96 of the programming guide, which contains an advertisement 98. On screen 100 the video corresponding to the channel that is in use and which the user tunes in is displayed (for example , the box that is placed on the television, 48). When the user presses an appropriate key such as a key to scroll up and down the channels, 66 (Figure 3), the quick review visual presentation 96 is provided as an overlay on the screen 100. As shown in the upper screen of Figure 9, the quick review display 96 contains a program advertisement 102 for the channel that is being viewed (for example, channel 6). If the user presses a key 66 to scroll up and down the channels, the video corresponding to the channel that is being used and that is displayed on the screen 100, is changed to the next available channel (for example, channel 7). ), and the program advertisement 102 appearing in the visual presentation for quick review 96 is changed to the next available channel (eg, channel 7), as shown in the lower screen of Figure 9. Another aspect of the invention involves removing from the screen the visual presentations of program announcements, such as visual presentations for search and for quick review. Visual presentations for search can be withdrawn after a period of inactivity (for example, 5 minutes) indicating that the user is no longer interested in going through program announcements. The visual presentation for quick review (which can appear automatically whenever the user changes channels with the keys to change channels) can be removed after a shorter period of time (for example, 5 seconds). The programming guide can remove from the screen visual presentations of program announcements, such as visual presentations for search and for quick review, using special effects. One such special effect (a vertical slip) is illustrated in Figure 10. On the upper screen 116 of Figure 10 a full-size display 114 is shown superimposed, for search or for quick review. After an appropriate period of time (for example, after 5 minutes if the visual presentation 114 is a visual presentation for search, or after 5 seconds if the visual presentation 114 is a visual presentation for quick review), the programming guide it smoothly slides the visual display 114 outwardly from the screen 116, as shown in the central and lower screens 116 of Figure 10. The sliding effect shown in Figure 10 is only an illustrative special effect that can be used. to remove ads from programs on the screen. Any suitable special effect can be used to remove such visual presentations. Examples of suitable special effects include slides, image fades, contractions, bounces, image separations, etc. Figure 11 shows the intervening steps in the use of such special effects to remove from the screen a visual presentation of a program advertisement. In step 118, the programming guide provides the user with an opportunity to select a desired special effect for the programming guide to use to remove program announcements. The user can make this selection from a suitable configuration menu in the programming guide. The user is also given an opportunity to unselect or otherwise cancel the use of these special effects. In step 120, the programming guide provides a visual display of a program advertisement, such as a visual presentation for quick review or for searching, on a screen (eg, the user's television screen) on the television equipment 44 of the user. After an appropriate period of time (for example, after 5 minutes if the display 114 is a display for search, or after 5 seconds if the display 114 is a presentation for quick review), the programming guide removes the the screen the visual display of the program advertisement (for example, the visual presentation for quick review or for search), using a special effect, in step 122. The programming guide can use a special effect predetermined in step 122 or it can use a special effect selected by the user in step 118. Figure 12 shows another display layout for search or for quick review, containing advertising. The screen 124 contains a video window 126 of reduced size, which contains video for the channel that the user is tuning in (that is, the box that is placed on the television, 48). Screen 124 also contains advertisements 128a, 128b, and 128c. On the screen 124 may also be contained the logos 130 and a region 132 containing the current time and the channel in use. Program advertisement 134 may be provided on screen 124, adjacent to the small-size video window, 126. The program advertisement 134 may contain channel information 136, title information 138, and icons 140 (for example, to display rating information, exclusive subtitle status, etc.). Similar to the display regions of program listings for search and quick review that are shown in Figures 6-9, the display region 142 of program advertisements contains a single program advertisement (for the program? ER "in the example of Figure 12) and may contain one or more advertisements, if desired, however, because the video window 126 is small (ie, it occupies less than one full screen) , it is not necessary to superimpose the display region of program announcements, 142, above the channel in use at that time.The display region of program announcements, 142, may operate either in the search mode or in the search mode. Quick review mode The user can use the search mode by activating a directional key or other suitable key The subsequent use of the directional key in the search mode tells the programming guide to change the program nuncio 134 to a new channel, without changing the channel of the video window 126. If desired, the left and right arrow keys can be used to search for program announcements for different schedules. Activating the "OK" key 64 indicates to the programming guide that the channel of the video window 124 is tuned to the channel of the program advertisement being viewed. The user can use the quick review mode by activating a key to scroll up and down the channels, or another suitable key. The subsequent use of the key to scroll up and down through the channels in the quick review mode, instructs the programming guide to simultaneously change the channel of both the video window 126 and the program advertisement 134. If If desired, advertisement 128c may be omitted to provide more space for advertisement 134 and video window 126. The user may navigate to group advertisements, such as advertisements 128a and 128b, using special buttons of the remote control ( for example, specific or numeric), or by using the left and right directional keys (in which case, the left and right directional keys are not used to search for program announcements at different times). As shown in Figure 13, advertisements, such as notices appearing in the program ad display regions, shown in Figures 6-9 and 12, may contain video, text and graphics. If desired, more than one advertisement may be displayed in each visual presentation of program announcements.

Advertisements such as those shown in Figures 6-9 and 12 may be selectable. The user can navigate to a selectable advertisement, such as using special navigation keys of the remote control. Once the user has navigated to a given advertisement, the user can select that warning using an "OK" key. If desired, any other suitable technique may be used to select an advertisement. The steps involved in the use of selectable advertisements are shown in Figure 14. In step 144, the programming guide provides a selectable advertisement in a visual presentation for quick review or search. In step 146, the user selects the warning. In step 148, the programming guide executes an appropriate action. If the advertisement is for a television program that is being broadcast on the air at that time, the programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to tune into that program. If the advertisement is for a future television program, the programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to set a reminder for that program. If desired, the programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to record the program. Pay programs or video-on-demand (VOD) programs can be ordered. When an advertisement is for a particular television channel, by selecting the notice, the programming guide may be instructed to provide the user with a list of programs for that channel. By selecting certain notices, additional information may be requested (for example, about a program, product or service). In step 148 requests for brochures and bibliographic material and other requests for additional information may be handled, if the user selects an advertisement that has to do with such a request. Selectable advertisements promoting goods and services can also be provided. If the user selects such advertisement in step 146, the programming guide system can process an order referring to the goods and services that are being advertised, in step 148. The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention, and various modifications may be introduced by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (60)

1. CLAIMS A system (30) in which an interactive television programming guide is implemented in the user's television equipment (44), characterized by comprising: a means (48, 52) for supplying a programming guide screen (78) , with the interactive television programming guide, which contains video (124) for a given channel; and a means (48, 52) for providing a program display display region (78), which contains a program advertisement (84) for a single channel and an advertisement (82).
2. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the means for supplying the advertisement (82) further comprises means (36, 48) for providing an advertisement containing text.
3. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the means for providing the advertisement (82) further comprises means (36, 48) for providing an advertisement containing a graphic.
4. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the means for providing the advertisement (82) further comprises (36, 48) a means for providing an advertisement containing video.
5. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising a box (48) that is placed on the television, in which the interactive television programming guide is implemented.
6. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, wherein the advertisement (82) contains video, the system (30) further comprising: a television distribution facility (38) for distributing television programming to the user's television equipment (44); and a video server (42) placed in the television distribution facility (38), for delivering the advertisement (82) to the user's television equipment (44).
7. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, wherein the advertisement (82) contains video, characterized by further comprising: a television distribution facility (38) for distributing television programming to the user's television equipment (44); a plurality of network nodes (58) for use in providing television programming to the user's television equipment (44); and at least one video server (56) placed in one of the network nodes (58), to supply the advertisement (82) containing video to the user's television set (44).
8. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the means for providing the advertisement (82) further comprises means (36, 48) for providing a selectable advertisement (112).
9. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising a means for cyclizing the content of the advertisement.
10. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising: means for cyclizing the content of the advertisement; and a means to provide a gradual disappearance of the image between advertisements, as they are cycled.
11. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the display region of program advertisements (70) is a visual presentation for search, the system (30) further comprising a means for providing the visual presentation for search (70) in the programming guide screen (68).
12. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the display region of program advertisements (70) is a visual display for searching, the system further comprising a means for providing the display for search (70) in the programming guide screen (68), superimposed on the video corresponding to the given channel.
13. The defined system (30) in Claim 1, characterized in that the program display display region (104) containing the program advertisement (110) and the advertisement (112) is a visual presentation for search that contains the program announcement (110) and the advertisement (112), the system (30) further comprising: a means for superimposing the visual presentation for search (104) on the video corresponding to the given channel; and a means for providing a highlight (108); and means for navigating the highlight (108) from the program announcement (110) to the advertisement (112).
14. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the display region of program advertisements (104) containing the program advertisement (110) and the advertisement (112) is a visual presentation for search that contains the program announcement (110) and the advertisement (112), the system (30) further comprising: a means for superimposing the visual presentation for search (104) on the video corresponding to the given channel; and a means for providing a highlight (108); means for navigating the highlight (108) from the program advertisement (110) to the advertisement (112); and a means for changing the program advertisement (110) that appears in the visual presentation for search (108), when the highlighting is on the advertisement (112).
15. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the program display display region (96) is a visual display for quick review, the system (30) further comprising a means for providing the display (96) for quick review on the programming guide screen, (100) superimposed on the video corresponding to the given channel.
16. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for supplying the video (100) contained in the programming guide screen, in a small video window (126).
17. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, further comprising means for supplying the video (126) contained in the programming guide screen (124), in a video window of reduced size, characterized in that the region of presentation Visual ad program is a visual presentation for search.
18. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for supplying the video (126) contained in the programming guide screen (124), in a video window of reduced size, where the region of presentation Visual ad program is a visual presentation for quick review.
19. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising a means for removing the display region of program advertisements (114), using sliding, dissolving, collapsing, jumping or bursting effects of the image.
20. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for removing the visual display region of program advertisements, using a gradual enlargement of the image.
21. The system '(30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for supplying to the display region of program advertisements (142) more than one advertisement.
22. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for providing a program advertisement (92), in the program display visual display region (88), which is for a channel different from the given channel .
23. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the advertisement (112) is a selectable advertisement promoting a program, the system (30) further comprising a means to record the program when the advertisement is selected (112). ). .
24. The system (30) defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the advertisement (112) is a selectable advertisement referred to a product, the system (30) further comprising a means to request the product when the advertisement is selected (112). ).
25. A method for using a television programming guide implemented in the user's television equipment (44), characterized by understanding the steps of: providing a programming guide screen (78) with the interactive television programming guide, which contains video ( 124) for a given channel; and providing a region for displaying program advertisements, on the programming guide screen (78), which contains a program advertisement (84) for a single channel and an advertisement (82).
26. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized in that the step of providing the advertisement (82) further comprises the step of providing an advertisement containing text.
27. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized in that the step of providing the advertisement (82) further comprises the step of supplying an advertisement containing a graphic.
28. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized in that the step of providing the advertisement (82) further comprises the step of providing an advertisement containing video.
29. 29. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized in that the step of implementing the television programming guide in a box (48) that is placed on the television.
30. The method defined in Claim 25, wherein the advertisement (82) contains video, characterized by further comprising the steps of: distributing television programming to the user's television equipment (44) with a television distribution facility (38); and providing the advertisement containing video to the user's television equipment (44), using a video sr (42) placed in the television distribution facility (38).
31. The method defined in Claim 25, wherein the advertisement (82) contains video, characterized by further comprising the steps of: distributing television programming to the user's television equipment (44) with a television distribution facility (38); providing television programming to the user's television equipment (44), using a plurality of network nodes (58); and providing the advertisement containing video to the user's television equipment (44), using a video sr (56) placed in one of the network nodes (58).
32. 32. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized in that the step of providing the advertisement (82) further comprises the step of providing a selectable advertisement (112).
33. 33. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized by further comprising the step of cycling the content of the advertisement.
34. 34. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized by further comprising the steps of: cycling the content of the advertisement; and provide a gradual disappearance of the image between advertisements, as they are cycled.
35. 35. The method defined in Claim 25, wherein the display region of program announcements (70) is a visual presentation for search, characterized by comprising the step of supplying the visual presentation for search (70) in the programming guide screen (68).
36. 36. The method defined in Claim 25, wherein the display region of program advertisements (70) is a visual presentation for search, characterized by further comprising the step of supplying the display for search (70) on the screen of programming guide (68), superimposed on the video corresponding to the given channel.
37. The method defined in Claim 25, wherein the display region of program announcements (104) which contains the program advertisement (110) and the advertisement (112) is a visual presentation for search that contains the program announcement (110) and the advertisement (112), characterized by also understanding the steps of: superimposing the visual presentation for search (104) on the video corresponding to the given channel; and providing a highlight (108); and providing a user with an opportunity to navigate the highlight (108) from the program announcement (110) to the advertisement (112).
38. The method defined in Claim 1, wherein the program display display region (104) containing the program advertisement (110) and the advertisement (112) is a visual presentation for search that contains the program announcement ( 110) and the advertisement (112), characterized by further comprising the steps of: superimposing the visual presentation for search (104.) on the video corresponding to the given channel; and providing a highlight (108); providing a user with an opportunity to navigate the highlight (108) from the program advertisement (110) to the advertisement (112); and providing a user with an opportunity to change the program advertisement (110) that appears in the visual presentation for search (108), when the highlighting is on the advertisement (112).
39. The method defined in Claim 25, wherein the display region of program announcements (96) is a visual presentation for quick review, characterized by also understanding the step of supplying the visual presentation for quick review (96) on the programming guide screen (100), superimposed on the video corresponding to the given channel.
40. The method defined in Claim 25 characterized by further comprising the step of supplying the video contained in the programming guide screen (100), in a small video window (126).
41. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized by further comprising the step of supplying the video contained in the programming guide screen (124), in a video window of reduced size, where the region of visual presentation of program announcements is a visual presentation for search.
42. The method in Claim 25, characterized by further comprising the step of supplying the video content on the programming guide screen (124), in a video window of reduced size, where the display region of program announcements It is a visual presentation for quick review.
43. 43. The method defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising the step of removing the display region of program advertisements (114), using slide, dissolve, collapse, skip, or image exploit effects.
44. 44. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized by further comprising the step of removing the visual display region from program advertisements, using a gradual enlargement of the image.
45. 45. The method defined in Claim 25, characterized by further comprising the step of supplying the display region of program advertisements (142) with more than one advertisement.
46. 46. The method defined in Claim 1, characterized by further comprising the step of providing a program advertisement (92), in the program display display region (88), which is for a channel different from the given channel.
47. 47. The method defined in Claim 25, wherein the advertisement (112) is a selectable advertisement promoting a program, characterized by further comprising the step of recording the program when the advertisement (112) is selected.
48. 48. The method defined in Claim 25, wherein the advertisement (112) is a selectable advertisement referred to a product, characterized by further comprising the step of requesting the product when the advertisement (112) is selected.
49. 49. A system in which an interactive television programming guide is implemented in the user's television equipment, characterized by comprising: a means for providing a programming guide screen containing a region of visual display of program advertisements; and a means to remove the visual presentation region of program announcements, using a special effect.
50. 50. The system defined in Claim 49, characterized in that the means for removing the display region of program advertisements comprises a means for removing the display region of program advertisements using a gradual image enlargement.
51. 51. The system defined in Claim 49, characterized by further comprising a means for providing the user with an opportunity to select a desired special effect, for use in the removal of program announcements from the visual presentation region.
52. 52. A method for using an interactive television programming guide implemented on the user's television equipment, characterized by comprising the steps of: supplying a programming guide screen containing a region of visual display of program advertisements; and remove the visual presentation region of program announcements, using a special effect.
53. 53. The method defined in Claim 52, characterized in that the step of removing the display region from program advertisements comprises the step of removing the display region of program advertisements using a gradual image enlargement.
54. The method defined in Claim 52, characterized by further comprising the step of providing the user with an opportunity to select a desired special effect, for use in the removal of program announcements from the visual presentation region.
55. A system in which an interactive television programming guide is implemented in the user's television equipment, characterized by understanding: a means to supply a programming guide screen, with the interactive television programming guide, which contains a video window of reduced size for a given channel; and a means for providing a region for displaying program advertisements, on the programming guide screen, containing a program advertisement for a single channel.
56. The system defined in Claim 55, characterized in that the means for supplying the display region of program advertisements further comprises a means for providing a visual presentation for searching.
57. The system defined in Claim 55, characterized in that the means for supplying the display region of program advertisements further comprises a means for providing a visual presentation for quick review. 8.
58. A method for using an interactive television programming guide implemented in the user's television equipment, characterized by understanding the steps of: providing a programming guide screen, with the interactive television programming guide, which contains a video window of reduced size for a given channel; and providing a display region for program announcements, on the programming guide screen, which contains a program advertisement for a single channel.
59. 59. The method defined in Claim 58, characterized in that the step of supplying the program display display region further comprises the step of providing a visual presentation for search.
60. 60. The method defined in Claim 58, characterized in that the step of supplying the display region of program advertisements further comprises the step of providing a visual presentation for quick review. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An interactive television programming guide is provided, in which advertisements may be displayed in regions of visual presentation of program announcements, in programming guide screens. The display regions of program announcements can be visual presentations for search or for quick review. The programming guide screens contain video for the channel in use that is currently being tuned by the user. The ad display regions of programs containing the advertisements may be superimposed on top of the channel that is being viewed. As an alternative, the video for the channel that is in use can be supplied in a small video window. The advertisements may contain video. Advertisements can be used to promote television programs and conventional goods and services. The advertisements can be selectable. When a user selects an advertisement, the programming guide provides the user with an opportunity to request products or services, request information, set reminders for upcoming programs, view program descriptions, record programs, or execute other actions of this type.