MXPA01000590A - Interactive television program guide with remote access - Google Patents

Abstract

An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions.

Description

INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAMMING GUIDE WITH REMOTE ACCESS BACKGROUND DK THE INVENTION This invention relates to video systems comprising an interactive television programming guide, and more particularly to interactive television programming guidance systems that provide remote access to the functionality of the programming guide. Cable, satellite and television broadcasting systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Traditionally, users have consulted printed television programming guides to determine the programs that are being broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactive electronic television programming guides have been developed that allow the information of television programs to be displayed on a user's television. Interactive television programming guides allow the user to navigate through advertisements of television programs using a remote control. In a typical programming guide, various program ad groups are displayed in predefined or user-defined categories. Ads are typically displayed in a grid or table. The interactive television programming guides are typically implemented in boxes that are placed on the television (set-top boxes), in the homes of the users. A typical box that is placed on the television is connected to the user's television and a VCR. Accordingly, the programming guide system is not portable. As a result, the user can not use the programming guide to adjust settings for program reminders, to select programs to record, to purchase pay-per-view programs, or to execute other functions of the programming guide, if the user is not physically located in the same room in the house. Online programming guides allow users to view program announcements using a web browser. However, the online programming guides that are available on the Internet do not provide the versatility of internal programming guides (at home). For example, online programming guides do not allow the user to set internal programming reminders, adjust settings for parental control, or select programs to record on the user's VCR. Online programming guides have also been implemented that allow users to request pay-per-view programs. Such systems allow users to request programs through a web server, contrary to doing it by telephone or using the request by pulses. A third party takes the orders via Internet, bills the user and supplies the order information to the terminal. The terminal authorizes the box that is placed on the user's television to see the requested program, using conventional systems of signal denial or signal coding, without coordinating the order of the paid program with an internal guide (of the house). The request for pay-per-event programs made in this way (that is, without coordinating the order with an internal guide), does not provide users with many of the benefits of ordering pay-per-view programs through an internal guide ( at home), such as reminders of upcoming programs or reminders of missed programs. Nor does it prevent users from trying to request a paid program with a guide, after the program has been requested. Programming guides that work on personal computers are also available. Such programming guides are useful for users who want to see program announcement information, but can not quickly access their programming guide based on the box that is placed on the television. For example, another member of the user's family group may be watching television and then dominating the use of the box that is placed on the television and also of the television. Since there is no way for the user of such a personal computer programming guide to coordinate the operation of the programming guide on the personal computer with the operation of the programming guide of the box that is placed on the television, the user of a personal computer programming guide can not use it to set internal programming reminders (at home), to adjust settings for parental control, to select programs to record on the user's VCR, or to buy pay-per-view programs. In the PCT application publication No. WO 98/16062, published on April 16, 1998, a system is described in which the remote control with display provides an electronic programming guide. PCT Application Publication No. WO 98/17064 describes a system that provides Internet information by coding a uniform resource locator (URL) in a television signal. PCT Application Publication No. WO 97/50251 describes a programming guide system that provides contextual suggestions.

P1209 The currently existing programming guide systems therefore require that the user be physically present at home to access the important functions of the programming guide, such as program reminders, parental control, and program recording. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television programming guidance system in which the user can have remote access to the programming guide. Such a system can allow the user to access important functions of the internal programming guide, from a remote location, and establish programming guide settings for those functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This and other objects of the present invention are achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention, by providing an interactive television programming guide system with remote access. A guide of local interactive television programming is implemented in a team for interactive television programming guide. The interactive television program guide device is connected to one or more remote access devices to the programming guide, by a link of P1209 remote access. A remote access interactive television programming guide is implemented in the remote access device to the programming guide. The remote programming guide and the remote access devices to the programming guide provide users with the opportunity to remotely access the functions of the interactive television programming guide on the computer for interactive television programming guide, and to establish distance configurations of the programming guide. Any suitable function or configuration of the interactive television programming guide can be accessed. The remote access programming guide can, for example, provide the user with an opportunity to remotely program a reminder for a program, view television program announcements remotely, select remote recording programming (storage), remotely play a stored program or a program issued at the time, on the remote access device to the programming guide, set favorites remotely and also remote browse through them (eg favorite channels, program categories, services, etc. .), and establish remote settings for parental control.

P1209 The remote access device to the programming guide can also provide the user with an opportunity to remotely execute additional functions such as sending and passing or displaying messages with the interactive television programming guide, to interrogate the interactive programming guide to obtain state information, and store data from the interactive television programming guide on the remote access device to the programming guide. Providing remote access to these and other functions can allow users to control activity related to television in ways and situations in which users could not previously do so. For example, a person trapped in car traffic can access the programming guide using appropriate voice commands to access program announcements that the user anticipates will not arrive at home in time to see. The ads can be displayed on a screen, or repeated to the user in the form of synthesized voice announcements. The user may select any such program to record on his VCR or other storage device in the home, or on a server in a television distribution facility or other distribution facility. The systems in which users store programs in P1209 a remote server are described, for example, in Ellis et al, U.S. patent application. Serial No. 09 / 332,244, filed June 11, 1999, publication of PCT patent application No. WO 00/04706, published January 27, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A parent can, for example, access the programming guide at work to see if a child is watching television. If the child should not be watching television, the parent can have the programming guide display a message to the child (eg, "Go do your homework!"), And then prevent the child from watching television through a function for parental control. On the other hand, if the action of watching television is avoided by default (for example, until the parent arrives home), then the parent can access the programming guide at a distance to allow a child to watch television. A person who is at work may receive, for example, a call from a wife or another member of the family who is at home, who explains to the person at work that the person in the house is not at home. You can operate the home television set as desired (for example, "I can not program the VCR!"). the person who is at work can access the programming guide at a distance, interrogate to obtain status information, and execute the desired function. If desired, applications that are not from the programming guide can be implemented in the user's television equipment. Such applications that are not part of the programming guide may include, for example, a web browser application, a telesales application, a game application, an email application, a conversation application, an application for banking operations, etc. . These applications can be implemented in a box that is placed on the television, inside the user's television equipment. The user can adjust the settings of such an application that is not from the programming guide, using a remote access device. 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 schematic block diagram of an illustrative system, in accordance with the present invention. Figures 2a-2d show illustrative arrangements of the equipment for interactive television programming guide and the. remote access device to the programming guide of Figure 1, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the television equipment of the user of Figure 2, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 4 is a generalized schematic block diagram of parts of the illustrative television equipment of Figure 3, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative device for remote access to the programming guide, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figures 6a, 6b and 6c are schematic block diagrams of illustrative arrangements for supporting communications between a remote access device to the programming guide and the equipment for interactive television programming guidance, by an Internet link, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figures 7 and 8 are illustrative screens of visual presentation of the remote access device to the programming guide, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 9 is an illustrative program reminder for display by the interactive television programming guide equipment or a remote access device to the programming guide, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 10 is an illustrative bookmark screen for display by a remote access device to the programming guide, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 11 is an illustrative visual display of status, for display by a remote access device to the programming guide, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figures 12-23 are flow charts illustrative of the steps involved in providing remote access to the interactive television programming guide functions, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 24 is an illustrative web browser screen, for display by a remote access device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 25 is an illustrative screen for entering purchasing data, for display by a remote access device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 26 is an illustrative screen for inputting data from a stock quote indicator, for display by a remote access device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An illustrative system 10 is shown in Figure 1 according to the present invention. The main installation 12 supplies data from the programming guide from the data source of the programming guide, 14, to the equipment of the interactive television programming guide, 17, through the communication link 18. Preferably, there are numerous units or installations of the equipment of the guide of interactive televising programming, 17, although in the Figure 1 a single one is shown to avoid complicating too much the drawing. The link 18 may be a satellite link, a link by telephone network, a cable or fiber optic link, a microwave link, a combination of such links, an Internet link, or any other suitable means of communication.

P1209 The data of the programming guide transmitted by the main installation 12 to the equipment of the interactive television program guide, 17, may include television program announcement data (for example, schedules, channels, titles and descriptions of the programs) and other information of the programming guide referred to additional services that are not the announcements of television programs (for example, information of programs of payment by event, information of the time, links to the associated Internet network, computer programs, etc.). The interactive television programming guide equipment, 17, may be connected to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, through the remote access link 19. The equipment for interactive television programming guide may have more than one device remote access to the programming guide, 24, associated therewith, although in Figure 1 only one of such devices is shown to avoid complicating the drawing too much. In the team for interactive television programming guide, 17, an interactive television programming guide is implemented. Figures 2a-2d show four illustrative arrangements of the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17. As shown in Figures 2a-2d, the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, may include the television distribution equipment. the programming guide, 21, located in the television distribution facility 16, and the user's television equipment 22. The television distribution facility 16 can be any suitable distribution facility (e.g., a cable system terminal , a broadcast distribution facility, a satellite television distribution facility, or any other suitable type of television distribution facility). The television distribution facility 16 can distribute data from the programming guide that it received from the main installation 12, to multiple users, through the communication channel 20. The distribution equipment of the programming guide, 21, can be any equipment suitable for supplying data from the programming guide to the user's television equipment 22. The programming guide distribution equipment, 21, may include, for example, computer equipment suitable for transmission, for distributing guide data of programming in the sideband of a television channel, in the vertical suppression interval of a television channel, using a digital channel in band, using a digital signal out of band, or by means of any other suitable technique of P1209 data transmission. Video signals (eg, television programming) can also be supplied to the user's television equipment 22, by the programming guide distribution equipment 21, via the communication channels 20, on multiple television channels. Figures 2a and 2b show illustrative arrangements of the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, and of the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, in systems in which data of the programming guide are supplied to the television equipment from user 22, using a method not based on a client-server arrangement. For example, the data of the programming guide can be supplied by the television distribution facility 16 to the user's television equipment 22 in a continuous stream, or they can be transmitted in a suitable time interval (eg, once per hour) . If transmitted continuously, it may not be necessary to store data locally on the user's television equipment 22. Rather, the user's television equipment 22 may extract data on the fly "as needed." If desired, the distribution facility 16 can periodically interrogate the user's television equipment 22 to request certain information (e.g.

P1209 information on the account of pay-per-view programs or information regarding programs that have been purchased and viewed using locally generated authoritative techniques). In the system configuration that you see in the Figure 2a, the remote access device to the programming guide 24 is connected to the user's television equipment 22. The television distribution facility 16 can distribute data from the programming guide to the user's television set 22. The equipment of user television 22 can transfer the data from the programming guide to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The user's television equipment 22 can also transfer additional data that may be necessary to allow the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, access various functions of the interactive programming guide (for example, reminder information, settings for parental control, favorite channel settings, user profiles, etc.). Any suitable distribution scheme can be used. For example, the user's television equipment 22 may supply the data to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, continuously or periodically, using a method based on a client-server arrangement, P1209 using an interrogation scheme, or using any other suitable method. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can store the data if it is suitable for a particular transmission scheme. In the configuration of the system presented in Figure 2b, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, is connected to the television distribution installation 16 through the communication device 27. In this method, the installation 16 can distribute data from the programming guide directly to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The television distribution facility 16 can also distribute additional data, from the user's television equipment 22, which may be necessary to allow the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, to access various functions of the interactive programming guide (e.g., reminder information, parental control settings, favorite channel settings, profiles of the user, etc.). The television distribution facility 16 can supply the data to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, continuously, periodically, using a method based on an arrangement P1209 client-server, using an interrogation scheme, or using any other suitable method. The remote access device to the programming guide can store the data, if they are suitable for a particular transmission scheme. Figures 2c and 2d show illustrative arrangements of the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, and the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, in interactive programming guidance systems based on a client-server arrangement. As shown in Figures 2c and 2d, the programming guide distribution equipment, 21, may include the programming guide server, 25. The programming guide server, 25, may be any logical component, computer equipment. , or combination thereof, to provide a programming guide based on a client-server arrangement. The programming guide server, 25, may, for example, generate display screens of the programming guide in the form of digital pictures, and may distribute the pictures to the user's television equipment 22 for display by a customer of Interactive programming guide, implemented in the user's television equipment 22. In another suitable method, the programming guide server, 25, can operate a device P1209 suitable database, such as a SQL server, and supply data of the programming guide in response to the questions generated by the user's television equipment 22. If desired, the programming guide server 25 may be located in the main installation 12 or in some other suitable installation to supply data of the programming guide through a programming guide server (not shown). The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can, for example, communicate with the user's television equipment 22 via the remote access link 19, as shown in Figure 2c. Orders, orders or other appropriate communications can be supplied by the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, to the user's television equipment 22, and then transmitted by the user's television equipment 22 to the programming guide server 25. The data of the programming guide or the display screens provided by the programming guide server 25 can be transmitted by the user's television equipment 22 to the remote access device of the programming guide, 24. As an alternative , the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can communicate, for example, with the programming guide server 25 by the remote access link 19 through the communication device 27, as shown in Figure 2d . Appropriate orders or orders, or other appropriate communications, can be transmitted by the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, for processing by the programming guide server 25. If any changes are made to the guide settings of programming (for example, a change of the settings for parental control), the programming guide server may, for example, update a local programming guide client operating on the user's television equipment 22, with the needed information. In the arrangements illustrated in Figures 2b and 2d, the television distribution facility 16 may have the communication device 27 for communicating with the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, by the remote access link 19. The communication device 27 can be, for example, a communication port (for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a universal serial bus port (USB), etc.), a modem (e.g. , any suitable analogue or digital modem, cellular modem, or cable modem), a network interface card (eg, an Ethernet card, signal ring card, etc.), a wireless transceiver (eg, a transceiver) P1209 infrared or other suitable transceiver), or other suitable communication device. As shown in Figures 1 and 2a-2d, the interactive television programming guide equipment, 17, communicates with the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, through the remote access link 19. In the In practice, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may be connected to the user's television equipment 22 (as shown in Figures 2a and 2c), to the television distribution facility 16 (as shown in FIG. Figure 2b), connected to both (as indicated in Figure 1), or can communicate with the programming guide server 25 (as shown in Figure 2d) through the remote access link 19. The remote access link 19 can be any wired or wireless communication path or ways by which digital or analog communications can take place between the guidance equipment of interactive television programming, 17, and the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. Each user has a television set 22 to display information about television program advertisements and other information of the programming guide, using a local interactive television programming guide. There are typically multiple units of the user's television equipment 22 and multiple associated communication channels 20, although in FIGS. 2a-2d only one unit of the user's television equipment 22 and the communication channel 20 are shown, to avoid complicating too much. the drawing. The television distribution facility 16 can distribute television programming to the user's television equipment 22, via the communication channel 20. If desired, the television programming can be provided by separate communication channels (which are not shown). For greater clarity, the present invention is illustrated, unless otherwise indicated, in relation to a system arrangement in which the data of the programming guide is distributed from a main installation to an interactive television programming guide implemented in the equipment of user's television, through a television distribution facility. Other suitable systems include arrangements in which the data is distributed to a programming guide on the user's television equipment, using other suitable distribution schemes, such as schemes involving the transmission of data over the Internet or the like. If desired, the interactive television programming guide application can be implemented using a client-server architecture P1209 in which the main processing power for the application is provided by a server located, for example, in the television distribution facility or the main facility (for example, the programming guide server 25), and the computer The user's television 22 acts as a client processor, as illustrated in Figures 2c and 2d. Online programming guides are described, for example, in Boyer et al, U.S. patent application. Serial No. 08 / 938,028, filed on September 18, 1997, publication of PCT patent application No. WO 98/26584, published on June 18, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. An illustrative layout of the user's television equipment 22 is shown in Figure 3. The user's television equipment 22 of Figure 3 receives video and data from the television distribution facility 16 (Figure 1) at the 26th entrance. one looks or television normally, the user tunes the box that is placed on the television, 28, in a desired television channel. The signal from that television channel is then supplied to the video output 30. The signal supplied at the output 30 is typically a radio frequency signal (RF) on a predefined channel (for example, channel 3 or 4), or an analogue demodulated video signal, but can be P1209 also a digital signal supplied to the television 36 in an appropriate digital "bus" (for example, a bus using the 1394 norm of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) -which is not shown-). The video signal at the output 30 is received by the optional secondary storage device 32. The secondary storage device 32 can be any other suitable type of storage device or program player, analogue or digital (for example, a video recorder, a digital video disc player (DVD), a hard disk-based storage device, etc.). The recording of programs and other functions can be controlled by the box 28 using the control channel 34. If the secondary storage device is a video recorder, for example, a typical control path 34 involves the use of an infrared transmitter coupled to the receiver infrared in the video recorder that normally accepts commands from a remote control such as the remote control 40. The remote control 40 can be used to control the box that is placed on the television, 28, the secondary storage device 32, and the television 36 The interactive TV programming guide can work in the box that is placed on the TV, P1209 28, on the television 36 (if the television 36 has a suitable processing and memory circuit), on the secondary storage device 32 or on the optional digital storage device 31 (if they have a suitable processing and memory circuit), or in an appropriate analog or digital receiver connected to the television 36. The interactive television programming guide can also work cooperatively both on the television 36 and on the box that is placed on the television, 28. The interactive television application systems in the which an interactive cooperative television programming guide application works on multiple devices are described, for example, in Ellis, US patent application Serial No. 09 / 186,598, filed on November 5, 1998, publication of PCT Application No. WO / 05885, published on February 3, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. If desired, the user can record programs and program data in digital form, in the optional digital storage device 31. The digital storage device 31 can be an optical storage device in which it can be written (such as a DVD player capable of handling DVD discs that can be burned), a storage device P1209 magnetic (such as a digital disk drive or tape), or any other digital storage device. Interactive television programming guidance systems having digital storage devices are described, for example, in Hassell et al, U.S. patent application. serial number 09 / 157,256, filed September 17, 1998, PCT application publication No. WO 00/16548, published March 23, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The digital storage device 31 may be contained in the box that is placed on the television, 28, through an output port and an appropriate interface. If necessary, the processing circuit in the ^ 28 box formats the received video, audio and data signals in a digital file. Preferably, the file format is an open file format such as the MPEG-2 standard of the Group of Experts in Moving Images (MPEG). The resulting data is sent to the digital storage device 31 via an appropriate bus (for example, a bus using the 1394 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)), and stored in the digital storage device 31 The digital storage device 31 and the secondary storage device 32 can be integrated into a P1209 box that is placed on the sophisticated television, if desired. The television 36 receives video signals from the secondary storage device 32 via the communication path 38. The video signals on the communication path 38 can be generated either by the secondary storage device 32 when a medium is reproduced. of pre-recorded storage (for example a video cassette or a digital video disc in which it can be recorded), by the digital storage device 31 when a pre-recorded digital video is played, can be passed from the box that is placed on the television, 28 , can be supplied directly to the television 36 through the box 28 if the secondary storage device 32 is not included in the user's television equipment 22, or can be received directly by the television 36. While watching television normally, the video signals supplied to the television 36 correspond to the desired channel that the user has tuned to the box 28. video signals can also be supplied to the television 36 through the box 28 when said box 28 is used to reproduce the information stored in the digital storage device 31. The box that is placed on the television, 28, P1209 may have a communication device 38 for communicating with the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, by the remote access link 19. The communication device 37 may be, for example, a communication port (e.g. , a serial port, a parallel port, a universal serial bus (USB) port, etc.), a modem (for example, any suitable analog or digital modem, cellular modem, or cable modem), an interface card for network (eg, an Ethernet card, signal ring card, etc.), a wireless transceiver (eg, an infrared transceiver or other suitable transceiver), or other suitable communication device. The television 36 may also have a suitable communication device such, connected to the remote access link 19, if desired. If desired, there may be multiple installations of the user's television equipment 22 • within the home, connected through an internal network of the home. This can provide the coordination of the functionality of multiple guides within the house. The systems in which the functionality of multiple guides is coordinated are described, for example, in the US patent application, concurrently filed, Ellis et al, Serial No. 09 / 356,161, filed July 16, 1999, publication of PCT Application No. WO 00/04707, published on 27 P1209 January 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In such systems, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can be connected by means of the remote access link 19 to one of the guides, and can provide users with the ability to remotely coordinate the functions of all the guides. In Figure 4 a more generalized embodiment of the user's television equipment 22 of Figure 3 is shown. As shown in Figure 4, the data of the programming guide from the television distribution facility 16 (Figures 2a- 2d) are received by the control circuit 42 of the user's television set 22. The control circuit 42 can also send data and orders or orders, back to the television distribution facility 16. The functions of the control circuit 42 they can be supplied using the box arrangement that is placed on the television of Figures 2a and 2b. As an alternative, these functions can be integrated into an advanced television receiver, a television with a personal computer (PC / TV), or any other suitable arrangement. If desired, a combination of such provisions may be used. The user controls the operation of the user's television equipment 22 with the user interface 46. The interface 46 can be a pointing device, a P1209 wireless remote control, a keyboard, a touch pad, a voice recognition system, or any other device suitable for data entry by the user. To watch television, the user instructs the control circuit 42 to display a desired television channel on the display device 45. The display device 45 may be a television, monitor, or other suitable display device. To access the functions of the programming guide, the user instructs the programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide system, 17, so that it generates a main menu or another desired visual presentation screen of the programming guide. , for display on the display device 45. The user's television equipment 22 of Figure 4 may also have the communication device 51 to support communications between the user's television equipment 22 and the remote access device at the programming guide, 24, by the remote access link 19. The communication device 51 can be a communication port (e.g., a serial port, a parallel port, a universal serial bus port) (USB), etc.), a modem (for example, any suitable analogue or digital standard modem, cellular modem, or P1209 cable modem), a network interface card (for example, an Ethernet card, a signal ring card, etc.), a wireless transceiver (for example, an infrared transceiver, radio transceiver, or other suitable analog or digital transceiver) , or another suitable communication device. The user television equipment 22 may also have a secondary storage device 47, a digital storage device 49, or any suitable combination thereof, for recording programming. The secondary storage device 47 can be any suitable type of digital program storage device (e.g., a VCR, a digital video disc (DVD), etc.). The recording of programs and other functions can be controlled by the control circuit 42. The digital storage device 49 can be, for example, an optical storage device in which it can be written (such as a DVD player capable of handling DVD discs that can be burned), a magnetic storage device (such as a digital disk or tape), or any other digital storage device. In Figure 5 there is shown an illustrative arrangement of the remote access device to the guidance of P1209 programming, 24. As shown in Figure 5, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can be any suitable personal computer (PC), portable computer (for example, a notebook computer), computer pocket, personal computer (H / PC), remote screen, remote touch screen, car PC, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other suitable computer-based device. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may have the user interface 52, the processing circuit 54, the storage 56, and the communication device 58. The user interface 52 may be any suitable device or system of entry or exit, and may include a pointing device, a keyboard, a touch pad, a touch screen, a light pen, a speech recognition system, a mouse, a trackball, a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a processor and speaker for speech synthesis, or any other suitable input and output device. The processing circuit 54 may include any suitable processor, such as an Intel 486 or Pentium® microprocessor. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can also have a storage 56. The storage 56 can be any P1209 suitable memory or other storage device, such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, a hard drive, etc. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may also have a communication device 58. The communication device 58 may be any suitable device for supporting communications between the remote access device to the programming guide, 24 , and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, by link 19, such as a communication port (for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a universal serial bus port (USB), etc. .), a modem (for example, any suitable analogue or digital standard modem or cellular modem), a network interface card (for example, an Ethernet card, a signal ring card, etc.), a wireless transceiver ( for example, an infrared transceiver, radio transceiver, or other suitable analog or digital transceiver), or other suitable communication device. The remote access link 19 (Figure 1) may include any suitable means of transmission. The link 19 may include, for example, a serial or parallel cable, a dial-up telephone line, a computer network or an Internet link (for example, 10Base2, P1209 10Base5, 10BaseT, 100BaseT, 10BaseF, TI, T3, etc.), an internal network link, an infrared link, a radiofrequency link, a satellite link, any other suitable transmission link, or an appropriate combination of such links. Any transmission or access scheme, such as standard communications in series or in parallel, Ethernet, Ring Signals, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Switched Circuit Cell (CSC), Cellular Digital Package Data (CDPD) may be used. ), RAM mobile data, Global System for Communications Mobile (GSM), multiple access by time division (TDMA), multiple access by code division (CDMA), any other suitable transmission or access scheme, or any suitable combination thereof. Preferably, the remote access link 19 is bidirectional. However, if desired, certain limited functions of the programming guide can be accessed using a unidirectional link. An advantage of using a unidirectional scheme for link 19 is that such schemes are generally less complicated and therefore less expensive than bidirectional links. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, can communicate over the remote access link 19 using any protocol P1209 suitable for network and transport layer, if desired. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, can be communicated, for example, by using a protocol stack that includes the layers Interchange of Sequenced Packages / interchange of Interred Packages ( SPX / IPX), Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) layers, Appletalk Transaction Protocol / Datagram Delivery Protocol (ATP / DDP) layers, or any other protocol suitable for network or transport layer, or any combination of protocols. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can communicate with the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, using any suitable scheme. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can be connected, for example, to the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, using a terminal emulation scheme, such as the VT100 terminal emulation, and accessing the interactive television programming guide as if it were a "dumb" terminal. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can operate, for example, a standard remote access client such as a Remote Access Services client of P1209 Windows®, and can connect to a Windows NT® Server process running on the computer for interactive TV programming guide, 17. Any combination of computer equipment and logic components can be used. In addition to using any of the aforementioned protocols, any number of other access, data link, network, routing or other protocols may intervene in the action of supporting communications between the remote access device and the network. programming guide, 24, and the television distribution facility 16 by the remote access link 19 (e.g., X.25 protocols, Frame Delay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Serial Line Interface (SLIP)) , point-to-point protocol (PPP), or any other suitable protocol for access, data link, network, routing, or other protocol). Figures 6a and 6b show illustrative arrangements for supporting communications between the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, by an Internet link. The television distribution facility 16 may include, for example, the Internet service system 61 for providing Internet-based access to the programming guide. He P1209 Internet service system 61 can be any combination of computer equipment and software capable of providing an Internet connection to the programming guide. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can establish an Internet session with the Internet service system, and thus obtain data from the programming guide from the programming guide that works in the equipment for guidance of interactive programming, 17, or to establish configurations of the programming guide with said programming guide that works in the equipment for interactive programming guide, 17 (for example, to set reminders or notifications, to see announcements of programs, to program recordings of programs, establish favorites, establish control functions by parents, send messages, interrogate the team for interactive television programming guide, 17, etc.). If desired, the Internet service system may be located in an installation that is separate from the television distribution facility 16. The programming guide server 25 may, in turn, interact with the user's client device ( for example, the user's television equipment 22). If the programming guide is implemented in the television equipment of the user 22 of the equipment for guidance of P1209 programming, 17, as shown in Figure 6a, the Internet service system 61 (or other suitable equipment in the television distribution facility 16, which is connected to the Internet service system 61) can interact with the equipment television user 22 directly or through the programming guide distribution equipment, 21, when it supports communications between the programming guide and the remote access device to the programming guide. If the programming guide implemented in the computer for interactive television programming guide, 17, is a client-server type guide, as shown in Figure 6b, the Internet service system 61 can interact with the server of guide of programming 25 when it supports communications between the programming guide and the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. Alternatively, the Internet service system 61 and the programming guide server 25 may be the same device or system. In an illustrative configuration of the system, which uses the Internet service system 61, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, is a user's personal computer, at work, the Internet service system 61 is a web server in a cable system terminal, and the television equipment P1209 of the user 22 in the user's house contains a box that is placed on the television, in which the user's programming guide is implemented. Using this provision, the user can access functions of the programming guide such as setting reminders or notifications, viewing program announcements, recording programs, setting favorites, controlling parents, sending messages, questioning for status, or any other proper function. For example, if a child in the user's home wishes permission to watch a program controlled by the parents while the user is at work, the user can access an appropriate web page provided by the Internet service system 61, which allows to the user to enter a password and adjust the settings for control of the programming guide by the parents. The changed settings that allow the child to access the desired program are then automatically transferred from the Internet service system 61 to the user's television equipment 22, while the user is still at work. As another example, the user at work may interact with the programming guide on the user's television equipment 22 through the Internet service system 61, to select programs to record on the user's VCR, or to P1209 program reminders of programs that will appear on the television of the user's house or the remote access device to the programming guide, just before a program is broadcast. Figure 6c shows another illustrative arrangement of the remote access device to the programming guide, using the Internet. In the system arrangement shown in Figure 6c, users do not communicate directly to a local guide via the Internet, as with the arrangement in Figure 6a and 6b. Instead, users can have a personal computer (PC) 231 as their remote access device in which a web browser is implemented to access an online programming guide. Online programming guides are described, for example, in the aforementioned U.S. patent application. Boyer et al, Serial No. 08 / 938,028, filed September 18, 1997, PCT application publication No. WO 98/26584, published June 18, 1998. Personal computer 231 may be connected to the service system Internet 235 through the Internet link 233. The Internet Service System 233 may use any suitable combination of computers and computer programs capable of supplying an online programming guide server application, or P1209 a website. The user can access a personal web page and set various configurations of the programming guide, and access various functions of the programming guide. The user can, for example, establish favorite channels, establish settings for parental control, program programs for playback or recording by the user's television equipment. After the user has established various configurations of the programming guide, or has accessed various functions of the programming guide through a web page, the Internet service system 235 can supply the settings and other information of the guide of programming to the Internet service system 61 for distribution by the programming guide server 25 or the distribution equipment 21 (as shown) to the user's television equipment 22. The local guide updates its settings, records programs, plays programs, or consequently execute any other suitable function. The local guide can also request pay-per-view programs. A remote access interactive television programming guide can be implemented, for example, on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The remote access interactive television programming guide can communicate with the programming guide P1209 interactive television that is implemented in the team for interactive television programming guide, 17, here called "local" interactive television programming guide. The remote access guide and the local guide can be, for example, the same guide, but organized to work on two different platforms and communicate in a way or ways analyzed here. As an alternative, the remote access guide can be a client guide that communicates with the local guide (ie a server guide). In yet another suitable method, the two guides may be different guides that communicate in a manner or manner disclosed and analyzed herein. Generally, although not necessarily (for example, when the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, is a personal computer, as shown in Figure 6c), the interactive remote access television programming guide may have a functionality reduced or limited when compared to the functionality of the local interactive television programming guide. Consequently, the remote access guide may require the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, less processing power and memory than that which the local guide requires of the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17. The information of the programming guide (for P1209 example, reminder information, program announcement information, recording information, message information, status information, parental control settings, audio and video, status or survey information, user information, bookmark settings , or any other information necessary to remotely supply the functionality of the programming guide) can be exchanged, and configurations can be established between the two interactive television programming guides, by the remote access link 19, using one or more communications of access. Access communications may include, for example, orders, orders, messages, remote procedure calls (for example, using a "proxy-stub" pair), or any other suitable client-server or peer-to-peer communication. Access communications may also include, for example, complex communications between applications operating on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17. The objects that work in the two versions of the programming guides, for example, can be communicated using an Object Order Routing Interface -Object Request Broker- (ORB). The P1209 information from the programming guide can, for example, be encapsulated as objects of the Component Object Model (COM) type and continued to files that are transmitted by the remote access link 19. In another method, access communications can include HTML formatted markup language documents (for example, web pages), which are exchanged between the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, through the service system 61. The information of the programming guide can be transferred, and the programming guide settings can be established, between the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide , 17, using any application layer protocol, if desired. If the link 19 is an Internet link, for example, the functionality of the programming guide can be accessed, for example, by using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, for example, transfer the information of the programming guide in the form of files, using the Protocol P1209 File Transfer (FTP) or the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), operating in a TCP / IP protocol stack. Any suitable file transfer protocol can be used, based on any suitable protocol stack. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, can also exchange data from the programming guide and other information, in the form of messages, using any suitable transmission scheme. messages or message transmission application program interface (API). Programming guide data and other information can, for example, be encapsulated in e-mail messages and transferred using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), message transmission API (MAPI), or other transmission protocol of messages or appropriate API. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive programming guide device 17 can exchange access communications to provide the user with access to the functionality of the programming guide, as if the programming guide was working locally in the P1209 remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The remote access device a. the programming guide, 24, can provide a user with access to any number of functions of the programming guide, such as accessing programming information, scheduling reminders for programs, establishing and navigating favorite channels, establishing settings for controlling parents, schedule programming recordings, or any other function of the programming guide to the extent allowed by the resources of the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. If desired, the remote access device to the guide programming, 24, may allow the user to perform other functions of the programming guide, such as determining the state of the user's television equipment 22, sending messages to the user's television equipment 22, interacting with peripherals connected to the user's television equipment , and other suitable functions. When the user wishes to access the functions of the programming guide through the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, the user can issue an appropriate command using the user interface 52 (Figure 5). For example, if the user wishes to see programming information, a "guide" key may be used in the user interface 52. If, for example, the P1209 user interface 52 includes a microphone and uses suitable speech recognition programs, the user can say a predetermined order to the microphone. Such an interface is especially useful in environments where the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, must operate without the use of hands, as with a car PC. When possible, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may present the user with data from the programming guide and other information, as is normally presented by the user's television equipment 22. In practice, they may occur. appropriate differences in presentation, depending on the interface devices used in the user's television equipment 22 and the remote access device to the programming guide, 24 (for example, the user's television equipment 22 may use a television to displaying program advertisements, and the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may include a voice recognition and speech synthesis system, to broadcast advertisements for programs with synthesized speech). When a user indicates a desire to access the functions of the programming guide by issuing an appropriate command to the remote access device to the guide Programming P1209, 24, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can access, for example, the stored information of the programming guide, or obtain information of the programming guide from the equipment for guidance of interactive television programming, 17, through the remote access link 19, using any of the methods already described, and generating an adequate visual presentation screen to be displayed using the user interface 52. As an alternative, the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment, 17, may receive one or more access communications from the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, through link 19, generate the appropriate visual presentation screen of the programming guide, and send the visual presentation screen of the programming guide back to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, for display in the user interface 52. In another embodiment, a remote access guide may operate in the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and issue access communications over the remote access link 19 as if it were functioning as a client locally in the guidance equipment. of interactive television programming, 17. In another embodiment, the P1209 remote access device to the programming guide 24 can access a website and view web pages that contain information from the programming guide. The remote access programming guide that operates on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can provide a user with an opportunity to remotely access program advertisements. A person who is driving a car, for example, can issue an appropriate voice command that is recognized by the interface 52. The remote access programming guide can issue one or more access communications to the local programming guide, which in turn, it supplies the information of the program announcements back to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The user interface 52 can, for example, supply the program announcements to the user in the form of synthesized speech outputs. Program announcements can also, for example, be displayed on a program advertisement screen, by an appropriate display device. A program announcement screen may contain one or more lists of programs organized according to one or more organization criteria (eg, by program type, theme, or any other predefined or user-defined criteria, and selectable), and classifieds P1209 in various ways (for example, alphabetically). One method is to organize program announcements in a program announcement grid. As shown in Figure 7, the program advertisement display screen 148 may contain the program announcement area, 168. The program announcement area 168 may display advertisements for television programs in any suitable format, such as any suitable list, table or grid. Figure 7 illustrates the display of program announcements in the list of program announcements 150. The program announcement grid 150 can be divided into a number of columns 162 corresponding to the programs' broadcast schedules and which may also be separated in equal parts (for example, in steps of thirty minutes). Program announcements can be displayed in the grid in subsets, in accordance with predefined or selectable organizational criteria, and classified in various ways. The program announcement row 152 contains, for example, advertisements for selectable programs of "THE DESERTS OF AFRICA" and "WILDLIFE" on channel 46.

(Public Television). The program advertisement row 154 contains, for example, advertisements for selectable programs for "GHOST" and "TITANIC" on channel 47 (HBO). The program announcement row 156 contains, for example, advertisements for selectable programs for the program. program "BLUES P1209 BROTHERS 'on channel 48 (VH-1). The program announcement row 158 contains advertisements for selectable programs for pay-per-view PPV 1 and PPV 2 programs on channel 49 (ADU). The program announcement row 160 contains a program advertisement selectable for "COOKING" on channel 50 (WPTU). Typically, the programs in each channel are different. The program announcement grid 150 may have a mobile region 151 of highlighting the cells, which highlights the cell of the grid that is in use. The user can position the highlighted region 151 by entering the appropriate commands with the user interface 52. For example, if the user interface 52 has a keyboard, the user can position the highlighting region 151 using the directional keys on the user interface 52. Alternatively, a touch-sensitive screen, a trackball, voice commands, or any other suitable device may be used to move the highlighting region 151 or to select program announcements without the use of the highlighting region 151. In another further method, the user can tell the title of an advertisement of a television program to a voice recognition system that will issue an appropriate order or order to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. Any other P1209 suitable method. After a user selects a program advertisement, the remote access programming guide can provide the user with the opportunity to access a number of functions of the programming guide. For example, the user can access additional information (typically text or graphics, but possibly video, if desired) about the program announcement, schedule a reminder of an associated program, schedule an associated program to be recorded by one or more between the digital storage device 31 (Figure 3), the secondary storage device 32 (Figure 3), the storage 56 (Figure 5), or the programming server 25. Program announcements may also be displayed for the user in a list. Figure 8 illustrates a program display display screen having a list of program listings displayed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Program ad lists, by which the user can scroll, can display advertisements for programs in subsets, according to predefined or user-selected organizational criteria. Any criteria of organization and classification scheme can be used. For example, the P1209 list 170 of advertisements of programs of Figure 8, that allows displacement by the same one, organizes the announcements of programs according to the type of program, and classifies the announcements alphabetically in each subset. The television display advertisement display screen of Figure 8 also has a mobile cell highlight region, 171, to move within the list and select the advertisements. The remote access programming guide may also provide a user with the opportunity to remotely program program reminders, when the user indicates a desire to set a program reminder (for example, by pressing a "reminder" button on interface 52 of the program. user, issuing an appropriate vocal order, etc.). The remote access programming guide may transmit one or more access communications to the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide 17, to program the reminder. Alternatively, the remote access programming guide may, for example, store a reminder locally in the storage 56 of the remote access device to the programming guide, 24 (Figure 5). The information that indicates which user set the reminder can also be stored on the computer for programming guide Interactive P1209, 17 or storage 56. Reminders can also be programmed by a user with the local guide, transmitted to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and displayed by the remote access guide on the access device remote to the programming guide, 24. At an appropriate time before the scheduled time for the selected program to be put on the air (for example, a predefined and user-selectable number of minutes, hours or days), a reminder it can be broadcasted by the local or remote interactive television programming guide, or both. The reminder can be issued on all remote access devices to the programming guide, 24, available to the user, and can be displayed (for example, in the form of a window or sudden-onset message) on the user's television equipment. 22. If a reminder for a program is to be displayed on the user's home television, the reminder may be displayed just before the start of the program. If a reminder for a program is to be displayed on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, the reminder may be displayed much earlier (eg, several hours before the program). In another method, reminders can be sent as email messages (e-mail) from P1209 the interactive television programming guide to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The interactive programming guidance systems in which reminders are sent to users via email are described, for example, in Boyer et al. , US patent application Serial No. 08 / 987,740, filed December 9, 1997, PCT application publication No. WO 99/14947, published March 25, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In yet another method, the user interface 52 may include an alphanumeric pager (among other devices suitable for providing bidirectional communications with the programming guide through the remote access link 19). The interactive programming guide implemented on the interactive television programming guide equipment, 17, can telephone an automatic people search service (for example, using a modem and appropriate communication programs), and issue a message similar to contained in the notification 177. In Figure 9 an illustrative reminder 177 is shown for display on the display device 45 (Figure 4) or user interface 52 (Figure 5). The remote access programming guide can also provide a user the opportunity to access P1209 and remotely adjust settings for parental control of the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment, 17. The remote access programming guide, for example, can provide users with a opportunity to block potentially objectionable programs or channels, using a parental control code (for example, a personal identification number (PIN) code). Users can also selectively unblock blocked channels or programs. If desired, the user can remotely access parental control settings, relating to blocking the display of potentially objectionable program announcements. The remote access programming guide can obtain parental control information (for example, what channels, services, programs, genres or types of program announcements can be blocked, maximum rating information, PIN information, etc.), from the local programming guide implemented in the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, by the remote access link 19, in any suitable manner. If desired, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can store parental control information in storage 56. The P1209 information indicating which user accessed and adjusted the parental control settings can be stored by the programming guide or the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24 , can provide a user with the opportunity to control television programming remotely by parents, for example by providing the user with the opportunity to select a television program advertisement and issue an appropriate order using the user interface 52 (e.g. , by pressing a "block" button displayed, using a pointing device or a touch-sensitive screen, issuing an appropriate vocal command, etc.). The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may indicate to a user that a channel, service, program, or genre, is blocked, for example by generating a suitable warning, icon, synthesized speech response, message, or any another suitable indication. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the use of lock icon 310 to indicate, for example, that the ADU television service is blocked. The remote access programming guide can also provide users with an opportunity to remotely access the functionality of the interactive television programming guide, relative to the P1209 user preferences or "favorite" determinations. For example, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can access functions to configure and navigate through favorite channels or programs. Interactive television programming guidance systems in which the data of the programming guide are displayed in accordance with preference profiles are described, for example, in Ellis et al, U.S. patent application. Serial No. 09 / 034,934, filed March 4, 1998, PCT application publication No. WO 99/45701, published March 25, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The remote access programming guide can have information about user preferences (for example, which channels or programs are favorites, favorite topics, likes and dislikes, etc.) from the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the team for interactive television programming guide, 17, in any suitable way. The remote access programming guide may, if desired, store favorite information in the storage 56 (Figure 5), may provide the user with an opportunity to remotely adjust channel settings and other preferences based on the information on favorites. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, P1209 can transmit modified or new favorite information to the interactive television programming guide 17, through the remote access link 19, using one or more access communications. The information indicated by the user who changed the profiles can also be stored by the local programming or remote access guides. Information about user preferences can be used by the local interactive and remote access programming guides to navigate through favorite channels and display advertisements for television programs. Figure 10 shows an illustrative display screen of program advertisements that can be displayed by the remote access programming guide on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, using the user interface 52. The display screen includes a number of channels that have been selected as favorites (for example, channels 2, 4, 7, 47 and 48). As an alternative, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may display, for example, advertisements of television programs in a grid, table, or list, while highlighting favorite channels or preferred programs. A user may be given the opportunity to "scroll" between advertisements of favorite programs or channels, broadcasting P1209 an appropriate command, using user interface 52. In still another suitable method, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may display data from the programming guide only referring to those programs or channels that are of interest to the users, as defined by the profiles. The user's preference profiles can also be used to limit the amount of data supplied to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and then tend to minimize the bandwidth requirements of the remote access link 19. data filtering can be executed, for example, by the local interactive guide, in accordance with user profiles, when data is transferred to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. If desired, only referral data can be transferred. to those programs or channels that are of interest to the user. Alternatively, the data filtering can be executed, for example, by the programming guide server 25 or the Internet service system 61. The remote access programming guide can also provide the user with the opportunity to program remote recordings. , using the local interactive programming guide. The user can, for example, select a program advertisement using the interface P1209 52 (Figure 5) and issue an appropriate command (for example, by pressing a "button" on the screen, issuing an appropriate voice command, etc.). The remote access programming guide can respond by sending one or more communications to the local interactive programming guide implemented on the interactive television programming guide 17, with the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, to record the program associated with the selected ad, when the program is put on the air. The local programming guide can store the program in the secondary storage device 32, the digital storage device 31, or in the storage 56 of the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The information indicating which user programmed the recording of a program can also be stored by the programming guide or the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. If the programming is stored in the storage 56, it can be transmitted to the remote access device to the guide of programming, 24, in any suitable format (for example, as a video type National Television Standards Committee- (NTSC), as MPEG-2 type files, etc.), and can be converted to a digital via an appropriate analog to digital converter, P1209 on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, if necessary (not shown). Any suitable transmission scheme can be used, such as using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) if files are transferred, for example, through an Internet link. The programs can also be recorded by the programming guide server 25. The programming guide systems in which the programs selected by the user are stored by a programming guide server are described, for example, in the aforementioned Ellis. et al, US patent application Serial No. 09 / 332,244, filed on June 11, 1999, PCT application publication No. WO 00/04706, published on January 27, 2000. If desired, series of programs may be recorded.

Interactive television programming guidance systems in which series of programs are recorded are described, for example, in Knudson et al, U.S. patent application. Serial No. 09 / 330,792, filed on June 11, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The programming guide information may also be stored by the remote access interactive television programming guide in storage 56. User settings may also be stored and stored.

P1209 profiles, video clips, and detailed descriptive information. Storage of programming or data in storage 56 may be appropriate in situations, for example, when the data is required to be maintained through a power outage, or if the volume of data that the interactive programming guide must store during normal operation is greater than what the interactive television programming guide equipment, 17, can handle. The remote access programming guide can also provide a user with an opportunity to request remote payment programs and pays. The remote access programming guide can, for example, provide the user with an opportunity to select a program advertisement or paid packet, using the user interface 52 (for example, using a pointing device, a touch-sensitive screen, or broadcasting). a voice command to select a paid program ad). In response to the user's order, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can obtain information from pay-per-view programs (for example, price, order information, schedule, event code, etc.) to from the interactive television programming guide that works in the team for interactive television programming guide, 17, through the P1209 remote access link 19. As an alternative, the information of pay-per-view programs may have been provided to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, by the local guide, the programming guide server 25, or the Internet service system 61. The remote access programming guide may provide the user with pay-per-view program information, using the user interface 52, and may provide the user with the opportunity to request the selected payment program. Once the user issues an appropriate command to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, to order the paid program, the remote access guide that is on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can indicate the local guide implemented in the interactive programming guide system, 17 (for example, through one or more access communications) the program that the user wishes to request. The local interactive programming guide may respond by requesting the pay program to the television distribution facility 16 or some other distribution facility. As an alternative, the remote access programming guide can request the payment program from the television distribution facility 16 (or some other distribution facility) and indicate the payment program to the local guide.

P1209 order, so that the functions related to the order can be coordinated. The request of remote payment programs by event, through the local interactive guide, contrary to requesting pay-per-view programs directly from a terminal by telephone, Internet, or the request by pulses using the remote access guide, may allow to the local programming guide to execute functions that could not be executed in a current way. Requesting a paid program through the local guide, in contrast to doing it directly from the television distribution facility 16, can allow the local guide, for example, to carry out parental control of the order of a program, inform the user that the program is about to start, inform the user that he has lost a paid payment program, provide the user with an opportunity to record the program, or any other suitable function associated with the order of a paid program. The remote access programming guide can also provide the user with an opportunity to remotely access video and audio (either together or separately) that are being distributed to the local interactive television programming guide, or that have been stored by the guide of local interactive television programming in P1209 the user's television equipment 22 or on a remote server. In response to an appropriate order from the user performed on the user interface device, 56, the remote access programming guide may, for example, ask the interactive television programming guide about media directory information stored in the device. digital storage 31 or secondary storage device 32. Interactive television programming guides storing programming using a digital media directory are described, for example, in the aforementioned US patent application. Ellis et al Serial No. 09 / 157,256, filed September 17, 1998, PCT application publication No. WO 00/16548, published March 23, 2000. The remote access programming guide may provide the user with the opportunity to select a directory entry or may, for example, provide the user with an opportunity to select a program advertisement referred to a television program being broadcast. In response to one or the other selection, the remote access programming guide can formulate an appropriate access communication to the interactive television programming guide, so that it plays or tunes the selected program, and transmits it back to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, P1209 by the remote access link 19. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can pass the video or audio to the user. In one method, for example, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can provide a user with the opportunity to access the audio of a digital music channel that is received by the interactive television programming guide equipment, 17. , and pass the audio in a speaker, or using an audio device that may be contained in the user interface 52 (for example, an autostereo). The video and audio can be transmitted from the computer to interactive television programming guide, 17, to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, by the remote access link 19 in any suitable format (for example, a video NTSC type, in the form of MPEG-2 type files, using the "M-bone" (Multicast Backbone, real-time audio and video Internet service), etc.), and can be converted to a digital format, if necessary , by an appropriate analog-to-digital converter in the remote access device to the programming guide, 24 (not shown). Any suitable transmission scheme can be used. The remote access programming guide can also provide a user with the opportunity to interrogate the interactive television programming guide P1209 local to determine the state of the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, or more specifically, of the user's television equipment 22. For example, the remote access programming guide can obtain information referred to if the television programming guide interactive is in use, on which channel the user's television equipment is tuned 22, the current program title, the current program rating, the status of the remote access link 19, available devices, etc. Any suitable scheme can be used, such as using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) method in which an administration client process functions as part of the interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide system. , 17, and in which a management server process operates on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. When the user formulates an appropriate command using the user interface device, 56 (e.g. button on a keyboard, selecting an option or button on the screen, by formulating an appropriate voice command, etc.), the remote access programming guide can respond by issuing a communication access to the interactive programming guide, by the remote access link 19, using the remote access device to the guide of programming, 24. The interactive programming guide can respond by transmitting the desired status information, back to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, by the remote access link 19, or transmitting a visual presentation screen (24). if appropriate) . The remote access programming guide may indicate the status of the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, on the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, using any suitable indicator (eg, a visual presentation screen, synthesized voice responses, etc.). In Figure 11 an illustrative display screen 200 of status is shown, to be displayed using the user interface 52. The remote access programming guide may also provide a user with an opportunity to remotely control the television equipment of the user 22. A user may, for example, place highlighting region 201 over a configuration, select the configuration, and change its value. The user may, for example, change the current channel, the current volume, or control the user's television equipment 22 in any other suitable manner. The remote access programming guide can P1209 also provide a user with the opportunity to send audio, graphics and text messages to the local interactive programming guide, to be passed or displayed by the user's television team 22. For example, the access programming guide remote can receive a voice message from the user, using the user interface device, 24. That voice message can be converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter in the remote access device to the programming guide, 24 , if necessary, and sent to the interactive television programming guide by the remote access link 19. Once received, the local interactive television programming guide can pass (or display) the message on the user's television equipment 22. If desired, messages created by a user in the local interactive television programming guide or by an operator of the television distribution facility 16, can be sent to the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The remote access programming guide can in turn supply the messages to the user, using the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The Figures 12-24 are flow charts illustrative of the intervening steps for providing remote access to the functions of a programming guide P1209 local interactive television, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The steps shown in Figures 12-24 are illustrative and can be executed in any suitable order. Moreover, in practice it may be convenient to combine eliminating various steps or combinations of steps that are shown in the flowcharts. Figure 12 shows the illustrative steps involved to provide remote access to the various functions of the programming guide. In step 1200, a remote access link is established between the remote access programming guide implemented in the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the interactive television programming guide implemented in the equipment for programming guide. interactive television, 17, using the remote access link 19. In step 1210, the remote access programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to remotely access the functions of the interactive programming guide, by the remote access link . The remote access programming guide may, for example, obtain from the user an order indicating a desired function of the programming guide, using the remote access device to the programming guide, 24 (sub-step 1265), and then supplying distance to the user P1209 the indicated programming guide function. A user can indicate a desired function by entering an appropriate command, using the user interface 52. The user can, for example, say an order in a microphone, select a button on the screen using a pointing device, or any other suitable method. The indicated programming guide function can be provided remotely to the user, audibly (sub-step 1270) using, for example, a speaker, auto-stereo, or other device capable of producing sounds that adequately indicate to the user information of the user guide. programming. As an alternative, the indicated function of the programming guide can be provided, remotely to the user, visually (in sub-step 1280), for example, using a monitor, LCD, or other display device. The establishment of the remote access link between the remote access programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment, 17, as indicated in step 1200, and provide the user with an opportunity of remote access to functions of the local interactive television programming guide by the remote access link 19 (step 1210), may depend on the configuration of the programming guide system P1209 interactive television. Figures 13a-13e show illustrative variations of steps 1200 and 1210 of Figure 12 to establish the remote access link 19 and to provide the user with remote access to the functions of the programming guide, for the illustrative systems 10 of the Figures 2a-2d and Figures 6a-6c. Figure 13a illustrates the steps involved in establishing the remote access link 19 and for providing the user with remote access to the functions of the programming guide in the systems of Figures 2a and 2c. In these systems, the remote access link 19 can be established between the remote access programming guide and the interactive television programming guide through a communication device in the user's television equipment 22 (step 1200a). The local interactive television programming guide may be fully implemented in the user's television equipment 22, as in the system 10 of Figure 2a, or it may be partially implemented in the user's television equipment 22 in the form, for example, of an interactive programming guide client, as in system 10 of Figure 2c. In step 1210a, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can provide the user with the opportunity to remotely access the functions of the interactive television programming guide P1209 local, by the remote access link, with a communication device. The remote access link 19 can be established between the remote access programming guide and the interactive television programming guide, through the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and a communication device in the distribution facility of television 16 or other location, for a system configured as shown in Figure 2d. Providing remote access to the functions of the local interactive television programming guide in such a system may include, for example, the steps shown in Figure 13b. In step 1200b, for example, the remote access link 19 can be established with a communication device in the television distribution facility 16. The remote access programming guide can, for example, provide the user with the opportunity to access remote to the functions of the programming guide, with a communication device in the television distribution facility 16, in step 1210b. If the television distribution facility 16 includes a programming guide server, as shown in Figure 2c, the remote access link 19 can be established between the remote access programming guide and the interactive television programming guide, to through the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and a communication device that is in the television distribution facility 16, as indicated by the step 1200c of Figure 13c. In step 1210c, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can, for example, provide the user with the opportunity to remotely access the functions of the programming guide, by the remote access link 19, with a communication device in the distribution facility 16. Figures 13d and 13e show the steps involved in establishing the remote access link 19 in online programming guidance systems that communicate with the remote access programming guide , as in the systems 10 of Figures 6a and 6b. In the online programming guidance system of Figure 6a, for example, the remote access link 19 can be established between the local interactive television programming guide and the remote access programming guide, with the Internet service system 61 (step 1200d, Figure 13d). In the client-server online programming guide system of Figure 6b, for example, the remote access link 19 can be established between the television programming guide Local interactive P1209 and the remote access programming guide, with an Internet service system in contact with the programming guide server 25 (step 1200e, Figure 13e). The remote access programming guide may provide the user with the opportunity to remotely access the functions of the programming guide in steps 1210d and 1210e of Figures 13d and 13e, respectively. The establishment of the remote access link 19 in step 1200 of Figure 12 may also include exchanging one or more access communications between the interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide system, 17, and the guidance of remote access programming implemented in the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, as indicated by sub-step 1202 of figure 14. Access communications can include any client-server or peer-to-peer communication arrangement ( peer to peer), suitable for supplying information of the programming guide through the remote access link 19. Access communications may include, for example, orders, orders, messages or remote procedure calls, as indicated by the steps 1204 , 1205, 1206 and 1207, respectively. Access communications may involve P1209 also complex communications between application arrangements that operate in the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17. Access communications may, for example, be based on objects, as indicated by sub-step 1208. Objects that work in two programming guides, for example, can communicate using an Object Order Routing Interface -Object Request Broker- (ORB). The programming guide information may, for example, be encapsulated as objects of the Component Object Model (COM) type and continued to files that are transmitted by the remote access link 19. Access communications may also include documents of HTML formatted markup language (for example, web pages), which are exchanged between the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, and the equipment for interactive television programming guide, through the Internet service system 61 , as indicated in sub-step 1209. Figures 15-23 are flow charts of illustrative steps involved in providing remote access to a number of specific functions of the programming guide. Remote access to functions can be provided in any programming guide system P1209 interactive television, such as a system 10 having the interactive television programming guide equipment arrangement 17, which is shown in Figures 2a-2d and Figures 6a and 6b. The steps shown in Figures 12-14 are not shown in the flow diagrams of Figures 15-23 to avoid complicating the drawings too much, although in practice any combination or combinations of the steps of the flow diagrams may be used. flow of Figures 12-23. Figure 15 shows the illustrative steps involved to remotely provide program announcement information to a user. In step 1600, the program announcement information is obtained remotely from the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment, 17, through the remote access link 19. The programming guide of remote access can, for example, obtain this information at the beginning, periodically, continuously, upon request in response to an appropriate order from the user, or using any other suitable scheme that uses the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. In at step 1610, the program announcement information may be provided to the user. The program announcement information may be displayed for the user P1209 by the remote access programming guide in a table, list, grid or other suitable arrangement, using the interface 52 (sub-step 1620). Alternatively, the program announcement information may be supplied audibly to the user, using, for example, a speaker (sub-step 1630). In step 1640, the remote access programming guide may provide the user with the opportunity to select a program advertisement. In response to such selection, the remote access programming guide may provide the user with the opportunity to access other functions of the remote programming guide for the program announcement (eg, display additional information, schedule a program reminder, record, parental control, request the program if it is a paid program, etc.). Figure 16 shows the illustrative steps involved in providing the user with remote access to the program reminder function of a local interactive television programming guide. In step 1700, a user is given an opportunity to schedule a programming reminder. The user can be given an opportunity to remotely program a programming reminder, with the local guide or with the remote access guide. This opportunity can be provided, by P1209 example, in response to the selection of a program advertisement by the user. In step 1710, the program reminder is programmed by the local guide or the remote access guide. The program reminder can be programmed with the local interactive television programming guide (sub-step 1720), it can be stored by the remote-access interactive television programming guide (sub-step 1730), or both. In step 1740, the program reminder is generated at an appropriate time (eg, a number of minutes, hours or days predefined or selectable by the user) before the scheduled time for a program to be issued. The reminder can be generated by the local interactive television programming guide implemented on the interactive television programming guide team, 17, or it can be generated by the remote interactive television programming guide. The program reminder may be, for example, sent to the user via email or alphanumeric pager, as indicated in sub-steps 1750 and 1760, respectively. Figure 17 shows the illustrative steps involved to provide a user with remote access to the parental control functions of the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the equipment for interactive television programming guide, P1209 17. In step 1800, the parental control information is obtained remotely. This may happen, for example, at the beginning, periodically, continuously, on request in response to a suitable order from the user, or using any other suitable scheme. The remote access programming guide may provide the user with the opportunity to control the programming by the parents (eg, by program, channel, topic, schedule, etc.) in any suitable manner (step 1810). In step 1820, the remote access programming guide establishes a configuration for parental control, with the interactive television programming guide, through the remote access link 19. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24 , can use, for example, one more access communications sent by the remote access link 19 to exchange the settings for parental control with the interactive television programming guide 17. The programming can be blocked locally by a user, through of the user's television equipment 22, or may have been remotely blocked by the remote access programming guide. The remote access programming guide may indicate to a user that programming is blocked (for example, by P1209 program, channel, theme, etc.) with the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, in step 1830. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can use, for example, a warning , an icon, a synthesized voice output, a message, or any other suitable indicator. Figure 18 shows the illustrative steps involved in supplying a user with remote access to the favorites and user profile functions of the interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment 17. In step 1900, the user's preference profiles are obtained remotely from the local interactive television programming guide by the interactive remote television programming guide through the remote access link 19. The information or profiles can be obtained, for example, at the beginning , periodically, continuously, upon request in response to an appropriate order from the user, or using any other suitable scheme. The remote access programming guide can provide the user with the opportunity to remotely adjust user profiles (step 1910). The user can, for example, add or delete favorite channels, topics, indicate likes or dislikes, etc. In step 1920, P1209 the remote access programming guide remotely adjusts user profiles with the local interactive television programming guide. This can be done, for example, with the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, by exchanging one or more access communications with the interactive programming guide equipment, 17, through the remote access link 19. or more access communications may indicate one or more user profiles or bookmark information. In step 1925, the remote programming guide obtains data from the programming guide according to the preference profiles. In step 1930, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can provide the user with the opportunity to browse remotely through the favorites. The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may, for example, have obtained program announcement information (step 1600, Figure 15), classified the information according to the favorites information, and displayed only announcements of referred programs. to a favorite channel or topic. Alternatively, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, may, for example, display advertisements for television programs in a grid, table or list, while highlighting favorite channels. A user can be given the opportunity P1209 to "jump" between advertisements or favorite channels, formulating an appropriate order using the user interface 52. Figure 19 shows the steps involved to provide a user with remote access to the recording of programs. In step 2000, the remote access programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to select a program to record. ' This opportunity may be provided in response to the indication, by the user, of a desire to record programming, for example by selecting a program advertisement (step 1640, Figure 15) and issuing an appropriate command. In response, the remote access programming guide proceeds to remotely program the program to record, with the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide system, 17 (step 2000). The remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can exchange, for example, one or more access communications with the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, which are sent by the remote access link 19. In a appropriate time, the program is recorded (step 2020). As indicated by sub-steps 2030 and 2040, the program can be recorded by the local interactive programming guide that is on the interactive television programming guide, 17 (for example, the P1209 digital storage device 31 or the secondary storage device 32 of the user's television equipment 22 (Figure 3)), or on the programming guide server 25, or it can be recorded by the remote access device to the user guide. programming, 24, in storage 56 (Figure 5) or programming guide server 25. If the program is recorded by the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, the programming can be, for example, digitized and transmitted in the form of a data stream type MPEG-2, by the remote access link 19, using access communications. Figure 20 shows the illustrative steps involved in supplying the user with remote access to order remote programs and paid packages, using the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide system 17. In step 2100, The remote access programming guide obtains information on pay-per-view programs (for example, price, order information, schedule, code of events, programs in a package, etc.), based on the interactive programming guide implemented in the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, through the remote access link 19. Information on pay-per-view programs can be obtained at the beginning, periodically, continuously, upon request in response to an appropriate order from the user, or using any other suitable scheme. The information of pay-per-view programs is provided to the user by the remote access programming guide, using the user interface 52, of the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, in any suitable manner (step 2110). In step 2120, the remote access programming guide provides the user with the opportunity to remotely request a paid program or package. This opportunity may be provided, for example, in response to the selection, by the user, of a program advertisement or paid package (for example, step 1640, Figure 15). In step 2130, the remote access programming guide remotely requests the paid program or package to the local interactive television programming guide, for example, by exchanging one or more access communications over the remote access link 19 (step 2133) . Access communications may contain information on pay-per-view programs for the selected program or payment package. The local guide can request the program or package in step 2135. Alternatively, the remote access programming guide can request the paid program (step 2137).

P1209 The way in which the remote access programming guide asks for the paid program, using the local interactive television programming guide, may depend on the configuration of the system. If the system is configured as shown in Figures 2a and 2c, the remote access programming guide can, for example, provide information on pay-per-view programs to the interactive television programming guide implemented at least partially in the user's television equipment 22. In turn, the interactive television programming guide can request the paid program with the television distribution facility 16. If the system is configured as shown in Figures 2b and 2d, the programming guide remote access can, for example, provide information on pay-per-view programs to the interactive television programming guide, through the separate communication device 27. If the system is configured as shown in Figures 6a and 6b, the Remote access programming guide can provide the information of pay-per-view programs through the Inter service system net 61. Figure 21 shows the illustrative steps involved to provide a user with access to video or audio that is passed over from a distance. In step 2200, the guideto you.

P1209 remote access programming can obtain audio or video information from the interactive television programming guide implemented in the equipment for interactive television programming guide, 17, through the remote access link 19. This can happen, for example, in response to the selection, by the user, of a video or audio advertisement displayed by the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. Substeps 2210 and 2220 show the illustrative steps involved in obtaining directory information used for provide a user with audio and video information. The remote access programming guide may ask the local interactive television programming guide implemented on the computer for interactive television programming guide, 17, about directory information, using one or more access communications that are sent by the link. remote access 19 (step 2210). The directory information may be contained, for example, in a media library directory for a media library that is stored in the user's television equipment 22, or by the television distribution facility 16. The directory information may be supplied back to the remote access programming guide, exchanging one or more access communications between the equipment for P1209 interactive television programming guide, 17, and the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, by the remote access link 19, as indicated by sub-step 2220. Step 2210 can be skipped and step 2220 executed when , for example, directory information or program announcements are supplied to the remote access guide in advance in time. In step 2230, the remote access programming guide can provide the user with the opportunity to select a video or audio to pass it remotely. The user can select a video or audio, for example, by selecting an advertisement that is indicated to the user by the user interface 52. The user can be given an opportunity to pass a program in real time through the local and remote guides, or pass a stored program. In response, the remote access programming guide can obtain the selected audio or video, from the local interactive television programming guide, using access communications that are sent by the remote access link 19. Access communications can contain the video or audio in an appropriate analog or digital format. In step 2250, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, passes the video or audio remotely to the user, using the user interface 52. The selected video can be displayed, P1209 example, on a suitable monitor, LCD, or other suitable display device. The selected audio can be passed to the user using any suitable speaker. The audio can be passed, for example, by an autostereo, if the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, is a car PC. Figure 22 shows the illustrative steps involved to provide the user with the opportunity to interrogate remotely the local interactive television programming guide implemented in the computer for interactive television programming guide, 17. In step 2300, the programming guide for Remote access can interrogate the interactive television programming guide to obtain survey type information. The survey type information may indicate, for example, whether the user's television equipment 22 is in use, the channel in which the user's television equipment is currently tuned 22, the rating of the current program, the title of the current program , the st of the remote access link 19 or the communication channels 20, the devices available from the user's television equipment 22, or any other information referred to states. Step 2300 can include subpasses 2310 and 2320, to obtain survey information. In sub-step 2310, the remote access device to the guide P1209 programming, 24, you can get the survey type information. The survey type information can be obtained at the beginning, periodically, continuously, on request in response to a suitable order from the user, or using any other suitable scheme. More particularly, the status information can be obtained using the SNMP -Protocol Simple for Network Administration- (subpass 2320), if desired. If the SNMP is used to obtain survey information, for example, access communications may include commands and protocol data units (PDUs). Other suitable protocols for network administration can also be used. In step 2330, the remote access device to the programming guide, 24, can present the survey type information to the user, in any suitable method. The survey type information may be displayed, for example, on a status display screen, such as the status display 200 of Figure 11. The survey type information may be delivered to the user, for example, through of synthesized speech outputs that are passed using a speaker and equipment and computer programs for speech synthesis. Figure 23 shows the illustrative steps involved to provide the user the opportunity to create messages and send them between the programming guide P1209 local interactive television implemented in the team for interactive television programming guide, 17, and the remote access programming guide. In step 2400, the user is given the opportunity to create a message. The user can create the message with the local interactive television programming guide, using, for example, the user interface 46, the user's television equipment 22 (Figure 4), or the user can create the message using the user interface 52 user, from the remote access device to the programming guide, 24. The message can include any suitable text, graphics or audio. The user can, for example, say an audio message in a microphone. The audio message can be digitized and stored in an access communication, for transfer by the remote access link 19. Alternatively, the user can enter a text message using a suitable device for text entry (for example, a keyboard) . However, the message is created and whatever its content, the message is transferred by the remote access link 19, using one or more access communications. The message can be transferred from the interactive television programming guide to the remote access programming guide, or from the remote access programming guide to the local interactive television programming guide, P1209 depending on where the message was created and its intended recipient. In step 2410, the message may be presented to the user by the user's television equipment 22 (e.g., sub-step 2430), or by the remote access device to the programming guide, 24 (e.g., sub-step 2440). So far the analysis has focused on the implementation of the invention with an interactive television programming guide. The invention can also be applied to interactive television applications that are not of the programming guide. Local applications that are not from the programming guide work on the user's television equipment, such as the box that is placed on the television, and the corresponding remote access application that is not from the programming guide can work in a remote access device. Interactive television applications may be stand-alone applications, portions of a running system, or any suitable combination thereof. An application that is not of the programming guide and that can be implemented in a box that is placed on the television, in accordance with the present invention, is an Internet browser. An Internet browser can have settings such as bookmarks, settings for parental control, and general preferences that control how the browser works. As shown in Figure 24, a remote access device can provide the user with access to a browser application by displaying, for example, browser screen 700 of a browser application with remote access. The browser screen 799 may have a marker option 705. A user may, for example, select the marker option 705 and add a marker (i.e., a record of the current website address which may be used to access the site) . After the user adds a bookmark with a remote access Internet browser, the remote access Internet browser can exchange one or more access communications with a local Internet browser, to add the bookmark to the local browser. Another application that can be implemented in a box that is placed on the television, in accordance with the present invention, is an application for purchases. An application for purchases can have settings such as a default shipping address and a credit card number. As shown in Figure 25, an application screen for purchases, with remote access, 730, may have settings such as a shipping address 720, and credit card number 725. A P1209 9é user can, for example, add a shipping address and credit card information. After a user adds shipping information and the credit card with the application for purchases with remote access, the remote access application can exchange one or more access communications with an application for local purchases, to supply the information to the local application. Another application that is not of the programming guide and that can be implemented in a box that is placed on the television, and which can be accessed through a remote access device, in accordance with the present invention, is an indicator of quotation of shares. An indicator of the stock price can have configurations such as configurations that indicate the 10 main actions in which the user is interested. As shown in Figure 26, a remote access device may display a display 710 of stock quote indicator configurations, with remote access. The screen 710 of the stock quote indicator configurations may have, for example, a symbol of indicator 712 and an option 715 of the 10 main shares. For example, a user can add a main action. Exchanging one or more access communications, the indicator application P1209 share listing with remote access can make the configurations for the ten main actions effective, in a local application of share price indicator. An application for conversation can be implemented in a box that is placed on the television. Conversation applications are services that allow users to exchange conversation messages with other users, in real time. A conversation application can be implemented as an application for autonomous conversation, or as part of another application such as a programming guide application. The applications for conversation that can be implemented in the user's television equipment are described in DeWeese et al, U.S. patent application. Serial No. 09 / 356,270, filed July 16, 1999, application publication WO 00/13416, published March 9, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. A user can remotely adjust the settings associated with an application for conversation, such as the size of a conversation window, a calendar, or filtering potentially offensive messages. After the user adjusts the settings for conversation with an application for conversation with remote access that works in a P1209 remote access device, the application for conversation with remote access can remotely adjust the settings of an application for local conversation, for example by exchanging one or more access communications with the application for local conversation, by a remote access link. If desired, configurations of an email application (e-mail) that works in a box that is placed on the television can be adjusted remotely. The message transmission systems based on boxes that are placed on the television are described, for example, in the U.S. patent application. McKissick et al, Serial No. 09 / 356,245, filed July 16, 1999, PCT application publication No. WO 00/13415, published March 9, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Users can, for example, add or remotely change an agenda. When the user adjusts the e-mail settings with an e-mail application with remote access that works on a remote access device, the e-mail application with remote access can remotely adjust the settings of a local e-mail application, by example exchanging one or more access communications with the local email application, through a link P1209 remote access. The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, limited only by the claims described below.

P1209

Claims (167)

1. CLAIMS 1. A system for supplying a user with remote access to an interactive television programming guide, by a remote access link (19), characterized by: a computer for interactive television programming guide (17) in which a local interactive television programming guide that executes at least one programming guide function, where the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) includes a user's television set (22); and a remote access device to the programming guide (24) that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by means of the remote access link (19), and in which a television programming guide is implemented interactive remote access, where the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to remotely establish, by the remote access link (19), at least one configuration of programming that is used by the local interactive television programming guide to execute said at least one function of the programming guide. P1209 2. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) are configured to allow the user to obtain remote information about the control by of the parents, from the guide of local interactive television programming, by the remote access link (19). The system defined in claim 2, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) are configured to allow the user to remotely establish a configuration for control by the parents, by the remote access link (19); and the local interactive television programming guide is further configured to block a program based on the configuration for parental control. The system defined in claim 3, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to indicate to the user that the program is blocked with the interactive remote television programming guide. 5. The system defined in claim 1, P1209 characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) are configured to allow the user to obtain remote information of favorites from the local interactive television programming guide , by the remote access link (19). The system defined in claim 5, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) are configured to allow the user to remotely establish a configuration of favorites. , by the remote access link (19). The system defined in claim 5, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) are configured to allow the user to navigate remotely through the favorites, by the remote access link (19). The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to interrogate the local interactive television programming guide and to obtain remote survey information, starting from the interactive television programming guide P1209 local, by the remote access link (19). The system defined in claim 8, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to present the survey type information to the user, with the interactive remote television programming guide. The system defined in claim 8, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to obtain survey-type information remotely, from the local interactive television programming guide, using a protocol simple for network administration. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a directional link; and the remote access device to the programming guide (24) and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) are configured to allow the user to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide, by the remote access link (19) through the exchange of access communications. 12. The system defined in claim 11P1209 characterized in that the access communications comprise orders. The system defined in claim 11, characterized in that the access communications comprise commands. 14. The system defined in claim 11, characterized in that the access communications comprise messages. 15. The system defined in claim 11, characterized in that the access communications comprise remote procedure calls. 16. The system defined in claim 11, characterized in that the access communications comprise communications based on objects. 17. The system defined in claim 11, characterized in that the access communications comprise documents with dialing language. 18. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that: the local interactive television programming guide provides the user with an opportunity to create a message, using the user's television equipment (22), and to transfer the message to the remote access device to the programming guide (24), by the remote access link (19); Y P1209 the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is configured to supply the message to the user, with the interactive remote television programming guide. 19. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that: the user's television equipment (22) comprises a communication device (37) connected to the remote access link (19); and the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide through the communication device (37) with the television programming guide Interactive remote access. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that: the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) comprises a communication device (27) in a television distribution installation (16) connected to the remote access link (19); and the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to establish said at least P1209 a configuration of the programming guide, through the communication device (27), with the interactive remote television programming guide. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that: the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) comprises a communication device (27) connected to a programming guide server (25), in a television distribution facility (16); and the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to establish said at least one configuration of the programming guide, through the communication device (27) and the server programming guide (25), with interactive remote television programming guide. 22. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that: the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) comprises an Internet service system (61) connected to the programming guide distribution equipment located in a television distribution facility (16); and the remote access device to the guide P1209 programming (24) is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to establish said at least one configuration of the programming guide, through the Internet service system (61) and the programming guide distribution equipment, with the interactive remote television programming guide. 23. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that: the interactive television programming guide device (17) comprises an Internet service system (61) connected to a programming guide server (25) located in a distribution installation television (16); and the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to establish said at least one configuration of the programming guide, through the Internet service system (61) and the programming guide server (25), with interactive remote television programming guide. 24. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that: the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to create a message with the guidance of P1209 interactive remote access television programming, to transfer the message to the local interactive television programming guide, using the remote access link (19); and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) is further configured to present the message to the user, with the local interactive television programming guide. 25. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that the interactive remote television programming guide is a remote client version of the local interactive television programming guide. 26. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to communicate with the guide - of local interactive television programming by the remote access link (19), using emulation of terminal. 27. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that the remote access link (19) is composed of a wireless link. 28. The system defined in claim 1, characterized in that the interactive remote television programming guide and the programming guide P1209 local interactive television are different interactive television programming guides. 29. A system for providing a user with an opportunity to program programming reminders, characterized by comprising: a computer for interactive television programming guide (17) in which a local interactive television programming guide is implemented, where the equipment for guidance of interactive television programming (17) includes the user's television equipment (22); and a remote access device to the programming guide (24) that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by means of the remote access link (19), and in which a television programming guide is implemented interactive remote access, where the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is configured to: provide the user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program for which a programming reminder is to be programmed; and remotely program the programming reminder by the remote access link (19), with the local interactive television programming guide. 30. The system defined in claim 29 P1209 characterized in that: the remote access device to the programming guide (24) and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) are configured to allow the user to remotely program the programming reminder with the local interactive television programming guide , by the remote access link (19); and the local interactive television programming guide generates the programming reminder for the program. 31. The system defined in claim 30, characterized in that the local interactive television programming guide generates the programming reminder for the program, sending the user a message by e-mail. 32. The system defined in claim 30, characterized in that: the interactive television programming guide device (17) comprises a person search transmitter; and the interactive television programming guide generates the programming reminder looking for the user with a message that is transmitted to the user by the person search transmitter. 33. The system defined in claim 30 P1209 no characterized in that the interactive television programming guide is further configured to generate the reminder with the user's television equipment (22). 34. The system defined in claim 29, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to store the programming reminder set by the user, and to generate the programming reminder with the programming guide interactive television remote access. 35. A system to provide a user with an opportunity to schedule programming reminders, characterized by: a team for local interactive television programming guide (17) in which a local interactive television programming guide is implemented, where the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) includes the user's television equipment (22) ); and a remote access device to the programming guide (24) that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by means of the remote access link (19), and in which a television programming guide is implemented interactive remote access, where the television programming guide Local interactive P1209 is further configured to: provide the user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program for which a programming reminder is to be programmed; and program the programming reminder by the remote access link (19), with the interactive remote television programming guide. 36. The system defined in claim 35, characterized in that: the remote access device to the programming guide (24) and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) are configured to allow the user to remotely program the programming reminder with the interactive remote television programming guide, by the remote access link (19); and the interactive remote television programming guide generates the programming reminder for the program. 37. The system defined in claim 35 characterized by the interactive remote television programming guide generates the programming reminder for the program, sending the user a P1209 message by email. 38. The system defined in claim 35, characterized in that: the equipment for remote access programming guide (17) comprises a pager; and the equipment for interactive television programming guide comprises a locator transmitter; and the local interactive television programming guide generates a programming reminder for the selected program, searching for the user with a message that is transmitted to the user by the person search transmitter, and which is displayed by the radiolocator. 39. A system for providing a user with remote access to program announcement information, characterized by comprising: a computer for interactive television programming guide (17) in which a local interactive television programming guide is implemented, where the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) includes the user's television equipment (22); and a remote access device to the programming guide (24) that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by the remote access link (19), and in which a guide is implemented P1209 of remote access interactive television programming, where the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is configured to obtain program announcement information from the local interactive television programming guide by the remote access link (19). ) and to provide the user with program announcement information. 40. A system for remote recording of television programs, characterized by comprising: a computer for interactive television programming guide (17) in which a local interactive television programming guide is implemented, where the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) includes the user's television equipment (22); and a remote access device to the programming guide (24) that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by means of the remote access link (19), and in which a television programming guide is implemented interactive remote access, where the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is configured to: provide the user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program to be recorded by the remote access device (24) to the programming guide, by the remote access link (19); P1209 remotely record the television program selected by the user, by the remote access link (19), with the interactive remote television programming guide; and the interactive television programming guide device (17) is further configured to supply the program to the remote access device to the programming guide (24), by the remote access link (19), with the local interactive television programming guide. 41. The system defined in claim 40, character in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to obtain directory information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19) 42. The system defined in claim 40, character in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to obtain video information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19) 43. The system defined in claim 40, character in that the remote access device to the P1209 programming guide (24) is further configured to: provide the user with an opportunity to select a video for playback by the remote access device to the programming guide (24), - remotely obtain the video selected by the user. for its reproduction from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19); and remotely play the video, for the user. 44. The system defined in claim 40, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to obtain audio information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19) 45. The system defined in claim 40, characterized in that the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is further configured to: provide the user with an opportunity to select audio for playback by the remote access device to the guide of programming (24); obtain the audio selected by the user at a distance for its reproduction from the guide of P1209 local interactive television programming, by the remote access link (19); and remotely play the audio, for the user. 46. A system for recording programs through a remote access link (19), characterized by comprising: a computer for interactive television programming guide (17) in which a local interactive television programming guide is implemented, where the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) includes a user's television equipment (22); and a remote access device to the programming guide (24) that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by means of the remote access link (19), and in which a television programming guide is implemented interactive remote access, where the remote access device to the programming guide is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to remotely select a program to be recorded by a local interactive television programming guide implemented on the equipment for television programming guide interactive (17); and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) is further configured for P1209 record the television program selected by the user, with the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17). 47. The system defined in claim 46, characterized in that the interactive television programming guide device (17) is configured to record the television program selected by the user, in the user's television equipment (22). 48. The system defined in claim 46, characterized in that the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) is configured to record the television program selected by the user, in a television distribution installation (16). 49. A system for reproducing programs remotely, through a remote access link (19), characterized by: a computer for interactive television programming guide (17) in which a local interactive television programming guide is implemented, where the team for interactive television programming guide (17) includes a user's television set (22); and a remote access device to the programming guide (24) that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by means of the remote access link, and in which a P1209 interactive remote television programming guide, where the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is configured to: provide the user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program to be passed through the remote access device , - and play the television program selected by the user, using the remote access link (19); and the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) is further configured to supply the program to the remote access device to the programming guide (24), by the remote access link (19), with the interactive television programming guide local 50. A system for requesting remote pay-per-view programs with a local interactive television programming guide, through a remote access link (19), the system being characterized by: a computer for interactive television programming guide (17) ) in which a local interactive television programming guide is implemented that executes at least one function related to the order of pay-per-view programs, where the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) includes a P1209 user's television equipment (22); and a remote access device to the programming guide (24) that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by means of the remote access link (19), and in which a television programming guide is implemented interactive remote access, where the remote access device to the programming guide (24) is configured to: provide the user with an opportunity to request a paid program with the remote access interactive television programming guide; and provide the local interactive television programming guide with an indication of the payment program requested; and the local interactive television programming guide executes said at least one function related to the order of pay-per-view programs, based on the indication. 51. The system defined in claim 50, characterized in that the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) is further configured to request the paid program with the local interactive television programming guide. 52. The system defined in claim 50, characterized in that: the function related to the order of pay-per-view programs includes displaying a reminder that the paid program was lost; the user's television equipment (22) is configured to display a reminder that the paid program was lost, with the local interactive television programming guide. 53. The system defined in claim 50, characterized in that: the function related to the order of pay-per-view programs includes displaying a reminder that the paid program is beginning; and the user's television equipment (22) is configured to display a reminder that the paid program is beginning, with the local interactive television programming guide. 54. A system for providing a user with remote access to functions of an interactive television programming guide, by a remote access link, the system being characterized by: a computer for interactive television programming guide - (17) in which it is implemented a local interactive television programming guide configured to execute at least one function of the programming guide; P1209 an Internet service system (61) configured to provide an online guide; a personal computer connected to the Internet service system (61) by the Internet Link, where: the personal computer is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to remotely establish at least one configuration of the programming guide, by the Internet link , using the online guide; the Internet service system (61) is configured to provide said at least one configuration of the programming guide to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17); and the interactive television programming guide is configured to execute said at least one function of the programming guide, using said at least one configuration of the programming guide. 55. A system for providing a user with remote access to an interactive television application that is not of the programming guide, by a remote access link, characterized by: a user's television set that has a box that is placed on the television in which an interactive television application is implemented that is not from the programming guide, which has at least one function; and a remote access device that is connected to the user's television equipment (22) by means of the remote access link (19), and in which an interactive television application is implemented that is not of the programming guide, where the remote access device is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to set up remotely, by the remote access link (19), at least one configuration of the interactive television application that is not of the programming guide, which is used by the local interactive television application that is not of the programming guide, to execute said at least one function. 56. The system defined in claim 55, characterized in that the interactive television application that is not of the programming guide, implemented in the box that is placed on the television, is an Internet browser. 57. The system defined in claim 55, characterized in that the interactive television application that is not of the programming guide, implemented in the box that is placed on the television, is an application for purchases. P1209 58. The system defined in claim 55, characterized in that the interactive television application that is not of the programming guide, implemented in the box that is placed on the television, is a stock price indicator. 59. The system defined in claim 55, characterized in that the interactive television application that is not of the programming guide, implemented in the box that is placed on the television, is an application for conversation. 60. The system defined in claim 55, characterized in that the interactive television application that is not of the programming guide, implemented in the box that is placed on the television, is an application for electronic mail. 61. A method for providing a user with remote access to an interactive television programming guide, the method characterized by comprising the steps of: providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide, using a guide interactive remote-access television programming implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); P1209 supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device (24) to the programming guide to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) in which an interactive television programming guide is implemented local through the remote access link (19); and executing a function of the programming guide with the local interactive television programming guide, based on said at least one configuration of the programming guide. 62. The method defined in claim 61, characterized by further comprising the step of providing the user with an opportunity to obtain remote information on parental control, from the local interactive television programming guide, using the guide of interactive remote television programming. 63. The method defined in claim 62, characterized in that: the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises providing the user with an opportunity to establish a control configuration by the parents , using the programming guide P1209 interactive remote access television; and the method further comprises the step of blocking a program based on the configuration for parental control, with the local interactive television programming guide. 64. The method defined in claim 63, characterized by further comprising the step of indicating to the user that the program is blocked with the interactive remote television programming guide. 65. The method defined in claim 61, characterized by further comprising the step of providing the user with an opportunity to remotely obtain bookmark information from the local interactive television programming guide, using the interactive remote television programming guide. . 66 The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises providing the user with an opportunity to remotely establish a bookmark configuration, using the programming guide interactive television remote access. 67. The method defined in claim 61, characterized by further comprising the step of supplying P1209 the user an opportunity to browse remotely through the favorites, using the interactive remote television programming guide. 68. The method defined in claim 61, characterized by further comprising the steps of: questioning the local interactive television programming guide with the remote access interactive television programming guide; and obtain remote survey-type information from the local interactive television programming guide, through the remote access link (19), with the interactive remote television programming guide. 69. The method defined in claim 61, characterized by further comprising the step of presenting the user with the survey type information with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 70. The method defined in claim 68, characterized in that the step of obtaining remote survey-type information from the local interactive television programming guide comprises obtaining survey-type information remotely, using a simple protocol for network management. 71. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: P1209 the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging access communications between the interactive remote access television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 72. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging orders between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 73. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging orders P1209 between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 74. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging messages between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 75. The method defined in claim 61, characterized by: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging remote procedure calls between the interactive remote access television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 76. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: P1209 the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging object-based communications between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 77. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises providing the user the opportunity to configure at least one programming guide configuration in the remote access link (19) when exchanging documents. with dialing language between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 78. The method defined in claim 61, characterized by comprising the steps of: providing the user with an opportunity to create a message using the programming guide P1209 local interactive television; transfer the message to the remote access device to the programming guide (24), using the remote access link (19); and provide the message to the user with the interactive remote television programming guide. 79. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that the step of supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide. (24) to the team for interactive television programming guide (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device (24) to the programming guide to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), through a communication device in the user's television equipment (22), connected to the remote access link (19). 80. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that the step of supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the television programming guide equipment. Interactive P1209 (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for guidance of interactive television programming (17), through a communication device in a television distribution facility (16), connected to the remote access link (19). 81. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that the step of supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device (24) to the programming guide to the equipment for interactive television programming guidance (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for television programming guide interactive (17), through a communication device connected to a programming guide server (25) in a television distribution facility (16). 82. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that the step of supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide P1209 (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), through an Internet service system (61) connected to the programming guide distribution equipment located in a television distribution facility (16). 83. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that the step of providing said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guidance (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for television programming guide interactive (17), through an Internet service system (61) connected to a programming guide server (25) located in a television distribution facility (16). 84. The method defined in claim 61, P1209 characterized by further comprising the steps of: providing the user with an opportunity to create a message using the remote access interactive television programming guide; transferring the message to the interactive television programming guide (17) using the remote access link (19); and provide the message to the user with the local interactive television programming guide. 85. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: the interactive remote television programming guide is a remote client version of the local interactive television programming guide; and the step of providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide, using the remote client version of the user guide. local interactive television programming. .86. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that the step of providing said at least one configuration of the programming guide from the P1209 remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) comprises supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), using terminal emulation. 87. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is composed of a wireless link; and the step of providing said at least one configuration of the programming guide from the remote access device (24) to the programming guide to the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) comprises supplying said at least one configuration to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), using the wireless link. 88. The method defined in claim 61, characterized in that: the interactive remote television programming guide is a first interactive television programming guide; the local interactive television programming guide is a second programming guide P1209 interactive television that is different from the first interactive television programming guide; and the step of providing said at least one configuration of the programming guide from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the interactive television programming guide (17) comprises providing said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the first guide of interactive television programming to the second guide of interactive television programming. 89. A method for remotely programming programming reminders, the method characterized by comprising the steps of: providing a user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program for which a programming reminder is to be programmed with a guide interactive remote-access television programming implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); and generating the program reminder with a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) that the user's television equipment has (22). 90. The method defined in claim 89, P1209 characterized by further understanding the step of remotely programming the programming reminder, by the remote access link (19), with the local interactive television programming guide, using the interactive remote television programming guide. 91. The method defined in claim 89, characterized in that the step of generating the programming reminder for the program, with the local interactive television programming guide, comprises generating the programming reminder for the program by sending the user an e-mail message . 92. The method defined in claim 89, characterized in that the step of generating the programming reminder for the program, with the local interactive television programming guide, comprises generating the programming reminder looking for the user with a message that is transmitted to the user by a person search transmitter. 93. The method defined in claim 89, characterized by further comprising: storing the programming reminder with the remote access device to the programming guide (24); and generate the program reminder with the interactive access television programming guide P1209 remote. 94. The method defined in claim 89, characterized in that the step of generating the programming reminder for the program, with the local interactive television programming guide, comprises displaying the reminder with the user's television equipment (22). 95. A method for remotely programming programming reminders, the method characterized by comprising the steps of: providing a user with an opportunity to select a television program for which a programming reminder is to be programmed with a programming guide local interactive television, where the interactive television programming guide is implemented in the team for interactive television programming guide (17) that has a user's television equipment (22); and generating the programming reminder with a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide that is connected to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) by means of the remote access link ( 19). 96. The method defined in claim 95, characterized in that the step of generating the reminder of P1209 programming comprises generating an email message containing the programming reminder, using the remote access programming guide. 97. The method defined in claim 95, characterized in that the step of generating the program reminder comprises generating the reminder in a radiolocator, with the interactive remote television programming guide. 98. A method for providing a user with remote access to program announcement information, the method being characterized by comprising the steps of: obtaining program announcement information with a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in an access device remote to the programming guide (24), from a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), by the remote access link (19); and provide the user with program announcement information, with the interactive remote television programming guide. 99. A method for remotely recording a television program, the method characterized by comprising the steps of: P1209 providing the user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program to record over the remote access link (19), by a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the guide. programming (24), based on a local interactive television programming guide implemented on the interactive television programming guide (17); and remotely recording the television program selected by the user, by the remote access link (19), with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 100. The method defined in claim 99, characterized by further comprising the step of obtaining directory information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the interactive television programming guide of remote access. 101. The method defined in claim 99, characterized by further comprising the step of obtaining video information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the interactive television programming guide of remote access. P1209 102. The method defined in claim 99, characterized by further comprising the steps of: providing the user with the opportunity to select a video for playback by the remote access device to the programming guide (24), with the interactive remote television programming guide; obtain remotely the video selected by the user for its reproduction from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the remote access device to the programming guide (24); and remotely play the video, for the user, with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 103. The method defined in claim 99, characterized by further comprising the step of obtaining audio information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the interactive television programming guide of remote access. 104. The method defined in claim 99, characterized by further comprising the steps of: providing the user with the opportunity to select audio for playback by the device P1209 for remote access to the programming guide (24), with the interactive remote television programming guide; obtain remote audio selected by the user for its reproduction from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the remote access device to the programming guide (24); and remote playback of the audio, for the user, with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 105. A method for recording programs through a remote access link (19), the method characterized by comprising the steps of: providing the user with an opportunity to select a program to be recorded by a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the team for interactive television programming guide (17), with a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); and record the program selected by the user, with the guide of local interactive television programming, in the interactive television programming guide team (17). P1209 106. The method defined in claim 105, characterized in that the recording of the program selected by the user, with the • local interactive television programming guide in the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), comprises recording the program in the user's television equipment (22). 107. The method defined in claim 105, characterized in that the recording of the program selected by the user, with the guide of local interactive television programming in the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), comprises recording the program in an installation of television distribution (16). 108. A method for remotely reproducing programs, by a remote access link, the method being characterized by comprising the steps of: providing the user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program to be passed with an interactive television programming guide remote access implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); obtain the television program from a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide team (17), with the interactive remote television programming guide; Y P1209 remotely play the television program with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 109. A method for requesting remote pay-per-view programs with a local interactive television programming guide, through a remote access link (19), the method being characterized by comprising the steps of: providing the user with an opportunity to order a paid program with a interactive remote television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); and providing a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment (17), an indication of the paid order program, where the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) is connected to the remote access device to the programming guide (24) through the remote access link (19), and where the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) comprises the user's television equipment (22); and executing said at least one function related to the order of pay-per-view programs, P1209 with the local interactive television programming guide, based on the indication. 110. The method defined in claim 109, characterized by further comprising the step of requesting the paid program with the local interactive television programming guide. 111. The method defined in claim 109, characterized in that the step of executing said at least one function related to the order of pay-per-view programs with the guide of local interactive television programming, based on the indication, comprises exhibiting a reminder that the paid program was lost on the user's television equipment (22). 112. The method defined in claim 109, characterized in that the step of executing said at least one function related to the order of pay-per-view programs with the guide of local interactive television programming, based on the indication, comprises exhibiting a reminder that the paid program is starting on the user's television equipment (22). 113. A method for providing a user with remote access to functions of an interactive television programming guide, by an Internet link, the method being characterized by comprising the steps of: providing the user with an opportunity to P1209 remotely establish at least one configuration of the programming guide, through the Internet link, using a interactive remote television programming guide implemented on a personal computer connected to an Internet service system (61) by means of the link Internet; providing said at least one configuration of the programming guide, via the Internet link, to a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment (17); and executing said at least one function of the programming guide with the local interactive television programming guide, using said at least one configuration of the programming guide. 114. A system for providing a user with remote access to functions of an interactive television programming guide, the system being characterized by: a means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide, using a interactive remote television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); P1209 means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) in which a programming guide was implemented local interactive television, through the remote access link (19); and means for executing a function of the programming guide with the local interactive television programming guide, based on said at least one configuration of the programming guide. 115. The system defined in claim 114, characterized by further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to obtain remote information on parental control, from the local interactive television programming guide, using the guide of interactive remote television programming. 116. The system defined in claim 115, characterized in that: the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises a means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish a control configuration on the part of the user. parental, P1209 using the interactive remote television programming guide; and the system further comprises a means to block a program based on the configuration for parental control, with the local interactive television programming guide. 117. The system defined in claim 116, characterized by further comprising a means for indicating to the user that the program is blocked with the interactive remote television programming guide. 118. The system defined in claim 114, characterized by further comprising a means to provide the user with an opportunity to remotely obtain bookmark information from the local interactive television programming guide, using the interactive remote television programming guide. . 119. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises a means for providing the user with an opportunity to remotely establish a bookmark configuration, using the interactive remote television programming guide. P1209 120. The system defined in the claim 114, characterized by further comprising a means for providing the user with an opportunity to browse remotely through the favorites, using the remote access interactive television programming guide. 121. The system defined in claim 114, characterized by further comprising: a means for questioning the local interactive television programming guide with the interactive remote television programming guide; and a means to obtain remote survey-type information from the local interactive television programming guide, through the remote access link (19), with the interactive remote television programming guide. 122. The system defined in claim 121, characterized by further comprising a means for presenting the user with survey type information with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 123. The system defined in claim 121, characterized in that the means for obtaining remote survey information from the local interactive television programming guide comprises a means for obtaining remote survey information, P1209 using a simple protocol for network management. 124. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging access communications between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 125. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging orders between the interactive remote access television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 126. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; Y P1209 means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging commands between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 127. The system defined in claim 114, characterized by: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging messages between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 128. The system defined in claim 114, characterized by: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging remote access calls between the interactive remote television programming guide and the programming guide. P1209 local interactive television. 129. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging object-based communications between the interactive remote access television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 130. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is a bidirectional link; and the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises exchanging documents with a dialing language between the interactive remote television programming guide and the local interactive television programming guide. 131. The system defined in claim 114, characterized by further comprising: means for providing the user with an opportunity to create a message using the local interactive television programming guide; means for transferring the message to the remote access device to the programming guide (24), using the remote access link (19); and a means to deliver the message to the user with the interactive remote television programming guide. 132. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that the means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guidance. (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises a means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), through a communication device in the user's television equipment (22), connected to the access link Remote (19). 133. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that the means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for programming guidance Interactive television P1209 (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises a means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the computer for interactive television programming guide (17), through a communication device in a television distribution facility (16), connected to the remote access link (19). 134. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that the means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guide. (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises a means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide (24), from the remote access device to the programming guide to the guidance equipment of interactive television programming (17), through a communication device connected to a programming guide server (25) in a television distribution facility (16). 135. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that the means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, P1209 from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), through an Internet service system (61) connected to the guide distribution equipment of programming located in a television distribution facility (16). 136. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that the means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide. (24) to the team for interactive television programming guide (17), through the remote access link (19), comprises means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide, from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the team for interactive television programming guide (17), through a service system of Internet (61) connected to a programming guide server (25) located in a television distribution facility (16). P1209 137. The system defined in claim 114, characterized by further comprising: means for providing the user with an opportunity to create a message using the remote access interactive television programming guide; means for transferring the message to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), using the remote access link (19); and a means to deliver the message to the user with the local interactive television programming guide. 138. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that: the interactive remote television programming guide is a remote client version of the local interactive television programming guide; and the means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide comprises a means for providing the user with an opportunity to establish at least one configuration of the programming guide, using the remote client version of the guide of local interactive television programming. 139. The system defined in the claim P1209 114, characterized in that the means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) comprises a means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide to the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), using terminal emulation. 140. The system defined in the claim 114, characterized in that: the remote access link (19) is composed of a wireless link; and means for supplying said at least one configuration of the programming guide from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the interactive television programming guide equipment. (17) comprises means for supplying said at least one configuration to the equipment for interactive television program guide (17), using the wireless link. 141. The system defined in claim 114, characterized in that: the interactive remote television programming guide is a first guide of P1209 interactive television programming; the local interactive television programming guide is a second interactive television programming guide that is different from the first interactive television programming guide; and the means for providing said at least one configuration of the programming guide from the remote access device to the programming guide (24) to the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) comprises a means for supplying said at least one a configuration of the programming guide, from the first guide of interactive television programming to the second guide of interactive television programming. 142. A system for remotely programming programming reminders, the method being characterized by comprising the steps of: a means for providing a user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program for which a reminder is to be programmed, for the remote access link (19), by a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); and a means to schedule a reminder for the selected program, with a programming guide P1209 local interactive television implemented in the interactive television programming guide (17) equipment that has a user's television equipment (22), using the interactive remote television programming guide, through the remote access link (19) . 143. The system defined in claim 142, characterized in that the system further comprises a means for generating the programming reminder for the program, using the local interactive television programming guide. 144. The system defined in claim 142, characterized in that the means for generating the programming reminder for the program, using the local interactive television programming guide, comprises a means for generating the programming reminder for the program by sending the user a message by email. 145. The system defined in claim 142, characterized in that the means for generating the programming reminder for the program, using the local interactive television programming guide, comprises a means for generating the programming reminder looking for the user with a message that is transmitted to the user by a person search transmitter. P1209 146. The system defined in claim 142, characterized by further comprising: a means for storing the programming reminder with the remote access device to the programming guide (24); and a means to generate the programming reminder with the interactive remote television programming guide. 147. The system defined in claim 142, characterized in that the means for generating the programming reminder for the program, using the local interactive television programming guide, comprises a means for generating the reminder with the user's television equipment (22) . 148. A system for remotely programming programming reminders, the system being characterized by comprising: a means for providing the user with an opportunity to select a television program for which a programming reminder is to be programmed, by the access link remote (19), by a team for local interactive television programming guide (17) that has a user's television equipment (22); and a means to schedule a reminder of P1209 programming for the selected program, with a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24), using the local interactive television programming guide, through the remote access link ( 19). 149. The system defined in the claim 148, characterized in that the system further comprises a means for generating the programming reminder for the program, using the interactive remote television programming guide. 150. The system defined in the claim 149, characterized in that the means for generating the programming reminder for the program, using the interactive remote television programming guide, comprises a means for generating the programming reminder by sending the user a message by e-mail. 151. The system defined in claim 149, characterized in that the means for generating the programming reminder for the program, using the interactive remote television programming guide, comprises a means for generating the programming reminder looking for the user with a message which is transmitted to the user by a search transmitter of P1209 people. 152. A system for providing a user with remote access to program announcement information, the system being characterized by: a means for obtaining program announcement information with a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24), from a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide (17), through the remote access link (19); and a means to provide the user with program announcement information, with the remote access interactive television programming guide. 153. A system for remotely recording a television program, the system being characterized by: a means for providing the user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program to record on the remote access link (19), on the part of an interactive remote television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24), based on a local interactive television programming guide P1209 implemented in the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17); and a means for remotely recording the television program selected by the user, by the remote access link (19), with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 154. The system defined in claim 153, characterized by further comprising a means for obtaining directory information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the interactive television programming guide of remote access. 155. The system defined in claim 153, characterized by further comprising a means for obtaining video information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the interactive television programming guide of remote access. 156. The system defined in claim 153, characterized by further comprising: means for providing the user with the opportunity to select a video for playback by the remote access device to the programming guide (24), with the programming guide interactive television remote access; P1209 a means to remotely obtain the video selected by the user for its reproduction from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the remote access device to the programming guide (24); and a means for remotely reproducing the video, for the user, with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 157. The system defined in claim 153, characterized by further comprising a means for obtaining audio information from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the interactive television programming guide of remote access. 158. The system defined in the claim 153, characterized by further comprising: a means for providing the user with the opportunity to select audio for playback by the remote access device to the programming guide (24), with the interactive remote television programming guide; a means to obtain at a distance the audio selected by the user for its reproduction from the local interactive television programming guide, by the remote access link (19), with the access device P1209 remote to the programming guide (24); and a means for remotely reproducing the audio, for the user, with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). 159. A system for recording programs through a remote access link (19), the system being characterized by: a means to provide the user with an opportunity to select a program to be recorded by a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), with a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); and a means to record the program selected by the user, with the guide of local interactive television programming, on the interactive television programming guide equipment (17). 160. The system defined in the claim 159, characterized in that the means for recording the program selected by the user, with the guide of local interactive television programming in the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), comprises a means for recording the program in the television equipment P1209 of the user (22). 161. The system defined in claim 159, characterized in that the means for recording the program selected by the user, with the local interactive television programming guide in the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17), comprises a means for recording the program in a television distribution facility (16). 162. A system for remotely reproducing a television program, the system being characterized by: a means for providing the user with an opportunity to remotely select a television program to be played with a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); a means to obtain the television program from a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide team (17), with the interactive remote television programming guide; and a means for remotely reproducing the television program with the remote access device to the programming guide (24). P1209 163. A system for requesting remote pay-per-view programs with a local interactive television programming guide, through a remote access link (19), the system being characterized by: a means to provide the user with an opportunity to request a paid program with a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a remote access device to the programming guide (24); a means to provide a local interactive television programming guide implemented on the interactive television programming guide team (17), an indication of the requested payment program, where the equipment for interactive television programming guide (17) is connected to the remote access device to the programming guide (24) through the remote access link (19), and wherein the interactive television programming guide equipment (17) comprises the user's television equipment (22); and means for executing said at least one function related to the order of pay-per-view programs, with the local interactive television programming guide, based on the indication. 164. The system defined in claim 163, characterized by further comprising a means for P1209 order the paid program with the local interactive television programming guide. 165. The system defined in claim 163, characterized in that the means for executing said at least one function related to the order of pay-per-view programs with the local interactive television programming guide, based on the indication, comprises displaying a reminder that the paid program was lost on the user's television equipment (22). 166. The system defined in the claim 163, characterized in that the means for executing said at least one function related to the order of pay-per-view programs with the local interactive television programming guide, based on the indication, comprises displaying a reminder that the paid program is beginning. on the user's television equipment (22). 167. A system for providing a user with remote access to functions of an interactive television programming guide, by an Internet link, the system being characterized by: a means to provide the user with an opportunity to remotely establish at least one configuration of the programming guide, through the Internet link, using a remote access interactive television programming guide implemented in a P1209 personal computer connected to an Internet service system (61) via the Internet link; means for providing said at least one configuration of the programming guide, via the Internet link, to a local interactive television programming guide implemented in the interactive television programming guide equipment (17); and means for executing said at least one function of the programming guide with the local interactive television programming guide, using said at least one configuration of the programming guide. P1209