MXPA01005496A - Electronic program guide with related-program search feature - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for searching for programs is provided. The system may be provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the given program in which the user has indicated an interest. The system may locate program listings that are related to the given program. The located program listings may be related to the given program based on attributes of the given program. The system may display a list of located listings and allow the user to select listings from the list. The system may tune to a program selected from the list, may display an information display screen for a program selected from the list, etc. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to configure and save search parameters. The system may sort related program listings based on the attributes of the given program. The system may provide the user with the opportunity to retrieve saved searches to locate currently available program listings and the opportunity to delete a saved search, rename a saved search, receive automatic notifications of programs matching a saved search, etc.

Description

ELECTRONIC PROGRAMMING GUIDE WITH CONNECTED PROGRAM SEARCH FUNCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to interactive television systems such as interactive television programming guidance systems, and more particularly to techniques for searching programs in these systems. Cable, satellite and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Usually, the number of channels provided by cable and satellite systems is more than one hundred, and growing. Traditionally, viewers have consulted printed television programming guides to obtain information about programs. More recently, interactive electronic television programming guides have been developed that allow information about television programs to be displayed on the television crew of viewers. Interactive electronic television programming guidelines ("programming guides") usually provide program announcements from all the channels available on the television system. Some programming guides include features to allow users to search for programs. Such search functions are often complex, time-consuming and uncomfortable. For example, such search functions may require a user to search for programs, search parameters such as preferred programming genres, for a user to navigate through several visual display screens before being allowed to initiate a search,: that the user enters at least part of the title, a program to start a search, etc. i? Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a television system that includes an improved program search function.

Summary of the Invention These and other objects of the invention are achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing a system for searching programs. The system can provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program. The system can give the user an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the given program in which the user indicated an interest. The system can locate advertisements for programs that are related to the given program. The announcements of localized programs can be related to the given program, based on attributes of the given program. The system can display a list of localized program announcements. The system can give the user an opportunity to make a selection from the list of related programs. The system can tune to a selected program from the list, it can display a visual display of information referring to? J a program selected from the list, etc. The system can give the user an opportunity to configure search parameters. For example, the system may present the user with a list of attributes of the given program, and may allow the user to select one or more attributes, and may allow the user to select which logical operations (eg, type and / or operations) to be executed with the attributes. The system can search for advertisements for television programs and can display a list of related programs based on the selected attributes. The system can classify announcements of programs related to the given program based on the attributes of the given program. The system can give the user an opportunity to save the search parameters for use at a later time. The system can display a list of previously saved search programs and can provide the user with an opportunity to direct the system so that it finds advertisements for currently available programs, based on a saved search program that is listed. The system can locate the available ads based on the search parameters selected by the user that correspond to the program for saved search, when that program is recovered for saved search. The system can allow the user to delete a program for saved search. The system can automatically display a warning based on the search parameters selected by the user that correspond to a program for saved search. The system can give the user an opportunity to see the search parameters selected by the user, corresponding to one of such saved search programs. Other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagram of an illustrative interactive television programming guide system, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a flow chart of the steps involved in providing the program search function, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3a is a flowchart of the illustrative steps involved to provide an opportunity to request that the system locate programs related to a given program, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3b is a diagram of an illustrative illustrative screen, display i1 sequence that provides > , an opportunity to ask the system to locate a given program, invention. I Figure 3c is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of screens! ' illustrative display that provide an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to a given program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure I is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens that provide an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to a given program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3e is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens that provide an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to a given program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4 is a flow chart of the illustrative steps involved in displaying program advertisements that are related to a given program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 5 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for displaying advertisements for programs that are related to a given program, in accordance with the present invention. ,? Figure 6 is a flow diagram of the illustrative steps involved in displaying program advertisements that are related to a given program based on search parameters selected by the user, in accordance with the invention. Figure 7a is a diagram of an illustrative sequence? L illustrative display screens for searching advertisements for programs that are related to a given program based on search parameters selected by the user, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for displaying advertisements for programs that are related to a given program based on search parameters selected by the user, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7c is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for searching for advertisements for programs that are related to a given program based on search parameters selected by the user, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 8a is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for searching advertisements for programs that are related to a given program based on search parameters selected by the! user, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 8b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for selecting a program advertisement that is related to a given program based on search parameters selected by the user, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 9 is a flowchart of the illustrative steps involved in providing display screens when a user makes selections from a visual display screen to find related programs, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 10a is a flowchart of the illustrative steps involved in displaying a display screen that has a list of saved search programs, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 10b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing a display screen that has a list of saved search programs, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 11 is a flowchart of the illustrative steps involved in providing functions relating to stored peer-to-peer programs in accordance with the present invention. Figure 12 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for searching program advertisements based on a stored search program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 13 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for deleting a program for saved search, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 14 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing an automatic warning of a program that corresponds to a search program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 15 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for displaying search parameters for a search program, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 16 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing functions relating to stored search programs, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figure 1 there is shown an illustrative system of interactive television programming guides, 50, in accordance with the present invention. The main installation 52 includes a database of the programming guide, 54, for storing information relating to the programming guide (e.g., television program announcement data, program related information, service announcement data, information related to services, information about orders for paid programs, promotional information about television programs, etc. Main installation 52 preferably includes a processor to handle information distribution tasks, information from database 54 can be transmitted in parallel through communication links such as the communication link 57, to multiple television distribution facilities, such as the television distribution facility 56. Figure 1 shows only one television distribution facility to avoid complicating too much the drawings, each communication link n 57 may be a satellite link, a link telephone network, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communication via. Through the link 57 text, graphic and video data can be transmitted. If it is further desired to transmit video signals over the communication link 57, a relatively high bandwidth link such as a satellite link is generally preferable, rather than a relatively low bandwidth link such as a telephone line. The television distribution facility 56 is an installation such as a cable system terminal, a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facility, for distributing television signals to viewers. The information relating to the programming guide transmitted by the main installation 52 to the television distribution facility 56 includes data of television program announcements such as program schedules, their channels, titles, descriptions, type of program, gender, actors , etc. The information regarding the programming guide that is transmitted may include data of paid programs such as price information for individual programs and channels with subscription, time windows for requesting programs and channels, telephone numbers for ordering that can not be made by impulses, etc. The television distribution facility 56 can distribute the information relating to the programming guide received from the main installation 52, to the user's television equipment 58, through the communication channels 60. The user's television equipment, 58, it can be any suitable equipment to supply television, which contains sufficient processing capabilities to monitor viewing activities, analyze these activities and display appropriate information about program announcements for the user. II Communication paths 60 can be cable links, fiber optic links, satellite links, broadcast links, or other suitable link or combination of such links. Any suitable communication system can be used to transmit data via tracks 60, including in-band transmissions, out-of-band transmissions, digital transmissions, analog transmissions, I-cable transmissions, satellite transmissions, air transmissions, transmissions by multipoint distribution services. multichannel (MMDS), etc. Communication paths 60 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow the television distribution facility 56 to distribute television programming, program advertisement information, advertisements and other information to the user's television equipment. They can be supplied to the user's television equipment, 58, multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or both, analog and digital) through the communication channels 60. If desired, some of the data may be distributed to the user's television equipment 58 by means of of one or more distribution facilities that are separated from the television distribution facility 56, using communication routes that are at least partially separated from the communication routes 60. The data distribution technique that is used to distribute data by tracks 60 depends on the type of information that is being distributed. For example, text and graphics may be distributed by an out-of-band channel using an out-of-band modulator or distributed in the lines of the vertical blanking interval of an analog video channel. The video information can also be distributed in this way, although large amounts of video information can be distributed more efficiently using one or more channels or digital streams in tracks 60. Such channels or digital streams can also be used to distribute text and graph. Each user's television set 58 has a receiver, which is typically a box that is placed on the television set, such as the box 62. The receiver can also be other suitable television equipment, such as an advanced television receiver, in which circuits have been integrated similar to the circuits of the box that is placed on the television set, or a television with personal computer (PC / TV). For illustrative purposes, the present invention will be described in the context of the user's television equipment 58 using boxes that are placed on the television set. Each box that is placed on the television set 62 is typically connected to an optional VCR 66 so that the selected television programs can be recorded. The video recorder 66 is usually connected to a television 68. To record a program, the box 62 tunes to a particular channel and sends control signals to the VCR 66 (for example, using the infrared transmitter 70) which indicate to the VCR 66 that start and stop recording at the appropriate times. The advertisements of the television programs, the advertisements and the programming information can be displayed on the television 68. Each box 62, the video recorder 66, and the television 68, can be controlled by means of one or more remote controls 70 or any other suitable interface for data entry by the user, such as a wireless keyboard, mouse (ouse), trac ball, specialized keypad, remote control with touch screen, etc. remote controls, such as the remote control 70, I have various buttons that can be pressed by the user, such as arrow keys (for example, to direct that of a highlighting region, scroll region, etc.), a, "enter", or any other key to make a selection (hereinafter referred to as the "OK" key), channel number keys (to select a television channel), a favorite key (to use functions related to user preferences), a "delete" key (to delete items from the menu or to express a disinterest in 'certain user preferences), an "information" key to receive information about a program (hereinafter referred to as the "INFO" key), a specific function key (for example, a key to search for related programs to invoke program search), etc. For illustrative purposes, many aspects of the present invention are analyzed primarily in the context of a user interface that is a remote control. Certain functions of the programming guide such as the purchase of paid programs, the purchase of products or services and data collection functions, may require that the user's television equipment 58 transmit data to the television distribution facility 56 by the communication channels 60. If desired, such data can be transmitted by telephone lines or other separate communication channels. If functions such as these are provided using separate facilities of the television distribution facility 56, some of the communications involving the user's television equipment 58 may be made directly with the separate installation (not shown). If desired, an illustrative interactive television programming guide system can be implemented using a data relay architecture. In such an architecture, the television distribution facility 56 can serve as a data relay site and the user's television equipment 58 can be a destination site for the data. For example, as the television distribution facility 56 receives information from the main facility 52, the television distribution facility 56 may distribute information continuously or periodically to the user's television equipment 58. In a broadcast architecture data, a programming guide implemented in the user's television equipment 58 can use a database (e.g., the database 64) to store information relating to the programming guide on the user's television equipment. Information regarding the programming guide can include program announcements and program attributes.

The attributes of the programs can be information such as the title of the program, the actors of the program, the duration of the program, the genre of the program (for example, sports, comedy, movies, etc.), channel of the program, expected duration of the program. program, program rating (eg TV-G, PG-13, etc.), program content rating (or 'rating of the rating or rating by stars, for example a star, two stars, etc.) and other related parameters that can be placed as a label for a program. The television distribution facility 56 may also periodically interrogate the boxes that are placed on the television set, to obtain certain information (for example, paid program account information or information regarding programs that have been purchased and viewed using locally generated authorization techniques). The functions of the present invention can be implemented in a client-server arrangement or in a combination of client-server and data relay arrangements. In such provisions, the server (e.g., the television distribution facility 56) may include a database that may include program announcement information. For clarity, the present invention is sometimes described mainly in the context of programming guidelines that are implemented in the user's television equipment, rather than in the context of programming guides that are partially implemented in a server and partially in the server. user's television equipment or in an architecture more completely based on a server. Each box that is placed on the television, 62, preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated with the implementation of an application in the box 62 that assists the user in the search of programs. For example, a separate application supporting the 'search for programs' can be provided, as described in more detail below. If desired, these tasks can be implemented using an application that is a programming guide. For clarity, the present invention will be described primarily in the context of such a programming guide application, and in the context of a programming guide system. Figure 2 shows the illustrative steps involved in providing the search function in an interactive television system such as the interactive television programming guide system 50 presented in Figure 1. Initially, in step 80, the Programming guide can give a user an opportunity to ask the system to locate programs that are related to a particular program (for example, a program in which the user has indicated an interest through the use of the system). In step 82 the programming guide can display a list of programs that are related to the particular program, when the user requests that the system locate programs that are related to the particular program. The programming guide can include programs in the list, based on such criteria '' as if a program is related to the particular program in what it does to the attribute, if a program is a continuation or a first part of the particular program. , if a program is in the same series of programs as the particular program, if a program is a series that is related to the particular program, if a program is related to the program selected by the user in terms of content or topic, if a program has the same actors, director, category, theme or year of production as the program selected by the user, etc. Figure 3a shows the illustrative steps involved to provide a user with an opportunity to request that a system locate programs related to a given program, in an interactive television system such as the interactive television programming guide system 50; Figure 1. In step 84, the programming guide can provide a user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in the given program, for example by placing a highlighting region on an advertisement of the given program, tuning the system in the given program , selecting that a visual presentation screen of information referring to the given program is displayed, etc. In step 86, the programming guide can give the user an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the given program. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 3a the illustrative display screens of Figures 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e can be provided. As shown in Figure 3b, the programming guide may display the display screen 94 of the related program found, "Seinfeld", when a user presses a single key of the interface <3) the user, while on the visual display screen 92 a "Seinfeld" video is displayed. This single key of the user interface can be, for example, a "search" key of a remote control, to request that the system locate related programs. If desired, as shown in Figure 3c, the programming guide can display the visual display screen 90 of the found program, "Seinfeld", when the user presses a predetermined sequence of keys of the user interface, after making navigating a highlight region placed over a "Seinfeld" advertisement on the screen 88 of program advertisement displays. The default sequence of keys of the user interface can be, for example, pressing a "search" key and an "OK" key of a remote control. A key sequence can be used when the user interface device (eg, a remote control) does not have a specific key to give the user an opportunity to request that the system locate related programs. If desired, as shown in Figure 3d, the programming guide can display screen 98 of the found program display: the basketball game between the Knicks and izards, when the user presses a "search" key of a control remote, after navigating a highlight region on the announcement of the match between Knicks and Wizards in the "sports" category of screen 96 of the display of program announcements. If desired, as shown in Figure 3e, the programming guide may display the display screen 102 of the related program found, "Dateline", when a user presses an OK key on the remote control after navigating a region of highlighted on option 104 of related programs of the screen 100 of visual presentation of information referred to "Dateline". The programming guide may display the display screen 100 of information referred to "Dateline" when, for example, the user pressed an OK key of a remote control, after navigating a highlight region on an advertisement of the "Dateline" program ", when the user pressed an INFO key when the" Dateline "video was being displayed, etc. Examples of programming guidance systems with display capabilities of visual presentation of information are given in the U.S. patent application. Rudnick et al, Serial No. 09 / 356,268, filed July 16, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Figure 4 shows the illustrative steps involved in displaying program advertisements that are related to a given program in an interactive television system such as the interactive television programming guide system 50 of Figure 1. In step 106, the programming guide can give the user an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program. In step 108, when the user indicates an interest in the given program, the programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the given program. In step 110, the programming guide can locate program announcements (eg, program announcements stored in a database of the programming guide, such as database 64 of Figure 10 that are related to the program The programming guide can locate advertisements for programs based on attributes of the given program, for example, the programming guide can locate advertisements for programs that have an attribute that corresponds to the given program attribute (for example, an actor). in common, the same content, the same series, the same director, the same category, the same theme, the same year of production, etc.), advertisements for programs that have a plurality of attributes that correspond to the attributes of the program dice, announcements of programs that have attributes that are related to the attributes of the given program (for example, first parts, continuations, similar content, similar theme, related series, etc.), etc. In step 112, the programming guide may display a display screen (or, if desired, an overlay) that contains advertisements for programs that are related to the program selected by the user. From the list, the user can find a program of interest. In step 114, the programming guide can give the user an opportunity to select a program advertisement from the list. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 4, the illustrative display screen 116 of program advertisements, the illustrative display of information display 118 and the illustrative display screen 120 of related programs encountered, of the Figure can be provided. 5. The programming guide may display the information display screen 118, referred to "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Y" when a user selects an advertisement for "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Y" of the display screen 116 of program announcements (for example, by pressing an INFO key when a highlight region is placed on that advertisement). The information display screen 118 may include an option 122 of related programs to request programs related to "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Y". The programming guide may display the display screen 120 of the related programs found when a user selects option 122 of related programs from the display screen 118 of information. The display screen 120 of related programs found includes a list of programs related to "Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Y" which contains: Episode K of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", Episode D of "Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan ", Episode Z of" Babylon 5", Episode X of" Babylon 5", etc. The list may have been classified based on the attributes that were used by the programming guide to locate the advertisements for the programs shown. For example, the list may have been classified based on what attribute caused the correspondence, or for example, based on how many attributes corresponded. Display screen 120 of related programs found may include an indicator, such as arrow 124, to inform the user that the list may be moved to display other advertisements that are not currently displayed. Such an indicator can be used when there is insufficient space to display all the related programs on a screen and visual display of related programs found. Figure 6 shows the intervening steps in the display of, announcements of programs that are related to a given program, based on search parameters configured by the user, in an interactive television system such as the system 50 of guidance of interactive television programming, of Figure 1. Steps 126 and 128 are the same as steps 106 and 108 of Figure 4, respectively, and have been discussed before. In step 130 of Figure 6, when the user requests that the system locate programs that are related to a given program, the programming guide may give the user an opportunity to configure search parameters to search related programs based on the attributes of the program selected by the user. In step 132, the programming guide can then locate program announcements based on the search parameters configured by the user. The program guide can locate program announcements from advertisements for programs stored in a database, such as the program announcement database 64, of Figure 1. The location of the program announcement database may depend on the communications arrangement of the interactive television programming guide system (for example, in a client-server arrangement, at least part of the the database can be located in a television distribution facility). In step 134, the programming guide may I display a display screen that includes on-screen advertisements for programs that are related to the given program, based on the search parameters configured by the user. In step 134a, the programming guide can classify the localized advertisements for display, based on the search parameters configured by the user. In step 134b, the programming guide can give the user an opportunity to select one of the displayed program advertisements. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 6, illustrative display screen 136 can be provided, and illustrative display screen 138 of search display of related programs (hereinafter referred to as display screen 138 for configuration) of the Figure 7a. The programming guide may display the display screen 138 for configuration for an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" when a user presses a single key of a remote control while a video of that episode of "Star Trek" is being displayed. : The Next Generation. "Display screen 138 for configuration may contain a list of attributes (on screen) of the given program, "Star Trek: The Next Generation". The display screen 138 for configuration may contain options to provide the user with an opportunity to assign various levels of importance to the program attributes on the screen. The option can give the user an opportunity to assign different levels of importance to the attributes of the programs, such as "required", "desired", "ignored", or "excluded". The display screen 138 for configuration shows that importance levels can be assigned to the program attributes referred to the given episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", so that when advertisements for related programs are located, the programming guide excludes programs that are "Star Trek: The Next Generation", ignore if a program is a program related to "Star Trek" at the time of deciding if it corresponds, ignore if a program is a movie of "Star Trek" when deciding if it is corresponds, requires that the corresponding programs be science fiction, requires that the corresponding programs be with Patrick Stewart. The display screen 138 for configuration may include a "search" option that may provide the user with an opportunity to instruct the programming guide system to locate advertisements for programs related to the given program, based on program attributes and their assigned importance levels. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 6, illustrative display screens 140 and 142 of related connected programs, of Figure 7b, can be provided. The programming guide may display the display screen 140 of related programs found, for example when the user selects the "search" option of the display screen 138 for configuration, of Figure 7a. The display screen 140 may include a list of programs that are related to the given program based on the search parameters of the display screen 138 for configuration, of Figure 7a. The list of related programs that appears on screen 140 of the visual presentation includes the "Lifeforce" program, which is a science fiction program (a required attribute) with Patrick Stewart (a required attribute) and includes three "Star Trek" movies ("Insurrection", "First Contact" and "Generations") which are also science fiction programs with Patrick Stewart and also with Jonathan Frakes (a desired attribute). "Lifeforce" can be displayed at the bottom of the list because the other programs correspond to a greater extent with the search parameters configured by the user.

The display screen 140 may include option 144 to display more advertisements for programs that are related to "Star Trek: The Next Generation", based on the search parameters configured by the user. Display screen 140 may include option 146 of saving settings which provides the user with an opportunity to save the search parameters configured by the user. The programming guide may display the display screen 142 of related programs found when the user selects option 146 to save settings of the display screen 140. The display screen 142 is the same display screen as the screen. display 140, except that the display screen 142 includes option 148 of not saving configurations, which provides the user with an opportunity not to save the search parameters configured by the user (for example, delete the search parameters configured by the user that have been saved). If desired, an arrangement such as the one shown in Figure 7c can be used to search for related programs. Initially, the user can indicate an interest in a given program by selecting an advertisement of the given program from a display of program advertisements on screen, by pressing an OK button or another button of the remote control while tuning the given program (for example , while tuning the given program with a box, which is placed on the television set or similar device), selecting the program from the results of a search, etc. A list of attributes of the given program (such as the list of attributes appearing on the display screen 300 of the program) can be displayed to the user (for example, by the programming guide or other interactive application operating in the system). Figure 7c). A mobile highlight region, such as highlighting region 302, or other such indicator may be used to provide the user with an opportunity to select attributes of interest to be used in the search for related programs. As shown in the visual presentation 304 of I Figure 7c, the user can select one or more attributes (for example, by pressing an OK button on the remote control or otherwise selecting the desired attributes). The system can display a visual indication of which program attributes have been programmed. For example, the system may highlight selected attributes, may change its color, text font, brightness, etc., or may display an indicator such as indicators 306, to indicate which program attributes have been selected by the user. When the user highlights the "search" option 308 and presses an OK button on the remote control (or otherwise selects option 308), the system searches for program announcements that correspond to the selected program attributes. When multiple attributes are selected, the search can be performed using a logical AND function or a logical OR function. The search results can be displayed using any suitable arrangement on the screen, and can be selected (for more information, automatic tuning, etc.). ), if desired. The arrangement of Figure 7c is merely illustrative. Any suitable arrangement can be used to provide an on-screen display of the attributes related to a selected program. Attributes may include the genres of programs, their actors, rating, channel, director, year of production, or any other suitable attribute of the programs. Information about the attributes of the programs can be provided together with the data of the program announcements. In a client-server arrangement, for example, the attributes of the programs can be maintained together with the program announcement data stored in a server located in a cable system terminal (or in another suitable location I). In configurations in which program announcements are stored locally in a box that is placed on the television set or on other user equipment, the attributes of the programs can be maintained locally. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 6, the illustrative display 150 of information display and the illustrative display 152 of the search display of related programs (hereinafter referred to as the display 152 for configuration) of the Figure 8a. The programming guide may display the information display screen 150 when a user selects to receive information about the football game between the Denver Broncos and the Dallas Cowboys. The information display screen 150 may include option 154 of related programs, which provides the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the football game between the Denver Broncos and the Dallas Cowboys. The programming guide may display the display screen 152 for configuration when the user selects the options of related programs, from the display 150 of information display, the display screen 152 for configuration can include a list, on the screen, of program attributes that must be configured by the user. The attributes of programs, on the screen, may differ depending on the specific aspects of the given program and on the basis of the category of the given program. For example, for a program in the sports category, the on-screen list may include attributes that are specific to that sports program and / or include attributes that are related to sports programs in general. As shown, display screen 152 for configuration may include the following attributes: other football games, NFL games, Broncos team games, Cowboys team games, any sporting events, programs related to American football, programs with John Elway as a guest, etc. The user can then configure the search parameters in order to require that the corresponding programs be football games, desire NFL games and Broncos games, exclude Cowboys team games, ignore whether a program is a sporting event at the moment of deciding if it corresponds, and ignoring if a program has John Gateway as a guest, at the moment of deciding if said program corresponds or not. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 6, the illustrative display screen 158 of related connected programs can be provided. The display 158 may be displayed when a user selects the "search" option 156 from the display screen 152 for configuration, of Figure 8a. The display 158 of Figure 8b may include advertisements that are classified for display based on the user-configured search parameters of the display 158 for configuration. The programming guide may display the program display screen 160, which contains video of a program in progress, when the user selects an advertisement for a program in progress from the program advertisements contained in the presentation screen 158 of related programs found. If desired, the programming guide may display the display screen 162 of information relating to a program, when the user selects a program advertisement from the program advertisements contained in the display screen 158 of related programs found . If desired, the advertisements appearing on the screen 158 of related programs found may include the title of the programs, their broadcasting time, channel, rating, information on paid programs, etc. Figure 9 shows the illustrative steps involved in displaying the illustrative display screens of Figure 8b, for an interactive television system such as the interactive television programming guide system 50 of Figure 1. In step 164, the programming guide may display a screen containing on-screen program advertisements that are related to a given program. Step 164 may include step 166 in which the programming guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select one of the on-screen program advertisements. In step 168, the programming guide can tune to a channel of a program in progress when the user selects one of the on-screen advertisements belonging to an ongoing program. In step 170, the programming guide may display a display screen of information referred to a selected on-screen advertisement, when the user selects that advertisement on the screen. In step 172, the programming guide can return the user to the television viewing mode or to a previous screen, when the user leaves the screen that contains the announcements of related programs on the screen (for example, press an "exit" or "previous" key on a remote control). Figure 10a shows the illustrative steps involved in displaying a list of saved search programs, for an interactive television system such as the interactive television programming guide system 50, of Figure 1. In step 174, The programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to select a program option for saved search. In step 176, the programming guide may display a display screen containing a list of saved search programs, when a user selects the option of saved search programs. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 10a, the illustrative display screen 178 of the main menu and the illustrative display screen 180 of saved search programs, of Figure 10b, can be provided. The programming guide may display a main menu display screen 178 in order to provide a main selection menu for accessing the programming guide functions. Display screen 178 of the main menu may include option 182 of saved search programs. The programming guide may display the display screen 180 of saved search programs, when the user selects option 182 of stored search programs. The display screen 180 of stored search programs may include a list of saved search programs that are identified on the screen using the title of the given program for each program for saved search. When two saved search programs belong to two programs with the same title, the programming guide can use a numbering to distinguish the advertisements. If desired, the user may have been allowed to name the programs for search. For example, the programming guide may have provided the user with an opportunity to enter a name (for example, by selecting or entering alphanumeric letters with a user interface device) for a search program that will be saved by the programming guide according to instructions that the user is giving. The saved search programs can be selected by the user in order to give the user an opportunity to search for announcements of ongoing programs using search parameters that were configured by the user in a previous search for program announcements. Figure 11 shows the illustrative steps involved in displaying a list of saved search programs, for an interactive television system such as the interactive television program guide system 50, of Figure 1. In step 184, The programming guide can display a visual presentation screen that contains a list of saved search programs. In step 186, the programming guide can provide a user with an opportunity to select a saved program. In step 188, the programming guide can display a list of programs based on a search for advertisements for currently available programs with saved search parameters from a previous search. In step 190, the programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to delete a program from the list of saved search programs.

In step 192, the programming guide can delete a program for particular saved search, when the user selects to delete that particular saved program. In step 194, the programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to select an option to view the search parameters configured by the user, for a program for saved search. In step 196, the programming guide may display a display screen containing search parameters configured by the user, referred to that saved program. If desired, step 196 may include a step that provides the user with the opportunity to modify the stored search programs. In step 198, the programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to establish (or withdraw) an automatic warning of programs that have been located using a program for saved search. In step 200, the programming guide may display a warning that a localized program is programmed to be broadcast, when the user has selected to receive automatic notifications. If desired, step 200 may include a step that provides the user with the opportunity to act on that step. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 11, the illustrative display screen 202 of stored search programs and the illustrated display screen 204 of related connected programs, of Figure 12, can be provided. Saved search programs can include a list of saved search programs and corresponding options, including a "search" option, for each program for search. The programming guide may display the display screen 204 of related programs found when the user selects the "search" option for the program for search # 4. The screen 204 may include a list of announcements of programs in progress based on the search parameters configured by the user for the program for search # 4. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 11, illustrative display screens 206 and 208 of stored search programs of Figure 13 can be provided. The programming guide can display screen 206 which includes a "delete" option for the program for search # 3. The programming guide may display screen 208 that does not include the program for search # 3, when the user selects the option "delete" for the program for search # 3. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 11, illustrated display screens 210 and 212 of stored search programs, of Figure 14, may be provided. The programming guide may display display screen 210 of saved search programs, which includes an automatic warning option for saved search programs, which includes the program for search # 5. The option of automatic warning for the program for search # 5 may be initially deactivated. The programming guide may display the display screen 212 of stored search programs, which includes an indication that the automatic warning for the program for search # 5 is activated, when the user selects the automatic warning option for the program for search # 5 from the visual display 210. After the user leaves the screen 212 and resumes television viewing activity, the programming guide may display the automatic warning overlay 216 on the visual display screen 214 , when the programming guide locates a program (for example, the movie "Terminator") using the search parameters configured by the user for the program for search # 5. If desired, the programming guide can provide a visual display of notices for the localized program. The notice may be displayed when the program is about to be broadcast or is being broadcast. The overlay 216 may include a "tune" option (to tune the channel that that program broadcasts), an "information" option (to display more information about that program), an option "saved search programs" (to display a visual presentation screen of stored search programs), a "request" option (to request programs), etc. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 11, the illustrative display screen 218 of stored search programs and the illustrated display screen 220 of saved search program settings, of Figure 15 can be provided. The programming guide it can display screen 220, which has an option that provides the user with an opportunity to view search parameters for saved search programs. The programming guide may display screen 222 for the program for search # 3 when the user selects the option to see the search parameters for the program for search # 3. The screen 222 can display the search parameters configured by the user for the program for search # 3, an option "modify configuration" (to allow the user to adjust the search parameters), and a "search" option (to search the program announcement in progress based on the search parameters configured by the user). If desired, the programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to modify the settings on this screen, highlighting them and changing them, instead of having to first select a "modify" option. Based on the illustrative steps of Figure 11, the illustrative display screen 224 of stored search programs and the illustrative display screen 226 for configuring saved search programs can be provided. The programming guide may display screen 224, which includes a list of saved search programs, when a user selects an option "stored search programs" (for example, the option "saved search programs" 182 of Figure 10b) . The programming guide may display screen 226 when the user selects a saved search program from screen 224. Screen 226 may include on-screen search settings for the saved search program that has been selected. The programming guide can provide the user with an opportunity to navigate to any of the configurations and modify them. Screen 226 may include the "search" option 228 which, when selected, causes the programming guide to display a list of corresponding programs, the "give new name" option 230 which allows the user to enter a name (or modify the name) for the program for selected search, the option "delete" 232 that, when selected, deletes the program for selected search, the option "automatic warning" 234 that provides an automatic warning of programs that correspond to the program for selected search, etc. the "automatic warning" option may include a flag 236 to indicate that option 234 is activated. The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention, and various modifications may be introduced by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (40)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for searching advertisements for television programs, characterized by understanding the steps of: providing a user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program; display a list, on screen, of attributes related to the program; provide the user with an opportunity to select one of the attributes; and display a list of ads for programs related to the selected attribute. The method defined in claim 1, characterized in that the step of providing the user with the opportunity to indicate an interest in the given program comprises providing the user with an opportunity to select a program advertisement from a presentation of program announcements in screen. The method defined in claim 1, characterized in that the step of providing the user with the opportunity to indicate an interest in the given program comprises providing the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a program that is currently being displayed. The method defined in claim 1, characterized by further comprising: providing the user with an opportunity to select a plurality of attributes; and display in the list announcements of programs that are related to the selected attributes. The method defined in claim 1, characterized by further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to select advertisements for programs from the list. 6. An interactive television programming guide system for searching television program advertisements, characterized by comprising: a user's television equipment in which an interactive television programming guide is implemented at least partially, where the television crew of the user is configured to provide a user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program, to display a list, on screen, of attributes related to the program, to provide the user with an opportunity to select one of the attributes, and to display a list of ads for programs related to the selected attribute. The system defined in claim 6, characterized in that the user's television set is further configured to provide the user with the opportunity to indicate an interest in the given program, being configured to provide the user with an opportunity to select an advertisement for the program. given from a presentation of on-screen program advertisements. 8. The system defined in claim 6, characterized in that the user's television set is further configured to provide the user with the opportunity to indicate an interest in the given program, being configured to provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a program that is currently being exhibited. The system defined in claim 6, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to select a plurality of attributes, and to display in the list advertisements of programs that are related to the selected attributes . The system defined in claim 6, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to select advertisements for programs from the list. 11. A method to be used in an interactive television programming guide system having a user's television equipment and a remote control for interconnection with said user's television equipment, said method being for searching programs and said method being characterized by understand the steps of; display a visual presentation screen that includes a video of a given program; allow the user to use a single key on the remote control, while the video of the given program is being displayed, in order to instruct the programming guide system to locate announcements of programs related to the given program; and display a visual presentation screen that includes advertisements for programs located by the system. The method defined in claim 11, characterized by further comprising classifying the advertisements of programs located by the system, for display. The method defined in claim 11, characterized by further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to select any of the program advertisements displayed. The method defined in claim 13, characterized by further comprising tuning to a particular program when the user selects an advertisement for the particular program, from the advertisements displayed. The method defined in claim 13, characterized by further comprising tuning a current program when the user selects a particular one of the displayed advertisements presented by a current program. The method defined in claim 13, characterized by further comprising displaying a display screen of information containing information related to a particular one of the displayed advertisements, when the user selects that particular advertisement. 17. The method defined in claim 13, characterized by further comprising locating programs based on the attributes of the given program. 18. An interactive television programming guide system for searching programs, characterized by comprising: a remote control that is configured to interface with the user's television equipment; a user television equipment in which an interactive television programming guide is at least partially implemented, where the user's television equipment is configured to display a visual display screen including a video of a given program, to allow the user to use a single key on the remote control, while the video of the given program is being displayed, in order to instruct the programming guide system to locate announcements of programs related to the given program; and to display a visual presentation screen that includes the announcements of programs located by the system. The system defined in claim 18, characterized in that the user's television set is further configured to classify the advertisements of programs located by the system, for display. 20. The system defined in claim 18, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to select any of the program advertisements displayed. The system defined in claim 20, characterized in that the user's television set is further configured to tune to a particular program when the user selects an advertisement for the particular program, from the displayed advertisements. 22. The system defined in claim 20, characterized in that the user's television set is further configured to tune to a current program when the user selects a particular one of the displayed advertisements presented by a current program. The system defined in claim 20, characterized in that the user's television set is further configured to display a display screen of information containing information related to a particular one of the displayed advertisements, when the user selects that advertisement in particular. The system defined in claim 18, characterized in that the user's television set is further configured to locate programs based on the attributes of the given program. 25. A method to be used in an interactive television programming guide system having a user's television equipment and a remote control for interconnection with said user's television equipment, said method being for searching for programs and said method being characterized by understanding the Steps of; display a visual presentation screen that includes a video of a given program; allow the user to use a single key on the remote control, while the video of the given program is being displayed, in order to instruct the programming guide system to locate announcements of programs related to the given program; provide the user with an opportunity to assign various levels of importance to the attributes of programs on the visual presentation screen; and display a selectable "search" option on the same visual display screen of assigned program attributes and assigned levels of importance that the user selects in order to instruct the programming guide system to locate advertisements for programs related to the given program based on the attributes of the program and their assigned importance levels. 26. The method defined in claim 25, characterized by further comprising providing the user with an opportunity for the programming guide system to store the plurality of attributes of the given program. 27. The method defined in claim 26, characterized by further comprising providing the user with an opportunity for the programming guide system to store the plurality of attributes of the given program and their assigned importance levels. The method defined in claim 26, characterized by further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to suppress the plurality of attributes of the given program. 29. The method defined in claim 25, characterized by further comprising displaying a list of program announcements that the program guide system located based on the attributes and their assigned importance levels. 30. The method defined in claim 29, characterized by further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to select advertisements for programs from the list. 31. The method defined in claim 30, characterized by further comprising displaying information related to a particular program announcement that has been selected from the list. 32. The method defined in claim 30, characterized by further comprising tuning a particular program when an advertisement for the particular program is selected from the list. 33. An interactive television programming guide system, characterized by comprising: a remote control that is configured to interface with the user's television equipment; a user television equipment in which an interactive television programming guide is at least partially implemented, where the user's television equipment is configured to display a visual display screen including a video of a given program, to allow the user to use a single key on the remote control, while the video of the given program is being displayed, in order to instruct the programming guide system to display a display screen containing a plurality of attributes of the given program, to provide the user an opportunity to assign various levels of importance to the attributes of programs on the visual presentation screen, and to display a selectable "search" option on the same visual display screen of the program attributes and assigned importance levels that the user selects in order to instruct the programming guide system so that loc alice announcements of programs related to the given program based on the attributes of the program and its assigned importance levels. 34. The system defined in claim 33, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity for the programming guide system to store the plurality of attributes of the given program. 35. The system defined in claim 33, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity for the programming guide system to store the plurality of attributes of the given program and their assigned importance levels. 36. The system defined in claim 33, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to suppress the plurality of attributes of the given program. 37. The system defined in claim 33, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to display a list of program announcements that the program guide system located based on the attributes and their assigned importance levels. 38. The system defined in claim 37, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to provide the user with an opportunity to select advertisements for programs from the list. 39. The system defined in claim 33, characterized in that the user's television equipment is further configured to display information related to a particular program announcement that has been selected from the list. 40. The system defined in claim 38, characterized in that the user's television set is further configured to tune to a particular program when an advertisement for the particular program is selected from the list.