Interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion
US6016141A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/84
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.