CA2631957A1 - Systems and methods for providing channel groups in an interactive media guidance application - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates an interactive media guidance application that provides channel groups. Channel groups may include media channels, such as television channels, radio stations, Internet web sites, etc. Channel groups may be organized around a common characteristic, by utilizing user profile information, and by human editorial selection (e.g., by a service provider or by a user). The guidance application provides information on the channel groups, including media listings, reminders, pending and completed recordings, purchased programs, and previously accessed programs for the channel group.
The guidance application enables the user to focus a guidance application function on the channel group. In response to a user initiation to execute the function on the channel group, the function may be executed on all the media channels belonging to the channel group. Information on the channel group and access to functions that are executable on the channel group may be concentrated in a channel group portal screen of the guidance application.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CHANNEL GROUPS IN AN
INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE'APPLICATION
Background of the Invention This invention relates to interactive media-systems, and more particularly, to interactive*media guidance applications that provide a user interface-for =receiving information about and requesting access to media. In particular, the present invention relates-to providing groups-of media channels in an interactive media guidance application to enable improved user guidance and functionality in the guidance application.
Media delivery systems, such as cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems, the Internet, and-satellite radio systems, provide users with a large number of media channels, such as television channels, radio stations, and Internet web' sites. These media channels provide programming in a number of different media, such as video programming (e.g., broadcast television programming, on-demand video programming), audio programming (e.g., music channels, audio-on-demand programming), and interactive applications (e.g.., games and shopping applications).
In view of the myriad media channels provided to users,

2 int e ractive-media guidance applications are needed to provide a user-friendly interface that organizes inf o rmation, such as media listings, enable access.to the iziedia programming, and provide other advanced functions that improve the user's media expe-rience.
A common type of interactive media guidance application is a television program guide application, which is typically implemented on a.user set-top box.
Such -program- gu-ides allow users to view program listings for multiple television channels in different display formats. For example, a user may i nstruct the program guide to display a grid or table of program listings organized in a channel-ordered or a time-ordered list. Users may also search and so rt'pragram listings by genre-(e..g., movies, sports, et c.) or by title (i.e., alphabetically). A user may obtain additional information for a program by -plac-ing a highlight region on a desired program 1'ist.ing and pressing an information request button. The user-may set a television channel as a favorite channel, lock access to a program or channel, and purchase apay program. or pay channel from the program guide. The user may select a program for recording or set a reminder to watch a program. However, with the advent of other types of platforms for accessing media programming (e.g., personal digital assist ants,personal media players, cellular phones, personal computers, gaming platforms), the-need formedia guidance now extends beyond television and television program guides. Interactive media guidance applications are Yiow implemented on any platform that enables the user to access media programmi.ng. Even in television systems, the type of media programming

3 provided is no longer limited to television programming, and interactive television program guides now also provide guidance for other types of media programming (e.g., music programming, interactive gaming applications, etc.).
With so many media channels available'to the ,user, what is needed is a sophisticated approach.for organizing media channels, media listi=ngs;= and descriptive information in an interactive=medi=a.
guidance application such that the user is more easily and naturally guided to media programming of interest to the user.
Therefore,.it would be desirable to pi=ovide.
an interactive media guidance application that focuses=
the user's attention on a group of inedia-channels, that provides focused information on a group=of media ==
channels, and that executes a function of the guidance application on a group*of media channels.

Summary of the Invention These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an interactive media guidance applicat.ion that provides=channel groups.
A definition of a channel group may include a.
plurality of media channels. The channel group definition (also referred to as the channel group roster) may also include individual media listings.
The media channels belonging to a channel group (also referred to as group channels) and any individual media listings belonging to the channel group may share at least one common characteristic around which the channel group is organized. A.channel group may be

4 PCT/US2006/047092 organized around any distinguishable characteristic of a media channel or of a media-listing. For example, channel groups may be organized around programming content, tier of service (e.g.., cable, premium), media type (e.g., video, audio, interactive), etc.- Channel group rosters may be populated using human editorial 'judgment independent of any.objective=criteria.
Channel-groups may be organized by the'user or by the system (e.g., by the service provider or the guidance application). The system may utilize user=profile information (e.g., on which media channels and programming are accessed by the user) to determine the channel groups to be provided to the user and their group rosters. The guidance application'may enable the=
user-to create-a-channel group by selecting the media channels and media listings for the channel group roster.and may also enable the user-to edit channel group rosters initially set by the system.
The guidance application may provide the user with information on the channel group, such as information on the common characteristic for the channel group, and video clips promoting the channel group and'its programming. The guidance application may-also provide the user with the channel group .
roster, media listings for the group channels (e.g.;
broadcast television programs, on-demand programs, pay-per-view programs), a=list of viewing reminders;
pendi.ng and -finished.recordings, and purchased programming from the group channels, and=a viewing history of programming'previously accessed by the user through the group channels. The guidance application may also provide the user with a reduced scale video of live group channel broadcasts and other media programming.sourced from the group' channels (e.g., recorded:programming, on-demand programming).
The guidance application may also enable the user to... focus the functions of -the guidance application

5 on one or more selected channel.groups:. Theguidance application..may enable the'user to initiate a guidance application function (e.g.,.set as favorite, lock, purchase) on one or more selected channel groups. In response, the guidance application may execute the function on the media channels of the selected channel groups (e.g., set all the group channels as favorite channels,-lock all the group channels, an-d purchase all the group channels). The guidance application-may execute the function on the media listings included in the selected channel groups (e.g., lock the media listings, purchase the media listings).
Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the.following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
Brief,Description of the Figures FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative interactive television system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of illustrative user television equipment in.accordance with the present invention. .
FIG. 3 is a diagram of additional illustrative user television equipment in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a di.agram of an illustrative remote control in accordance with the present i.nvention.

6 FIG. 5 is a diagram of illustrative user computet equipment in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a generalized_diagram of illustrative-user equipment in accordance with the present invention. .
'FIG. 7 shows an illustrative channel group selection screen in accordance with the present invention. 10 FIG. 8 shows an illtistrative channel group edit screen in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram of an illustrative channel group selection screen in accordance with the=
present invention.
FIG. 10 shows an illustrative'channel group portal screen in accordance with the present=inverition.
FIG. 11 shows*an-illustrative channel group portal screen in accordance with the present inverition.' FIG. 12 shows an illustrative channel group on-demand media listings- screen in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 12A shows an illustrative channel group video mosaic screen in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 13 shows an illustrative'channel group multi-purpose screen in accordance-with the present invention. FIG. 14 shows an illustrative channel group recording screen in accordance with the present inVention.
FIG. 14A shows.an illustrative channel group play list screen in accordance with the present invention_ =

7 FIG. 15 shows an illustrative channel group viewing historyscreen in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 16 shows an illustrative channel group ro'st er edit screen in accordande with the present .
invention.
FIG. 17 shows an illustrative channel group selection screen in accordance with the present invention. -=FIG. 18 shows an illustrative channel group portal screen in accordance with'the present invention.
FIG. 19 shows an illustrative channel group portal screen in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 20 shows an illustrative f'low diagram for providing channel groups in an interactive media guidance application in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 21 shows an illustrative flow diagram for defining the channel group in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 22 shows an illustrative flow diagram for providing information on-the channel group in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 23 shows an illustrative flow-diagram for executing a function of the interactive media guidance application on the channel group in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The'amount of'media available to users in any given media delivery system can be substantial.
Consequently, many -users-desire a form of media guidance - an interface that allows users to

8 efficiently navigate media selections and easily identify media that they may wish to access..'An'' application which provides such guidance is referred to herein as an - interactive media guidance application or, sometimes, a. guidance. application.
.Interactive media guidance applications may take various forms depending on the media.for which =
they provide guidance. One common type of inedia-guidance application is an interactive television program guide. Interactive television program guides are well-known guidance applications that, among other things, allow users to navigate among and l-ocate ' television programming choices and, in some-systems-, digital music. The media programming (e.g., television and music) organized by*an interactive television program guide may be provided via traditional broadcast, cable, satellite, or any other suitable communications channel. The media programming may be .provided==on a subscription basis, as pay-per-view programs, and may be provided on-demand upon user request (e.g., video-on-demand (VOD) systems). The media programming provided on a subscriptiori basis may be organized into tiers of service by a provider. For example, a group of basic cable television channels may be authorized for user access in return for a monthly fee. Additional premium channels such as HBO, Showtime, and Cinemax may be authorized individually, or as part of a package, in return for additional monthly fees. Subscription programming may also in-clude media channels that are normally broadcast over the air free of charge. On-demand media programming may be provided to users as part of a subscription

9 service or may be purchased upon user request .(e.g., pay-per-view on-demand programming).
With current systems, media programming may-be provided through a myriad of media channels. Some media channels are organized a-round a centr-al content theme, such as news, sports, movies,. music, etc. 'Some' -media channels specialize in a particular medium, such as digital music channels that.concentrate primarily on audio programming. Some me.dia.channels share a commbn 10 media prograrinmer.
For example, the media:programmer HBO may provide programming for a number of media =
channels.such as HBO, HBO Signature, HBO Family, etc.
Some media channels are local affiliates of a-national network of media channels (e.g., NBC,.ABC, CBS, FOX) that provide a mix of national network prograrnming.and local programming. Some media channels are national.
cable channels (e.g., DISCOVERY, TNT, FX) that uniformly provide the same media programming--across the nation. Some media channels are only locally available in certain geographic locations (e.g., local public access channels).
In addition to providing guidance.on the programming available through the myriad of media channels, interactive television program guides-also provide other functionalit.ies to aid.the user in the-enjoyment of media programming. For example, the interactive program guide may enable the user to block access to programmin,g that is inappropriate-for .
children using a pass code. The guide may enable the .
user to set favorite channels and receive targeted i.nformation on the favorite channels. The.gui-de may enable the user to authorize or purchase-access-'to media channels or programming that require payment (e.g., subscribe to a premium channel or order a:pay-per-view program).
Although.the foregoing generally refers to television program guides, it should be understood 5. that, with the advent of the Internet, mob.ile computing, and high-speed wireless networks(which allow users to access media. on non-television devices such as cell phones), interactive.media guidance applications are not limited, to tel,evision program

10 guides. Non-television-centric platforms (i.e., platforms that distribute media with'equipment'that is not part of the user's televis'ion'delivery network) allow users -to locate and access a=mix 'of inedi.ao which may include video clips, full motion videos (which may include television programming), images, audio, interactive applications (e.g., games and shopping applications), Internet web sites, and other'suitable media.--Consequently, media guidance is alsoriecessary on modern non-television-centric platforms (e'.'g:;-cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Blackberrys, etc).
Interactive media guidance applications inay be provided as-online applications (i.e., provided on a--web site) on a personal computer, or as.stand-alone applications or clients on harid-held, computers, PDAs, or cellular telephones. In some systems,'users may control equipment remotely via an interactive media guidance application. For example, users may. access an online media guidance application and set recordings or other settings on their in-home media equipment'.' This may be accomplished by the online guide controlling the user's home equipment directly or'via.anothe.r media

11 guidance application that runs on=the user's home equipment.

The present invention relates-to an interactive media guidance application that provides channel groups for media channels (e.g-., broadcast television channels, audio channels,.on-demand media =channels, interactive game channels., Internet web sites).. The media channels belonging to a channel group (i . e., the group channels) inay share at least one common characteristic around which the channel-group is organized. For example, media channels dedicated to a common type of-content may be grouped together.
Channel groups may be organized'around other channel characteristics such as tier of service (e.g.,-the status of a media channel as a free broadcast chanriel, a basic cable channel, or a premium channel), type of service (e.g., whether a media channel is a subscription channel, on-demand channel, or,pay-per-view channel), programmer identity (e.g., whether''the media channel is provided by a common programmer such as HBO or DISCOVERY), channel authorization (e.g., whether the user is authorized to receive the media channel), parental control setting (e.g.,-whether the user has selected the channel for parental control), channel origination (e.g:, whether a media channel originates from a cable. network, a*broadcast network, -is unaffiliated, or is local only), favorite channel status (e.g., whether the-user has set the-channel as a favorite channel), type of media (e.g., whether the channel is a television channel,.an audio channel, or an interactive applicati-on channel), etc.
It should be understood that-the above examples of common channel characteristics are only

12 illustrative and are not exhaustive. The system .(e.g.=, the service provider) may use any characteristic-of a media channel to orgariize a channel'group. It should also be understood that individual media listings may also be included-.in a channel group roster. For example, the service provider may organize a'channel group around a common characteristic (e.g., sports.
content) shared by both,media channels and individual media listings: It should also be understood that--the system'may.populate a channel group roster without' strict adherence to any objective cr.iteria (e.g., shared characteristic) and may exercise editorial' control over the channel group roster. The system (e.g., the service provider) may utilize user profile-information to organize channel groups and populate their rosters. For example, the service provider-may use profile information on the media channels most accessed by a user to create a channel group filled.-with only those channels. The guidance.application may enable the user to create a channel group by selecting the media channels (and individual media listings) for the channel-group roster and may also enable-the user to edit channel group rosters initially set by the system.
_ The guidance application of the present' invention provides information on channel groups to better guide the user through the myriad of media channels and listings available in current'systems.* In one aspect, the guidance application may provide the user with=information on the channel group itself. For example, the guidance application may provide information on the common characteristic for the channel group, promotional information describing the

13 channel group in a manner enticing to the user (e.g.., a video clip promoting the channel group), and promotional information on programming offered tYirough the group channels. The guidance application may also provide the user.with the channel group roster, media listings for the group channels (e.g., broadcast television programs, on-demand programs, pay-per-view programs), a list*of viewing reminders, pending and finished recordings, purchased programming and.
previously.a.ccessed programming from the channel group-.
The guidance application may also provide the user with a reduced scale video of live group channel broadcasts and other media programming sourced from the group channels (e.g., recorded programming, on-demand programming).

In addition to providing information on the channel groups, the guidance application of the present invention enables.the user to focus the functions of the guidance application on one or more selected channel groups and the media channels of the channel groups. For example, the guidance application enables the user to initiate a guidance application function (e.g., set as favorite, lock, purchase) on one or more selected channel groups. In response to the user .25 indication, the guidance application may execute the guide function on the channel group rosters of :the-one or more selected channel groups (i.e., all the media channels and listings belonging to the channel groups)_ In one embodiment, access to information on a channel group and guide functions that are executable ori the channel group are concentrated in one guidance application display screen to create a portal-type guide experience for the user.

14 An illustrative interactive media guidance system 100 in-accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. System 100 is intended to illustrate'-' a number of approaches by which media of various types',.
and guidance for such media, may be provided to (and accessed by) end-users. The present.invention, -however,-may be applied in systems employing any one or a subset of these approaches, or in systems employing other approaches for delivering media and providing media guidance.
A first approach represents a typical television-centric system in which'users may access television (and, in some systems, music) programming.
This includes programming sources 102 and distribution facility 104. Media such as television programming and digital audio may be provided from programming sources .102 to media distribution facilities, such as distribution facility 104, using communications path 106. Communications path 106 may be a satellite path, a fiber-optic path, a cable path, any other suitable wired or wireless communications path, or a combination of such paths.
Programming sources 102 may be'any suitable sources of television and audio programming; such as television broadcasters (e.g., NBC, ABC, and HBQ)-or other television or'audio programrning productiori studios.. Programming sources 102 may provide television programming in a vari'ety=of formats in high definition and standard definition, such as, for example, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i, and any other suitable format.
Distribution facility 104 ma-y be a cable system headend, a satellite media distribution facility, a television broadcaster, or any other~
suitable facility for distributing'video media (e.g.;
through television.channels, video-on-demand channels,=
pay-per-view channels) and audio media (e.g., through 5 analog or digital music channels*) to' the user equipment. In some approaches, distribution facility 104 may...als.o distribute other media to users', such as video and audio clips, web pages,-and interactive applications (e.g., games, shopping applications), that 10 may be offered to subscribers of a given cable or.
.satellite system. There..are typically numerous.media distribution facilities 104 in system 100, but only one is-shown in FIG. 1 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing.

15 Distribution =facility 104 may be connected to various user equipment devices 108, 110; and 112.' Such user equipment devices may be located,* for example, in the homes of users. User equipment=devices may include user=t=elevision equipment 110, user computer equipment 112, or any other type of user equipment suitable for accessing media (e.g. television and music programming, web pages, etc.) or 'interactive media guidance application functions. User equipment 108 may be any type of user equipment .(e.g., user television equipment, user computer equipment, etc.) and, for simplicity,-user equipment devices may be referred to generally as user equipment 108.
User equipment devices 108, 110; and 112 may receive media programming (e.g., television programming from television channels) and other data from distribution facility 104 over communications paths, such as communications paths 114, 116, and 118. User .equipment devices 108., 110, 112 may also transmit

16 signals to distribution facility 104 over paths 114;
116, and 118. Paths 114, 116, and 118 may be cabl'es br other wired connections,-free-space connections (e.g.;for broadcast or other wireless signals), satellite links, or any other suitable links or combination of links.
A second,-approach -illustrated- in 'FIG'.-. 1 by -whichmedia and media guidance are provided to end users is a non-television-centric approach. -I.n this.

approach media such as..video (which may include television programming from television ohannels),'.

audio, images, web pages, are provided to user equipment 108 by server 130 via communications network 126. This approach is non-television-centric because media is provided by, and delivered at least partially to, and sometimes exclusively to, equipment that is not .part of users' traditional television delivery system.
In-non-television-centri-c approaches, television programming may not be included among the media provided to the user and, even when included, may only represent one medium among a plurality of media.
In some embodiments for this approach, communications network 126 is the Internet. Server 130 may provide, for example, a web site that is accessible to the user's equipment and an on-line guidance application for the user. In such'approaches, the user's equipment may be, for example, a personal computer or-a hand-held device such as a PDA or web---enabled cellular telephone that incorporates a web browser: In other embodiments, server 130 uses the Internet as a transmission medium but does not use a web browser or web-sites. In such approaches, the user's equipment may run a client application that

17 enables the user to access media. In other approaches, communications network 126 is a private communications network, such as a-cellular 'phone network, that does not include the Internet. In yet other approaches,.
5. communications network 126 includesa private communications network and the Internet. For examp1e, a cellular telephone or other mobile-device service provider may provide Internet access to its=subscribers' via = a private communications network, -and may provide.
media'such as video clips or television programming to its subscribers via the Internet and its own network.
The aforementioned approaches for providing media may, in some embodiments, be combined. .For example, a distribution facility 104 may provide a television-centric media delivery system,- while also providing users equipment (e.g., 108, 110 and 112j with access to other non-television-centric delivery systems provided by server 130. For-example, a'useif' s equipment may include a web-enabled set-top box or a television enabled. personal computer. Distribution facility 104 may, in addition to television and-music programming, provide the user with Internet accesswhereby the user may access server 130 via communications network 126. Distribution facility 104 may communicate with communications network 126 over any suitable path 134, such as a wired path, a=cable path,=fiber-optic path, satellite path,or combinatibn of such paths. ' Media guidance applications may be-provided using any approach suitable for the type of inedia and-=
distribution system for which the guidance applications are used. Media guidance applications may be, fo-r example, stand alone applications implemented on users'

18 equipment. In other embodiments,-media guidance applications may be client-server applications where only the client resides on the users' equipment. In still other embodiments, guidance applications may be provided as web sites accessed by 'a .br-ow.ser implemented -on the users' equipment.. Whatever the chosen -impl:ementation, the-guidance application will require information about the media for which it'is providing guidance. For example, information on media' 10 programming (e.g., title, channel, and time), media _channels (e.g., channel characteristics),-and channel groups (e.g.,. gxoup roster) may be necessary to guide users to desired media programming.
In some television-centric embodiments, for example, the guidance application may be a stand-al.one interactive television program guide that receives program guide data via a data feed (e.g.,* a continuous feed, trickle feed, or data in the vertical blanking interval of a channel).-= Data source 120 _i.n system 100 may include a program listings database that is used to provide the user with television program-related information such as scheduled broadcast times, titles, channels, ratings information (e.g., parental ratings and critic's ratings), detailed title descriptions, genre or category information (e.g.,.sports,-.-news, movies, etc:), program format (e.g., standard..
definition, high definition), related video clips,:etc.
Data source 120 may also include information on ,television*channels (e.g., channel name and type).and .30 channel groups (e.g., channel group roster, video clip-promoting a channel group, information on programming from the channel group that is to be featured).. Data source 120 may also be used to provide advertisements

19 (e.g., program guide advertisements and advertisements for other interactive television applications), real-time data such as sports scores, stock quotes, news data, and weather data, application data for.one or more media-guidance applications or other-i.nteractive'.
applications, and any other suitable data for use by system 100. As another example, data-source'120 may provide data. indi~ating the types -of information that may be included in interactive media guidance overlays (e.g.; at the request of the user, absent user _ modification, etc.).
Program guide data may be provided to-user equipment,.including user equipment located on home.
network 113, using any-suitable approach. For example, program schedule dat-a and other data inay be provided-to -the user equipment on a television channel 'sideband, in the vertical blanking interval of a television channel, using an in-band digital signal, using 'ari out-of-band digital signal, or by any other suitable data' transmission technique. Program schedule data and other data may be provided to user equipment on multiple analog or digital television channels.
Program schedule data and other data=may be provided to the user equipmen.t with any suitable frequency (e.g.;
continuously, periodically, daily, in response to a request from user equipment,- etc.).
In some television-centric'embodiments, guidance data from data 8ource'120 may be provided to users'- equipment using a client-server approach. For example, a guidance application client residing on the user's equipment may initiate sessions with server*140 to obtain guidance data when needed.

There may be multiple data sources*(such as data source 120) in system 100, although only one data source is shown in. FIG. 1 to avoid overcomplicating the drawing. For example, a separate data source may be 5. associated with each of a plurality of inedia;channels or channel groups and may provide data that is specific to the media channel or channel group (e.,g..,* media programming listings for the channel or channel group,.
advertisements for programming of the channel or 10 channel group, logo data for displaying the media channel or channel group's logo in program guide display screens, etc.). Data source 120-and any other system components of FIG. 1 may be provided using equipment at one or more locations. Systems components 15 are drawn as single boxes in FIG. 1 to avoid overcomplicating the drawings. Oata source 120 may provide data to distribution facility 104 over communications path 122 for distribution to the associated user equipment and

20 home network 113 (discussed below) over paths 114, 116,=
118, and 119 (e.g., when data source 120 is located-at a. main facility). Communications path 122 may be any suitable communications path such as a satellite . communications path' or other wireless path, a fiber-optic or other wired communications path, a path that supports Internet communications, or other suitable path or combination of such paths.
In some television-centric and non-television .centric approaches, data source 120 may provide guidance data directly to user equipment 108 over path 124, communications network 126, and path 128 (e.g., when data source 120 is located at a facility such as one of programming sources 102). In some embodiments

21 of the.present invention,, data source 120 may provide guidance- data directly to user equipment located-on home network 113 (discussed below) over path 124, communications network 126, and-path 139 (e.g., when data source 120 is located at a facilit'y - sucYi as one 'of programming sources 10.2) . Paths 124,- -128, and 139 may -be wired paths such as telephone lines, cable paths, fiber-optic paths, satellite paths, wireless paths, any other suitable paths or a combination-of such paths.
Communications network. 126 *inay be any suitable communications network,' stich as the- Inte=rnet, a public switched telephone network; or a packet-based network.-User equipment devices, including user equipment devices located on home net=work 113 (discussed below), such as user televisiori equipment and personal computers, may use media programming schedule data and other interactive media guidance-application data to display media 1i.stii-ig-s " (e. g. , television program listings) and-other informat'ion (e.g., information on digital music)-to the user. An interactive television program guide application or other suitable interactive media guidance application may be used to display the information on the user-'s display (e.g., in one or more overlays that are displayed on top of video for a given television ' channel). Interactive displays may be-generated and displayed for the user using any suitable approach. In one suitable approach, distribution facility 104, ' server 130, or another facility, may generate guidance application display screens and may transmit the display screens to user equipment for display. In another suitable approach, user equipment may store data for use in one or more interactive displays -(e-.g.,

22 media programming schedule data, advertisements,. logos, etc.), and an interact-ive media guidance application implemented at least partially on the user equipment may generate the interactive displays based on instriactions.received from distribution facility 104, server 130 or another facility. In some embodiments of the present invention; user equipment may.store only the data that is used to generate the interactive guidance. appli-cation displays (e.g., storing logo data for a-particular television broadcaster only when the logo is to-be included in one or'more interactive displays). In some embodiments of the present invention, user equipment may store data that is. not necessarily used to generate the interactive displays (e.g., storing advertiseinents associated with'a particular media channel that may or-may.not be displayed). Any other suitable approach or combination of approaches may be used to generate and display interactive overlays for the'user.
In still other embodiments, the interactive media guidance.application (tel-evision-centric and non-television centric) may be.provided online as, for example, a website. For example,-server 130 may provide an online interactive television program guide.
As another example, user equipment-108 may be a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone or personal digital assistant-(PDA). The mobile device may be web-enabled to allow the user to access an on-line guidance application (which may be modified from its original version to make it appropriate-for a smaller display).
Alternatively, the mobile device may have an applet that communicates with server 130 to obtain guidance data via the Internet. '

23 Server 130 may receive program.schedule data and other data from-data source 120-via communications path 124, -communications network 126, and.
communications path 132 or-via another suitable path or combination of paths. Path 132 may be a satellite path, fiber-optic path,.wired path, or any other path -or.combination of paths. User equipment.:==108..may..-access the online interactive media guidance application and other sources from server 130 via communications path-128. User equipment 108 may also access the guidance application and other services on server 130 via communications path 114, distribution fa-cility 104, and communications path 134. For example, a cable=modem or other suitable equipment may be used by user equipment-108 to communicate with distribution.facility.104.
.User equipment such as user television equipment'.110,=user computer equipment 112, and user equipment located on home network 113 may access the -online interactive media guidance.application and 270 server 130 using similar arrangements. User television equipment 110 may access the on-line interactive media guidance'application and server 130 using communications path 136 or using path 116, distribution-facility 104, and path 134. User computer equipment 112 may access. the on-line interactive media guidance application and server 130 us.ing communication-s path 138 or using path.118, distribution-facility 104, and path 134. User equipment located on home network 113 may access the on-line media guidance application and server 130 using communications path 139 or using path 119, distribution facility 104, and path 134. Paths 136, 138, and 139 may be any suitable paths such as

24 .wired paths, cable paths, fiber-optic paths,'wireless paths, satellite paths, or a combination of such'paths.
In some embodiments, systeri- 100 may support other interactive applications in addition to the interactive media guidance applications.. Such applications may be implemented using any suitable approach. For example, the interactive applications may be implemented locally on the user equipment or in a distributed fashion (e.g., using a client-server architecture in which the user equipment ser-ves at least partly, and for at least some of the time, as'the client and a server, such- as server 140 at distribution facility 104, server 130, or other suitable equipment.
acts as the server). Other distributed architectures may also be used if desired. Moreover, some or all of the features of-the interactive applications of system 100 (including the media guidance application) may-be provided -using operating system software or middleware software. Such operating system software and middleware may be used instead of, or in combination with, application-level software. In yet other approaches, interactive applications may also be supported by servers or other suitable equipment at one or more service providers such as service provider 142.
Regardless of the particular arrangement-used, the software.that supports these features may be referred to as an application or applications. For example, an interactive application such as a home shopping service may be supported by a service provider such as service provider 142 that has sales representatives, order fulfillment facilities, account maintenance.faci.lities, and other equipment for supporting interactive home shopping features. A home shoppin.g application that is implemented using the user equipment may be used to access the service provider to provide such features to the user. The user equipment may access,service provider 142= via distribution 5 facility 104 and communications path 144 or -via communications network 126.and communications path 146.
-Communications paths such as paths 144 and 146 may be any suitable paths such as wired paths, cable-paths, fiber-optic.'paths, satellite patlis; or a combiriation of .10 such -pa.ths.. .
If desired, an interactive media guidance application such as a network-based video recorder or a video-on-demand applicatiori (e.g., as accessed-through a video-on-demand channel) may be supported.using 15 server 140, server 130, or equipment at service provider 142. Video-on-demand content and video -recorded using a network-based video recorder. arrangement may be stored on server 140'or server .130 o-r-at service provider 142 and may be provided to the 20 user equipment when requested by users: An'interactive television program guide, for example, may be us-ed to support the functions of a personal video recorder"' (sometimes called a digital video recorder) that is implemented using user equipment!'108.' Illizstrative

25 equipment that may be used.to support personal video recorder functions include specialized personal video recorder devices, integrated receiver decoders (IRDs), set-top boxes with integrated or external hard drives, or personal computers with video recording capabilities.
Interactive applications such as media guidance applications (e.g., interactive television"
program guide applications and video-on-deinand

26 applications), home shopping applications, h.ome banking applications, game applications, and other application s (e.g., applications related to e-mail and chat or othe r-communications functions, etc.) may be provided as.
separate applications that are accessed thrbugh.a=
navigation shell:application (i.e., a menu application with menu options corresponding"to the applications).
The features of such applications may be combined. For example, games, video-on-demand services, home.shopping services, network-based video recorder functions, p-ersonal video recorder functions, navigational.
functions, program-guide functions, communications functions, and other suitable-functions may be provided using one application or any other =suitable number of applications. The one=or more applications may'display various overlays on user equipment including-,=for' -example, interactive television inforination on top of video for a given television channel'.
Interactive television program guide applications, home banking applications, home shopping applications, network-based video recorder=and personal video recorder applications, video-on-demand applications, gaming applications, communications applications, and navigational applications=are only a few illust-rative examples of th-e types of interactive media guidance and other applications that may be supported by system'100. Other sui=table =interactive applications that may be supported include=news services, web browsing and other Internet services, and interactive wagering services (e.g., for wagering on horse races, sporting events, and the like).
Interactive overlays that are displayed by these

27 applications may also be customized in accordance with the present- invention.
Users may have multiple types of user.
equipment by which they access media and obtain media guidance. For example, some users may have-home.
networks that are accessed by in-home and mobile devices. As shown in FIG. 1, home network 113 communicates with distribution.fac=ility 104 and server 130 over paths 119 and 139 .(anc3., in the case'of server 130, communications network 126). Such home networks 113 may be located, for example, in homes of users.or distributed, for example, among homes o.f users. Home networks 113 may each include a plurality of interconnected -user= equipment. devices,, such as, for example user.equipment devices 108, 110 and 112. In some embodiments, users may control in-home devices via a media guidance application implemented on a remote device. For example, users may access an online media guidance application on a website via a personal computer at their office, or a mobile device such as a PDA or web-enabled cellular telephone. The user may set settings (e.g., recordings., reminders, or other settings) on the on-line guidance application to control the user's in-home equipment. The on-line guide may control the user's equipment directly, or by communicating with a media.guidance application on the user's in-home equipment. .
FIGS. 2-6 show illustrative arrangements for user equipment. An illustrative set-top box-based arrangement for user television equipment 110 is shown in FIG. 2.- User television equipment 110 may be stand-alone or a part of home network 113 (FIG. 1).
Input/output 202 may be connected to communications

28 paths such as paths 116 and 136*(FIG. 1). Input/output functions may be provided by one=or more wires or communications paths, but are shown as a single.path in FIG.. 2 to avoid overcomplicating'the drawing.
Television programming, program guide data,.and any other suitable interactive media guidance application data or other data may be received using input/output 202. Command=s and requests and ot.her data -generated as a result of-user interactions with the interactive.
media guidance application may also be transmitted over input/output 202. . .
Set-top box 204 may be any suitable analog or digital set-top box (e.g., a cable set-top box). Set-top box 204 may contain an analog tuner for.tuning to a desired analog television channel (e.g., a channel comprising television programming,.interactive television data, or both). Set-top box 204 may also contain digital decoding circuitry for receiving digital television channels (e.g., channels comprising televisiori or music programming, interactive tel-evision data, etc.). Set-top box 204 may also contain a high-definition television tuner- .for receiving and processing high-definition television channels.
Analog, digital, and high-definition channels may be handled together if desired. Multiple tuners may be provided (e.g., to handle simultaneous watch and record functions or picture-in-picture (PIP) functions). Box 204 may be an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) that handles satellite television. If desired, box 204 may have circuitry for handling cable, over-the-air broadcast, and satellite content.

29 Set-top box 204 may be configured to output media programming, such as television programs, in a preferred format'. Because television prograins' may'be*
received in a variety of formats, se=t-top,box 204 niay contain scaler circuitry for upconverting and downconverting television programs into,th-e preferred output format used by set-top box 204. For example, set-top box 204 may be configured to output television programs in 720p. In this example, the scaler%=
circu'itry may upconvert standard-definition television programs having 480 lines of vertical-resolution to 720p format and downconvert certain high-definltiorri television programs having 1080 lines of vertical resolution to 720p format.
Box 204 may include a storage device (e.g., a digital storage device such as a hard disk drive)-for =
providing recording capabilities. Box 204 may also be connected to a recording device 206 such as a vi.deo cassette recorder, personal video recorder-, optical disc recorder, or other device or devices with storage capabilitie's. Box 204 may be configured to record standard-definition television programs, high-definition television programs, digital music programming, and other media data ( e . g . , photographs ) '. ' Set-top box 204 contains a processo'r (e.g:*, a microcontroller or microprocessor or the like) that is used to execute software applications. Set-top box 204 may contain memory such as randoin-access memory for use when executing applications. Nonvolatile memory may also be used (e.g., to launch a boot-up routine.'and other instructions). Hard disk storage in box 204 or in recording device 206 may be used to back up data and to otherwise support larger databases and storage requirements than.may be supported using random=access memory approaches. Hard disk storage in box 204 or in .recording' device .206 may also be used to store and back =
up program guide settings or saved user preferences.
5 Set-top box 204 may have infrared.(IR) or other communications circuitry for communicating with a -remote control or wireless keyboard-. Set-top box 204.
may also have.dedicated buttons and a front-panel display. The front-panel display may,=for example, be 10 used to display the current channel to which the set-top box is tuned. -Set-top box 20.4 may also-have communications circuitry such as a cable modem, an integrated.s.ervices digital network (ISDN) modem, a digital subscriber line 15 (DSL) modem, a telephone modem, or a wireless modem 'for communications with other-equipment. Such .communications may involve the Internet or any other suitable communications networks or paths. If desired;
the components of set-top box 204=may be integrated.=
20 into other user equipment (e.g., a television or videocassette recorder). . ,= =
Recording device 206"may be used to record media data provided by set-top box 204. For example, if set-top box 204 is tuned to a given"television 25- channel, the video signal for that television channel-may be passed to recordin.g device"206 for recording on a videocassette, compact disc, digital video disk,'or internal hard drive.or other storage device.. Recording device 206 may be configured to record either standard-

30 definition television=programs, high-definition television programs, digital- music -programming; =or other suitable media data.-Recording device 206 may have communications circuitry such.as a. cable modem, an-

31 ISDN modem, a DSL modem, or a telephone modem:for..
communications with other equipment. Such communications-may involve the Internet or any'other suitable communications networks or paths. The -5 components of recording device 206 may be integrated into other user equipment (e.g., a televisiori, stereo equ.ipment, etc. ) . . Recording device 206 may be controlled 'using a remote control or*other suitable user interface. =I.f desired, video recorder functions stich as= start,' stop, record and.other functions for device 206 may be' controlled by set-top box 204. For example, set;-t'op box 204 may control'recording device 206 using infrared commands directed toward the remote control inputs of recording device 206 or set-top box 204 may control recording device 206 using other wired or wireless:
communications paths between box 204 and device 206.
The output of recording device 206 may,be provided to television.208 for display to the user. =In some embodiments, television 208 may be capable of displaying high-definition programming (i.e., HDTV-capable). If desired, multiple recording devices 206 or no recording device 206 may be used. If recording device 206 is not present or is not being actively used, the video signals from set-top box 204 may-be -provided directly to television 208. Any suitable television or monitor may be used to display the video.
In the equipment_of FIG. 2 and the-other equipment of system 100 (FIG. 1), the audio associated with various video items is typically distributed with those video .items.and is generally played back to the user as the videos are played. In some embodiments, the audio may be distributed to a receiver (not shown),.which

32 processes and outputs the audio'via external speakers.
(not shown).
Another illustrative arrangement for user -television equipment 110 (FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. 3.
User-television equipment 110 ma.y=be stand-alone or a part of home network 113 (FIG. 1). In the example of .FIG. 3, user television equipment 110 includes a recording device 302 such as a digital video recorder (e.g., a personal video recorder (PVR)) that uses a hard disk or'other storage for recording video.
Recording device 302 may alternatively be a digital video disc recorder, compact disc recorder, videocassette recorder, or other suitable recording device. Equipment 110 of FIG. 3 may-also include a television 304. In some embodiments, television 304 may be HDTV-capable. Input/output 306 may be connected to communications paths such as paths 116 and 136 (FIG.-1). Television programming, program schedule data; and other data (e.g., advertisement data, data indicating one or more television channels for which the display of an overlay is to be customized, etc.) may be .. .
received using input/output 306. Coznmands and requests..
and other data from the user may be transmitted over input/output 306. .
Recording device 302 may contain at least one analog tuner for tuning to a desired analog television channel (e.g., to displ-ay video for a given television channel to a user, to receive media guidance application data and other data). Recording device 302 may also contain digital decoding circuitry for receiving digital television programming, music programming,.media guidance application data (e.g., programming schedule data), and other data on one or

33 more digital channels. Recording=device 302 may also contain circuitry for receiving high-definition =
television channels.=-= If desired, r=ecording device 302 may contain circuitry for handling analog, digital;. and high-definition-channels. Recording-device 302 also contains a processor (e.-g., a microcontroller=or' microprocessor or the like) that is used to execute-=
software applications. Recording.device'302 may contain memory such as random-access memory for-use when executing'applications.- Nonvolatile memory may also be used to store a"boot-up routine or other instructions. The hard disk and othe-r storage in' recording device 302 may. be used' to su-p.port databases.
(e.g., program-guide databases or other.interact=ive-television application databases). The hard disk or -other storage in recording device 302 may also be-used to record video such as television programs' or video-' on-demand content or other content provided ta recording device'302 over input/output 306.
Recording device 302 may-have IR
communications circuitry or other suitable -communications circuitry for communicating with aremote control. Recording device 302 may also-have.
dedicated buttons and a front-panel display. The front-panel display may, for example, be used to '. display the current channel to which the recording'..-:

device is tuned: Recording device 302 may also have-communications circuitry such as a cable modem, an ISDN
modem, a DSL modem, a telephone modem, or.a wireless modem for communications with other equipment.. Such communications may involve the Internetor other --suitable communications networks or paths.-

34 PCT/US2006/047092 If desired, recording device 302 may include a satellite receiver or other equipment that has wireless communications circuitry for receivirig satellite signals:
Recording device 302 of FIG. 3, recording device 206 of FIG. 2, or recording enabled set-top box .204-of FIG. 2 may record=new=video while previously recorded video is being played back on television'304 or 208. This allows users to press a pause button =
during normal television viewing. When the pause button is pressed, the current television program is stored on the hard disk of digital-video recorder =302 (or 206/204). When the user presses play, the recorded video may be played back. This arrangement allows the user to seamlessly.pause and resume television viewing.
Recording devi-ces may'also be used to allow a user to watch a previously-recorded program while simultaneously recording a new program."
The set-top box arrangement of-'FIG. 2 (which may integrate recording functionality into the set-top box) and the personal video recorder with a bullt=in, set=top box arrangement of FIG. 3 are merely-illustrative. Other arrangements may be used if desired. For example, user televisiori 'equipment- may, be based on a-WebTV box, a personal computer television (PC/TV), or any other suit=able televi'sion-equipment arrangement. If desired, the functions of components such as set-top box 204, recording device =302, a WebTV
box, or PC/TV or the like may be integrated=into a television or personal computer or other suitable device. . =

An illustrative remote control 400 for operating user television equipment 110 or 'suitable user computer equipment 112 ( FIG . - -1) is shown in FIG.
4. Remote control 400 is only illustrative and any other suitable user iriput interface'may be used to operate user equipment (e.g., a mouse, trackball, 5.keypad, keyboard', touch screen, voice recognition' system, etc.). Remote control 400 may.have ~Eunction keys 402 and other keys 404 s.uch as keypad keys, power on/off-keys, pause, stop, fast-forward and reverse keys. Volume up arid down keys 406 may be-used for 10 adjusting the volume of the audio portiori of a video'.
Channel up and down keys 408 may be used to change media (television)-channels and to access content. on *
virtual channels. Cursor keys 410 may be used to--navigate on-screen menus. For example,,cursor keys 410 15 may be.used=to position-an on-screen cursor, indicator, or highlight (sometimes all generically.referred to, herein as a cursor).to indicate interest in a particular option o.r other item on a.display screen that is displayed by the interactive media guidance -20 application. OK key 412 (also called a select key) may-be used to select on-screen options that the user has highlighted. . .Keys 402 ma.y include RECORD key 414 for 25 initiating recordings. MENU button 416. may be used to. -direct an interactive media guidance appli-cation to . display a menu on the user's di-splay -screen (e _ g., on televisi-on 208 or 304-or-on a.suitable monitor or computer display). INFO button 418 may be used to 30 *request information-from an i.nteractive media guidance application. For example, when a user presses INFO key 418 while accessing programming from a given media channel, the guidance application may display a FLIP/BROWSE overlay including information on the currently accessed programming. As another example, when a particular media listing displayed by the guidance application is highlighted.by a cursor, th*e user pressing INFO button 418 may cause the guidance application to provide additional informati.on -associated with the media listing (e.g., a program description, schedule information,. etc.).
LOCK button.420.may be used to modify access privileges. For example, a parent may use LOCK button 420 or on-screen options to establish parental control settings for the interactive media guidance application. The parental control settings.may.be time-based settings.(e.g.., to prevent a child from watching television during a particular time block, such as from 3:00 PM to 5:00*PM daily).. The parental-control settings may also be used to, for example, block programming based on rating, program, channel, channel group, or any suitable combination thereof: 'A
locked or blocked program (or other media) is typically not accessible until the interactive media guidance' application is provided with a suitable personal identification number (PIN). Once this PIN has been entered, the interactive media guidance application will unlock the user's equipment and allow the locked content to be accessed. In one highlighted embodiment, one or more selected channel groups are locked by user actuation of the LOCK button_ Locking a channel group may deny access to all the media channels and media listings belonging to the channel group (pending entry of the PIN)..
EXIT button 422 may be used to exit the interactive media guidance application or to exit a portion of the interactive media guidance application (e.g., to cause the g.uidance-application t.o remove a FLIP, BROWSE, or.other interactive overlay.from the display screen). GUIDE button 424.may be used to-invoke the media guidance application (e.=g.,, a channel group menu screen, a media listings display screen, or.
.other guidance application screen). FAVORITE button 426 may be used to set a media channel or channel group as a favorite (e.g., pressing the.FAVORITE-button after selecting one or more channel.groups sets all the.=group channels as favorite channels). PURCHASE button 428' may be used to purchase programming-or channels that require payment. For example, PURCHASE button 428 may be used to subscribe to all the media channels-in one or more.selected channel groups. ..
The keys shown in FIG. =4 are merely ..
illustrative. Other keys or buttons may be provided..if:.
desired. For.example, a music button may.be used:.to access music with the interactive media guidance application. An edit button may be.used to edit stored content (e.g., to remove commercials, remove.portions of a video, etc.). Alphanumeric buttons may be used to enter alphanumeric characters. A last or back.button ma-y be used to browse backward in the interac.t.iv.e med.ia =
guidance application (e.g., to return to a previous.
channel, web page, or other display screen)-. Video recorder function buttons such as a play button-;.pause button, stop button, rewind button,.fast-forward ,_ ..
button, and record button, may be used to control video recorder functions.(local or network-based)-in system 100 (FIG. 1). A help key may be used to invoke help functions such as context-s.ensitive on-screen help functions_ Illustrative user computer equipment 112 (FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. 5. User computer equipment.
112 may be stand-alone or a part of - home network 113 (FIG. 1). In the arrangement of FIG. 5, personal computer unit 502-may be -controlled by the user using keyboard 504 and/or other suitable user input device such as a trackball, mouse, touch pad, touch-screen, voice recognition~system, or-a remote.contro.l, such as remote control 400 of FIG. 4. Video=content, such as television programming or web pages having video elements, arid inter=active media-guidance application display screens may be displayed-on monitor 506.
Television and audio programming,-media-guidance application.data (e.g:, television program-guide data)*;, ' video-on-demand content,- video recordings played back from a network-based video recorder, and other data may be received -from paths 118 and -138 (FIG.- 1) using input/output 508. User commands andother informati-on generated as a result of user interactions-with the interactive media guidance application and system 100 (FIG.-1) may also be transn=iitted over,input/output 508.
Personal computer unit 502'may contain a television or video card, such as--a television tuner -card, for decoding analog, digital, and high-definition television channels and for handling'streaining video content. Multiple video cards (e . g=. , t-urie-=r -cards) may be provided if desired. An illustrative"television tuner card that may be used may contain an-analog television-tuner for tuning to a given analog channel, digital decoding circuitry for -filtering out a desired digital television or music channel from a packetized digital data stream, and a high-definition television tuner for tuning to a high-definition channel. Any suitable card or components in computer unit 502 may be used to handle video and other content-delivered via input/output line 508 if desired.
Personal computer unit 502 may contain=one or.=
more processors (e . g., microproces.sors ) that, are used.
to run the. interactive media guidance application or a portion of the interactive media guidance application.
Personal computer unit 502 may=include=a hard drive, a recordable DVDdrive, a recordable CD drive, or other suitable storage device:ordevicesthat stores video, program guide data, and othe-r content. The interactive media guidance application and personal computer unit 502 may use a storage device or devices to, for example, provide the functions of. a personal video recorder.
User equipment, such as user equipment 108', user television equipment 110, user computer equipment 112, and user equipment located on home- network 113, may be- used with- network equipment such as server 130, server 140, and equipment at service providers such as service provider 142 (FIG: 1) to provide network-based video recording functions. Video recording functions may be provided by storing copies of television programs and other video content.on a remote server .25 (e.g., server 130 or server 14-0) or other network-based equipment, such as equipment at a service provider such as service provider 142.
Video recordings may be made in response.to user commands that areentered at user equipment 108 or user equipment located on home network 113 (FIG. 1).
In a personal video recorder arrangement, the interactive media guidance application may be used to record video locally on the user equipment in response to the user commands. In a network-based vi-deo-recorder arrangement,-the .interactive media guidance application may be used to record video or to make.
virtual recordings (described below) on network 5 equipment such as server 130, server 140, or equipment at service provider 142 in response to the user commands. The user commands may be provided.to the network equipment over the-communication's 'paths-shown in FIG. 1. The personal video recorder arrangement-and 10 the network-based video recorder arrangement cari -support functions such as fast-forward, rewind, pause, play, and record.
To avoid unnece.ssary duplication in a-network-based video recorder environment, system 100 '15 may provide network-based video recording capabiiities by using virtual copies or recordings. With this'approach,- each user may be provided with a personal area on the network that*contains a=list of that use.r's=
recordings. The video content need only be stored once 20 (or a relatively small number of times) on the network equipment,.even though a large number of users may have that video content 1-isted as one of their recordings in t.heir network-based video recorder personal area.
Personal settings or any other suitable data.may be ==25 stored -in a user's personal area on the network.
The user television equipment and user computer equipment arrangements described above are merely illustrative. A-more generalized embodiment of illustrative user equipment 108, 110, and 112 (FIG.=1=) 30 and user equipment located on home network 113 (FIG. 1)-- -is shown in FIG. 6. Control circuitry 602 is connected--to input/output 604. Input/output 604 may be connected to one-or more communications paths such as paths 114, 116, 118, 128, 136, and' 138 of FIG: 1 Media- (e.g. ;
television programming, music programming, other video and audio', and web pages) may be-received via input/output 604 (e.g=., from programming sources -102, servers or other equipment, such as server 130, serviceproviders such as service provider 142; distribution .facility 104, etc.).. Interactive media-guidance applic.ation data, such as program schedule information for an interactive television program.-guidd,-may be received from data source 120'via input/output-604.
Input/output 604 may also be used to receive data fronm-data source 120 for other interactive television applications. The user may use control circuitry 602 to send and receive commands, requests, and=oth-er suitable data using input/output 604. ."
Control circuitry 602 .may be -based-on any suitable-processing circuitry 606 such as processing circuitry based on one or more microprocessorsi microcontrollers, digital signal processors, =
20. programmable logic devices, etc. In some embodiments, control circuitry 602=executes instructions for an-interactive media guidance application or other .. . interactive application (e . g. , web. browser) --from , memory. Memory (e.g.; random-access memory and read-.25 only memory), hard drives, optical drive-s, or= any other-.suitable memory or storage devices may be provided as storage 608 that is part of control circtiitry 602.' Tuning circuitry such as'one or more analog tuners, one or more MPEG-2 decoders or other digital video 30 circuitry, high-definition tuners, or any other suitable tuning or video circuits or-coanbinations of such circuits=may also be included as part of circuitry 602. Encoding circuitry (e.g., for converting ove'r-the-air, analog, or digital signals to MPEG signals for storage) may also be provided. The tuning and encoding circuitry may be used-by the user equipment to' receive and display, play, or.record a particular television or.
music channel or other desired audio and.video content (e.g., video-on-demand content-or requested rietwork--based or local video recorder playback) Tel-evision programming.and other video and on-screen options and information may be displayed on-display 610. Display 610 may be a monitor, a television, br- :ariy other- -suitable equipment for displaying visual images:. -In some embodiments, display 610 may.be HDTV-capable.*
Speakers 612 may be provided as part of a television or may be. stand-alone units. Digital music and the--audio component of videos displayed on display 610 may.be played through speakers 612. In some embodiinents,. the .audio may be distributed to a receiver (not-.shown),.
which processes and outputs,the audio via speakers 612_ ..A user may control the con-tro1 c-irc-ui.try 602 using user input interface 614. User input interface 614 may be any suitable user interface, such as a..
mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touch pad, voice recognition interface,..or a remo.te'control.
Peripheral device 618 may also'be donnect.ed to processing circuitry 606 over communicatioris path 616. Peripheral devices may include cellular-phones, personal data assistants, handheld media -- p.layers, -and any other suitable peripheral device.-,-.. Communications path 616 may include for example, USB cables, IEEE 1394-cables, or wireless paths. (e. g. , Bluetootli-, infrared).
Processing circuitry 606 may provide.. content and data --to peripheral device 618. .

FIG. 7 shows an:illustrative display sbreen of the interactive media guidance application.:.Screen 700 includes interactive elements 710 that represent the channei groups available to the user for selection.
"5 The list of channel groups that are included 'in this channel group selection screen may be all the available channel groups or some subset thereof. When=fewer than' all the available channel groups.are displayed in screen 700, the subset=of channel groups to be.
displayed may be determined by the service provider (e_g., provider 142 of FIG.*1), by the user, or by a combination of inputs from both. In one embodiment, the channel groups to be included in screen 700.may'be provided by the service provider using profil=e informatiori on the user. The user profile information may include information on the media channels and=
programming accessed by the user. If a user frequently accesses media channels belonging to the sports channel group or frequently accesses.sports programming, the guidance application may select the sports channel group for display in channel group selection screen 700. In one approach, user profile information may also-be used to determine the rank order in which channel groups are displayed in screen 700.. For example, channel groups that are most frequently accessed by the user==(or which contain the channels or programming most frequently accessed by the user) may be prominently displayed in the first row of channel groups on screen 700. Such "favorite" channel groups may also be indicated to the user (e.g., by displaying a given element 710 larger than other elements or by adding an indicator 711 to the element).

Alternatively, the roster of channel- groups on screen 700 may be manually set'by the user through an edit:screen that may be accessed from screen-700 by' user selection of button 705. As illustrated by FIG.
8, edit screen 800 may enable -the use=r to $el'ect channel groups by placing cursor 801 over check box 805 corresponding to a-desired channel group and pressing the select key on the user input device. -A selected channel group may be indicated-on screen 800 by displaying a checkmark in the corresponding-box 805'.' Interactive elements 810, which indicate th-e channel group names, may be similarly selected by the user to view information on the selected channel group=(e.g., a description of the channel group) : = For ''example, ' . = =
information on the sports channel group highlighted by --cursor 801 may be displayed in overlay 850 when the user.presses the select key 412 on the user input device. As shown, overlay 850'niay describe the selected channel group and provide'a list of the media channels included in the channel group. At the conclusion of user =selection, the user may select button 820 to save the=settings and exit back-to screen 700. = ==
Returning to FIG. 7, screen 700 may include a reduced-scale video display window 720 (e.g.,-picture- ' in-picture or picture-in-gui.de window) and an information display area 730. A cursor 701 may be =
displayed in screen 700 and may be used by"the user in==
conjunction with us-er input device 400 to highlight 30- interactive elements of the display screen. For'' example, cursor 701 may be used by the user to highlight one of the interactive channel group elements 710. In one embodiment, when cursor 701 is located on a particular channel group element 710, window 720 may display video related to the highlighted channel'group.
For example, wi:ndow. 720 may display one or more video clips promoting --the- highl.ighted channel group- itself, 5 the individual media channels.within the channel -group, or the media programming available through the group channels. (e.g., featured programming) . In oiie approach;.the user may be required to make an=.=
indication that the user- wishes- to view vid'eo related 10 to the*highlighted channel group before window 720-begins displaying the video. For example, when=-cursor 701 is located on a channel gtoup-element 710, the user may be required to press INFO key 418 on the=user=input device to start viewing the one or more video clips'.
15 In another embodiment, the user may also be able to view live medi,a programming from the group.- -channels through window 720. For- example, when the user places cursor 701 on a channel group-element-(and optionally, presses the INFO key), window-720 may--' 20 provide live video of a first media channel belonging to the highlighted channel group. Audio of the media.
channel displayed in window 720 may or may not be provided, in some instances, depending on whether the media channel is a television channel or an audio--25 centric channel, such as a music channel-: Window,720-may provide an identification of the first media.
channel in its video display. For example, when the live video displayed in window 720.is--of the media channel ESPN, an overlay 721 may be used in window 720 30 to identify the media channel. In one.approach, when the user presses the INFO. key on-the user--input device while cursor 701 remains on the same channel group element, window 720 may change to disp.lay-live programming from a second media channel belonging to the highlighted channel group. In this way, the user may cycle through all the channels=of a highlighted-= ="
channel group by repeatedly-pressing the INFO-key while cursor 701 is on.the-channel group element.-Alternatively,' the guidance application may automatically cycle' the programming feed in w-indow- 7-20 through the media channels of the:=channel group. When one of the media channels in=a channel group'is not a broadcast,'channel that provides a continuous programming feed (e. g. , audio.or video feed), window 720 may display a promotional video clip related to that media channel when the user or the guidance application cycles to that channel. For example, an 15. on-demand media channel may be represented in window =
720 with a video clip,promoting=a program avai=lable through the on-demand channel, or with a video previ:ew of one of the programs. Alternatively, the guidance application may simply skip media channels-:without a traditional'.broadcast type feed as it cycles through the group channels in,-window 720.
In one embodiment that incorporates both promotional videos rela=te.d to the channel group and live video of the grou.p. -channels;== window 720 may automatically begin display of promotional video clips related to the highlighted channel group when cursor 701 is placed on a channel group element and, when_the user pres.ses the INFO key on..the user input.'device, window 72.0 may.replace the=promotional"video clips with the programming feed from a first group channel.
Further actuations of the INFO key may result in the cycling of the programming 'feeds from the group.
channels, as previously described. -Alterriatively,, window 720 may be. used to display general promotional information regarding the channel groups displayed-on screen 700 regardless of which channel group element is highlighted by.cursor 701.
It should be understood that window-720 may .
-be utilized in any of the above described approaches*or in any combination of such approaches. One or more additional video display windows inay also be provided.--on s creen 700 and may provide additional promotional opportunities- related to channel groups, media channels, media programming, or unrelated products and services. ;
In-formation display area 730 may be'-"
15- synchronized with the video being-displayed in window 720. For example, when window 720 is displaying a video clip promoting a particular channel group, window 720 may display information on the same channel group.
The information provided by area 730 may be text, graphics, video (and any accompanying audio) and may provide a description of the channel group (e.g., the common characteristic or organizing concept for the channel group),-the channel group roster, current programming available through the channel group (e.g.,"

featured= p-rogramming) , etc. Similarly,, when window- 720 is displaying-.a video clip promoting a particular channel or the live video feed.from a particular channel, display area 730 may provide information on the given channel, such as a description of the channel (e.g., the type of programming on which the channel focuses) and promotional' information for the channel and its programming. Similarly, when window 720 is -displaying a particular program or a promotional video relating to a particular program, =disp-lay area -730 -may provide further.information describing and promoting the given program.
Alternatively, information display area 730 may not be synchronized with the video of wi-ndow 7.20.
In one embodiment, area 730 may be used to generally provide promotional- information=on channel groups, media channels, and media programming available='througYi -the service 'provider. Such. promotional* informat'ion- may.
periodically=and automatically change, such-that multiple channel groups, media channels,- and-media.
programs may be promoted within'a given period of time.
Display area 730 may be interactive and may enable the user to initiate one or more guidance application"
functions with respect to the channel group, channel, or programming-being promoted in area 730. For example, when area 730 is displaying information-ori a part.icular=channel or currently broadcast programming,-=user selection of area 730 (e.g., by highlighting with .20 cursor 701 and selecting with key 412) may enable the user to access the particular channel or the channel on which the currently broadcast programming is being broadcast. When area 730 is displaying information on-- '' future programming, user selection of area 73=0= -.may - enable.the user to set a reminder or a recording for' =the future.programming. -It should-be underst.ood that such functionality may require the display of further selection menus after user selection of area 730. Such further selection menus may be displayed by the -guidance application.generally in area 730 or as independent overlays on screen 700.
In another embodiment, information display area 730 may be synchronized with the channel group element highlighted by cursor.701. For example,.as-.-.
shown in FIG. 7, when cursor =701 is highlight-ing=the sports channel group, area 730 may provide information on that channel group (e.g., the common characteristic or organizing concept for the.channel group, -the .. .
channel group roster, featured programming availabl-e through the channel group). . =
It should be understood=..that display area 730 may be utilized in any of.the above described-approaches or in any combination of. such approaches.:' One or more additional promotional areas (e.g.,.area 740) may also be provided on screen-700 and may..prov=ide additional promotional opportunities related to-:channe 1 groups, media channels, media programming, or unrelated products and services.
In another aspect of the present in=vention, guide application functions may be.executed on a ==
channe.l group. Common functions provided with a. :.
guidance application include, for example, setting a ..20 channel as a favorite channel,.locking programs or channels using a parental control password; and== .
purchasing programs or channels that require a payment.
In this aspect of the present invention, the guidance application enables the user to initiate a guidance-.
application function on one or more selected channel groups, instead of a single channel or program.-:. In-response to the -user command to .init.iate the function*, the gui..dance application may execute the functioii on=..
the channel group roster (i.e.,.all the group channels and all other media listings available through t=he channel group). As previously described in connection with .

FIG.. 7, information display area 730 may.:be used,.to.

provide access to guide functions .(e.g., for programming being promoted=in the area). Area 730 may be simila:rly used to'provide access to functions that are applied upon channel-groups.. In one embodiment, 5 regardless of what other information is being displayed in area 730, upon user placement of cursor. 701 on a -channel group element 710, information area 730 may display a list of available guide functions 735 for the highlighted-channel*group. As illustrated in FIG. 7, 10 exemplary furictions 735 include functions to "Set as Favorite," "Lock," and "Subscribe. ". When * the user.
presses corresponding FAVORITE key 426 on the user input device while the cursor is placed= on a ch'annel group element 710, the guidance'application will*
15 execute the "Set as Favorite" function on the-----highlighted channel group. Executing the "Set= as '=' Favorite"-function may cause the guidance'appl.ication to set all the group channels as favorite-channels_".' Additionally, channel groups that have-be-en set by the 20 user as a "favorite" channel group may-be indicated using marker 711.
Similarly, when the user presses the-PURCHASE
key 428 while the cursor is placed on a-channel group element, the guidance application will execute'the - ' 25 "Subscribe" function on the.highlighted'channel group, which may result the guidance application chargi.ng the user for.a subscription to the group channels and' *
authorizing user access to such channels. It' should be noted that the function may be executed on a subset of 30. the group channels. For example, when the user has=-already subscribed to some of the group channels but not others, executing a"Subscribe" function on'the channel group may result in the guidance -application .processing a subscription for onlythe previously unsubscribed channels. It should be understood that this concept applies to other guidance application functions as well.
If the user presses the corresponding LOCK
key 420 while the cursor is on a channel group element, the guidance application may execute the "Lock"
function on the highlighted channel group. Executing the "Lock" function may cause the guidance application to prevent access to the group channels until the entry.
of -a parental control pass code. Additionally, the.
"Lock" function may also result in the locking of individual media listings made available through.the channel group (and therefore on the channel group roster) that may not be sourced from a group channel.
For example, when a channel group provides access'to an .interactive gaming application sourced from a gaming channel that is not a group channel, access to the interactive gaming application may also be locked upon execution of the "Lock" function on the channel group.
It should be understood that this concept applies to other guidance application functions as well, such that all media listings provided through the channel group may be affected-by an executed function, even when some' -.media listings may not be provided or sourced from a group channel.
In another embodiment, multiple channel groups may be selected by the user for the execution of a guidance application function. For example, with reference to FIG. 7, the user may highlight a first channel group element 710 using cursor 701 and press the INFO key on user input device 400. Actuation of the INFO key selects the channel group element and causes the display of available =functions -in- list 735.
When the user moves cursor 701 to a second channel group element and presses the INFO key, the second channel group element is also selected. List 735 may then display a list of functions commonly available for both the first and second selected channe.l groups.
User activation of the corresponding.key (e_g., .. .
FAVORITE, LOCK, PURCHASE) on user i-nput device 400= may =
then execute the corresponding function on both the selected channel group rosters -(i. e. , g=r.oup. channels and other media.listings available through the channel group). It should be noted that there may not exist a commonly available function between two or more selected channel groups (e.g., when a first. selected.
channel group is of a different nature than a subsequently selected channel group). In this event=;=
list .735 may remain=blank or may display a message indicating that no function is commonly available: .. :.
.It should be understood that the fuinctions applicable to channel groups may be=any appropriate feature or function of the guidance application and.is not limited to those'illustrated in the foregoing.
FIG. 9 illustrates a display screen of.the.
guidance application that illustrates- an alternative =embodiment.to the channel group selection screen of FIG. 7. Screen 900 illustrates a display in which channel groups are displayed in the program.listings.=
area together with media.channels. For example,.
interactive channel group elements. 910 may appear at 30.- the top of the program listings grid 950. Channel group elements 910 may also appear together in another area of grid 950 (e.g., at the bottom), or may be interspersed among the media channel listings 915 in =the grid. (e.g., a sports channel group may be displayed .next to=a sports.media channel). Reduced s cale video display window 920- and information display area 930 rnay-operate=as they normally do in the program listings -screen of the guidance application (e . g'. , window 920, may provide video for. a last tuned channel and area 93*0 may provide informat.ion corresponding to a highlicPubed listing)., or may 'follow .the -functionality previously set forth with respect to wind.ow..720 and area 730.
- In one embodiment of the present invention;
when the user selects a channel_. group (.e . g_, by placing-a cursor on channel group element 710/910 and=pressing select key 412-on the user input device) -, the guidance application may display to the user a. channel=group portal screen for the..selected channel group. As =illustrated.in FIG. 10, screen 1000 serves -as a portal.
or home screen for the group of. channels. making up the channel group.
Screen 1000 may serve to p-rovide =focused.
information on the channel group to the us 4ar. For example, information display area . 1030 may.-ic]entify the channel group and display information.on the channel-group itself (e.g., list of group-channels, information-on the common characteristic or organizing concept f*or the channel group) . As shown in FIG. 10, =.exemplary =
screen 1000 is the portal screen for a. spo rts chan-nel-group. Consequently, area 1030 may inform the-=viewez that the channel group is dedicated to spo rts programming (e.g., as -part of...a promotional messageto entice the viewer). Information- area 1030 may also- =.
provide promotional information highlight i-n.g-group ' channels and prograrnming available througl-i the channel group. In one embodiment, area. 1030 may display inforrnation on the channel group (1031) as well as scrolling information on group channels and programming (1032). If desired, area 1032 may present information on newly available programming on any of the group 5= channels and other newly.available media that is part=
of the group... Promotiona-l information may also be displayed in one or more additional promot i onal areas (not shown)' of screen 1000. Reduced scale video display window 1020'may cooperate with display area 10 1030 to'provide video information related'-t o the channel group. In one example, window 1020 may display one or more video clips promoting the channel group, its constituent channels, or featured prog ramming .
available through the charinel group. Wind w 1020 fnay 15 be synchronized with_promotional informati on 1032 displayed in area 1030 or, in one of 'the- additional promotional areas (not shown) . In: =one exaniple, wheri .
promotional information 1032' is for a future broadcast program, video window 1020 may display a v ideo clip-20 promoting the future program: When=promot ional information 1032 is for a currently broadcast program or for a media channel, window 1020 may provide a live video feed of the program. When promotion al information 1032 is -for an on~ demand program, window 25 1020 may provide a preview.clip of the on-demand program. Promotional.information, whether displayed in area 1030 or in additional promotional areas, may automatically* change to promote=a plurali t y of'programs and channels. ' ' ' 30 Information display=-area 1030 may also provide access to functions of the guidance application. For example, as previously described with respect to area 730, the u.ser may-select area 1030 (e.g., by placing cursor 1001 on the area and pressing the select key on the user input device).to initiate one or more functions of the guidance application on the media channel or programming being promoted (e.g., 5 access the channel or programming, set a reminder-for, the programming, set a recording for the programming).
Additionally, information display area.1030 may.provide access.to functions that may be executed on the channel group. As previously described with respect=to area 10 730, .area 1030 may provide a list 1035 of the guidance application functions available for the current channel.
group. In one embodiment, interactive items 1036 may be,provided in list 1035 that enable the user to highlight and select a function to be executed on the 15 present channel group. .
As shown in FIG. 10, media listings for programming available'through the channel group are, displayed in grid 1050. Screen 1000 il'lustrates a tirrie and channel grid type of listings display, but it 20 should be understood that the display of listings may be of..any suitable format. Additional guide functionalities,..such as sort and search functions, may also be provided to the- user through screen 1000 and may be focused on the media listings of the channel 25_ _group. In guidance applications that enable a list of favoritechannels, favorite channels that are part of the channel group may be displayed at the top of grid 1050 and may be. indicated by a marker 1011 in the ' .
channel identification area. Alternatively, favorite 30 channels may be interspersed in the grid and indicated by marker 1011. Interactive elements 1010 in grid 1050 represent the media programming available through the group channels. _For broadcast channels, elements 1010 occupy a length corresponding to a-program duration.
For non-broadcast channels, such as on-demarid:channels, a single element 1010 may span the entire length'of grid 1010. Element 1010 may include any suitable 5-information related to the associated program; such as its title, rating, description, indicators of upcoming actions (such as scheduled recordings),'flags to indicate newly available content, and.other'.related text and indicators. User selection of element '1010=
(e.g.,-'by placing cursor 1001 on.the element and pressing the select key on the user input device) mayl initiate access to the se-lected programming; available -guide -functions for the selected programming -(e..:g. ,=-set reminder, set recording, view detailed information), or both.
In some systems, on-demand programming that originates from a particular media channel br a parti.cular programmer is grouped together in an on-demand channel. For-example, on-demand programming that originates from the media programmer ESPN may be accessed by the user from the ESPN ON-DEMAND channel.
User selection of this on-demand channel may"provide the user with access to an interactive media guidance application (e.g., a series of interacta.ve.displays) 25' for receiving information on and accessing individual on-demand programs. In one approach illustrated by FIG. 10, on-demand media channels are provided in the==' listings grid as a channel. 'User selection o=f=element 1010 corresponding to an on-demand channel initiates user'access to the guidance application provided by the on-demand channel. Similarly, other non-broadcast media channels (e.g., games-channels, web page channels, etc.) may also be listed= in the grid in.this manner. . ' In another approach, listings for on-demand programming from the on-demand group channels may appear individually in the listings grid:"'As illustrated by FIG. 11, elements 1110 corresponding to-individual on-demand programs may.appear-to take the place of an individual medi.a 'channel' -and may 'span the entire length of the grid. The on-demand=media listings may be grouped. togeth-er at the top or bottom.
of the listings grid 1150 or may be located immediately underneath the media channel from which the on-demand.
programming originates or with which'the on-demand programming shares a common programmer. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 11, on-demand programming.from the ESPN On-Demand channel may appear directly underrieath the ESPN media channel.in_ the grid. User - selection of an on-demand listing 1110 may enable the user to receive information on the program and request to access the program. A similar approach may be taken with non-traditional media such as interactive gaming applications and Internet web pages_ For example, an individual gaming application or an individual web=pa.ge (e_g., containing a single story from a news-=web site)-may be listed in this manner instead of thr.ough a gaming channel or web site channel. It should be noted that the on-demand media listings provided in g.rid 1150 need not be sourced from an on-demand,channel-that belongs to the channel group. Individual:'on-demand media listings may be added to the channel.group roster, by the user or by the service. provider, and-may meet the common characteristic for the channel group as an individual media listing and not as a media channel.

In another approach, all-the on-demand media listings available through the channel group may be organized under a single on-demand channel for the channel group. For example, all on-demand media listings-available through the sports channel group may be accessed through user selection of a sports group .on-demand channel that may be organized solely for use in the. channel group 'portal screen.
In some embodiments, listings grid-1050 may include oiily a subset of the non-broadcast content that-is available as part of the channel group. For example, the grid may feature popular on-demand content, newly released on-demand content-, or on-demand content that is currently being promoted by'the service provider. In these embodiments, the full-list of available non-broadcast content may be available through separate screens.
In some embodiments, on-demand programming availabl.e.through the channel group may be accessed .20 through a 'separate menu of the guidance application.
As illustrated by FIG. 10; the guidance application may provide interactive item 1005 that provides access to a dedicated on-demand media listing menu upon user selection. As illustrated by FIG. 12, upon user selection of item 1005, the.guidance application may replace.the listings previously displayed in the listings area 1050 with all the on-demand media listings 1210 available through the channel group. The on-demand listings may be sorted in any suitable order.
For example, they may be alphabetical, ordered to highlight newly available content, ordered on a promotional basis, ordered by popularity, or ordered on any other suitable basis. It should be understood that the on-demand listings displayed may be accomplished in' a variety of alternative approaches and may =additionally enable the user to search and sort the on-demand media listings. A similar effect may be achieved through screen 1000 in the embodiment where a single on-demand channel is provided for all the-on-demand programming available through the channel.group.
As previously discussed in relation to FIG.
7, reduced scale video display windows of the present invention may be used to display the live video feed of a=group channel and other video related to the channel group. Turning to the channel group portal'screens of FIG. 10, 11, and 12, similar functionality may be assigned to window 1020. In one embodiment, when the user=moves cursor 1001 to highlight a'program listing in'the listings grid, window 1020 may'display the'live video feed of the media channel corresponding to the highlighted listing, or a promotional video clip.for the given channel. When the highlighted listiiig is for,-2 0 an on-demand program (see FIGS.. 11 and 12), the video window may display the-on-demand program, a promotional video clip for the on-demand program, or a p'romotional video clip for the on-demand channel associated with the program. In another embodiment, the.user may place the cursor onto video display window 1020 and (optionally, upon pressing INFO key 418) receive the-live video for a first media channel. As*previously described in connection with window 720, video windows 1020 may cycl=e through the live video feed for each of the group channel-s upon further user actuation of the INFO key. Alternatively, the guidance application may automatically cycle through the live video feeds' -without user input, or may provide means for the user to a given group channel for which to receive the live video feed.
In one embodiment, live video feeds from the group channels may be presented to the user in~a video 5 mosaic format. For example, as illustrated by FIG..
12A, reduced scale video.windows 1255 may be used to 'simultaneously display the live video=feed from each of the group channels. Display screen 1250 may,'for-..
example, be=accessed from.channel:group portal screen 10 1000.- In.one suitable approach, the=user may move' -=
cursor 1001 onto video display window 1020 arid-indicate a desire to view the mosaic screen'1250 by-pressing the select key on the user input device. As*shown-in FIG.
12A, cursor 1251 may be provided on screen *1250, the 15 cursor being movable between the windows 1.255 to highlight a given window. In the event that all the group channel video feeds.do not fit onto a single display screen, the guidance application may-provide additional screens to accommodate the additional video--20 windows or may enable the user to*scroll*to*additional video windows using'cursor 1251. In orie embodiment, the guidance applicationmay.enable tuning ope"ration from screen 1250. For example, the user may move.
cursor 1251 onto a window 1255 and press the select key 25 on the user input device. Upon such user input, the guidance application may tune the user to'tlie'group channel represented by selected window 1255.* In one.
embodiment, individual media -listings, such as on-'demand listings, may also*be represented by a video 30.. window 1255. For example, in the case of an on-demand media listing, the guidance application may provide*a preview of the media program or a promotional video for the media program. In one embodiment, any audio programming provided through the media channels or media listings represented in windows 1255 may be provided to the user when cursor 1251 is placed on a given window. 'In some embodiments, text is displayed in conjunction with each video window, to describe or promote the'channel or its content. In some embodiments, the.user may pres.s an info key on the remote while a video window is highlighted to access additional information about the media or-to perform other.action related to the media..
FIG. 13 shows'a multipurpose screen of the guidance application that enables.the user to see all programming-reminders, pending.recordings, completed recordings, and purchased programming from.the channel group. Optionally, previously accessed on-demand media programming may also be included when the.programming remains.available for access by the user. Screen 1300 may be accessed by user selection of item 1006.from screen,1000. In one approach ill-ustrated by screen 1300, this multipurpose screen may be organized by date. For example, as shown in FIG. 13,...all--reminders, recordings,.and purchases from a particular day are placed together under the display heading=for-that day.
Therefore, with reference to screen 1300, the user .is informed that on November llth, a.p.rogramming reminder for "Monday Night Football" on media channel ESPN has been set for the start time of 9pm. The..u=ser= is informed that on the same day, a recording has been set for the "England vs. Denmark" soccer match on FOXSPORTS
at 10pm. The user is also informed that on Noveniber 11th, a jogging program that began_at 7am.was recorded.
from the FOXSPORTS channel and that a volleyball match was recorded from the RCN channel beginning at 9am. In addition, the user is informed that on November 11th, a pay-per-view on-demand program, "Life of Dale Jared,"
was purchased from ESPN ON-DEMAND. Because multipurpose screen 1300 may include both future programming items ( e. g., future programming reminders and pending recordings) and past items (e.g., recorded or purchased programming, expired programming reminders), screen 1300 may be available for a set-period both.in the past and future (e.g., for the'ten day p.eriod. be-fore -and after the present date) . If = desired, pastprogramming may be shown for each ciay it continues to beavailable. For example, a recorded program may be shown for each daybeginning when it is recorded and ending when the recording is.d=eleted. As another example, a purchased on-demand program may be shown for each day beginning when it is purchased and ending when the prqgram is no longer authorized'for"
viewing.
Elements 1310, which represent the reminders, recordings; purchases (and, optionally, previously accessed and still authorized on-demand programs) in screen 1300, may be interactive. A cursor 1301 may be provided that enables.the.user to high=light an element 1310. For example, the user may highlight an element 1310 that represents a programming reminder. Upon user selection=of that element (e.g., by pressing the select key of the user input device)-; the user may be able to edit or delete the programming reminder as well as view detailed information about the program with the scheduled reminder and perform-.othe.r functions related to the program. Similarly, the user may be able to interact with a pending recording element to edit or delete the scheduled recording, view program information, and perform other program-related functions. User selection of elements-1310 that represent recorded programming or purchased programtning--ma=y enable the user to access the recorded or purchased programming (if the programming is still accessible) Reduced scale video display window *1320 'may be used to display a video corresponding to the' programming element 1310 highlighte'd by-cursor 1301.-For example, when a future program is highlighted using cursor- *1301. (e.g. , programming a reminder or a- pending recording), window 1320 inay display a promotional vidt o clip about the upcoming program or a preview of the upcoming program. In another example, when cursor 1301 highlights an element 1310 that represents currently accessible programming (e.g.', recorded or purchased programming, on-demand programming that remains=
availabl-e -for access), window 1320 may begiri playback of the programming or provide a clip of the .-pr-ogramming.= As previously described in connection with other embodiments, window 1320=may begin the display of. video related to a highlighted program only upon some user indication to do so (e.g., pressing INFO
request key on the user input device while cursor 1301 highlights the program element). Description area 1330 may cooperate with window 1320 to provide further information on the highlighted program.
In one approach, the user may be able to edit the content of multipurpose screen 1300 using selectable items 1305. By selecting items 1305, the user may control whether programming reminders are included on the screen, whether pending recordings are included on the screen, and whether play list items (i.e., programs that are available for access, such as recorded programming, purchased or'previously accessed programming that remain accessible).are s:ncluded-on the'' screen. A play list for the channel group-may be generated by-the guidance application by merging a list of recorded programs from the channel grbup and'a*_list of the previously purchased or accessed programs from the channel group that remain accessible-to the='user:
Items 1310 that are accessible.to the user-(e.g.; recorded programs and some purchased programs)' may be accessed by user selection of the element (e.g., 'by' "
placing cursor 1301 on the element and pressing the' select key.). In addition, accessible iteins 1310 may include an additional marker 1311 indicating to.the-user that the programming is available for-p].ayback.
In an-alternative approach, listings for programming reminders,"recordings, and purchased or .previously accessed programming from the channel group may be provided by the gi.iidarice application in' suitable ..
combinations. For example, as illustrated by FIG: 14,-a recording screen 1400 may provide the user with a list=of all the pending recordings and completed recordings for the channel group. FIG. 14A illustrates a play list screen that provides all the recorded, '- -purchased, and previously accessed media listings that .25.. are accessible to the user. Alternatively,'each'list'-of information for the channel group may be provided on separate screens. FIG. 15'illustrates another aspect of the present invention in which a viewing history of-the channel group is provided_ The viewing history 'screen .1500 may provide the user with a list of all the media programming accessed by the user through the channel group in a past period. In one approach illustrated by .screen 1500,-the viewing history screen may be organized by the date on which the programming was accessed. In another approach, the viewing history may be a-single cumulative'list for a set period (e. g. , 5 five days). In order to. keep the number of programs appearing in the viewing history screen to a reasonable I.evel, it may be desirable to require a certain level.
of user.attention to .a program.before the program is considered to have been accessed. For example, a 10 program may only be entered onto the viewing history screen when it was accessed by the user for longer than five minutes. This-approach would eliminate a large number of entries in the viewing history screen due to channel browsing by the user.
15 As shown in screen 1500, the viewing history screen may provide elements 1510 that represent media programming previously accessed by the user through the channel group. The viewing history screen may be accessed by the user for a given channel group through.
20 the channel group portal screen_ For example, the user may select item 1007 on screen 1000 to access view.
history screen 1500 for the sports channel group.
Media programming ma.y-be accessed through viewing a program on one of the.group channels, requesting an on-25 demand or pay-pay-view program made available through the channel group, or accessing other media provided through the channel group (e.g., games', web sites)'.
Elements 1510 may indicate the group channel on which the programming was carried, the title of the program, 30 the original broadcast time of the program (if relevant), and the duration for which the user accessed the program. In addition, element 1510 may also provide an indicator 1511 on each program. The status indicator provides information on the nature of the programming that was accessed. For example, the statu s indicator may show that an accessed*program wa's a broadca,st program, an on-demand program, or a pay-per-view program. The status indicator may-.also serve to show whether a previously accessed program is currently available for access (e.g., using marker 1512).
Previously acces.sed media programming that maybe available for current user access include programming that has been recorded, on-demand programming that, remains available for user request through-the on-demand content provider, and previously purchased-pay=
per-view programming that remains available for acces s to the user (e.g., a three-day movie pass purchased by the user). For programs that remain accessible by the user, user selection of the corresponding element 1510 (e.g., by placing a cursor on the element and pressing the select key on the user input device) provides access to the pro.grammin.g (e.g., playback of-the program).
As shown in FIG. 15, the user may -navigate.
cursor 1501 to highlight one of the elements 1510 on the viewing history screen. .Reduced-scale video window 1520 and description 1530 may cooperate t.o provide information on the previously accessed media programming highlighted by the cursor. For example, information display area 1530 may provide descriptive .information on the previously accessed programming.and window 1520 may provide video related to the programming. If, for example, the highlighted programming remains available for current access by the user, window 1520 may begin playback of the programming. As previously described in connection with the reduced scale video window, playback of video may require user initiation (e_g., the pressing of the INFO key on the user input device while highlighting ' element 1510 with the cursor). In the approach where reduced scale video of the programming has already.-began in window 1520 when the user chooses to a=ccess the prograinming, the guidance application may query the user on.whether th'e user would like to begin playback from the start of the program or continue the-playback already in progress in window 1520.
If the previously accessed programming selected by the.user is not currently available for access, the guidance application may indicate to,the user that the selected programming is not available for access, and when applicable for the selected program;
the guidance application may provide the user with .information regarding a re-broadcast (i.e., re-run) of the previously accessed programming or information on the next installment of the series to which the selected programming belongs.
In some instances, window 1520 and'area 153 0*
-may provide information*on previously accessed programming with the benefit of-hindsight. For example, area 1530 may display'descriptive information of a past sports contest that includes a recap of the -contest and-statistics=---of the contest, while window 1520 may display highlight reel video clips of the contest': .In.another approach, window 1520 and area -1530 may be used to promote another installment, of a programming.series when the user highlights or selects a previously accessed installment of the series. In some embodiments, when an element 1510 is highlighted a user may press a select or info key to access additional detailed informationabout the programmingor perform other=functions related to the programming.
It should be understood that viewing history screen 1500 is merely illustrative and..further aspects of the viewing history screen may be provided, ..
including the sorting and searching of the previously accessed programming from the channel group..
In another aspect of-the.present invention, the guidance application may enable the user to.=create custom. channel groups by creating., a-rid editing- the .
channel group roster (i.e., the list of channels and media listings that are part of the channel group),. -In one embodiment illustrated by FIG. 16, the user may create a custom channel group by selecting.the channels.*..
.15 to be included in the channel roste.r.. Screen 1600 may be accessed upon user. selection. of element 706-in.the, -channel group selection screen of FIG. 7.: .. Channel.
group creation screen 1600 may.include a list of pre- --existing channel-groups and a list of all th-e channels ..
provided by the service provider or received by the user equipment. The displayed channels and channel--- .. .
groups are represented by interactive elements 1610-and checkboxes 1605. A.cursor 1601 is provided, and.user selection of a highlighted checkbox 1605 corresponding..-to a channel or channel group element 1610 (e.g., by ...:.
placing the cursor on the checkbox..and pres s=i=ng . the ..
select key) may-result in the channel or channel.group being added to the channel group roster display 1620 (and a checkmark being placed next=to the selected.
channel or channel group element). The user may also receive information=on the channels or channel groups to aid in the roster selection. For example, when the user places the cursor on a channel group element and =-.presses the info key, the guidance. application may provide the user with information on the channel group (e.g., channels making up the channel group, the nattire of the channel group) by displaying an overlay 1650 (similar to overlay 850 of FIG. 8) or by leading the user to a separate information screen. Similarly, when the user requests.information on a highlighted channel element.1610, the guidahce.application may use a similar mechanism to provide iriformation on'the channel (e.g.; the nature of programming carried by the channel)., In some instances, the user may wish to add individual media listings,to the channel group'roster instead of an entire media channel'. As illustrated in FIG. 16, this may be accommodated by displaying an overlay 1660 (additional to overlay 1650) upon user se'lection of a channel element 1.610. Overlay'1660 may =include media listings 1661 that are available through' the selected channel. For example, screen 1600 shows that an interactive gaming channel has been selected by the user and that overlay 1660 contains a=list 'of all the interactive gaming applications 1631 offered through the gaming channel. Simil=ar to the -operation of elements 1610 and checkboxes 1605, applicatioris 1661 .may be individually selected by select-ing checkboxes 1662, and the user may receive information on'tl-ie individual' applications by selecting elemefnts 1661'. , Ari '.' overlay similar to overlay 1660 may also:be used to'.a'id ' in user selection of channels included in a-sel'ected channel group element, such'thatthe iaser may use the channel group elements 1610 as a guide to.desired individual channels. When the user is finished=s-etting the channel group roster 1620, the user may-highlight and select item 1630, which creates the channel group (e.g., for access through channel-group selection .
screen 700) and exits the application to the previous screen (e..g., screen 700). Screen 1600 may also be.
provided to the user to edit a channel group roster.
5,For example, the'user may select to edit a channel group by selecting element 1008 in the.channel group portal..screen of FIG. 10. The guidance application may..
enable the user to--edit_.a-channel group roster whether the ro.ster was originally populated by the service 1'0 provider or by the user.
It should be understood that the media programming referred to with respect to the preserit invention =may be any suitable media programming,. such.
as television programming,.audio programming, Internet 15 web-pages, interactive applications (e.g:, games, home shopping applications), photographs, etc. It should also be understood that media channels as referred to with respect to the present invention may be any,-provider or source of media programming, such as-a 20 television channel, an Internet-web site, a'satellite .radio channel, etc. A single channel group may contain a combination of different media types in its roster.
In another embodiment of the present invent.ion, the interactive media guidance application may be 25 implemented on a non-traditional platf.orm such as a PDA
and may provide guidance..for mixed media -channels such as Internet web sites,-satellite radio channels, interactive gaming channels, and.on-demand movie channels. As illustrated in FIG. 17, interactive 30 channel group elements 1710.may*be provided for groups of Internet web sites, satellite radio stations, interactive gaming channels, and-on-demand movie channels_ For ex-ample,, interactive element 1710 "World" may represent a group of Internet web sites and other.types of programming that concentrate on world events. Interactive elements 1710 "Sports" and "Money."
may similarly represent groups of Internet web sites and other types of programming that concentrate on the stated topics. Interactive element 1710 "Jazz" may .represent a group of satellite radio stations that specialize in jazz music. As previously= -described= in other embodiments, the choice of media channel groups to be displayed in screen 1700-may be set by the service provider, by the user, or some combination thereof.
Upon user selection of an interactive channel group element 1710 (e.g., by navigating cursor 1701 onto the element and indicating the selection using the -user inputs provided by the PDA)., the-guidance application may provide a group portal screen~that.
displays information on the media channel group and enables acce.ss.to functions that are applicable to the.
group. For example, user selection of element 1710 "World" may cause the guidance application to display portal screen 1800, which includes a list of the media channels included in the group (e.g., CNN.com, BBCNews.com, Reuters.com). Further, media listings 1811 may.be pxovided.for each media'channel, for example, to feature links to web pages containing top=news stories. User selection of interactive element 1810 (e.g., by nav.igating cursor 1801 onto the element and indicating the selection using the user inputs provided by the PDA) may provide access to the home page of the user selected web site. Similar user selection of interactive elements 1811 may provide direct access to the deep-linked web page requested by the user (e.g., -the web page providing the promoted news story). The user may also be able to receive information on the individual group keb..sites (e.g., nature of the web s-ite content) by, for example, pressing an information request key on the PDA'device while highlighting websit-e element 1810. The guidance application may also display to-the user a list of-functions executable on the channel.group and-enable the user to initiate a'function on the group:- As illustsated in FIG. 18, element 1.820 may represent a function that sets an electronic mail alert for the.
media channels (e.g.., web -sites) of the group. When executed, this function may, for example, alert the user via electronic mail whenever a new top sto.ry is added to any of the web sites of this channe-l group.
In another example, FIG. 19,illustrates a jazz music channel-group portal screen that-may be displayed upon user selection of. e-lement.1710 "Jazz."
A plurality of satellite radio stations. that concentrate on jazz programming may be displayed on--screen 1900 as elements 1910., along-with other media:
that may be part of the channel group roster-such as music on demand and jazz-related websites. An information display-area 1920 may be used to:prov.ide information on the channel group: -For example, area 1920 may include a brief promotional message about the.
ch-annel group.as a=whole, a promotional message about an individual radio station, and information on featured programming provided through the channel group. As previously described, promotional informatio.n.on featured programming may be periodically changed to promote multiple programs. Area-1920 may also be used to provide information on a user highlighted radio station, such as a description of the' station's musical genre. Screen 1900 may provide media listings for the group channels. For example, a listing of the current programming on the music channel may be provided under each channel element 1910.
Listings for past and future programming may also be.
provided. User selection of music channel.elements 1910 (e.g., by'naviqating cursor 1901 onto the element and indicating the selection using the user input's provided by'the PDA) may provide access (i. e. , tune)- to the selected radio station or, in the event the station has not been subscribed to by the user, a preview clip of the station programming. User selection of.element.
1910 may also cause the guidance application to display a screen that provides information (e.g., media listings) only on the selected radio station and allows the.user to perform channel-specific functions related to the selected channel.
Screen 1900 may'enable the user to receive previews of the displayed media listings. For example, by selecting a media listing that is a currently broadcast radio program, the user may be tuned to the program. When the selected media listi-ng is a future broadcast, the user may receive a preview clip of the program. As previously described in other embodiments, the guidance application may also use screen 1900 to provide access to an on-demand 1i-stings screen (1906), a multipurpose screen (and any screens containing the constituent listings.provided by the multipurpose screen, such as a recordings screen (1907)), an access history screen, a channel group roster edit screen, etc. Screen 1900 may also provide the user with access to functions that are executabl.e on the channel group.

For example, user selection of interactive element 1905 may cause.the guidance application to process a subscription for all the radio stations (and, optionally, the individual media listings (e.g., on-demand albums)) provided through the jazz group and subsequently enable access to the same.
It should be understood .that the.screens of FIGs. 7-16, as well as the screens of FIGs. 17-19 are merely examples of combinations of features. Alternat e embodiment=s may combine-the features shown on these screens in different ways, add features, or otherwise vary from these examples.
FIG. 20 shows an illustrative flow diagram for providing channel groups in an interactive media guidance application,in accordance with the pre-sent invention.
At step 2010, the channel group is defined:
The channel group definiti.on-may be a channel group roster, which may include a list of media channels to.
be included in the channel group, and may also include individual media listings that may not originate-from one of the group channels. The channel group roster (i.e., group channels and any individual media listings in the roster) may share atleast one common characteristic. =As detailed in the illustrative flow chart of FIG. 21,=step-2010-may include service provider input step 2011 and user input step 2012. At step 2011, the.channel'.group definition may be .provided., for example, by service provider 142 (FIG.
1). For example, the service provider may use profile information on a user as an input to the channel group roster. The service provider may use one or more common characteristic-of a medi-a channel or of a media listing to organize the channel group roster.:==In addition, the service provider may exercise human editorial control over.the channel group roster. At step 2012, the channel group roster may include input 5 from the user. In one approach, the channel.group.
roster may be entirely provided by-a us.er, far example, utilizing the editing screen of FIG. 16. In.another approach, the user-may edit a channe=1 group'.roster previously provided by'the service provider. At-step 10 2013, _the channel group roster ( i. e., the: channel group .
definition), is created and may be stored, for example, at media distribution facility 104 or user equipment-108 (FIG. 1) with other guidance application dat.a. For example, server 140 of media distribution facility 104.
15 may provide.a channel group databas.e that.stores.,the channel group rosters. The database may include database items representing each of the channel groups-that have been defined in the system (e.g., by the service provider or the user). The channel group 20 database item may include a channel group roster database item, which in turn includes. database items, that represent each individual media channel-and media listing in the channel group roster.
At step 2020, information on the channel 25 group is provided to the user. As detailed in'the illustrative flow chart of FIG. 22, a myriad of information on the channel group may be provided at steps 2201-2216 included in step 2020. At step 2201, media listings for the channel group may be'provided to 30 the user, for example, at channel group portal screen 1000. Media listings for the channel group may include media listings for the group channels and any individual media listings included..in the channel group roster _ Media..listings for the 'channel- -group may include.on-demand media listings (which may or may not be.pay-per-view) ( FIG. 12 ). In. the i-llustrative system of FIG. 1, for example, media -listings may be stored in a media listings database on server 140. Each media listing may be individually.identified (e.g., using a listing code) and may be cross-referenced with the media channel through which the:listi:ng is provided.
Upon user request to view media listings for the channel group, the guidance application.may.u-se the channel group roster database item stored on server 140 to query the media listings database for media listings that correspond with the media channels and media listings identified in the channel group-roster database item. The corresponding media listings for the channel group may then be transmitted to the user equipment=for display to the user.
A preview of a media listing may be provided at step 2202, for example, in the form of a video preview of'an on-demand media listing. In.the illustrative system of FIG. 1, for example, media programming may be stored in a media programming-database on server 140 and may be keyed to a corresponding media listing. When the user requests a preview of a media listing, the guidance application may query the media programming database using the key that corresponds with the media listing. =The media.
programming for the corresponding media listing may then be transmitted to user equipment to provide the preview.
A viewing history of the channel group may be provided at step 2203. The viewing history tracks the media accessed by the user through the channel group in a given period-of time (FI-G. 15). For example, in the illustrative system of FIG. 1, each channel group-.
database item may include a viewing history database item. The viewing history database item includes items representing each med'i-a listing accessed by the user through the channel group'. For example, when the user accesses a given media listing with the user equipment, the guidance application may transmit the given media listing to server 140. Server 140 may use.the media channel information' = for' the list'ing to query the channel group database for the channel groups to which the media channel belongs_' The media listing is.then added to the viewing history database item for.the appropriate channel groups. 15 A'list of programming reminders for the channel group may be provided at step 2204. A list of pending recordings and recorded programs for the channel group may be provided at steps 22-05-=and 2206.
A.list of purchased programs fr'om the channel group may' be provided at step 2208. For example, in the illustrative system of FIG. 1, reminders, pending recordings, and recorded programs may all.be' represented as media listing database"items in one or more reminder/recording databases on server''140: Each media listing item stored in tlie'databases may include the listing code and an identification (e'. g: ,' clianriel-code) of the media channel on which-the media li'sting is provided. Therefore, upon user request to.view reminders or recordings for a channel group, the guidance application may query the appropriate reminder/recording databases using the media channel codes and media listings codes included in the channel group roster database item. A preview of a recorded program-.or purchased program from the channel 'group may be provided at steps 2307 and 2309, respectively. Such previews may be accomplished i.n a manner similar to.the previews provided at step 2202. Steps 2204-2209 may be provided, for example, through multipurpose screen 1300 (-FIG. 13) .. .=
Promotional information on the channel group itself may be provided at step 2210. Promotional information on the channel group may include-a video clip promoting the channel group...Promotional informat.ion on a group channel, such as a video clip promoting a group=channel, may be provided at step 2211. Promotional information-on media programming from the channel group, such as -informat.ion or videos 1=5 on featured programming, may be provided at step 2212.
For example, in the ia.lustrative system of FIG. 1, server 140 may include a promotional information database. Each parcel,of promotional information (whether the information is audio, video, text,-graphics, etc.) is stored in the-'database with a database item that identifies the promotional ==information. The identifier may include, as appropriate, one or..more codes that associate the promotional information with a channel group, a media channel, or a media listing.. When the guidance application requires the promotional-information (e.g., for display on screen 1000),=the guidance application may query the promotional i.nformation database using the channel group, media channel, and media listings codes that are included in the channel group database item to retrieve promotional.informationrelated to the channel group for display.

A live media feed (e.g-., video feed, audio feed) of a group channel may be provided at . step.= 2-213 and may be selectively tuned by the user at step 2214.
For example, in the illustrative system of FIG. 1, 'each media channel. or media listing database it e3n included =
in the channel group roster database item may include a programming source identifier that directs the' guidance =application to the=programming source for t he media channel or media listing (e.g., digital te 1 evision channel-, Internet web site URL). The guidance application. may direct the user equipment' t o the programming source specified by the progrannming.source identifier to receive a live media feed-.
A list of =guidance application functi.ons that are executable on the channel group (e.g., Setas Favorite, Lock, Subscribe) may be provided at step 2215. For example, in the illustrative s y stem of FIG.-1,-- each media channel and media listing - database. -item included in the channel group roster database 'item may include a list of guidance application functions that are executable on the media channel or med sa listing.
The list of=functions that are executable on the channel group may be created by extracting the common denominator functions from these individua 1 lists.
A list of the group channels in the'channel group may be provided at step 2216. In th e-illustrative s.ystem -of FIG. l; this list m-ay be provided=from the channel group database 1 ocated on server 140.
Steps 2210-2216 may be provided, for example, .
through the channel group portal screen 1 000 (FIG. 10) It should be understood that the above st eps are illustrative only and are not exhaustive of the information on -the channel group' that may be provided.-At step 2217, a channel group portal screen (FIG.- 10) may be provided that either displays or provides access to the information of steps 2201-2216. In. this manner, 5 information on the channel group may be provided at a central location in the guidance application.
At step 2030, a function of the guidance application is executed on the channel group... As described in the foregoing, the guidance application 10 may execute, for example, a "Set as Favorit e,"
"Lock/Unlock," "Subscribe," and "News Alert" functions on one or more selected channel groups. As detailed in the illustrative flow chart of FIG. 23, step 203.0 may.
include channel group selection step 2031, user 15 initiation step 2032, group channel execut i.on step 2033, and media listing execution step 2034. At step 2031, the user may select one or more channel groups on which to initiate a function of the guidance .
.application. For example, as described in conriection 20 with screen 700 (FIG. 7), the user may select multiple channel groups for execution of a function_ Alternatively, as described in connection with screen 1000 (FIG. 10), the 'guidance application may, by context, set the selected channel group to. the 25 currently viewed channel group. At step 2 032,* the user initiates a function of the. guidance application on. the channel group by entering a user command (e.g., via user input device 400). At step 2033, the guidance application executes the function on the group channels 30 included in the one or more selected channel groiaps.
For example, in executing a "Lock" function, the guidance application may lock the group channels and condition access for the locked channels upon entry of a password., At step 2404, the guidance app l ication may : opti.onally execute the function on any individual media listings that areincluded=in the channel group =rosters.
of the one or.more selected channel groups, but that are not sourced from the group channels. For example, in. e-xecuting the "Lock" function, the guidance application may lock access to an individual program included in the channel group rostesthat is not broadcast on-a group channel.
For example,.in the illustrative system of FIG. 1, the guidance application may const ruct.a list of the media channels and media listings on which a function is to be performed by querying- the- channel group database on server 140. Using the channel group codes for the one or. more channel groups selected by the user, the,guidance application may access the channel group roster database items for the selected channel groups to construct the list of channels and media listings on which the function is to -be- executed_ In some inst-ances, the execution of the gui-dance application function may be achieved by changing one or more items of information in a media channel or media listing database item. For example-, in-one illustrative.embodiment,the guidance application may .25 execute a "Lock" function by changing- the value of a parental control field in a media channel or.listing database item from "N" to "Y." The guidance application may refer to-a database of such media channel and media listing database items each time the guidance application receives a command-to access a media channel or media listing. For example, upon receiving a user command to access a media listing, the guidance application may query this database for both the media listing database item and the media-channel database item corresponding to the user selected=listing. If either of the database 'items contain'a parental control field that reads "Y," the guidance, -5 . application will-block access to the media listing and will execute a function that display.s a request for the parental control PIN. Therefore, in this illustrative.example, the guidance application may execute a=
function on one or more channel.groups by changing certain field values in the database items . ..
.corresponding to the previously constructed list'(o.f media channels and listings on which the functionds to be executed). =.
It should be noted that the foregoing' discussion of.the system of FIG. 1 in connection with the flow charts is for illustrative purposes only.and should not'be construed to exclude alternative systems and approaches for accomplishing the functionalities.
set forth.in the flow charts. .
It should be understood t=hat the foregoing descripti.on '..is merely .illustrative of. the principles. of the present=invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scop.e and spirit.of the present invention.

Claims (56)

What is Claimed is:

1. A method for providing channel groups in an interactive media guidance application, the method comprising:
defining a channel group that includes a plurality of media channels, wherein the plurality of media channels is a subset of the media channels received by user equipment;
providing information on the channel group, wherein the information includes media listings for the plurality of media channels;
receiving a user command to initiate a function of the guidance application on the channel group; and executing the function on the channel group in response to the user command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the function comprises executing the function on each of the plurality of media channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to initiate a function on one or more selected channel groups, and wherein executing the function comprises executing the function on the plurality of media channels belonging to the one or more selected channel groups.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining the channel group to include media listings that are not from the plurality of media channels.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising executing the function on the media listings that are not from the plurality of media channels in response to the user command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to set the channel group as a favorite channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises setting the plurality of media channels as favorite media channels.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to block access to the channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises blocking access to the plurality of media channels using a password.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to subscribe to the channel group, and executing the function comprises subscribing a user to at least some of the plurality of media channels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user command.to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to set an alert for the channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises alerting a user when a condition is met for any of the plurality of media channels.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a channel group comprises receiving a list of the plurality of media channels.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving user modifications to the list.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving a list of the plurality of media channels comprises receiving a list of media channels that share at least one common characteristic.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing access to a media program in response to a user selection of a corresponding media listing.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises at least one of: providing a list of the plurality of media channels, providing media listings for the channel group, providing a list of on-demand media programs for the channel group, providing a list of reminders for the channel group, providing a list of pending recordings for the channel group, providing a list of recorded programs for the channel group, providing a listing of purchased programs for the channel group, and providing a viewing history of previously accessed programs for the channel group.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a viewing history for the channel group comprises tracking a list of media programs accessed by a user through the channel group in a given time period.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises providing a preview for at least one of: an on-demand media program from the channel group, a recorded media program from the channel group, a purchased media program from the channel group, and a previously accessed media program for the channel group.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing a preview comprises displaying a reduced scale video of a program.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a channel group portal screen that provides access to the information on the channel group and functions that are executable on the channel group.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing access to the information on the channel group comprises displaying on the portal screen at least one of: a video clip promoting the channel group, a video clip promoting one of the plurality of media channels, a list of the plurality of media channels, promotional information on media programming accessible through the channel group, a live feed from one of the plurality of media channels, media listings for the channel group, and a list of the functions that are executable on the channel group.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein providing access to the information on the channel group comprises providing access on the portal screen to at least one of: a viewing history of the channel group, a list of reminders for the channel group, a list of pending recordings for the channel group, a list of completed recordings for the channel group, a list of purchased programs for the channel group, and on-demand media listings for the channel group.

21. A method for providing channel groups in an interactive television program guide application, the method comprising:
defining a channel group that includes a plurality of television channels, wherein the plurality of television channels is a subset of the television channels received by user equipment;
providing information on the channel group, wherein the information includes program listings for the plurality of television channels;
receiving a user command to initiate a function of the program guide application on the channel group; and executing the function on the plurality of television channels in response to the user command.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a list of favorite television channels.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to set the channel group as a favorite channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises adding the plurality of television channels to the list of favorite television channels.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to block access to the channel group, and wherein executing the function comprises blocking access to the plurality of television channels using a password.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a user command to initiate a function comprises receiving a user command to subscribe to the channel group, and executing the function comprises subscribing a user to at least some of the plurality of television channels.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises providing a list of on-demand programs available through the channel group.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises providing a reduced scale video preview of a television program corresponding to a displayed program listing.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein providing information on the channel group further comprises providing a reduced scale video of a live television broadcast from one of the plurality of television channels.

29. An interactive media guidance system for providing channel groups comprising:
an interactive media guidance application implemented at least partially on circuitry configured to:
define a channel group that includes a plurality of media channels, wherein the plurality of media channels is a subset of the media channels received by user equipment;
provide information on the channel group, wherein the information includes media listings for the plurality of media channels;
receive a user command to initiate a function of the guidance application on the channel group; and execute the function on the channel group in response to the user command.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to execute the function is further configured to execute the function on each of the plurality of media channels.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured:
to receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to initiate a function on one or more selected channel groups; and to execute the function is further configured to execute the function on the plurality of media channels belonging to the one or more selected channel groups.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry is further configured to define the channel group to include media listing-s that are not from the plurality of media channels.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the circuitry is further configured to execute the function on the media listings that are not from the plurality of media channels in response to the user command.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to:
receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to set the channel group as a favorite channel group; and execute the function is further configured to set the plurality of media channels as favorite media channels.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to:
receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to block access to the channel group; and execute the function is further configured to block access to the plurality of media channels using a password.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to:
receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to subscribe to the channel group;
execute the function is further configured to subscribe a user to at least some of the plurality of media channels.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to:
receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to set an alert for the channel group; and execute the function is further configured to alert a user when a condition is met for any of the plurality of media channels.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to-define a channel group is further configured to receive a list of the plurality of media channels.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive user modifications to the list.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the circuitry configured to receive a list of the plurality of media channels is further configured to receive a list of media channels that share at least one common characteristic.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry is further configured to provide access to a media program in response to a user selection of a corresponding media listing.

42. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide at least one of: a list of the plurality of media channels, media listings for the channel group, a list of on-demand media programs for the channel group, a list of reminders for the channel group, a list of pending recordings for the channel group, a list of recorded programs for the channel group, a listing of purchased programs for the channel group, and a viewing history of previously accessed programs for the channel group.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the circuitry configured to provide a viewing history for the channel group is further configured to track a list of media programs accessed by a user through the channel group in a given time period.

44. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide a preview for at least one of: an on-demand media program from the channel group, a recorded media program from the channel group, a purchased media program from the channel group, and a previously accessed media program for the channel group.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the circuitry configured to provide a preview is further configured to display a reduced scale video of a program.

46. The system of claim 29, wherein the circuitry is further configured to provide a channel group portal screen that provides access to the information on the channel group and functions that are executable on the channel group.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the circuitry configured to provide access to the information on the channel group is further configured to display on the portal screen at least one of: a video clip promoting the channel group, a video clip promoting one of the plurality of media channels, a list of the plurality of media channels, promotional information on media programming accessible through the channel group, a live feed from one of the plurality of media channels, media listings for the channel group, and a list of the functions that are executable on the channel group.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the circuitry configured to provide access to the information on the channel group is further configured to provide access on the portal screen to at least one of: a viewing history of the channel group, a list of reminders for the channel group, a list of pending recordings for the channel group, a list of completed recordings for the channel group, a list of purchased programs for the channel group, and on-demand media listings for the channel group.

49. An interactive media guidance system for providing channel groups comprising:
an interactive media guidance application implemented at least partially on circuitry configured to:
define a channel group that includes a plurality of television channels, wherein the plurality of television channels is a subset of the television channels received by user equipment;
provide information on the channel group, wherein the information includes program listings for the plurality of television channels;

receive a user command to initiate a function of the program guide application on the channel group; and execute the function on the plurality of television channels in response to the user command.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry is further configured to provide a list of favorite television channels.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to:
receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to set the channel group as a favorite channel group; and execute the function is further configured to add the plurality of television channels to the list of favorite television channels.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to:
receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to block access to the channel group; and execute the function is further configured to block access to the plurality of television channels using a password.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to:
receive a user command to initiate a function is further configured to receive a user command to subscribe to the channel group; and execute the function is further configured to subscribe a user to at least some of the plurality of television channels.

54. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide a list of on-demand programs available through the channel group.

55. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide a reduced scale video preview of a television program corresponding to a displayed program listing.

56. The system of claim 49, wherein the circuitry configured to provide information on the channel group is further configured to provide a reduced scale video of a live television broadcast from one of the plurality of television channels.