Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with remote product ordering
View Patent ↗An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The television program schedule information is displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information and displays a portion of the program schedule information on the receiver. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information, wherein the product or service is associated with the program, such as a program transcript or videocassette. The viewer utilizes the remote control apparatus to generate a first command for displaying information on the receiver describing the product or service, and a second command for placing an order for the product or service. The data processor receives the user control commands and in response to the first command causes the video display generator to display information describing the product or service and in response to the second command generates an order for the product or service.
1. A method for allowing a user to order products, comprising:
receiving, at a receiver, a broadcast television program and information from a remote facility, wherein the information indicates that a product is available, and wherein the information is received during the broadcast of the television program;
displaying the television program on a display;
receiving, at a processor during the broadcast of the television program, the information received at the receiver indicating that a product is available;
providing, in response to the processor receiving the information indicating that the product is available, an on-screen message that indicates to the user that the product is available to be ordered with an interactive television program guide, wherein the product is a product other than electronically-delivered data or video and wherein the product is related to the television program; and
allowing the user to place an order for the product.
2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising generating a user product request in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.
3. The method defined in claim 2 further comprising including the product information in the user product request to identify the ordered product.
4. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying additional information describing the product on the display in response to a user indication that the user would like to order a product.
5. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying information on available payment methods for purchasing the product.
6. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to select a desired payment method for purchasing the product.
7. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to purchase the product using a credit card.
8. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to enter a credit card number for use in purchasing the product.
9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to select a credit card to use in ordering the product from a list.
10. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying information on available shipping methods for shipping the product.
11. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to select a desired shipping method for shipping the product.
12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:
displaying information on a plurality of different available shipping methods for shipping the product; and
displaying different price information for each shipping method.
13. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising, in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product, determining the product the user would like to purchase.
14. The method defined in claim 13 further comprising time and channel stamping the order, wherein the determination is made using the time and channel stamp.
15. The method defined in claim 13 further comprising making the determination using the processor.
16. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the on-screen message indicating that the product is available is a visual indicator and wherein the processor is responsive to commands from a remote control having a key labeled with the same visual indicator, the method further comprising allowing the user to order the product using the remote control key labeled with the visual indicator.
17. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to confirm an order for the product.
18. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising presenting a screen that allows the user to enter address information that is used when ordering the product.
19. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising extracting the user's address from a program services billing system.
20. The method defined in claim 1 , wherein the on-screen message is provided as an overlay on top of the television program.
21. A system for allowing a user to order products, the system comprising:
a receiver configured to receive a broadcast television program and information from a remote facility, wherein the information indicates that a product is available, and wherein the information is received during the broadcast of the television program; and
a processor configured to:
display the television program on a display;
receive, during the broadcast of the television program, the information received at the receiver indicating that a product is available;
provide, in response to receiving the information indicating that the product is available, an on-screen message that indicates to the user that the product is available to be ordered with an interactive television program guide, wherein the product is a product other than electronically-delivered data or video and wherein the product is related to the television program; and
allow the user to order the product.
22. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to generate a user product request in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.
23. The system defined in claim 22 wherein the processor is further configured to include the product information in the user product request to identify the ordered product.
24. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to display additional information describing the product on the display in response to a user indication that the user would like to order a product.
25. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to display information on available payment methods for purchasing the product.
26. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to select a desired payment method for purchasing the product.
27. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to purchase the product using a credit card.
28. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to enter a credit card number for use in purchasing the product.
29. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to select a credit card to use in ordering the product from a list.
30. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to display information on available shipping methods for shipping the product.
31. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to select a desired shipping method for shipping the product.
32. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display information on a plurality of different available shipping methods for shipping the product; and
display different price information for each shipping method.
33. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to determine the product the user would like to purchase in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.
34. The system defined in claim 33 wherein the processor is further configured to:
time and channel stamp the order; and
include the time and channel stamp in a user product request.
35. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to:
display the on-screen message indicating that the product is available as a visual indicator;
respond to commands from a remote control having a key labeled with the visual indicator; and
allow the user to order the product using the remote control key labeled with the visual indicator.
36. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to confirm an order for the product.
37. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to present a screen that allows the user to enter address information that is used when ordering the product.
38. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is coupled to a product ordering system configured to extract the user's address from a program services billing system.
39. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to display the on-screen message as an overlay on top of the television program.
40. Non-transitory computer-readable medium for an interactive system, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program logic recorded thereon for:
directing a receiver to receive a broadcast television program and information from a remote facility, wherein the information indicates that a product is available, and wherein the information is received during the broadcast of the television program;
displaying the television program on a display;
receiving, at a processor during the broadcast of the television program, the information received at the receiver indicating that a product is available;
providing, in response to the processor receiving the information indicating that the product is available, an on-screen message that indicates to the user that the product is available to be ordered with an interactive television program guide, wherein the product is a product other than electronically-delivered data or video and wherein the product is related to the television program; and
allowing the user to place an order for the product.
41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for generating a user product request in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.
42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 41 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for including the product information in the user product request to identify the ordered product.
43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for displaying additional information describing the product on the display in response to a user indication that the user would like to order a product.
44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for displaying information on available payment methods for purchasing the product.
45. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to select a desired payment method for purchasing the product.
46. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to purchase the product using a credit card.
47. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to enter a credit card number for use in purchasing the product.
48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to select a credit card to use in ordering the product from a list.
49. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for displaying information on available shipping methods for shipping the product.
50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to select a desired shipping method for shipping the product.
51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for:
displaying information on a plurality of different available shipping methods for shipping the product; and
displaying different price information for each shipping method.
52. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for determining the product the user would like to purchase in response to a user indication that the user would like to order the product.
53. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 52 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for time and channel stamping the order, wherein the determination is made using the time and channel stamp.
54. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 wherein the on-screen message displayed indicating that the product is available is a visual indicator and wherein the machine-readable media further comprises program logic recorded thereon that is responsive to commands from a remote control having a key labeled with the same visual indicator, the machine-readable media further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to order the product using the remote control key labeled with the visual indicator.
55. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to confirm an order for the product.
56. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for presenting a screen that allows the user to enter address information that is used when ordering the product.
57. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for extracting the user's address from a program services billing system.
58. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 wherein the on-screen message is provided as an overlay on top of the television program.
59. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the product is music related to the associated program listing.
60. The method defined in claim 59 wherein the music is a movie soundtrack.
61. The method defined in claim 59 wherein the music is a CD.
62. The system defined in claim 21 wherein the product is music related to the associated program listing.
63. The system defined in claim 62 wherein the music is a movie soundtrack.
64. The system defined in claim 62 wherein the music is a CD.
65. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 40 wherein the product is music related to the associated program listing.
66. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 54 wherein the music is a movie soundtrack.
67. The non-transitory computer-readable medium defined in claim 34 wherein the music is a CD.