Integrated content guide for interactive selection of content and services on personal computer systems with multiple sources and multiple media presentation
View Patent ↗A integrated content guide for multiple sources is provided with hyper-text type links to allow for the selection of various programs. The hyper-text links are provided for a transmitted and then stored digital bit stream. This allows for the embedding within the content guide what could be additional commercial information. The embedding may also be as to additional information for other related television or radio shows or the like. Information can be additional television shows, related information or activities on on-line services or automatic telephone ordering of products or services being displayed.
1. A method for delivering content selection information to be displayed as a content selection guide, the method comprising the acts of:
providing content selection information from a plurality of content sources to a user, the content selection information comprising descriptive information associated with the content available from the plurality of content sources, the content selection information being adapted to be displayed within a plurality of selectable guide cells;
defining an action to be associated with content selection information that is to be displayed in at least one of the selectable guide cells; and
defining an indicator within the at least one of the selectable guide cells, the indicator corresponding to the action, to allow the user to initiate the action by selecting the indicator.
2. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising defining an icon to correspond to and represent the indicator.
3. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising defining a format for the plurality of selectable guide cells, the format being selectable based on a user input.
4. The method set forth in claim 3 , comprising defining the format to be selectable from among a plurality of predetermined formats.
5. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising defining the action to comprise executing an application on a computer system.
6. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising providing updated content selection information.
7. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising defining the action to comprise displaying an advertisement.
8. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising defining the action to comprise making a purchase.
9. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising adapting the content selection information to be displayed on a computer system.
10. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising storing the content selection information in a database on a computer system.
11. The method set forth in claim 1 , comprising delivering the content selection information to a user via a wireless communication channel.
12. A system for delivering content selection information to be displayed as a content selection guide, the system comprising:
means for providing content selection information from a plurality of content sources to a user, the content selection information being adapted to be displayed within a plurality of selectable guide cells;
means for associating an action with content selection information that is to be displayed in at least one of the selectable guide cells; and
means for providing an indicator within the at least one of the selectable guide cells, the indicator corresponding to the action, to allow the user to initiate the action by selecting the indicator.
13. The system set forth in claim 12 , wherein an icon is defined to correspond to and represent the indicator.
14. The system set forth in claim 12 , wherein a format is defined for the plurality of selectable guide cells, the format being selectable based on a user input.
15. The system set forth in claim 14 , wherein the format is defined to be selectable from among a plurality of predetermined formats.
16. The system set forth in claim 12 , wherein the action is defined to comprise executing an application on a computer system.
17. The system set forth in claim 12 , wherein updated content selection information is provided.
18. The system set forth in claim 12 , wherein the action is defined to comprise displaying an advertisement.
19. The system set forth in claim 12 , wherein the action is defined to comprise making a purchase.
20. The system set forth in claim 12 , wherein the content selection information is adapted to be displayed on a computer system.
21. The system set forth in claim 12 , wherein the content selection information is adapted to be stored in a database on a computer system.
22. The system set forth in claim 12 , comprising means for delivering the content selection information to a user via a wireless communication channel.
23. A mass storage device, comprising:
a software application stored on the mass storage device, the software application being adapted to:
provide content selection information from a plurality of content sources to be displayed as a content selection guide to a user, the content selection information comprising descriptive information associated with the content available from the plurality of content sources, the content selection information being adapted to be displayed within a plurality of selectable guide cells;
define an action to be associated with content selection information that is to be displayed in at least one of the selectable guide cells; and
define an indicator within the at least one of the selectable guide cells, the indicator corresponding to the action, to allow the user to initiate the action by selecting the indicator.
24. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein an icon is defined to correspond to and represent the indicator.
25. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein a format is defined for the plurality of selectable guide cells, the format being selectable based on a user input.
26. The mass storage device set forth in claim 25 , wherein the format is defined to be selectable from among a plurality of predetermined formats.
27. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein the action is defined to comprise executing an application on a computer system.
28. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein the program is adapted to provide updated content selection information.
29. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein the action is defined to comprise displaying an advertisement.
30. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein the action is defined to comprise making a purchase.
31. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein the content selection information is adapted to be displayed on a computer system.
32. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein the content selection information is adapted to be stored in a database on a computer system.
33. The mass storage device set forth in claim 23 , wherein the program is adapted to deliver the content selection information to a user via a wireless communication channel.