Program guide system with flip and browse advertisements
View Patent ↗An interactive television program guide is provided in which advertisements may be displayed in program listings display regions on program guide screens. The program listings display regions may be browse displays or flip displays. The program guide screens contain video for the current channel to which the user is tuned. The program listings display regions containing the advertisements may be overlaid on top of the current channel. Alternatively, the video for the current channel may be provided in a reduced-size video window. The advertisements may contain video. The advertisements may be used to promote television programs and conventional goods and services. Advertisements may be selectable. When a user selects an advertisement, the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to order products or services, request information, set reminders for upcoming programs, view program descriptions, record programs, or take other such actions.
1. A method for using an interactive program guide to generate program listings information and selectable advertisement for display on a display on which video for a given television channel is displayed, the method comprising:
generating for display over the video for the given television channel an overlay comprising a program listings region and another region, wherein the program listings information is generated for display only in the program listings region, the selectable advertisement is generated for display only in the other region, and the overlay partially obscures the video for the given television channel such that a portion of the video for the given television channel is viewable simultaneously with the program listings region and the other region;
receiving a command to view a new program listing in the program listings region, wherein the command is invoked by a directional key on a remote control;
navigating a highlight region, in response to the command, wherein the command is invoked by the directional key on the remote control, from the program listings information in the program listings region to the selectable advertisement in the other region when the selectable advertisement is not currently highlighted;
generating for display the new program listing in the program listings region, in response to the command, wherein the command is invoked by the directional key on the remote control, when the selectable advertisement in the other region is currently highlighted; and
receiving a user selection when the selectable advertisement in the other region is highlighted; and
in response to the user selection, generating for display additional information related to the selectable advertisement.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional information is at least one of: a product, a service, a brochure, and a literature.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the other region comprises text, graphics, or video.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
cycling content displayed in the other region; and
providing a fade between the displayed content in the other region as it is cycled.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the program listings information is associated with a different television channel than the given television channel.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the other region comprises at least one advertisement that promotes a television program, the method further comprising recording the television program when the at least one advertisement is selected.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the other region comprises at least one advertisement that promotes a television program, the method further comprising setting a reminder for the television program when the at least one advertisement is selected.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
allowing the user to navigate the highlight region between the program listings information in the program listings region and the advertisement in the other region by issuing a user control command.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a substantial portion of the video for the given television channel is viewable simultaneously with the program listings information and the advertisement.
10. A system for using an interactive program guide to generate program listings information and a selectable advertisement for display on a display on which video for a given television channel is displayed, the system comprising:
a processor configured to:
generate for display over the video for the given television channel an overlay comprising a program listings region and another region, wherein the program listings information is generated for display only in the program listings region, the selectable advertisement is generated for display only in the other region, and the overlay partially obscures the video for the given television channel such that a portion of the video for the given television channel is viewable simultaneously with the program listings region and the other region;
receive a command to view a new program listing in the program listings region, wherein the command is invoked by a directional key on a remote control;
navigate a highlight region, in response to the command, wherein the command is invoked by the directional key on the remote control, from the program listings information in the program listings region to the selectable advertisement in the other region when the selectable advertisement is not currently highlighted;
generate for display the new program listing in the program listings region, in response to the command, wherein the command is invoked by the directional key on the remote control, when the selectable advertisement in the other region is currently highlighted; and
receive a user selection when the selectable advertisement in the other region is highlighted; and
in response to the user selection, generate for display additional information related to the selectable advertisement.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the additional information is at least one of: a product, a service, a brochure, and a literature.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the other region comprises text, graphics, or video.
13. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further configured to:
cycle content displayed in the other region; and
provide a fade between the displayed content in the other region as it is cycled.
14. The system of claim 10 wherein the program listings information is associated with a different television channel than the given television channel.
15. The system of claim 10 wherein the other region comprises at least one advertisement that promotes a television program and wherein the processor is further configured to record the television program when the at least one advertisement is selected.
16. The system of claim 10 wherein the other region comprises at least one advertisement that promotes a television program and wherein the processor is further configured to set a reminder for the television program when the at least one advertisement is selected.
17. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further configured to allow the user to navigate the highlight region between the program listings information in the program listings region and the advertisement in the other region by issuing a user control command.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least a substantial portion of the video for the given television channel is viewable simultaneously with the program listings information and the advertisement.