Program guide and reservation system for network based digital information and entertainment storage and delivery system
In a broadband communications system, e.g., a cable system, programming content can be readily reserved and accessed for viewing using interactive program guides in accordance with the invention. Such programming content may include in-progress programs, future programs and previously broadcast programs which are recorded at a headend in the cable system, and which may or may not have overlapping broadcast times. In addition, the user may reserve programs at a set-top terminal, and may also do so remotely from the terminal through a communications network such as, the Internet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless telephone network, etc.
1 - 32 . (canceled)
33 . A method for providing content of a broadcast program, comprising:
receiving a request for review of content of a broadcast program, the request including an identifier of the broadcast program;
in response to the request, providing at least one option to select an extent of the broadcast program to be reserved for review; and
making available for review the broadcast program to the selected extent thereof after the selected extent of the broadcast program is broadcast.
34 . The method of claim 33 wherein the selected extent includes a full extent of the program.
35 . The method of claim 33 wherein the request is received while the broadcast program is being broadcast, the selected extent including content from a beginning of the broadcast program.
36 . The method of claim 33 wherein the broadcast program has one or more episodes related thereto, the selected extent including at least one of the episodes.
37 . The method of claim 33 wherein the broadcast program includes a TV program.
38 . The method of claim 33 wherein the broadcast program includes video content.
39 . A method for providing program content comprising:
providing a plurality of previews associated with a plurality of programs, respectively;
showing at least one of the previews; and
receiving a signal while the at least one preview is being shown, the signal indicating a reservation of the program, associated with the at least one preview, for subsequent review of content of the program.
40 . The method of claim 39 wherein the at least one preview includes information concerning a time of broadcast of the associated program.
41 . The method of claim 39 wherein the program includes a TV program.
42 . The method of claim 39 wherein the program includes video content.
43 - 98 . (canceled)
99 . A system for providing content of a broadcast program, comprising:
an interface for receiving a request for review of content of a broadcast program, the request including an identifier of the broadcast program;
a processor responsive to the request for providing at least one option to select an extent of the broadcast program to be reserved for review; and
a mechanism for making available for review the broad cast program to the selected extent thereof after the selected extent of the broadcast program is broadcast.
100 . The system of claim 99 wherein the selected extent includes a full extent of the program.
101 . The system of claim 99 wherein the request is received while the broadcast program is being broadcast, the selected extent including content from a beginning of the broadcast program.
102 . The system of claim 99 wherein the broadcast program has one or more episodes related thereto, the selected extent including at least one of the episodes.
103 . The system of claim 99 wherein the broadcast program includes a TV program.
104 . The system of claim 99 wherein the broadcast program includes video content.
105 . A system for providing program content comprising:
a processor for providing a plurality of previews associated with a plurality of programs, respectively, at least one of the previews being shown; and
an interface for receiving a signal while the at least one preview is being shown, the signal indicating a reservation of the program, associated with the at least one preview, for subsequent review of content of the program.
106 . The system of claim 105 wherein the at least one preview includes information concerning a time of broadcast of the associated program.
107 . The system of claim 105 wherein the program includes a TV program.
108 . The system of claim 105 wherein the program includes video content.
109 - 151 . (canceled)