Method and system for providing a generic program guide data from a primary content provider to a user network device through a partner service provider

1. A method comprising:

at an authentication server of a primary service provider, receiving via a network an account identifier of a user from a user device;

authenticating the account identifier at the authentication server;

based on results of the authenticating, generating a request for a first encrypted token at a partner service provider based on a partner site identifier;

communicating the request for the first encrypted token from the partner service provider to the authentication server, wherein the partner service provider is separate from the primary service provider, and wherein the user device, the partner service provider and the primary service provider communicate with each other via the network;

validating the partner site identifier at the authentication server;

generating the first encrypted token at the authentication server when the partner site identifier is valid;

communicating the first encrypted token from the primary service provider to the partner service provider;

generating a request for program guide data at the partner service provider based on the first encrypted token;

communicating the request for the program guide data to the primary service provider;

communicating the program guide data from the primary service provider to the partner service provider through the network;

subsequent to the generating of the request for the program guide data at the partner service provider, receiving at the partner service provider a request from the user device for the program guide data; and

communicating the program guide data from the partner service provider to the user device through the network.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises a channel object.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the channel object comprises a content identifier.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises a schedule object.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the schedule object comprises a schedule time.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises a schedule object within a channel object.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises a program object.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the program object comprises a program title.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises a program object within a channel object.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises a program object and a schedule object within a channel object.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein generating the first encrypted token comprises encrypting the partner site identifier.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising generating a second encrypted token at the authentication server when the first encrypted token has expired.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein:

the first encrypted token has a first expiration time; the second encrypted token is generated in response to a second expiration time; and

the second expiration time is later than the first expiration time.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising communicating the second encrypted token from the authentication server to the partner service provider.

15. A method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising communicating the second encrypted token and a second request for data from the partner service provider to a program guide server of the primary service provider.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising, after communicating the second encrypted token:

communicating the second encrypted token to the authentication server; and

authenticating the second encrypted token.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises non-linear guide data.

18. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises linear guide data.

19. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program guide data comprises linear guide data and non-linear guide data.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is a public switched telephone network or an Internet network.

21. A system comprising:

a primary service provider comprising an authentication server, wherein the authentication server is configured to receive an account identifier of a user from a user device via a network and authenticate the account identifier; and

a partner service provider, based on results of the authentication of the account identifier, generating a request for a first encrypted token based on a partner site identifier

wherein

the partner service provider is separate from the primary service provider,

the user device, the primary service provider and the partner service provider communicate with each other via the network,

the authentication server

receives the request for the first encrypted token,

validates the partner site identifier,

generates the first encrypted token when the partner site identifier is valid, and

communicates the first encrypted token to the partner service provider,

said partner service provider requests program guide data from the primary service provider based on the first encrypted token,

said primary service provider communicates the program guide data to the partner service provider through the network,

subsequent to the partner service provider requesting the program guide data, the partner service provider receiving a request for the program guide data from the user device,

said partner service provider communicates the program guide data to the user device through the network.

22. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises a channel object.

23. A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the channel object comprises a content identifier.

24. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises a schedule object.

25. A system as recited in claim 24 , wherein the schedule object comprises a schedule time.

26. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises a schedule object within a channel object.

27. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises a program object.

28. A system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the program object comprises a program title.

29. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises a program object within a channel object.

30. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises a program object and a schedule object within a channel object.

31. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the authentication server generates the first encrypted token by encrypting the partner site identifier.

32. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the authentication server generates a second encrypted token when the first encrypted token has expired.

33. A system as recited in claim 32 , wherein:

the first encrypted token has a first expiration time;

the second encrypted token has a second expiration time; and

the second expiration time is later than the first expiration time.

34. A system as recited in claim 32 , wherein the authentication server communicates the second encrypted token to the partner service provider.

35. A system as recited in claim 32 , wherein the partner service provider communicates the second encrypted token and a second request for data to a program guide server of the primary service provider.

36. A system as recited in claim 35 , wherein:

the program guide server communicates the second encrypted token to the authentication server; and

said authentication server authenticates the second encrypted token.

37. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises non-linear guide data.

38. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises linear guide data.

39. A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein the program guide data comprises linear guide data and non-linear guide data.

40. The system of claim 21 , wherein the network is a public switched telephone network or an Internet network.