Program guide system with video-on-demand browsing
View Patent ↗An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program and a program guide display. A viewer may use the program guide display to browse available video-on-demand (VOD) while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The viewer may browse through video-on-demand programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to order a given video-on-demand program; and set a desired broadcast time for that program.
1. A method for providing video-on-demand program information, the method comprising:
receiving video-on-demand program information at user equipment, wherein the video-on-demand program information includes information regarding a video-on-demand program;
displaying the video-on-demand program information on the user equipment;
generating an indicator uniquely associated with the video-on-demand program, wherein the indicator indicates that a video clip preview is available for the video-on-demand program;
receiving a request to display the video clip preview;
retrieving, upon receiving the request, the video clip preview from a server;
displaying a user-selectable video window; and
displaying, the retrieved video clip preview in the user-selectable video window.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a user can change the size of the user-selectable video window.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the user can change the size of the user-selectable video window to a full screen window.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the user can change the size of the user-selectable video window to a partial screen window.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the partial screen window is a partial screen overlay.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator that indicates that the video clip preview is available is displayed with the video-on-demand program information.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying detailed information regarding the video-on-demand program in a detailed information screen, wherein the indicator that indicates the video clip preview is available is displayed in the detailed information screen.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying an ordering option after the video clip preview is displayed.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an order for the video-on-demand program associated with the video clip preview.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
immediately delivering the ordered video-on-demand program.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
partially downloading the ordered video-on-demand program into local memory.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video-on-demand program information is organized with other video-on-demand program information according to available categories.
13. A system for providing video-on-demand program information, the system comprising:
user equipment configured to:
receive video-on-demand program information, wherein the video-on-demand program information includes information regarding a video-on-demand program;
display the received video-on-demand program information;
generate an indicator uniquely associated with the video-on-demand program, wherein the indicator indicates that a video clip preview is available for the video-on-demand program;
receive a request to display the video clip preview;
retrieve, upon receiving the request, the video clip preview from a server;
display a user-selectable video window; and
display, the retrieved video clip preview in the user-selectable video window.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein a user can change the size of the user-selectable video window.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the user can change the size of the user-selectable video window to a full screen window.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the user can change the size of the user-selectable video window to a partial screen window.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the partial screen window is a partial screen overlay.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the indicator that indicates that the video clip preview is available is displayed provided with the video-on-demand program information.
19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user equipment is further configured to:
display detailed information regarding the video-on-demand program in a detailed information screen, wherein the indicator that indicates the video clip preview is available is displayed in the detailed information screen.
20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user equipment is further configured to:
display an ordering option after the video clip preview is displayed.
21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user equipment is further configured to:
receive an order for the video-on-demand program associated with the video clip preview.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the user equipment is further configured to:
immediately deliver the ordered video-on-demand program.
23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the user equipment is further configured to:
partially download the ordered video-on-demand program into local memory.
24. The system of claim 13 , wherein the video-on-demand program information is organized with other video-on-demand program information according to available categories.