Program guide system with advertisements
View Patent ↗An interactive television program guide is provided in which advertisements may be displayed on program guide screens. Banner advertisements may be displayed above and below program listings. Panel advertisements may be provided adjacent to program listings. The advertisements may contain video. The advertisements may be used to promote television programs and conventional goods and services. 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. Embedded advertisements may be provided within the program listings region and may be automatically displayed immediately adjacent to related program listings.
1. A method comprising:
generating a display comprising a media listings region, a first advertisement, and a second advertisement, wherein:
the first advertisement is located in a region separate from the media listings region on the display,
the second advertisement is located in the media listings region on the display, and
a first media listing is located in the media listings region on the display;
receiving a user input;
in response to receiving the user input, determining whether a cursor is on the second advertisement or the first media listing;
in response to determining that the cursor is on the second advertisement, navigating the cursor from the second advertisement in the media listings region to the first advertisement; and
in response to determining that the cursor is on the first media listing, navigating the cursor from the first media listing to a second media listing in the media listings region.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media listing is displayed above the second advertisement and the second media listing is displayed below the second advertisement, and wherein a user must navigate through the second advertisement in order to navigate from the first media listing to the second media listing.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an advertisement containing advertisement options on the display.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a reminder is set when a user selects the first advertisement.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a given channel is tuned to when a user selects the first advertisement.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a media asset is recorded when a user selects the first advertisement.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a media asset is purchased when a user selects the first advertisement.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a display of purchase goods is generated when a user selects the first advertisement.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cycling content of the first advertisement.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
providing a fade between the content of the first advertisement as the content is cycled.
11. A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
generate a display comprising a media listings region, a first advertisement, and a second advertisement, wherein:
the first advertisement is located in a region separate from the media listings region on the display,
the second advertisement is located in the media listings region on the display, and
a first media listing is located in the media listings region on the display;
receive a user input;
in response to receiving the user input, determine whether a cursor is on the second advertisement or the first media listing;
in response to determining that the cursor is on the second advertisement, navigate the cursor from the second advertisement in the media listings region to the first advertisement; and
in response to determining that the cursor is on the first media listing, navigate the cursor from the first media listing to a second media listing in the media listings region.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first media listing is displayed above the second advertisement and the second media listing is displayed below the second advertisement, and wherein a user must navigate through the second advertisement in order to navigate from the first media listing to the second media listing.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate an advertisement containing advertisement options on the display.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a reminder is set when the user selects the first advertisement.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a given channel is tuned to when a user selects the first advertisement.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a media asset is recorded when a user selects the first advertisement.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a media asset is purchased when a user selects the first advertisement.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first advertisement is selectable, and wherein a display of purchase goods is generated when a user selects the first advertisement.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to cycle content of the first advertisement.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
provide a fade between the content of the first advertisement as the content is cycled.
21. A method comprising the steps of:
generating a display comprising a media listings region and a banner advertisement, wherein:
a first media listing is located in the media listings region on the display, and
the banner advertisement is located in a region separate from the media listings region on the display;
detecting a movement of a cursor onto the banner advertisement; and
modifying the media listings region on the display to include a second media listing in response to the detection of the movement.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the banner advertisement contains graphics.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the banner advertisement contains video.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the generated display is implemented as part of an interactive media guide.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the banner advertisement is selectable.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein a reminder is set when the banner advertisement is selected.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein a media asset is recorded when the banner advertisement is selected.
28. The method of claim 25 , wherein a media asset is purchased when the banner advertisement is selected.
29. The method of claim 25 , wherein goods are purchased when the banner advertisement is selected.
30. The method of claim 21 , further comprising cycling content of the banner advertisements.
31. A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
generate a display comprising a media listings region and a banner advertisement, wherein:
a first media listing is located in the media listings region on the display, and
the banner advertisement is located in a region separate from the media listings region on the display;
detect a movement of a cursor onto the banner advertisement; and
modify the media listings region on the display to include a second media listing in response to the detection of the movement.
32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the banner advertisement contains graphics.
33. The system of claim 31 , wherein the banner advertisement contains video.
34. The system of claim 31 , wherein the generated display is implemented as part of an interactive media guide.
35. The system of claim 31 , wherein the banner advertisement is selectable.
36. The system of claim 35 , wherein a reminder is set when the banner advertisement is selected.
37. The system of claim 35 , wherein a media asset is recorded when the banner advertisement is selected.
38. The system of claim 35 , wherein a media asset is purchased when the banner advertisement is selected.
39. The system of claim 35 , wherein goods are purchased when the banner advertisement is selected.
40. The system of claim 31 , wherein the processor is further configured to cycle content of the banner advertisements.