PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM FOR RECORDING TELEVISION PROGRAMS
An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.
1 - 12 . (canceled)
13 . A method for presenting media assets at user equipment of a user, comprising:
receiving a user request to access a media asset;
determining, using control circuitry, whether the user has previously purchased the media asset;
providing the media asset when the user has previously purchased the media asset; and
generating, for display, an option to purchase the media asset when the user has not previously purchased the media asset.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the user request to access the media asset comprises receiving a user selection of a listing associated with the media asset.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein providing the media asset comprises enabling the user to record the media asset at a future scheduled time.
16 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
receiving user selection of the option to purchase the media asset; and
prompting the user to enter an identification number in order to complete the purchase.
17 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
receiving user selection of the option to purchase the media asset; and
prompting the user to make a payment to complete the purchase.
18 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
preventing access to the media asset when the user declines the option to purchase the media asset.
19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the media asset is scheduled to be available at the user equipment at a future time.
20 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
generating, for display, a parental control option for locking the media asset on the display screen.
21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:
receiving a user selection of the parental control option to lock the media asset; and
blocking, using the control circuitry, access to the media asset in response to receiving the user selection of the parental control option.
22 . A system for presenting media assets, the system comprising:
circuitry configured to:
receive a user request to access a media asset;
determine whether the user has previously purchased the media asset;
provide the media asset when the user has previously purchased the media asset; and
generate, for display, an option to purchase the media asset when the user has not previously purchased the media asset.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein receiving the user request to access the media asset comprises receiving a user selection of a listing associated with the media asset.
24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to provide the media asset by enabling the user to record the media asset at a future scheduled time.
25 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive user selection of the option to purchase the media asset; and
prompt the user to enter an identification number in order to complete the purchase.
26 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive user selection of the option to purchase the media asset; and
prompting the user to make a payment to complete the purchase.
27 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
prevent access to the media asset when the user declines the option to purchase the media asset.
28 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the media asset is scheduled to be available at a future time.
29 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate, for display, a parental control option for locking the media asset on the display screen.
30 . The system of claim 29 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive a user selection of the parental control option to lock the media asset; and
block access to the media asset in response to receiving the user selection of the parental control option.