INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE DEVICES WITHIN A HOUSEHOLD
An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. The operation of applications such as web browser applications, home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated.
1 - 27 . (canceled)
28 . A method for ordering a program, the method comprising:
generating, using a first interactive program guide on a first device, a display of a first plurality of program listings;
receiving, from a user at the first device using the first interactive program guide on the first device, a user selection of a program available for ordering, wherein the user selection includes a selection of a first program listing associated with the program from the first plurality of program listings;
transmitting an indication of the program to a remote server located remote from the first device, wherein the remote server stores user settings indicating that the program has been ordered by the user;
transmitting data to the second device indicating that the program has been ordered by the user; and
responsive to receiving the data at the second device, making the program available for consumption by the user by a second interactive program guide implemented on the second device, wherein the second interactive program guide generates a display of a second plurality of program listings based on the received data, the second plurality of program listings including a second program listing associated with the program.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the data is transmitted to the second device responsive to receiving a request at the remote server from a second device to access the user settings.
30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the data is transmitting to the second device based on identifying a preference for the second device in the user settings.
31 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the data is transmitted to the second device based on receiving a request, from the first device, to transmit the data to the second device.
32 . The method of claim 28 , wherein transmitting an indication of the program to the remote server, further comprises:
transmitting, via a network connection, packet comprising data identifying the user, and a request to update the user settings to include an indication that the program has been ordered by the user.
33 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
receiving a user selection of the second program listing at the second device; and
responsive to receiving the user selection of the second program listing, generating for display the program on the second device.
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein generating for display the program on the second device further comprises, receiving video data associated with the program from the remote server.
35 . The method of claim 33 , wherein generating for display the program on the second device further comprises, receiving video data associated with the program from the first device.
36 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising updating a setting of the first interactive program guide, by way of the remote server, responsive to receiving the user selection of the second program listing at the second device.
37 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the first device and second device are within a same household that is remote from the remote server.
38 . A system for ordering a program, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:
generate, using a first interactive program guide on a first device, a display of a first plurality of program listings;
receive, from a user at the first device using the first interactive program guide on the first device, a user selection of a program available for ordering, wherein the user selection includes a selection of a first program listing associated with the program from the first plurality of program listings;
transmit an indication of the program to a remote server located remote from the first device, wherein the remote server stores user settings indicating that the program has been ordered by the user;
transmit data to the second device indicating that the program has been ordered by the user; and
responsive to receiving the data at the second device, make the program available for consumption by the user by a second interactive program guide implemented on the second device, wherein the second interactive program guide generates a display of a second plurality of program listings based on the received data, the second plurality of program listings including a second program listing associated with the program.
39 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the data is transmitted to the second device responsive to receiving a request at the remote server from a second device to access the user settings.
40 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the data is transmitting to the second device based on identifying a preference for the second device in the user settings.
41 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the data is transmitted to the second device based on receiving a request, from the first device, to transmit the data to the second device.
42 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the control circuitry, when transmitting an indication of the program to the remote server, is further configured to:
transmit, via a network connection, packet comprising data identifying the user, and a request to update the user settings to include an indication that the program has been ordered by the user.
43 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive a user selection of the second program listing at the second device; and
responsive to receiving the user selection of the second program listing, generate for display the program on the second device.
44 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the control circuitry, when generating for display the program on the second device, is further configured to receive video data associated with the program from the remote server.
45 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the control circuitry, when generating for display the program on the second device, is further configured to receive video data associated with the program from the first device.
46 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to update a setting of the first interactive program guide, by way of the remote server, responsive to receiving the user selection of the second program listing at the second device.
47 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the first device and second device are within a same household that is remote from the remote server.