Electronic program guide with related-program search feature

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- 1 ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITH RELATED-PROGRAM SEARCH FEATURE

Related Application

This application is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,847,138 filed on March 21, 2014, which is a divisional of Canadian Patent No. 2,352,780 filed on November 30, 1999.

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to interactive television systems such as interactive television program guide systems, and more particularly, to techniques for program searching in these systems.

Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide a large number of television channels. Typically, the number of channels provided by cable and satellite systems is over a hundred and ever increasing. Television viewers have traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to obtain programing information. More recently, interactive electronic television program guides have been developed to allow television program information to be displayed on viewer television equipment.

Interactive electronic television program guides (program guides) typically provide program listings for all channels available in the television system. Some program guides include features for allowing users to search for programs. Such search

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- 2 features are often complex, time-consuming, and cumbersome. For example, such search features may require that a user select search parameters such as preferred programming genres before searching for programs, that a user navigate through several display screens before being allowed to initiate a search, that the user enter at least a portion of a program title to initiate a search, etc.

It is therefore an object of some embodiments to 1° provide a television system that includes an improved program searching feature.

Summary of the Invention

These and other objects of some embodiments are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the .15 present invention by providing a system for searching for programs. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the given program in which the user indicated an interest. The system may locate program listings that are related to the given program. The located program listings may be related to the given program based on attributes of the given program.

The system may display a list of the located program listings. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to select from the list of related programs. The system may tune to a program selected from the list, may display an information display screen for a program selected from the list, etc..

The system may provide the user with an opportunity to configure search parameters. For example, The system may present the user with a list of

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- 3 attributes for the given program and may allow the user lo select one or more attributes and may allow the user to select which logical operations ;e.g., and/or operations) are to ±>e performed on the attributes. The 5 system may search television program listings and may display a list of related programs based on the selected attributes .

The system may sort related program listings based on the attributes of the given program. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to save search parameters for use at a later time. The system may display a list of previously saved searches and may provide the user with an opportunity to direct the system to locate currently available program listings based on a saved search from the list. The system may locate currently available listings based on the userselected search parameters from the saved search when the saved search is retrieved. The system may allow the user to delete a saved search. The system may automatically display a notification based on userselected search parameters from a saved search. The system may provide the user with an opportunity to view the user-selected search parameters for a saved search.

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- 3a According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for searching for programs using an interactive system, the method comprising: generating for display a video on user equipment; in response to receiving a first user input while the video is being displayed: receiving, from a server remote to the user equipment, a list of a plurality of attributes of the displayed video; and generating for display the list of the plurality of attributes of the displayed video; in response to receiving a second user input, assigning various importance levels to one or more of the attributes of the displayed video; in response to receiving a third user input, selecting one or more attributes of the list to include in determining a list of one or more programs; in response to receiving a fourth user input, selecting one or more attributes of the list to exclude in determining the list of one or more programs; determining the list of one or more programs, each program having at least one attribute which matches the selected one or more attributes of the displayed video to include in determining the list of one or more programs, and excluding, from the list of one or more programs, programs that have the one or more excluded attributes of the displayed video, wherein the determining is further based on the assigned importance levels; saving the selected one or more attributes of the list to include and the selected one or more attributes of the list to exclude as a user-configured search parameter list; and automatically notifying the user by generating for display the determined list of one or more programs, wherein the determined list is sorted according to the assigned importance levels.

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- 3b According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an interactive television program guide system, comprising: a user interface that is configured to receive a user input; and a user equipment on which an interactive program guide is at least partially implemented, wherein the user equipment is communicably coupled to the user interface and is configured to: generate for display a video on user equipment; in response to receiving a first user input while the video is being displayed: receive, from a server remote to the user equipment, a list of a plurality of attributes of the displayed video; and generate for display the list of the plurality of attributes of the displayed video; in response to receiving a second user input, assign various importance levels to one or more of the attributes of the displayed video; in response to receiving a third user input, select one or more attributes of the list to include in determining a list of one or more programs; in response to receiving a fourth user input, select one or more attributes of the list to exclude in determining the list of one or more programs; determine the list of one or more programs, each program having at least one attribute which matches the selected one or more attributes of the displayed video to include in determining the list of one or more programs, and excluding, from the list of one or more programs, programs that have the one or more excluded attributes of the displayed video, wherein the determining is further based on the assigned importance levels; save the selected one or more attributes of the list to include and the selected one or more attributes of the list to exclude as a user-configured search parameter list; and automatically notify the user by generating for display the

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- 3c determined list of one or more programs, wherein the determined list is sorted according to the assigned importance levels.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for searching for videos using an interactive system, the method comprising: generating for display a first video on user equipment; in response to receiving a first user input while the first video is being displayed: receiving, from a server remote to the user equipment, a plurality of attributes of the first video; and generating for display the plurality of attributes; in response to receiving a second user input, assigning various importance levels to attributes of the plurality of attributes; in response to receiving a third user input, selecting a first attribute of the plurality of attributes to include in a search for a second video; in response to receiving a fourth user input, selecting a second attribute of the plurality of attributes to exclude in the search for the second video; executing the search for the second video; generating a plurality of results based on the search, wherein the results comprise a plurality of video identifiers each corresponding to a respective video, each respective video being associated with the first attribute and not being associated with the second attribute, wherein the search is further based on the various importance levels; saving the first attribute and the second attribute as user-configured search parameter attributes; and automatically notifying the user by generating for display the plurality of results, wherein the plurality of results are sorted according to the various importance levels.

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- 3d According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an interactive system for searching for videos, the system comprising: a user equipment comprising processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to: generate for display a first video on user equipment; in response to receiving a first user input while the first video is being displayed: receive, from a server remote to the user equipment, a plurality of attributes of the first video; and generate for display the plurality of attributes; in response to receiving a second user input, assign various importance levels to attributes of the plurality of attributes; in response to receiving a third user input, select a first attribute of the plurality of attributes to include in a search for a second video; in response to receiving a fourth user input, select a second attribute of the plurality of attributes to exclude in the search for the second video; execute the search for the second video; generate a plurality of results based on the search, wherein the results comprise a plurality of video identifiers each corresponding to a respective video, each respective video being associated with the first attribute and not being associated with the second attribute, and wherein the search is further based on the various importance levels; save the first attribute and the second attribute as user-configured search parameter attributes; and automatically notify the user by generating for display the plurality of results, wherein the plurality of results are sorted according to the various importance levels.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying

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- 3e drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative interactive television program guide system in accordance with the present invention .

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- 4 FIG. 2 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing program searching in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3a is a flow chart of illustrative steps 5 involved in providing an opportunity to request that the system locate programs related to a given program in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing 10 an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to a given program in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3c is a diagram cf an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing 15 an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to a given program in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3d is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing 20 an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to a given program in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3e is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing 25 an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to a given program in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in displaying program listings that are related to a given program in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for displaying

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- 5 program listings that are related tc a given program in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in displaying program listings that are related to a given program based on user-selected search parameters in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7a is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for searching 10 for program listing that are related to a given program based on user-selected search parameters in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for displaying 15 program listings that are related to a given program based on user-selected search parameters in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7c is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for searching 20 for program listings that are related to a given program based on user-selected search parameters in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8a is a diagram of ar. illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for searching 25 for program listings that are related to a given program based on user-selected search parameters in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for selecting 30 a program listing that is related to a user-selectec program in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing display screens when a user makes

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- 6 selections from a related-program find display screen in accordance with the present invention.

FTG. 10a is a flow of illustrative steps involved in displaying a display screen having a list of saved searches in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10b is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing a display screen having a list of saved searches in 1C accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is flow chart of illustrative involved in providing saved search features in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for searching for program listings based on a saved search in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for deleting a 20 saved search in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing an automatic notification of a program matching a saved search in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for displaying search parameters for a saved search in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of an illustrative sequence of illustrative display screens for providing save search features in accordance with the present invention.

< J09-4Ü8

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Detailed Description of the. Preferred. Embodiments An illustrative interactive television ? · program guide system 50 in accordance with the present invention is _;shown in FIG. 1. Main facility 52 includes a program guide database 54 for storing program guide information (e.g., television program listings data, program-related information, service listings data, service-related information, pay-perview ordering information, television program promotional information,, etc.).

Main facility 52 preferably includes a processor to handle information distribution tasks. Information from database 54 may be transmitted in parallel via communications links such as communications link 57 to multiple television distribution facilities such as television distribution facility 56. Only one television distribution facility is shown in FIG. 1 to avoid over complicating the drawing^. >Each communications link 57 may be a satellite link, a telephone network, link, a combination· of such links, or another suitable communications path. Text, graphics, and video data signals may be transmitted over link 57. If it is desired to transmit video' signals over communications link 57, a relatively high bandwidth link such as a satellite link is generally preferable to a relatively low bandwidth link such as a. telephone line.

Television distribution facility 56 is a facility such as a cable system headened, a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facility for distributing television signals to viewers.

The program guide information transmitted by main facility 52 to television distribution facility 56

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- 8 includes television program listings data such as program times, channels, titles, descriptions, program type, genre, actors, etc. Transmitted program guide information may include pay program data such as pricing information for individual programs and subscription channels, time windows for ordering programs and channels, telephone numbers for placing orders that cannot be .impulse ordered, etc.

Television distribution facility 56 may distribute program guide information received from main facility 52 to user television equipment 58 via communications paths 60. User television equipment 5Θ may be any suitable equipment for providing television that contains sufficient processing capabilities to monitor viewing activities, analyze these activities and display appropriate program listings information for the user.

Communications paths 60 may be cable links, fiber optic links, satellite links, broadcast links, or 20 other suitable link, or a combination of such links.

Any suitable communications scheme may be used to transmit data over paths 60, including in-band transmissions, out-of-band transmissions, digital transmissions, analog transmissions, cable transmissions, satellite transmissions, over-the-air transmissions, multichannel multipoint distribution services (MMDS) transmissions, etc.

Communications paths 60 preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow television distribution facility 56 to distribute television programming, program listings information, advertisements, and other information to user television equipment 58. Multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or both analog and digital) may be provided to user television

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- 9 equipment 58 via communication paths 60. If desired, some of the data may be distributed to user television equipment 58 by one or more distribution facilities that are separate from television distribution facility 5 56 using communication paths that are at least partly separate from communication paths 60.

The data distribution technique that is used to distribute data on paths 60 may depend on the type of information that is being distributed. For example, 10 text and graphics may be distributed over an out-ofband channel using an out-of-band modulator or distributed in the vertical blanking interval lines of an analog video channel. Video information may also be distributed in this way, although large quantities of 15 video information may be more efficiently distributed using one or more digital channels or streams on paths 60. Such digital channels or streams may also be used for distributing text and graphics.

Each user television equipment device 58 has 20 a receiver which is typically a set-top box such as set-top box 62. The receiver may also be other suitable television equipment such as an advanced television receiver into which circuitry similar to set-top-box circuitry has been integrated or a personal 25 computer television (PC/TV). For illustrative purposes, the present invention will be described in the context of user television equipment 58 that uses set-top boxes.

Each set-top box 62 is typically connected to 30 an optional videocassette recorder 66 so that selected television programs may be recorded. Videocassette recorder 66 is typically connected to a television 68. To record a program, set-top box 62 tunes to a particular channel and sends control signals to

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- 10 videocassette recorder 66 (e.g., using infrared transmitter 70) that instructs videocassette recorder to start and stop recording at the appropriate times .

Television program listings, advertisements, programming information, and other information may be displayed on television 68. Each set-top box 62, videocassette recorder 66, and television 68 can be controlled by one or more remote controls 70 or any other suitable user input interface, such as a wireless keyboard, mouse, trackball, dedicated set of buttons, touch screen display remote, etc. Remote controls, such as remote control 70, have various buttons that can be pressed by the user such as arrow keys (e.g., for directing on-screen movement of a highlight region, for directing scrolling functions, etc.), an OK, select, enter, or other such selection key for making a selection (hereinafter referred to as an OK key) , channel number keys (for selecting a television channel), a favorites key (to invoke functions related to user preferences), a delete key (to delete menu items or to express a disinterest in certain user preferences), an information key for receiving information on a program (hereinafter referred to as an

INFO key), a specific feature key (e.g., a relatedprogram search key to invoke program searching), etc. For illustrative purposes, many aspects of the present are discussed primarily in the context of a user interface being a remote control.

Certain program guide features, such as pay program purchasing, the purchasing of products or services, and data collection functions, may require that user television equipment 58 transmit data to television distribution facility 56 over communications

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- 11 paths 60. If desired, such data may be transmitted over telephone lines or other separate communications paths. If features such as these are provided using facilities separate from television distribution facility 56, some of the communications involving user television equipment 58 may be made directly with the separate facility (not shown).

If desired, an interactive television program guide system may be implemented using a data-relay architecture. In such an architecture, television distribution facility 56 may serve as a data relay site and user television equipment 58 may be a data destination site. For example, as television distribution facility 56 receives information from main facility 52, television distribution facility 56 may continuously or periodically distribute information to user television equipment 58. In a data-relay architecture, a program guide implemented on user television equipment 58 may use a database (e.g., database 64) for storing program guide information at user television equipment. Program guide information may include program listings and program attributes. Program attributes may be information such as program title, program actors, program duration, program genre (e.g., sports, comedy, movies, etc.), program channel, scheduled program duration, program rating (e.g., TV-G, PG-13, etc.), program content rating (or critics' rating or star rating, e.g., one star, two stars, etc.) and other related parameters that can be tagged to a program. Television distribution facility 56 may also poll set-top boxes periodically for certain information (e.g., pay program account information or information regarding programs that have been purchased and viewed using locally-generated authorization techniques).

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- 12 The features of the present invention may be implemented in a client-server arrangement or in a combination client-server and data-relay arrangement. In such arrangements, the server (e.g., television distribution facility 56) may include a database that may include program listing information.

For clarity, the present invention is sometimes described primarily in the context of program guides that are implemented on user television equipment rather than in the context of program guides that are implemented partially on a server and partially on user television equipment or a more fully server-based architecture.

Each set-top box 62 preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated with implementing an application on the set-top box 62 that assists the user in searching for programs. For example, a standalone application may be provided that supports program searching, as described more fully below. If desired, these tasks may be implemented using a program guide application. For clarity, the present invention will be described primarily in the context of such a program guide application ar.d in the context of a program guide system.

Illustrative steps involved in providing program searching in an interactive television system such as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 2. Initially at step 80, the program guide may provide a user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to a particular program (e.g., a program in which the user has indicated an interest using the system). The program guide may, at step 82, display a list of programs that are related to the

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- 13 particular program when the user requests that the system locate programs that are related to the particular program. The program guide may include programs in the list based on criteria, such as whether 5 a program is related in attribute to the particular program, whether a program is a sequel or prequel of the particular program, whether a program is in the same program series as the particular program, whether a program is a series that is related to the particular 10 program, whether a program is related the user-selected program in content or subject matter, whether a program has the same actor(s), director, category, theme, or production year as the user-selected program, etc.

Illustrative steps involved in providing a user with an opportunity to request that a system locate programs related to a given program in an interactive television system such as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 3a. At step 84, the program guide may provide 20 a user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program. The user may indicate an interest in the given program by, for example, positioning a highlight region on a program listing for the given program, tuning the system to the given program, selecting that an information display screen for the given program be displayed, etc. At step 86, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the given program.

3C Illustrative display screens of FIG. 3b, FIG.

3c, FIG. 3d, and FIG. 3e may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 3a. As shown in FIG. 3b, the program guide may display related program find display screen 94 for the program Seinfeld when a user

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- 14 - ' presses a single user interface key while a video for Seinfeld is displayed in display screen 92. The single user interface key may, for example, be a search key of a remote control for requesting that the system locate 5 related programs .

If desired, as shown in FIG. 3c, the program guide may display related-program find display screen 90 for the program Seinfeld when the user presses a predetermined sequence of user interface keys after navigating a highlight region on a listing for Seinfeld in program listings display screen 88. The predetermined sequence of user interface keys may, for example, be pressing a search key and an OK key of a remote control.

A sequence of keys may be used when the user interface device (e.g., a remote control) does not have a key dedicated to providing the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate related programs.

If desired, as shown in FIG. 3d, the program gruide may display related-program find display screen 98 for the Knicks v. Wizards basketball game when the user presses a search key of a remote control after navigating a highlight region on the listing for the

Knicks v. Wizards basketball game in sports category program listings display screen 96.

If desired, as shown in FIG. 3e, the program guide may display related-program find display screen 102 for Dateline when a user presses a remote control 30 OK key after navigating a highlight region on related programs option 104 of information display screen 100 for Dateline. The program guide may have displayed information display screen 100 for Dateline when, for example, the user pressed an OK key of a remote control

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- 15 after navigating a highlight region on a Dateline program listing, the user pressed an INFO key when video for Dateline is being displayed, etc. Examples of program guide systems with information display screen capabilities are provided in Rudnick et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/356,268 filed July 16, 1999 .

Illustrative steps involved in displaying program listings that are related to a given program in an interactive television system such as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1. are shown in FIG. 4. At step 106, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to indicate an interest in a given program. At step 108, when the user indicates an interest in the given program, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs that are related to the given program.

At step 110, the program guide may locate program listings (e.g., program listings stored in a program guide database, such as database 64 of FIG. 1) that are related to the given program. The program guide may locate program listings based on attributes of the given program. For example, the program guide may locate program listings for programs that have an attribute that matches an attribute of the given program (e.g., a common actor, same content, same subject matter, same series, common director, same category, same theme, common production year, etc.), program listings for programs that have a plurality of attributes matching attributes of the given program, program listings for programs that have attributes that are related to the attributes cf the given program

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- 16 !e.g., prequels, sequels, similar content, similar subject matter, related series, etc.), etc.

At step 112, the program guide may display a display screen (or, if desired, an overlay) having listings for programs which are related to the userselected program. From the list, the user may find a particular program of interest to the user. The program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select a program listing from the list at step 114.

Illustrative program listings display screen

116, illustrative information display screen 118, and illustrative related-program find display screen 120 of FIG. 5 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 4. The program guide may display information display screen 118 for Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode Y when a user selects a listing for Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Y in program listings display screen 116 (e.g., by pressing an INFO key when a highlight region is positioned on that listing).

Information display screen 118 may include a related programs options 122 for requesting to find programs related to Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Y.

The program guide may display related program find display screen 120 when a user selects the related 25 programs option 122 from information display screen 118. Related-program find display screen 120 includes a list of programs related to Star Trek: The Next Generation - Episode Y that contains: Episode K of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Episode D of Star Trek:

Voyager, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, Episode Z of Babylon 5, Episode X of Babylon 5, etc. The list may have been sorted based on attributes that were used by the program guide to locate the displayed program listings. For example, the list may have been sorted based on

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- 17 which attribute caused the match, or for example, based on hew many attributes matched. Related-program find display screen 120 may include an indicator, such as arrow 124, to inform the user that the list may be scrolled to display further listings for related programs that are not currently displayed. Such an indicator may be used when there is insufficient space for displaying all the related programs in a related program find display screen.

Illustrative steps involved in displaying program listings that are related to a given program based on user-configured search parameters in an interactive television system such as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 6. Steps 126 and 128 are the same as steps 106 and 108 of FIG. 4, respectively, and are discussed above. At step 130 of FIG. 6, when the user requests that the system locate programs that are related to a given program, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to configure search parameters for searching for related programs based on attributes of the user-selected program. At step 132, the program guide may then locate program listings based on the user-configured search parameters. The program guide may locate program listings from program listings stored in a database, such as program listings database 64 FIG. 1. The location of the program listings database may depend on the communications arrangement of the interactive television program guide system (e.g., in a client-server arrangement at least part of the database may be located at a television distribution facility). At step 134, the program guide may display a display screen including on-screen listings for programs that are related to the given

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- 18 program based on the user-configured search parameters. At step 134a, the program guide may sort the located listings for display based on the user-configured search parameters. At step 134b, the program guide may 5 provide the user with an opportunity to select one of the displayed programs listings.

. Illustrative display screen 136 and illustrative related-program find search configuration display screen 138 (hereinafter, configuration display 10 screen 138) of FIG. 7a may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 6. The program guide may display configuration display screen 138 for an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation when a user presses a single key of a remote control while a video for that 15 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation is being displayed. Configuration display screen 13B may contain an on-screen list of attributes for the given program, Star Trek: The Next Generation. The configuration display screen 13B may contain options 20 for providing the user with an opportunity to assign various importance levels to the or.-screen program attributes. The option may provide the user with an opportunity to assign different importance levels such as required, desired, ignored, or excluded to the program attributes.

Configuration display screen 138 shows that importance levels may be assigned to the program attributes for the given episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation so that when locating related program listings, the program guide excludes programs that are Star Trek: The Next Generation, ignores whether a program is a Star Trek program when deciding whether it matches, ignores whether a program is a Star Trek movie when deciding whether it matches, requires matching

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- 19 programs to be science fiction, requires matching programs to have Patrick Stewart. Configuration display screen 138 may include a search option that may provide the user with an opportunity to direct the program guide system to locate program listings related to the given program based on the program attributes and their assigned importance levels.

Illustrative related-program find display screens 140 and 142 of FIG. 7b may be provided based on 10 the illustrative steps of FIG. 6. The program guide may display related-program find display screen 140 when, for example, the user selects the search option from configuration display screen 138 of FIG. 7a. Display screen 140 may include a list of programs that 15 are related to the given program based on the search parameters of configuration display screen 138 of FIG. 7a. The list of related programs in display screen 140 includes the program Lifeforce, which is a science fiction program (a required attribute) starring Patrick 20 Stewart (a required attribute), and includes three Star Trek movies (Insurrection, First Contact, and Generations) that are also science fiction programs starring Patrick Stewart and also starring Jonathan Frakes (a desired attribute). Lifeforce may be displayed at the bottom of the list because the other programs more closely match the user-configured search parameters .

Display screen 140 may include option 144 for displaying more program listings that are related to 30 Star-Trek: The Next Generation based on the userconfigured search parameters. Display screen 140 may include save configuration option 146 that provides the user with an opportunity to save the user-configured search parameters . The program, guide may display

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- 20 related-program find display screen 142 when the user selects save configuration option 146 of display screen 140. Display screen 142 is the same display screen as display screen 140 except that display screen 142 includes unsave configuration option 148 that provides the user with an opportunity to unsave the userconfigured search parameters (e.g., delete the saved user-configured search parameters).

If desired, an arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 7c may be used to search for related programs. Initially, the user may indicate an interest in a given program by selecting a program listing for the given program from an on-screen display of program listings, by pressing an OK button or other remote control button while tuned to the given program (e.g., while tuned to the given program with a set-top box or the like) , by selecting the program from the results of a search, etc.

A list of attributes for the given program (such as the attribute list of display screen 300 of FIG. 7c) may be displayed for the user (e.g., by the program guide or other interactive application running on the system). A moveable highlight region such as highlight region 302 or other such indicator may be used to provide the user with an opportunity to select attributes of interest to be used in searching for related programs.

As shown in display screen 304 of FIG. 7c, the user may select one or more attributes (e.g., by pressing a remote control OK button or otherwise selecting desired attributes). The system may display a visual indication of which program attributes have been scheduled. For example, the system may highlight selected attributes, may change their color, text font,

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- 21 brightness, etc. or may display an indicator such as indicators 306 to indicate which program attributes have been selected by the user. When the user highlights search option 308 and presses a remote control OK button (or otherwise selects option 308), the system searches for program listings matching the selected program attributes. When plural attributes are selected, the search may be performed using a logical AND or a logical OR function. The search results may be displayed using any suitable on-screen arrangement and may be selectable (for more information, automatic tuning, etc.) if desired.

The arrangement of FIG. 7c is merely illustrative. Any suitable arrangement may be used for 15 providing an on-screen display of program attributes related to a selected program. The attributes may include program genre(s), actors, rating, channel, director, year produced, or any other suitable program attributes. The program attribute information may be 20 provided with the program listings data. In a clientserver arrangement, for example, the program attributes may be maintained with program listings data stored on a server located at a cable system headened (or at another suitable location). In configurations in which 25 program listings are stored locally on a ser-top box or other user equipment, program attributes may be maintained locally.

Illustrative information display screen 150 and illustrative related-program find search configuration display screen 152 (hereinafter, configuration display screen 152) cf FIG. 8a may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 6. The program guide may display information display screen 150 when a user selects to receive information

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- 22 on the Denver Broncos v. Dallas Cowboys football game. Information display screen 15C may include related programs option 154 that provides the user with an opportunity to request that the system locate programs 5 that are related to the Denver Broncos v. Dallas

Cowboys football game. The program guide may display configuration display screen 152 when the user selects the related programs options from information display screen 150. Configuration display screen 152 may include an on-screen list of program attributes that are to be configured by the user.

The on-screen program attributes may differ based on the specifics of the given program and based on the category for the given program. For example, 15 for a sports category program, the on-screen list may include attributes that are specific to that sports program and/or include attributes that are related to sports programs in general. As shown, configuration display screen 152 may include the following attributes: other football games, NFL games. Broncos games, Cowboys games, any sporting events, footballrelated programs, programs with John Elway as guest, etc. The user may then configure the search parameters to require matching programs to be football games, desire NFL games and Broncos games, exclude Cowboys games, ignore whether a program is a sporting event when deciding whether it matches, ignore whether a program is a football related program when deciding whether it matches, and ignore whether a program has

John Elway as guest when deciding whether it matches.

Illustrative related program find display screen 158 of FIG. 8b may be provided based on the illustrative seeps of FIG. 6. Display screen 158 may be displayed when a user selects search option 156 from

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- 23 configuration display screen 152 of FIG. 8a. Display screen 158 of FIG. 8b may include listings that are sorted for display based on the user-configured search parameters of configuration display screen 158. The program guide may display program display screen 160 that contains video of a current program when the user selects a listing for a current program from the program listings contained in related-program find display screen 158. If desired, the program guide may 10 display information display screen 162 for a program when the user selects a program listing from the program listings contained in related-program find display screen 158.

If desired, the listings in related-program 15 find display screen 158 may include program title, air time, channel, rating, pay-per-view information, etc.

Illustrative steps for an interactive television system such as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 involved in providing 20 the illustrative display screens of FIG. 8b are shown in FIG. 9. At step 164, the program guide may display a display screen having on-screen program listings that are related to a given program. Step 164 may include step 166 in which the program may provide the user with 25 an opportunity to select one of the on-screen program listings. At step 168, the program guide may tune to a channel for a current program when the user selects one of the on-screen listings that is for a current program. At step 170, the program guide may display an 30 information display screen for a selected on-screen listing when the user selects that on-screen listing. At step 172, the program guide may return the user to viewing television or to an earlier display screen when the user exits from the display screen having the

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- 24 related on-screen program listings (e.g., presses an exit or back key of a remote control) .

Illustrative steps for an interactive television system such as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 involved in displaying a list of saved searches are shown in FIG. 10a. At step 174, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select a saved search option. At step 176, the program guide may display a 10 display screen having a list of saved searches when a user selects the saved search option.

Illustrative main menu display screen 178 and· illustrative saved searches display screen 180 of FIG. 10b may be provided based on the illustrative steps of 15 FIG. 10a. The program guide may display main menu display screen 178 to provide a main selection menu for accessing program guide features. Main menu display screen 178 may include saved searches option 182. The program guide may display saved searches display screen 20 180 when the user selects saved searches option 182.

Saved searches display screen 180 may include a list of saved-searches that are identified on the screen using the given program title for each saved search. When two saved searches are for two programs with the same title, the program guide may use numbering to distinguish the listings. If desired, the user may have been allowed to name the saved searches. For example, the program guide may have provided the user with an opportunity to enter a name (e.g., by selecting 30 or entering alphanumeric letters with a user interface device) for a search that a user is directing the program guide to save. The saved searches may be selected by the user to provide the user with an opportunity to search current program listings using

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- 25 search parameters that were user-configured in an earlier search of program listings.

Illustrative steps for an interactive television system such as interactive television program guide system 50 of FIG. 1 involved in displaying a list of saved searches are shown in FIG. 11. At step 184, the program guide may display a display screen having a list of saved searches. At step 186, the program guide may provide a user with an opportunity to select a saved search. At step 188, the program guide may display a list of programs based on a search of currently available program listings with saved search parameters from an earlier search.

At step 190, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to delete a saved search from the list of saved searches. At step 192, the program guide may delete a particular saved search when the user selects to delete that particular saved search.

At step 194, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select an option to view user-configured search parameters for a saved search. At step 196, the program guide may display a display screen having user-configured search parameters for a saved search when the user selects to view userconfigured search parameters for that saved search. If desired, step 196 may include a step that provides the user with the opportunity to modify the save searches.

At step 198, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to set (or remove) an automatic notification for programs that have been located using a saved search. At step 200, the program guide may display a notice that a located program is scheduled to air when the user has selected to receive

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- 26 automatic notifications. If desired, step 200 may include a step that provides the user with the opportunity to act on it.

Illustrative saved searches display screen

202 and illustrative related-program find display screen 204 of FIG. 12 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. Saved searches display screen 202 may include a list of saved searches and corresponding options, including a search option, for 1C each saved search. The program guide may display related program find display screen 204 when the users selects the search option for Search #4. Related program find display screen 204 may include a list of current program listings based on the user-configured 15 search parameters for Search #4.

Illustrative saved searches display screens 206 and 208 of FIG. 13 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. The program guide may display saved searches display screen 206 that includes 20 a delete option for Search #3. The program guide may display saved searches display screen 208 that does not include Search #3 when.the user selects the delete option for Search #3.

Illustrative display screen 214 and illustrative saved searches display screens 210 and 212 of FIG. 14 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. The program guide may display saved searches display screen 210 that includes an automatic notification option for saved searches including Search 30 #5. The automatic notification option for search #5 may initially be off. The program guide may display saved searches display screen 212 that includes an indication that the automatic notification for Search #5 is on when the user selects the automatic

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- 27 notification option for Search U5 from display screen 210, After the user exits saved searches display screen 212 and resumes watching television, the program guide may display automatic notification overlay 216 in 5 display screen 214 when the program guide locates a program (e.g., the movie Terminator) using the userconfigured search parameters for Search #5. If desired, the program guide may provide a notification display screen for the located program. The notification may be displayed when the program is about to air or is airing. The overlay 216 may include a tune option (for tuning to the channel airing that program), an information option (fcr display further information on that program) , a saved searches option (for displaying a saved searches display screen), an order option (for ordering programs), etc.

Illustrative saved searches display screen

218 and illustrative saved search configuration display screen 220 of FIG. 15 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. The program guide may display saved searches display screen 220 having an option that provides the user with an opportunity to view search parameters for saved searches. The program guide may display saved search configuration display screen 222 for Search #3 when the user selects the option to view search parameters for Search #3. Saved search configuration display screen 222 nay display the saved user-configured search parameters for Search #3, a modify configuration option (to allow the user to adjust the search parameters), and a search option (to search the current program listings based on the userconfigured search parameters). If desired, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to modify the settings on this screen by highlighting and

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- 28 changing them, rather than having to first select a modify option.

Illustrative saved searches display screen

224 and illustrative saved search configuration display screen. 226 of FIG. 16 may be provided based on the illustrative steps of FIG. 11. The program guide may display saved searches display screen 224 that includes a list of saved searches when a user selects a saved searches option (e.g., saved searches option 182 of

FIG. 10b) . The program guide may display saved search configuration display screen 226 when the user selects a saved search from saved searches display screen 224. Saved search configuration display screen 226 may include on-screen search settings for the selected saved search. The program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to navigate to any of the settings and to modify them. Saved search configuration, display screen 226 may include search option 228 that when selected, causes the program guide to display a list of ' matching programs, rename option 230 that allows the user to enter a name (or modify the name) for the selected saved search, delete option 232 that when selected, deletes the selected save search, automatic notification option 234 that provides an automatic notification of programs matching the selected saved search, etc. Automatic Notification option 234 may include an indicator 236 to indicate that option 234 is on.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.