Interactive television program guide system and method with niche hubs

P-0001[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/604,470, filed Jun. 26, 2000, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Serial No. 60/141,501, filed Jun. 28, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to interactive television program guides, and more particularly, to interactive television program guide features organized into niche hubs.

[0003] Interactive television program guides allow users to view television program listings on their televisions. Such program guides allow users to view television program listings in different display formats and to perform various other functions. For example, a user may instruct the program guide to display a channel-ordered grid of current program listings.

[0004] Many program guides allow a user to view television programs in a specified category. The program guide may display programs in a desired programming category such as sports or movies. If desired, the program guide may be used to order pay-per-view programming.

[0005] Some program guides allow users to define profiles of likes and dislikes, and to view program listings screens that meet the desired category combinations. However, there has not previously been provided an interactive electronic television program guide that collects together all program guide features related to specific categories.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to collect together features related to specific programming categories into niche hubs.

[0007] It is also an object of the present invention to provide user customizable niche hubs that collect togther program guide features of interest to particular users.

[0008] It is also an object of the present invention to provide interactive hyperlinks to related items or features of a program guide within a given area of interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an interactive television program guide system that has niche hubs. Each of the niche hubs is an area of the program guide in which features, programming, and information related to a particular programming category or user interest may be found. Personalized niche hubs contain programming-related features and information that are selected by the user. User television equipment, such as a set-top box, may obtain data for the niche hub features from a television distribution facility, a program guide database, a web server, a real-time data source, a message processing facility, etc.

[0010] The niche hubs may include, for example, listings of programs related to a specific category. The hubs may provide users with the ability to sort data. Detailed information on programs may be provided. Hubs may provide users with advance notification of unscheduled programs and information on packages of programs and channels. The hubs may provide users with the ability to search for programs and other information, the ability to set reminders, targeted advertising, television messaging features, television chat features, news groups, web site listings, schedules of local events, the ability to record programs and access recorded programs, user help features, the ability to enter favorites, suggested programming, live data, news, magazine type features, links to applications other than program guide applications, links to setup features, parental control features, and the ability to display in-band data. Each niche hub may include its own unique graphic style, icons, backgrounds, etc. Broadcast or on-demand video or audio may be incorporated into hubs, if desired. The program guide may provide a main menu screen for each hub that provides interactive hyperlinks to related items or features of the program guide within the given category of interest of the hub.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

P-0011[0011]FIG. 1A is a system diagram of an interactive television program guide system with niche hubs in accordance with the present invention.

P-0012[0012]FIG. 1B is a system diagram showing how multiple television distribution facilities may be connected via a communications network in accordance with the present invention.

P-0013[0013]FIG. 1C is a system diagram showing how multiple user television equipment devices may be connected to a television distribution facility and a separate server via neighborhood networks in accordance with the present invention.

P-0014[0014]FIG. 1D is a diagram of a system configuration in which user television equipment devices of multiple television distribution facilities are connected via a message processing facility in accordance with the present invention.

P-0015[0015]FIG. 2 is an illustrative interactive main menu television display screen in accordance with the present invention.

P-0016[0016]FIG. 3 is an illustrative interactive themes television display screen for entering niche hubs in accordance with the present invention.

P-0017[0017]FIG. 4 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for reordering themes in accordance with the present invention.

P-0018[0018]FIG. 5 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a movies niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0019[0019]FIG. 6 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movies on now in accordance with the present invention.

P-0020[0020]FIG. 7 is an illustrative Program Information display screen in accordance with the present invention.

P-0021[0021]FIG. 8 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for hot movies in accordance with the present invention.

P-0022[0022]FIG. 9 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movies on demand in accordance with the present invention.

P-0023[0023]FIG. 10 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for providing a listing of programs that are new releases in accordance with the present invention.

P-0024[0024]FIG. 11 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movies that are coming soon in accordance with the present invention.

P-0025[0025]FIG. 12 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for searching for movies in accordance with the present invention.

P-0026[0026]FIG. 13 is an illustrative interactive television display screen providing a listing of video clips in accordance with the present invention.

P-0027[0027]FIG. 14 is an illustrative interactive television display screen providing special ordering information in accordance with the present invention.

P-0028[0028]FIG. 15 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for program features in accordance with the present invention.

P-0029[0029]FIG. 16 is an illustrative interactive feature information display screen in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

P-0030[0030]FIG. 17 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for shopping in accordance with the present invention.

P-0031[0031]FIG. 18 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for providing feedback in accordance with the present invention.

P-0032[0032]FIG. 19 is an illustrative interactive television display screen listing recorded programs in accordance with the present invention.

P-0033[0033]FIG. 20 is an illustrative interactive television display screen listing scheduled programs in accordance with the present invention.

P-0034[0034]FIG. 21 is an illustrative interactive television display screen listing movie web sites in accordance with the present invention.

P-0035[0035]FIG. 22 is an illustrative interactive television display screen listing movie news groups in accordance with the present invention.

P-0036[0036]FIG. 23 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a discussion group in accordance with the present invention.

P-0037[0037]FIG. 24 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movie favorites in accordance with the present invention.

P-0038[0038]FIG. 25 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movies genres in accordance with the present invention.

P-0039[0039]FIG. 26 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for movie comedies in accordance with the present invention.

P-0040[0040]FIG. 27 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a sports fan niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0041[0041]FIG. 28 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting an individual area of the sports fan hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0042[0042]FIG. 29 is an illustrative process for using the program guide niche hubs in accordance with the present invention.

P-0043[0043]FIG. 30 is an illustrative process for using an individual area of a niches hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0044[0044]FIG. 31 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for highlighted sports television program listings in accordance with the present invention.

P-0045[0045]FIG. 32 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting sports scores and news in accordance with the present invention.

P-0046[0046]FIG. 33 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing sports scores in accordance with the present invention.

P-0047[0047]FIG. 34 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing sports news in accordance with the present invention.

P-0048[0048]FIG. 35 is an illustrative sports ticker in accordance with the present invention.

P-0049[0049]FIG. 36 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting sports wagering and voting in accordance with the present invention.

P-0050[0050]FIG. 37 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for sports voting in accordance with the present invention.

P-0051[0051]FIG. 38 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for sports wagering in accordance with the present invention.

P-0052[0052]FIG. 39 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting a fantasy sport in accordance with the present invention.

P-0053[0053]FIG. 40 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for fantasy sport features in accordance with the present invention.

P-0054[0054]FIG. 41 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a family niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0055[0055]FIG. 42 is an illustrative interactive television display screen providing parental control of programming in accordance with the present invention.

P-0056[0056]FIG. 43 is an illustrative interactive television display screen with personal profiles in accordance with the present invention.

P-0057[0057]FIG. 44 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a editing a personal profile in accordance with the present invention.

P-0058[0058]FIG. 45 is an illustrative interactive television display screen providing pen pal e-mail clubs in accordance with the present invention.

P-0059[0059]FIG. 46A is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting a pen pal in accordance with the present invention.

P-0060[0060]FIG. 46B is an illustrative interactive television display screen for sending a message in accordance with the present invention.

P-0061[0061]FIG. 47 is an illustrative arrangement of multiple user television equipment within a house in accordance with the present invention.

P-0062[0062]FIG. 48 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for locking channels and programming in accordance with the present invention.

P-0063[0063]FIG. 49 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for monitoring viewing on other user television equipment within the house in accordance with the present invention.

P-0064[0064]FIG. 50 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting a chat group in accordance with the present invention.

P-0065[0065]FIG. 51 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for displaying a chat group in accordance with the present invention.

P-0066[0066]FIG. 52 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a music niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0067[0067]FIG. 53A is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing music channels in accordance with the present invention.

P-0068[0068]FIG. 53B is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing video music channels in accordance with the present invention.

P-0069[0069]FIG. 53C is an illustrative music flip interactive television display screen in accordance with the present invention.

P-0070[0070]FIG. 53D is an illustrative interactive television display screen with a music channel browse region in accordance with the present invention.

P-0071[0071]FIG. 53E is an illustrative interactive Song Information display screen in accordance with the present invention.

P-0072[0072] FIGS. <b>54</b>A-<b>54</b>E are illustrative interactive television display screens with music on-demand options in accordance with the present invention.

P-0073[0073]FIG. 55 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for selecting background music in accordance with the present invention.

P-0074[0074]FIG. 56 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for viewing music favorites accordance with the present invention.

P-0075[0075]FIG. 57 is an illustrative interactive television setup display screen for selecting music audio settings in accordance with the present invention.

P-0076[0076]FIG. 58 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a news and information niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0077[0077]FIG. 59 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying a stock report in accordance with the present invention.

P-0078[0078]FIG. 60 is an illustrative sports ticker in accordance with the present invention.

P-0079[0079]FIG. 61 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying local information in accordance with the present invention.

P-0080[0080]FIG. 62 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying live news updates in accordance with the present invention.

P-0081[0081]FIG. 63 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying weather reports in accordance with the present invention.

P-0082[0082]FIG. 64 is an illustrative interactive television display screen displaying help options in accordance with the present invention.

P-0083[0083]FIG. 65 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for a custom niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0084[0084]FIG. 66 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for adding features to or deleting features from a custom niche-hub in accordance with the present invention.

P-0085[0085]FIG. 67 is an illustrative interactive television display screen for adding features to a custom niche hub in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

P-0086[0086] An illustrative interactive television program guide system with niche hubs <b>10</b> in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1A. Main facility <b>12</b> may contain a program guide database <b>14</b> for storing program guide information such as television program guide listings data, pay-per-view ordering information, etc. Database <b>14</b> allows system <b>10</b> to support an interactive television program guide.

P-0087[0087] Information from database <b>14</b> may be transmitted to television distribution facility <b>16</b> or to some other distribution facility that does not broadcast the television programming signals (e.g., over paging frequencies) via communications link <b>18</b>. Link <b>18</b> may be a satellite link, a telephone network link, a fiber-optic link, a cable link, a microwave link, a combination of such links, or any other suitable communications path.

P-0088[0088] Television distribution facility <b>16</b> is a facility for distributing television signals to users, such as a cable system headend. Some aspects of the invention may be implemented using a television distribution facility such as a broadcast distribution facility, or a satellite television distribution facility. Only one television distribution facility <b>16</b> is shown in FIG. 1A to avoid over-complicating the drawings. In general, however, main facility <b>12</b> distributes information to multiple television distribution facilities.

P-0089[0089] The program guide information transmitted by main facility <b>12</b> to television distribution facility <b>16</b> includes television program listings data such as program times, channels, titles, descriptions, etc. The information transmitted from main facility <b>12</b> may also include information related to features provided by niche hubs (e.g., television program contests, surveys, trivia, targeted advertising, messaging features, chat features, new groups, video-on-demand programs, etc.). Some of the information from main facility <b>12</b> may be tagged with appropriate niche hub(s) so that the information may be grouped into niche hub(s). Certain programs and other information may have tags for more than one hub.

P-0090[0090] If desired, some of the program guide data and other information stored in database <b>14</b> may be provided using data sources at facilities other than main facility <b>12</b>. For example, data relating to niche hub features may be provided by a remote server, or other equipment that is separate from main facility <b>12</b> and television distribution facility <b>16</b>.

P-0091[0091] Real-time data sources <b>11</b> such as real-time sports data source <b>15</b>, real-time stock market data source <b>17</b>, real-time news data source <b>19</b>, and real-time music source <b>27</b> are used to gather information such as sports scores, stock quotes, news, music and the like from, e.g., various sporting and news sources or radio stations. Real-time information from real-time data sources <b>30</b> may be provided to each of the television distribution facilities <b>16</b> by providing this information to main facility <b>12</b> via communications path <b>23</b> and redistributing the information to television distribution facilities <b>16</b> via paths <b>18</b>. If desired, real-time information from real-time data sources <b>11</b> may be provided to one or more real-time data collection facilities <b>13</b> via communications path <b>21</b>A, where the data may be processed for retransmission to television distribution facilities <b>16</b> via communications path <b>21</b>C. If desired, data from real-time data collection facility <b>13</b> may be provided to television distribution facility <b>16</b> via communications path <b>21</b>B, main facility <b>12</b>, and communications path <b>18</b>. Communications paths <b>21</b>A, <b>21</b>B, <b>21</b>C, and <b>23</b> may be any suitable communications paths such as satellite links, coaxial cable, fiber optics, free-space transmissions, telephone links, or a combination of such links or other suitable links. Television distribution facility <b>16</b> may also provide data to user television equipment <b>20</b> from communications network <b>31</b> (e.g., the Internet) as shown in FIG. 1A.

P-0092[0092] Television distribution facility <b>16</b> distributes program guide data and other information to the user television equipment <b>20</b> of multiple users via communications paths <b>24</b>. Communication paths <b>24</b> are preferably bidirectional to support two-way communications (e.g., e-mail messages, chat messages, etc.) and preferably have sufficient bandwidth to allow television distribution facility <b>16</b> to distribute scheduled television programming, pay programming, video-on-demand, messages, and other video and audio information to user television equipment <b>20</b> in addition to non-video program guide information and messages. The messages (e.g., real-time, delayed, etc.) supported by communication paths <b>24</b> may be text-based or, if more bandwidth is available, may be audio or video messages. If television distribution facility <b>16</b> is a cable system headend, communications paths <b>24</b> may be based on coaxial cable or fiber optics or the like. If television distribution facility <b>16</b> is a satellite system or broadcast system, unidirectional paths may involve transmitting information in free space. Bidirectional paths may have a free-space downlink to the home and a telephone line or cable or fiber optic return path from the home to the television distribution facility <b>16</b>.

P-0093[0093] User television equipment may be based, for example, on a set-top box or other such device. For clarity, many aspects of the invention are described in connection with this illustrative arrangement, although any other suitable hardware arrangement for the user television equipment <b>20</b> may be used if desired.

P-0094[0094] Multiple television and audio channels (analog, digital, or both analog and digital) may be provided to user television equipment devices <b>20</b> (including, e.g., set-top boxes <b>26</b>) via communications paths <b>24</b>. If each path <b>24</b> includes a number of traditional analog television channels, one or more of these channels may be used to support a number of digital channels. The bandwidth of each analog channel that is used to support digital channels may support ten or more of such digital channels. Two-way digital channels may support two-way communications in the form of real-time (e.g., chat) and delayed (e.g., e-mail) messages between set-top boxes <b>26</b> and a server (e.g., server <b>22</b> at television distribution facility <b>16</b>). The return path for messages usually requires additional bandwidth. If two-way communications between set-top boxes <b>26</b> and television distribution facility <b>16</b> involve only text or audio signals, the bandwidth required to support such two-way communications may be substantially less than the bandwidth required to support two-way communications involving video.

P-0095[0095] Video, audio, graphical, and textual data to be used with the niche hubs (e.g., two-way messages, news stories, web sites, contest information, etc.) may be distributed along communications path <b>24</b> using any number of suitable techniques. For example, textual data may be distributed using out-of-band channels on paths <b>24</b> using out-of-band modulators. Video or audio data may be more efficiently transmitted using one or more digital channels on path <b>24</b>. Such digital channels may also be used for distributing text and graphics. Any suitable communications protocols may be used for sending data to be used with the niche hubs. For example, communications may be analog or digital, synchronous or asynchronous, packet-based, Internet protocol transmissions, etc.

P-0096[0096] Dedicated digital or analog channels, or at least an allocated portion of the available bandwidth in communications paths <b>24</b>, may be used for the transmission of certain types of data (e.g., video-on-demand programs, chat messages, etc.). Such dedicated channels may be separate from the channels used for transmitting television program broadcast signals to the user television equipment. If desired, television programming may be transmitted to user television equipment <b>20</b> along one communications path such as a satellite link from a satellite system, while other data relating to the niche hubs (e.g., program guide data, messages, advertising, survey information, etc.) may be transmitted to and from the user over a second communications path such as a telephone, cable, or wireless link.

P-0097[0097] Television distribution facility <b>16</b> preferably has server <b>22</b> or other suitable computing equipment, audio, and/or video equipment for supporting the recording of programs, the transmission of chat and e-mail messages between users, the transmission of video-on-demand programs, the transmission of news information, the storage and transmission of program guide information, the storage of information from users, and the storage and transmission of data related to other niche hub features. The server <b>22</b> may be capable of handling text, graphics, video, or audio data. Server <b>22</b> in television distribution facility <b>16</b> may be configured in a client-server arrangement in which each user television equipment device <b>20</b> acts as a client processor.

P-0098[0098] Each user has a receiver, which is typically a set-top box such as set-top box <b>26</b>, but which may also be other suitable television equipment into which circuitry similar to set-top box circuitry has been integrated. For example, user television equipment <b>20</b> may be based on an advanced television receiver such as a high-definition television (HDTV) receiver or other such television-based platform. A set-top box may include a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) modem for use in two-way communication to and from a server or television distribution facility. Set-top box <b>26</b> may also comprise a WebTV Internet Receiver. For clarity, the present invention will be described primarily in the context of user television equipment <b>20</b> that is based on set-top boxes <b>26</b>. As shown in FIG. 1A, each set-top box <b>26</b> may have memory <b>25</b>. Memory <b>25</b> may be used, for example, for maintaining a database of program listings data.

P-0099[0099] Program guide information may be distributed to set-top boxes <b>26</b> continuously (in real-time), periodically, on request (using a client-server arrangement), or using a combination of these techniques. Other data relating to the niche hubs may be distributed to set-top boxes <b>26</b> in real-time, periodically, or on-demand (e.g., when a user checks to see whether he has received a message and requests the message for viewing). Server <b>22</b> may receive niche hub data from set-top boxes <b>26</b> in real-time, on-demand, or periodically.

P-0100[0100] Main facility <b>12</b> preferably contains a processor to handle information distribution tasks. Each set-top box <b>26</b> preferably contains a processor to handle tasks associated with implementing an interactive television program guide application containing niche hub features. Television distribution facility <b>16</b> preferably contains one or more processors (e.g., part of server <b>22</b>) for tasks associated with providing program guide data and other niche hub data to the program guide on the set-top boxes.

P-0101[0101] It should be understood that some or all of the functions of the program guide application hereinafter described may be integrated into an operating system on the set-top box, implemented as a stand-alone application on the set-top box, or performed by a server in television distribution facility <b>16</b> (sever <b>22</b>) or separate from the television distribution facility. In client-server architectures, the set-top box may request data from the server. The server can store and process data and send the results of a request back to the user television equipment for further processing, display, or storage. Any of the functionality of the program guide application hereinafter described may be implemented using a client-server architecture, if desired.

P-0102[0102] Each set-top box <b>26</b> is typically connected to an optional video recorder <b>28</b>, which may be a videocassette recorder, a digital video recorder, a personal video recorder (PVR), or other such recording device, so that selected television programs may be recorded. Each video recorder <b>28</b> (or set-top box <b>26</b>) may be connected to a television <b>30</b>. The video recorder <b>28</b> may be integrated with the set-top box or the television. To record a program, set-top box <b>26</b> tunes to a particular channel and sends control signals to video recorder <b>28</b> (e.g., using an infrared transmitter) that direct video recorder <b>28</b> to start and stop recording at the appropriate times. If desired, programming may be recorded at server <b>22</b> in television distribution facility <b>16</b>. User television equipment may also include speakers, audio receiver, stereo receiver, pro-logic digital AC-3 receiver, or other audio equipment.

P-0103[0103] During the use of the television program guide application with niche hub features, the television program guide application may display interactive display screens on television <b>30</b>. Each set-top box <b>26</b>, video recorder <b>28</b>, and television <b>30</b> may be controlled by one or more user input devices <b>29</b>. Features of this invention are primarily discussed in the context of a remote control, however user input device <b>29</b> may be a remote control, mouse, trackball, microphone, digital video camera, dedicated set of buttons, touch screen, etc.

P-0104[0104] Some of the niche hub features of the present invention may be handled on a server that is not located at the television distribution facility as shown in FIG. 1B. For example, data used with the niche hubs may be stored on server <b>36</b> which is connected to television distribution facilities <b>32</b> and <b>34</b> through communications network <b>38</b>. Television distribution facility <b>32</b> is connected to user television equipment <b>42</b> via communications paths <b>40</b>. Television distribution facility <b>34</b> is connected to user television equipment <b>46</b> via communications paths <b>44</b>. Communications network <b>110</b> may be any suitable communications network such as the Internet, a public or private telephone network, a network involving satellite link or wireless links, a cable network, etc.

P-0105[0105] The television distribution facilities may also have servers that communicate with server <b>36</b>. For example, television distribution facility <b>32</b> has server <b>33</b>, and television distribution facility <b>34</b> has server <b>35</b>. Servers <b>33</b>, <b>35</b>, and <b>36</b> may be message servers which handle the distribution of delayed e-mail type messages between user television equipment <b>42</b> and <b>46</b>, real-time chat messages between user television equipment <b>42</b> and <b>46</b>, news groups, web pages, and the transmission of program guide data, programming, and other niche hub data to user television equipment <b>42</b> and <b>46</b>. The configuration of servers <b>33</b> and <b>35</b> and user television equipment <b>42</b> and <b>46</b> may be based on a client-server arrangement.

P-0106[0106] As shown in FIG. 1B, delayed and real-time messages can be distributed along communication paths <b>40</b> from one user television equipment device <b>42</b> associated with television distribution facility <b>32</b> to another user television equipment device <b>42</b> associated with that facility using a server <b>33</b> located at the facility. The messages sent between two or more user television equipment devices <b>42</b> associated with television distribution facility <b>32</b> may be stored on server <b>33</b> in television distribution facility <b>32</b>. An advantage to limiting operation of a message system to individual television distribution facilities is that it allows individual cable system operators (for example) to control their systems, and it does not involve coordinating the transmission of messages related to an on-going television program between different geographical areas or different time zones. If desired, messages exchanged by user television equipment <b>42</b> can be stored by server <b>36</b> that is connected to television distribution facility <b>32</b> via communications network <b>38</b>.

P-0107[0107] Users at one or more of user television equipment devices <b>46</b> may exchange messages or other data with one or more of user television equipment devices <b>42</b>. Television distribution facilities <b>32</b> and <b>34</b> may be connected to each other via communications network <b>38</b>. Messages that are sent between user television equipment <b>42</b> and user television equipment <b>46</b> may be stored on servers <b>33</b>, <b>35</b>, or <b>36</b>. If desired, any number of television distribution facilities may be connected togther via communications network <b>38</b> or other such communications networks to allow user television equipment from these television distribution facilities to exchange messages or other data with each other.

P-0108[0108] In addition, messages and other data may be transmitted between user television equipment <b>42</b> or <b>46</b> and user communications equipment <b>48</b>. User communications equipment <b>48</b> are connected via communications network <b>38</b> to television distribution facilities <b>32</b> and <b>34</b>. User communications equipment devices <b>48</b> can be any number of, e.g., personal computers that can send and receive messages.

P-0109[0109] The niche hub features of the present invention may be also handled on a server that is connected to the user television equipment through a neighborhood node as shown in FIG. 1C. For example, niche hub data may be stored on server <b>50</b> and transmitted between user television equipment devices <b>58</b> and <b>60</b> via neighborhood nodes <b>54</b> and <b>56</b>. User television equipment <b>58</b> are connected to neighborhood node <b>54</b> via communications path <b>66</b>, and user television equipment devices <b>60</b> are connected to neighborhood node <b>56</b> via communications path <b>68</b>. Neighborhood nodes <b>54</b> and <b>56</b> decrease the bandwidth requirements on communications paths <b>66</b> and <b>68</b>. Neighborhood nodes <b>54</b> and <b>56</b> may route television programming from television distribution facility <b>52</b> to user television equipment <b>58</b> and <b>60</b>. Neighborhood nodes <b>54</b> and <b>56</b> may also route niche hub data between server <b>50</b> and user television equipment <b>58</b> and <b>60</b>. Neighborhood nodes <b>54</b> and <b>56</b> may also route requests to perform many of the niche hub functions described herein from user television equipment <b>58</b> and <b>60</b> to server <b>50</b>. Responses from server <b>50</b> are routed back to the appropriate user television equipment device via a neighborhood node. Server <b>50</b> may route delayed and real-time messages between user television equipment <b>58</b> and <b>60</b>.

P-0110[0110] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide users with the opportunity to compose a message and send the message to the television distribution facility or a message processing facility. For example, referring to FIG. 1D, interactive program guides operating on user television equipment <b>76</b> may provide users with the opportunity to compose a message and send the message to television distribution facility <b>72</b> through two-way communications paths <b>75</b>. The message may be a message to purchase merchandise, a pay-per-view program, a premium channel, etc. The message may also be a message to another user at another user television equipment <b>76</b>. Television distribution facility <b>72</b> may forward such a message to another user to that user's user television equipment <b>76</b> through one of two-way communications paths <b>75</b>.

P-0111[0111] Interactive program guides operating on user television equipment <b>76</b> may also provide users with the opportunity to compose a message and send it to message processing facility <b>71</b>. For example, program guides may provide users with the opportunity to compose a message to a television channel or a television personality and send the message to a television program entity that processes messages for that television channel or television personality. Program guides may also provide users with an opportunity to vote for athletes who are candidates for an all-star team, enter a television program contest, answer trivia questions, participate in sports or horse wagering or other interactive wagering, etc. The program guide may send the user's input (e.g., the user's vote, the user's response to a contest question or trivia question, the user's bet, etc.) to message processing facility <b>71</b> which processes user responses (e.g., counts users' votes, evaluates user's answers to contest and trivia questions, places the user's bet, etc.) User television equipment <b>78</b> may also send messages to television distribution facility <b>74</b> and other user television equipment <b>78</b> via two-way communications paths <b>77</b>. Messages from user television equipment <b>76</b> and <b>78</b> may be forwarded by television distribution facilities <b>72</b> and <b>74</b> to message processing facility <b>71</b> via communications paths <b>73</b> which may be satellite links, cable links, telephone network links, microwave links, etc. Communications paths <b>73</b> may be two-way communications paths.

P-0112[0112] The interactive television program guide of the present invention provides niche hubs, which are areas of the interactive program guide in which features, applications, programming, information, etc. related to a particular user interest or interests may be found. The niche hubs of the present invention provide the user with the opportunity to access a variety of electronic television program guide features using their user television equipment. The niche hubs may link together program guide features such as applications, TV listings, messages, news, web site links, chat groups, merchandise, etc., that are related to specific user interests such as movies. The niche hubs may also be customized by the user to link together program guide applications of interest to that particular user.

P-0113[0113] Another attribute of this invention is the interlinking of features. The top level of each hub gives access to the most commonly used requests within any specific feature. These are “hyperlinks” to other related features. These features may be common features throughout the guide, but specific to the content of how the user got there. For example, a niche hub may contain listings of programs that exclusively relate to the category or genre of the hub (e.g., movies).

P-0114[0114]FIG. 2 is an example of main menu screen <b>100</b> for a niche hub program guide. The television listings option <b>106</b>A provides access to listings of all programs on all channels. Recorded option <b>106</b>B provides a listing of programs that have been previously recorded by the guide on behalf of the user. This feature is discussed further with respect to FIG. 19. Movies option <b>106</b>C, Sports <b>106</b>D, Suzy option <b>106</b>E, and Tom option <b>106</b>F are examples of on-screen options that provide direct access to some of the program guide hubs. For example, selecting Movies option <b>106</b>C may cause the program guide to display the television screen shown in FIG. 5, and selecting Suzy option <b>106</b>E may cause the guide to display the screen in FIG. 27.

P-0115[0115] Themes option <b>106</b>G provides access to the complete list of available niche hubs, as well as the ability to create and customize new hubs, as discussed and shown with respect to FIG. 3. VOD option <b>106</b>H provides access to video on demand programs, as discussed and shown with respect to FIG. 9. Events option <b>106</b>I provides a listing of special events on television. Specials option <b>106</b>J provides access to special events, packages, and other offers from the service provider, as discussed and shown with respect to FIG. 14. Shop option <b>106</b>K provides access to shopping features, such as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 17. Features option <b>106</b>L provides access to interviews, reviews, articles, and other magazine “features”, such as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 15. Web option <b>106</b>M provides access to television-related web sites, such as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 21.

P-0116[0116] My Schedule option <b>106</b>N provides access to a schedule of upcoming programs previously selected to be watched, purchased, and/or recorded, as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 20. Mail option <b>106</b>O provides access to a messaging or e-mail function. Feedback option <b>106</b>P provides access to contests, trivia, messaging to television networks, and other similar features, as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 18. Parents option <b>106</b>Q provides access to a parental control feature. Favorites option <b>106</b>S provides access to a feature to set user preferences, as shown and discussed with respect to FIG. 24. Support option <b>106</b>T provides access to support features, such as user help, answers to common questions, communication with technical support, etc. Setup option <b>106</b>U provides access to guide setup features. Exit option <b>106</b>V provides an exit from the program guide.

P-0117[0117] The program guide application on set-top box <b>26</b> may obtain a list of features available for the niche hub (such as shown in main menu screen <b>100</b>) from program guide database <b>14</b>, a television distribution facility, or one of the servers shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C. The niche hub information may be digitally encoded on a digital channel that is separate from the channel used for the television program signals. If desired, the list of features available for each of the niche hubs may be stored in memory <b>25</b>.

P-0118[0118] Other items shown on main menu screen <b>100</b> and other screens in the niche hub program guide include: brand identifier of the guide provider in window <b>102</b> (such as the TV Guide logo shown); current time; title of the current screen; Video window <b>105</b>, typically showing the currently tuned channel, but which may show other videos, such as video clips on demand; and three advertisements <b>104</b>A-C, which may include text, graphics, video, or any other media. Advertisements may be distributed generally, or may be targeted based on information about the user, the screen displayed, or other criteria. Further features of an illustrative program guide system with targeted advertising are described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,939, filed Mar. 4, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Advertisements may be interactive; selecting an advertisement may cause the guide to display information about the advertised item, program, channel, or service, such as shown, for example, in FIG. 7.

P-0119[0119] Upon selecting Themes option <b>106</b>G in screen <b>100</b>, the user may, for example, be presented with Themes screen <b>110</b>, such as shown in FIG. 3. This screen shows a list of themes, any of which may be selected by the user. Each theme is related to a niche hub of the program guide that provides program guide features to the users based upon the theme. When the user selects a theme in screen <b>110</b>, the program guide enters a niche hub related to that theme. If there are more themes than fit on a single screen, the user may scroll to additional pages. The theme list may include standard (predefined) themes, such as Movies (option <b>112</b>A), Sports (option <b>112</b>B), Family (option <b>112</b>C), Music (option <b>112</b>D), News (option <b>112</b>E), Cultural (option <b>112</b>F), Soaps (option <b>112</b>G), Science Fiction (option <b>112</b>H), TV Lovers (option <b>112</b>I), Adult (option <b>112</b>J), and Local (option <b>112</b>K) themes. It may also include themes defined and customized by the user, such as Suzy (option <b>112</b>L) and Tom (option <b>112</b>M). Screen <b>110</b> may include option <b>112</b>N to add a new theme guide, as well as option <b>112</b>O to reorder the themes on the list.

P-0120[0120] The themes for movies, sports, Tom, and Suzy from the list shown on Themes screen <b>110</b> of FIG. 3 are also included as options on Main Menu scree <b>100</b> of FIG. 2. This provides the user with quick access to the most popular themes for niche hubs from the Main Menu screen <b>100</b>. The program guide may also allow the user to select one or more hubs for 1-key access (i.e., accessing the hub by pressing a single button on the remote control). Pressing this key may bring up a miche hub screen such as shown in FIG. 5. In addition, the user may flip through just the channels that are currently broadcasting programs that match the theme of a selected theme (e.g., movies or sporting events) by pressing UP and DOWN arrow keys on the remote control. If desired, the program guide may also restrict the channels that the user can flip through to channels that are currently broadcasting programs that match the user's personal preferences.

P-0121[0121] Each household may reorder the themes on the list by selecting Reorder option <b>112</b>O from Themes screen <b>110</b>. Doing so may display a screen such as Reorder Themes screen <b>120</b> shown in FIG. 4. When Reorder Themes screen <b>120</b> is displayed, the user may highlight any of the themes displayed in list <b>122</b> of screen <b>120</b> and press the OK key on the remote control. This will cause that theme to be moved to the top of the list in Themes screen <b>110</b> of FIG. 3, as well as placing it on the Main Menu screen <b>100</b> of FIG. 2. All other themes will move down in the list correspondingly.

P-0122[0122]FIG. 5 is an example of a program guide niche hub screen that may be displayed when the user selects one of the themes from the Themes screen or Main Menu screen, in this case the Movies theme. In this case, a movies menu is displayed, with options relating to the selected theme. Some options may be specific to a single theme. Other options may be presented on multiple theme menus, as well as the Main Menu, with the action taken on selection of the option depending on the context in which it was displayed.

P-0123[0123]FIG. 5 shows how the advertisements may be targeted based on the screen, theme, and hub. For example, since this is the Movies screen, the advertisement <b>134</b>A is for a PPV movie. Selecting ad <b>134</b>A causes the guide to display the Program Information screen for that PPV movie, such as shown in FIG. 7. The advertisement <b>134</b>B is for a Television movie, with selection of that ad causing the display of a program information screen for that movie. Region <b>134</b>C shows a trivia question related to movies. Selecting region <b>134</b>C may display a screen similar to the Program Information screen, with the answer to the question, and other related information and options. Further features of an illustrative program guide with interactive information display screen are described in Rudnick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,268, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0124[0124] Selecting On Now option <b>132</b>A from Movies screen <b>130</b> brings up a listing screen, such as shown in FIG. 6. Listing screens accessed from various options on various screen look and function similarly. However, they may differ in the content shown in the listing, in the way the listing is sorted, and in other details. In this case, the Movies On Now listing screen <b>140</b> shows a list of movies that are available to be viewed now or in the near future.

P-0125[0125] Any of the options <b>132</b>A-O as well as the advertisements in movies screen <b>130</b> may contain data related to movies, or data relating exclusively to movies. The data displayed on screen when the user selects an option in movies screen <b>130</b> (or any other niche hub menu of the present invention relating to a specific theme) may be filtered to match the current selected theme (e.g., movies) by a processor at the television distribution facility, the user television equipment, or a remote server from where the data relating to the selected program guide option was accessed so that only features related to that theme are provided.

P-0126[0126] For example, the top of screen <b>140</b> in FIG. 6 may list one or more movies in list <b>142</b> that are available at any time from the Video On Demand (VOD) server. List <b>142</b> may also contain movies that the user has asked to be recorded and which may be viewed at any time. The program guide may pick one or two movies from both of those categories (based, for example, on availability/recording date, sponsorships, etc.). Additional on-demand movies and previously recorded movies may be shown when the user presses the UP Arrow key on the remote control.

P-0127[0127] The program guide may also show movies that are starting in the current time period in list <b>144</b> in screen <b>140</b>. If the user presses the DOWN Arrow key on the remote control, the guide may display additional current movies, as well as movies that are scheduled to start in the near future. If the user presses the UP Arrow key on the remote control, the guide may display movies that started earlier and are currently in progress. Movies may be sorted by start time, and for a particular start time may be sorted by title, by channel, or by other criteria.

P-0128[0128] If a program is selected, for example from listing screen <b>140</b> of FIG. 6 or from an interactive advertisement (e.g., <b>104</b>A-C), the program guide may display, for example, Program Information screen <b>150</b>, such as shown in FIG. 7. This screen may include the name of the program (possibly editorially shorted to fit into the screen space available), the rating of the program, the start time and run time of the program, the channel on which the program is being shown, and other details about the program, such as the price and package information. Screen <b>150</b> may also display the full title of the program (in the case that the title was editorially shortened), the year the movie was released, and a description of the movie in region <b>155</b>. The user can use the UP and DOWN Arrow keys on the remote control to scroll through multiple pages of information. Other information related to the program (not shown) may be included on this screen such as language(s), country of origin, color/black and white/colorized, closed captioning availability, audio format, video format, etc. The data displayed in screen <b>150</b> relating to the selected program may be obtained from a video-on-demand server, from program guide database <b>14</b>, or from the television distribution facility.

P-0129[0129] Program Information screen <b>150</b> also includes a set of options (such as options <b>151</b>, <b>152</b>, and <b>153</b>) related to the program. The set of options available will depend on the program itself and how it was selected. The user can scroll through the options using the LEFT and RIGHT Arrow keys on the remote control. If a large number of options are available, the guide may present them in a nested menu. Options that may be available include: <tables id="TABLE-US-00001" num="1"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="3"><colspec colname="1" colwidth="42PT" align="left" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="77PT" align="left" /><colspec colname="3" colwidth="98PT" align="left" /><thead><row>&lt;entry /&gt;</row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row><row><entry>Option</entry><entry>Displayed When</entry><entry>Action</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry>Back</entry><entry>Always</entry><entry>Return to the previous screen.</entry></row><row><entry>Remind</entry><entry>The program has not</entry><entry>Allows setting or cancelling a</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>yet started.</entry><entry>reminder for the program.</entry></row><row><entry>Watch</entry><entry>The program has</entry><entry>Tunes to the program</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>started or is</entry><entry>immediately.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available on</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>demand.</entry></row><row><entry>Order</entry><entry>The program is</entry><entry>Allows the user to purchase the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>purchasable, either</entry><entry>program or package, or presents</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>individually or as</entry><entry>the information for the user to</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>part of a package.</entry><entry>do so.</entry></row><row><entry>Package</entry><entry>The program is</entry><entry>Presents information about the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>purchasable as part</entry><entry>package(s) containing this</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>of one or more</entry><entry>program.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>package.</entry></row><row><entry>Air Times</entry><entry>The program is</entry><entry>Presents a list of</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>scheduled on</entry><entry>times/channels at which the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>multiple</entry><entry>program airs, and allows the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>times/channels.</entry><entry>user to select any of them.</entry></row><row><entry>Lock</entry><entry>Always</entry><entry>Allows the user to parentally</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>control this program or any</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>attribute of this program.</entry></row><row><entry>Favorite</entry><entry>Always</entry><entry>Allows the user to add this</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program or any attribute of this</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program to a custom user</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>profile.</entry></row><row><entry>Shop</entry><entry>Products are</entry><entry>Allows the user to see</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available for</entry><entry>information on related products</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>purchase relating</entry><entry>and to interactively order any</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>to this product.</entry><entry>of these products.</entry></row><row><entry>Gift Order</entry><entry>The program is</entry><entry>Allows the user to purchase a</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>purchasable.</entry><entry>program and send the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>authorization to view the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program to a user at another</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>location.</entry></row><row><entry>Mail</entry><entry>Always</entry><entry>Allows the user to send mail</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>relating to this program to</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>another user.</entry></row><row><entry>Send</entry><entry>The program has not</entry><entry>Allows the user to send an</entry></row><row><entry>Reminder</entry><entry>yet started.</entry><entry>automatic program reminder for</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>this program to a user at</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>another location.</entry></row><row><entry>Notify</entry><entry>The program is not</entry><entry>Provides user notification when</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>yet available on</entry><entry>this program becomes available</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>television.</entry><entry>on television.</entry></row><row><entry>Review</entry><entry>A critical review</entry><entry>Provides a review of the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>is available.</entry><entry>program, or a list of reviews</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>that the user may choose from.</entry></row><row><entry>Preview</entry><entry>A video preview of</entry><entry>Displays a video preview of the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>the program is</entry><entry>preview in the video window.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available.</entry></row><row><entry>Record</entry><entry>Only display if</entry><entry>Allows the user to record the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program is not copy</entry><entry>selected program.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>protected.</entry></row><row><entry>Delete</entry><entry>This program has</entry><entry>The guide deletes the program</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>been previously</entry><entry>from storage.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>recorded for the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>user.</entry></row><row><entry>Save</entry><entry>This program has</entry><entry>The guide marks the program in</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>been previously</entry><entry>storage to not be automatically</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>recorded for the</entry><entry>deleted.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>user.</entry></row><row><entry>Find</entry><entry>Always</entry><entry>The guide displays programs</entry></row><row><entry>Similar</entry>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>that are similar to the selected</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program, or displays a list of</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>attributes of the selected</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program and allows the user to</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>choose from among them to find</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>matching programs. Further</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>features of an electronic</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program guide with related-</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program search features are</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>described in Herrington et al.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>U.S. patent application Ser.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>No. 09/451,612, filed</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>Nov. 30, 1999, which is</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>hereby incorporated by</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>reference herein its</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>entirety.</entry></row><row><entry>Chat</entry><entry>Always</entry><entry>Allows the user to initiate or</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>join a chat session related to</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>the program.</entry></row><row><entry>Discussion</entry><entry>There are one or</entry><entry>Displays a list of discussion</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>more discussion</entry><entry>groups and allows the user to go</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>groups (newsgroups)</entry><entry>to one of them.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>relating to the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program.</entry></row><row><entry>Gossip</entry><entry>Gossip column is</entry><entry>Displays the gossip column,</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available relating</entry><entry>possible including text,</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>to this program.</entry><entry>graphics, video, etc.</entry></row><row><entry>Fast</entry><entry>The guide is</entry><entry>Moves quickly through the video</entry></row><row><entry>Forward</entry><entry>currently playing a</entry><entry>clip.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>video clip in the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>video window.</entry></row><row><entry>Rewind</entry><entry>The guide is</entry><entry>Moves quickly backwards</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>currently playing a</entry><entry>through the video clip.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>video clip in the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>video window.</entry></row><row><entry>Stop</entry><entry>The guide is</entry><entry>Stops playback of the video</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>currently playing a</entry><entry>clip.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>video clip in the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>video window.</entry></row><row><entry>Pause</entry><entry>The guide is</entry><entry>Temporarily pauses playback of</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>currently playing a</entry><entry>the video clip.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>video clip in the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>video window.</entry></row><row><entry>Web</entry><entry>There are one or</entry><entry>Displays a list of web sites and</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>more web sites</entry><entry>allows the user to go to one of</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>relating to the</entry><entry>them.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program.</entry></row><row><entry>Local</entry><entry>This is information</entry><entry>Displays information about the</entry></row><row><entry>Showings</entry><entry>about a movie in</entry><entry>available local showings, and</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>theatrical release,</entry><entry>allows the user to purchase</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>or an event that</entry><entry>tickets.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>can be viewed live</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>locally.</entry></row><row><entry>More</entry><entry>More details about</entry><entry>Displays more details about the</entry></row><row><entry>Description</entry><entry>the program are</entry><entry>program.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available.</entry></row><row><entry>Video Clips</entry><entry>One or more video</entry><entry>Displays a list of available</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>clips relating to</entry><entry>video clips and allows the user</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>the program are</entry><entry>to view one of them.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available.</entry></row><row><entry>Article</entry><entry>Magazine-type</entry><entry>Displays the article, possible</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>article is</entry><entry>including text, graphics, video,</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available relating</entry><entry>etc.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>to this program.</entry></row><row><entry>Contest</entry><entry>A contest relating</entry><entry>Presents information about the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>to this program is</entry><entry>contest and allows the user to</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available.</entry><entry>enter it.</entry></row><row><entry>Trivia</entry><entry>One or more trivia</entry><entry>Presents the questions, and</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>questions are</entry><entry>allows the user to view the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>available relating</entry><entry>answers.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>to the program.</entry></row><row><entry>Respond</entry><entry>User response has</entry><entry>Allows the user to send a</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>been defined for</entry><entry>response to an entity relating</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>this program.</entry><entry>to the program, such as</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>producers or cast members.</entry></row><row><entry>Rate</entry><entry>Ratings are being</entry><entry>Allows the user to rate this</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>collected for this</entry><entry>program, and to send that rating</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program.</entry><entry>to the ratings collector.</entry></row><row><entry>Ratings</entry><entry>Ratings information</entry><entry>Displays the ratings</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>is available.</entry><entry>information, possibly collected</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>from other guide users.</entry></row><row><entry>Actor,</entry><entry>Information is</entry><entry>Presents an Information screen</entry></row><row><entry>Producer,</entry><entry>available for</entry><entry>for that person. That</entry></row><row><entry>Director,</entry><entry>anyone associated</entry><entry>Information screen may have an</entry></row><row><entry>etc.</entry><entry>with the program</entry><entry>option to present a list of</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>(may be individual</entry><entry>programs with which that person</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>buttons for each,</entry><entry>was associated, and to select</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>or one button that</entry><entry>any program for more</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>provides a list).</entry><entry>information.</entry></row><row><entry>Wager</entry><entry>Displayed when</entry><entry>Presents information about the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>selected program</entry><entry>wagering options and allows the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>supports wagering,</entry><entry>user to place a wager.</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>and if user is in a</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>jurisdiction where</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>the particular type</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>of wagering is</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>legal.</entry></row><row><entry>Live Update</entry><entry>Displayed when live</entry><entry>Presents live information to the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program supports</entry><entry>user for viewing (e.g., sports</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>transfer of live</entry><entry>scores, live news updates,</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>information.</entry><entry>etc.).</entry></row><row><entry>News Brief</entry><entry>Displayed when</entry><entry>Presents news for viewing (e.g.,</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program supports</entry><entry>news may be video, audio, or</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>news updates</entry><entry>textual).</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>related to the</entry></row><row>&lt;entry /&gt;<entry>program.</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

P-0130[0130] If the user selects Hot option <b>132</b>B from Movies screen <b>130</b>, the guide may present a screen such as Hot Movies screen <b>160</b> of FIG. 8. Listing screen <b>160</b> may include movies available on demand, movies the user has previously recorded, as well as scheduled movies as shown in list <b>162</b>. Movies may be included on screen <b>160</b> based on critic's recommendations, as well as on promotional agreements as shown in list <b>163</b>. Movies may also be included based on matching user profile preferences as shown in list <b>164</b>. In addition, movies for which the user requested notification may be included on this listing. Programs may be sorted based on start time, with on-demand and recorded movies listed first. The programs displayed in screen <b>160</b> may be sorted and selected by a processor at the television distribution facility, in a server at another location, or in set-top box <b>26</b>.

P-0131[0131] The hot movies shown in FIG. 8 may also be selected by the program guide based upon the user's viewing habits. The user's viewing habits may be monitored, for example, by a processor in set-top box <b>26</b>, a processor at a television distribution facility, or one of the servers shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C. The processor or server may then search program guide database <b>14</b> for programs that match search criteria based upon the user's viewing habits. Further features of an illustrative television system with aided user program searching are described in Boyer et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,793, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0132[0132] If the user selects On Demand option <b>132</b>C from Movies screen <b>130</b>, the guide may present the Movies On Demand screen <b>170</b> shown in FIG. 9. Screen <b>170</b> may provide the user with various methods of accessing a list of movies available on demand. This may include options to view new releases, to view “hot” releases, and to view movies of a specific genre, such as comedy, drama, family, and adult by selecting from list <b>172</b>. It may also include (not shown) options to find movies alphabetically, to see movies with special offers, to see movies that will be available soon on-demand, to view the staff picks of the service provider, etc. Picking one of the options, such as the New Releases option in list <b>172</b>, may present a listing screen, such listing screen <b>180</b> shown in FIG. 10, that provides movies on demand related to the selected option. Choosing any of the programs from listing screen <b>180</b> causes the guide to display a Program Information screen for the selected program (such as screen <b>150</b>), allowing the user to find out about the movie, to view a preview video clip, and to order it.

P-0133[0133]FIG. 11 shows an example of the Movies Coming Soon screen that may be displayed if the user selects Coming Soon option <b>132</b>D from Movies screen <b>130</b>. This screen shows list <b>192</b> of movies that are not currently scheduled in the time frame supported by the guide, but which will be available on Television in the future. List <b>192</b> may include options such as a movie that is currently in theatrical release, and which will be available on-demand or on pay-per-view in the next few weeks, a movie that may be available on cable channel, and a movie that will be available on broadcast networks. List <b>192</b> may also include a made-for-cable movie and a made-for-Television movie. The listings of movies or categories of movies coming soon may be maintained on a server at the television distribution facility or at database <b>14</b> and available on request by the program guide at set-top box <b>26</b>.

P-0134[0134] The user may select a movie in listing <b>192</b> to view a Program Information screen for that movie which allows the user to view information related to the movie or find local theatrical showings. The Program Information screen may show the projected availability date and/or channel of the movie. The Program Information screen also allows the user to request a notification when the selected movie becomes available within the guide. Further features of an illustrative electronic program guide with advance notification is described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/378,533, filed Aug. 20, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0135[0135]FIG. 12 shows screen <b>200</b> that may be displayed if the user selects Search option <b>132</b>E of Movies niche hub screen <b>130</b>. This feature allows the user to search the complete database of movies based on selected criteria, such as the movie title, the movie genre, the parental (e.g., MPAA) rating, actors/actresses/producers/directors and other movie credits, the language of the movie, critic's star ratings, or any word or phrase that may be found in the movie information by selecting a search criteria category from list <b>201</b> in screen <b>200</b>. Other criteria may include availability of high quality audio or video formats, year of release, or any other information in the movie database.

P-0136[0136] Once the user has selected a search criteria category from list <b>201</b>, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select or enter one or more search criteria (e.g., such as a specific title, genre, parental rating, actor, language, star rating, word, etc.). Once the user has entered one or more search criteria, the guide will display a list of matching movies. This may include movies on television, movies in theatrical release, and movies not currently available. The user may be given the opportunity to select a sorting criteria, such as by year of release, by title, or by time of airing on television. The user may select any individual movie to find out when it is available, select a reminder or advance notification, or any other action appropriate to the selected movie.

P-0137[0137] The searchable program database may be part of database <b>14</b>, or it may be located at a television distribution facility or other location that is connected to the user television equipment through a communications network. The search criteria may be transmitted to the television distribution facility from the set-top box along an out of band data channel or separate communications link (e.g. a direct Internet connection to the set-top box), and then transmitted to the searchable database from the television distribution facility. The search results may be transmitted from the searchable database back to the user along the same channel or link, or a separate channel or link. The program guide may also search multiple databases and combine the results to present to the user.

P-0138[0138] If the viewer selects Video Clips option <b>132</b>F from Movies screen <b>130</b>, the program guide may display a screen such as screen <b>210</b> shown in FIG. 13. Screen <b>210</b> allows the user to find specific video clips and to display them. The screen may allow the user to see a list of new video clips, to see a list of clips related to video on demand movies, to see a list of clips related to shopping, to see other predefined lists of video clips, or to search for a clip or clips by selecting an option from list <b>211</b>. The program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to search for a video clip or clips, for example, by providing a television screen similar to screen <b>200</b> shown in FIG. 12. When the user selects a specific clip from list <b>211</b>, it may be shown in the video window of a Program Information screen, or it may be shown as a full-screen video. The video clips may be maintained on a database <b>14</b> or on a server at the television distribution facility or elsewhere and transmitted to the user television equipment along communications paths shown, for example, in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C.

P-0139[0139] While viewing the Program Information screen for any program with related video clips, the guide may also present the option to view any of those clips.

P-0140[0140] Selecting Specials option <b>132</b>G from Movies screen <b>130</b> (FIG. 5) may display a screen such as screen <b>220</b> shown in FIG. 14. This screen presents list <b>221</b> of special offers related to movies that may be available from the system provider. These offers may include a special deal on a VOD movie, buy one get one free offers, movie clubs allowing the user to get discounts on purchases of multiple movies, upgrades of single or multiple movie channels, etc. Selecting a specific offer may display a screen similar to the Program Information screen with details on the offer, such as price and description, and the option to purchase the offer. When the user purchases one of the special offers, this information along with the user's account information may be transmitted to the television distribution for processing so that the user can access the purchased channels, programs, etc., and the user's account may be debited. Further features of an illustrative interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion are described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/944,153, filed Oct. 6, 1997, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. While viewing the Program Information screen for any program that is part of a special offer, the guide may present the option to view and/or purchase any of those offers.

P-0141[0141] If the user selects Features option <b>132</b>H from Movies screen <b>130</b>, the guide may display a list of magazine-type feature articles. These articles may be taken directly from a magazine such as TV Guide Magazine, edited for the interactive program guide, or created for the interactive program guide. FIG. 15 shows such a list <b>231</b> in screen <b>230</b>, as might be displayed if Features option <b>106</b>L were selected from the Main Menu <b>100</b> of FIG. 2. If Features option <b>132</b>H selected from Movies screen <b>130</b>, this screen would include only features related to movies. The Features in list <b>231</b> may be filtered based on the current selected theme (e.g., movies) by a processor at the television distribution facility, the user television equipment, or a remote server from where the Features data was accessed so that only movie related features are provided in list <b>231</b>.

P-0142[0142] Selecting any individual item from Features screen <b>230</b> may display a screen such as screen <b>240</b> shown in FIG. 16. Screen <b>240</b> may include a still image or video clip <b>245</b> related to the article, as well as the text of the article displayed in region <b>244</b>. Screen <b>240</b> includes Back option <b>241</b> to return to the previous display screen. Screen <b>240</b> may include an option to start playing of the video clip in region <b>245</b> (e.g., such as option <b>242</b>), or an option to stop playing the video clip (not shown). If the article is about a specific program, there may also be options related to that program. In the example of FIG. 16, the article is about a program that is not currently in the time frame covered by the guide, so the guide presents Notify option <b>243</b>. Selecting option <b>243</b> would cause the guide to provide a user notification when the series season premiere for the program is to be shown. While viewing the Program Information screen for any program that has one or more related feature articles, the guide may also provide the option to access those articles directly. Data displayed in features screens <b>230</b> and <b>240</b> may be obtained from a server or database and transmitted to the user television equipment as shown, for example, in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C.

P-0143[0143]FIG. 17 shows a screen that might be displayed if the user selects Shopping option <b>132</b>I from the Movies screen <b>130</b> or Shop option <b>106</b>K from the Main Menu screen <b>100</b>. If selected from the Movies screen, this screen may be limited to only shopping related to Movies. Screen <b>250</b> in FIG. 17 shows list <b>251</b> of merchandise catalogs, sorted in various ways. The user may select one of the options in list <b>251</b> to see a list of available merchandise, or may be given the option to search one or more of the catalogs for specific items, types of items, items related to a specific movie, etc. On selecting a specific item, a screen similar to the Program Information screen may be presented to allow the user to order the item. While viewing the Program Information screen for any program that has related merchandise, the guide may also provide the option to order any of those items. If desired, the user may purchase the program merchandise as a gift for another person. Further features of an illustrative system for purchasing gifts for others through user television equipment are described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,245, filed Jul., 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The program guide at the user television equipment may obtain data relating to purchasing available merchandise such as lists of products, product descriptions, and prices, from one or more servers or databases located at the main facility <b>12</b>, the television distribution facility, or elsewhere along communications paths shown, for example, in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C.

P-0144[0144] The interactive program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may act as a portal for other applications that are part of the niche hub. The interactive program guide may provide the other applications with access to various guide features (e.g., access to memory, access to remote control keys, tuning, parental control, user favorites, database access, etc.), and may share data and code with the other applications. The advantages of using the program guide application as a portal may include sharing a common user input device between the interactive program guide and the other applications to increase user friendliness, eliminating resource contention, and reducing the amount of code and data required by each application.

P-0145[0145] The interactive program guide of the present invention may act as portal to other applications that are features of the niche hubs using hot-linking. Hot linking involves invoking an application that has been preselected based on the current content of the program guide or status of set-top box <b>26</b>. For example, if the user is watching a program, viewing a program listing, viewing the description of a program, or taking other action within the program guide related to a given program, channel, type of channel, or the like and the user directs the program guide to launch an application, the program guide may launch that application and direct that application to take an action related to the given program, channel, type of channel, or the like.

P-0146[0146] Hot links may be activated by dedicated buttons, a launch button, menu options, or any other suitable technique. The niche hubs of the present invention may use hot linking to launch applications accessible within the hub. For example, if the user selects an option to purchase merchandise in the movies niche hub screen <b>130</b>, the guide may launch a shopping application (e.g., for purchasing program-related merchandise) and direct the shopping application to display catalogs and merchandise related to movies (e.g., HBO Movie Catalog by Film as shown in list <b>251</b> in screen <b>250</b>). Further features of an illustrative electronic program guide as a portal for other applications are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/346,164, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0147[0147]FIG. 18 shows screen <b>260</b> that might be displayed if the user selects Feedback option <b>106</b>P from the Main Menu screen <b>100</b> or Feedback option <b>132</b>K from Movies screen <b>130</b>. If selected from the Movies screen <b>130</b>, this screen may be limited to only feedback related to Movies. This filtering function may be performed by a processor in the user television equipment, at the television distribution facility, or elsewhere. Screen <b>260</b> provides list <b>261</b> of feedback options that user may select (e.g., using UP or DOWN keys on the remote control). The Feedback in list <b>261</b> may include opportunities for the user to provide several types of feedback. For example, it might include trivia questions, or the opportunity to enter a contest. It may support opinion polling, such as the option to answer personal opinion questions related to movie or television personalities. It may allow the user to send a message to studio executives regarding the cancellation of a television series. It may also allow the user to send an electronic mail message to the guide provider, to the television service provider, or to any specific programmer. If any specific program has related feedback opportunities, these options may be made available from that program's Program Information screen. When the user selects an option in list <b>261</b>, the program guide may, for example, provide the user with a blank screen or region on the screen where the user may compose a message by using an alphabetic keypad on the remote control, a wireless keyboard, an on-screen keyboard, etc. The program guide may provide the user with a Send option to transmit the message to the recipient when he is finished composing the message. The message may then be transmitted to message processing facility <b>71</b> along paths shown, for example, in FIG. 1D. Message processing facility <b>71</b> may be a television network or a facility that conducts contests or processes messages from television customers. Further features of an illustrative television message system is described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,245, filed Jul., 16, 1999.

P-0148[0148]FIG. 19 shows screen <b>270</b> of that provides listing <b>271</b> of programs that have been previously recorded for the user. These programs may have been recorded because of a specific user request, or based on user preferences. They may have been recorded locally, for example on a hard drive or recordable DVD or videocassette recorder in the home (video recorder <b>28</b>), or they may have been recorded at a centralized server that provides program-recording capacity for multiple homes (e.g., at a television distribution facility or elsewhere as shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C). Selecting one of the titles from screen <b>270</b> may display the Program Information screen for that program, allowing the user to watch the program at any time. If the screen of FIG. 19 was displayed from Main Menu <b>100</b>, it may include all programs recorded for the user household. If accessed from one of the niche hubs, it may only list those recorded programs matching the criteria of the hub—for example, listing only recorded movies if accessed from the Movies hub screen <b>130</b> of FIG. 5.

P-0149[0149] If desired, television programs may be recorded at one of the servers shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C or at another memory storage device at a television distribution facility or connected to the user television equipment through the television distribution facility or a separate communications path (e.g., a phone line, cable line, satellite link, etc.). The program guide application or server may require that the user enter an debit account number before the transaction is complete so that the user's account may be charged. If desired, the user account information may be stored in set-top box <b>26</b> and sent to the television distribution facility so that the user's account may be charged for the recording. When the recording is complete, the program guide may notify the user that the program has been recorded and is available for viewing. Further features of an illustrative client-server based interactive television program guide system with remote server recording are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,244, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The program guide application may also provide the user with an opportunity to record a program series (e.g., all the weekly episodes of a television sitcom in a programming season). Further features of an illustrative system for series recording from an interactive television program guide are described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,792, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0150[0150] If the user selects My Schedule option <b>106</b>N from the Main Menu screen <b>100</b> or the My Schedule option <b>132</b>O from Movies screen <b>130</b>, the guide may display a screen such as screen <b>280</b> that is shown in FIG. 20. Screen <b>280</b> displays a list <b>281</b> of all programs (or all programs matching the niche hub theme such as movies) that are scheduled for future viewing and recording. These programs may be scheduled for reminders, such as “Practical Magic” in the example. The check symbol in region <b>282</b> indicates that a reminder has been set for the program “Practical Magic.” The programs in list <b>281</b> may be pay-per-view programs that have been purchased in advance, such as “Eyes Wide Shut” in the example. The dollar symbol in region <b>283</b> indicates that the movie “Eyes Wide Shut” is a pay per video program. The programs in list <b>281</b> may be programs that are scheduled to be recorded, such as “Bone Collector,” which is also shown as a pay-per-view movie by the dollar symbol. The “R” symbol in region <b>284</b> indicates that the program “Bone Collector” has been scheduled to be recorded. Reminders and recordings may have been set for individual programs or as part of a series or package or programs. Further features of an illustrative system for series reminders from an interactive television program guide are described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,792, filed Jun. 11, 1999. Reminders and recordings may have been set explicitly by the user. They may also have been set automatically by the guide based on user preferences and history. Selecting a program from list <b>281</b> may display the Program Information screen for that program, allowing the user to cancel or modify the scheduled reminder, purchase or recording.

P-0151[0151] The program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to set a reminder remotely, such as via the Internet, via e-mail, or via a pager that will be displayed on the television electronic program guide. The program guide may also allow the user to set up a reminder at the user television equipment and send it to a remote location, such as to a personal computer, palmtop computer, pager, etc. The reminder may be displayed on the remote computing device at a appropriate time before the program begins. Reminder messages may be sent between user television equipment and user communications equipment (e.g., a personal computer, pager, palmtop, etc.) via two-way communications paths shown, for example, in FIG. 1B. Further features of an electronic television program guide with remote access are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/354,344, filed Jul. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0152[0152] The program guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to set a reminder for another person (e.g., a user of another user television equipment or user communications equipment). The reminder for the other person may sent to the recipient's user television equipment via the communications paths shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C. The reminder may also be sent to the recipient's personal computer over the Internet or over communication paths shown in FIG. 1B. Further features of an illustrative system for sending reminders to others through user television equipment is described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,245, filed Jul. 16, 1999.

P-0153[0153]FIG. 21 is an example of screen <b>290</b> that may be displayed if the user selects the Web option <b>106</b>M from the Main Menu <b>100</b> or Web option <b>132</b>L from the Movies screen <b>130</b>. Screen <b>290</b> provides list <b>291</b> of web sites related to the selected niche hub (e.g., movie web sites if option <b>132</b>L is selected by the user to display screen <b>290</b>), or general program-related web sites (if screen <b>290</b> is accessed from screen <b>100</b>), and allows the user to choose one and view it. A web feature may also allow the user to search for related web sites, to mark them as favorites, to parentally control them, etc. If any specific program has related web sites, those sites may be made available from the Program Information screen for that program. The program guide may obtain URLs for and data from the web pages from a web server connected to the television distribution facility as shown, for example, in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>B.

P-0154[0154]FIG. 22 shows screen <b>300</b> that may be displayed when the user selects a Discussions option from the Main Menu <b>100</b> or Discussions option <b>132</b>M from a niche hub such as the Movies hub screen <b>130</b>. Screen <b>300</b> provides list <b>301</b> of news groups or discussion groups related to the topic of the niche hub (if screen <b>300</b> is entered from a niche hub such as screen <b>130</b>). If the user selects a discussion group from list <b>301</b> (such as the Gwyneth Paltrow discussion group), the program guide may display messages from the discussion group in a list such as list <b>311</b> on screen <b>310</b> of FIG. <b>23</b>. The user may select a message from list <b>311</b> to display the message in overlay <b>312</b> for viewing by the user.

P-0155[0155] A discussion feature may also allow the user to group the discussion groups, to view conversation threads, to save or delete messages, to subscribe or unsubscribe to specific discussion groups, etc. If any specific program has related discussion groups, those discussion groups may be made available from the Program Information screen for that program. The program guide may obtain data containing lists of discussion and news groups and messages within the discussion and news groups from a server or database located at the television distribution facility, main facility <b>12</b>, or elsewhere along paths shown, for example, in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C. Further features of an illustrative interactive television system with news groups are described in Ellis, U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith (Attorney Docket No. UV-154), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0156[0156] Screen <b>320</b> in FIG. 24 is an example of a screen that may be displayed if the user selects Favorite option <b>132</b>N from the Movies screen <b>130</b> (FIG. 5). Screen <b>320</b> provides list <b>321</b> of a number of categories in which the user can choose favorites, and a number of items within each category that the user can rate individually. For example, for the category “Actors/Actresses”, the user has picked the individual items “Gwyneth Paltrow”, “Matt Damon”, and “Jim Carrey”. The user has rated them with two happy faces, one unhappy face, and one happy face, respectively, to indicate whether the user likes movies starring these actors or not. This rating system is illustrative; any other rating system may be used. In the category “Genres”, the user has selected the items “Comedy” and “Children's”, and rated them two happy faces and one happy face, respectively, to indicate that the user likes children's movies and likes comedy movies even more.

P-0157[0157] Other categories that may be shown for movies include Directors, Producers, Channels, Parental (e.g. MPAA) ratings, Movie Titles, Language, Video Format (e.g., High Definition, Wide Screen, etc.), Audio Format (e.g., Digital Dolby, etc.). The program guide uses the user ratings (e.g., happy faces and unhappy faces in FIG. 24) to determine which programs the viewer is most likely to like or dislike. Programs with attributes the user has rated highly may be featured in various parts of the guide, and the guide may provide quick access to them, for example in listing screens. Programs with attributes that are rated low may be hidden from the user. The user may also rate individual movie critics. If the user rates a movie critic highly, the guide may give more weight to the critic's rating in determining what movies the viewer may like or dislike. These program guide functions with respect to changing program information displayed to the user based upon his or her preferences may be performed by a processor in the user television equipment or by a server at the television distribution facility or elsewhere in a client-server arrangement.

P-0158[0158] Attribute ratings may be set by the user on a screen such as <b>320</b>. They may be set by the user after selecting a Favorite option from a Program Information screen for a certain program, at which point the guide may display the attributes of the selected program and allow the user to rate any of them, such as rating actors starring in a movie. Further features of an illustrative program guide system with preference profiles is described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/034,934, filed Mar. 4, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The attribute ratings may also be set automatically by the guide based on program selections made by the user household.

P-0159[0159] If desired, the guide may support multiple sets of favorites based on household users, or for each niche hub. Upon selecting the Favorites option from any niche hub, the user is presented with the categories and items most appropriate for that hub. For example, the Movies Favorites screen may allow the user to rate Movie Critics, MPAA Ratings, and Movie Producers. The Sports Favorites screen may allow the user to rate individual sports and teams.

P-0160[0160] The user may add items to the Favorites list by selecting the Add Another option under any category in list <b>321</b>. The program guide may then display a screen allowing the user to choose from items within the category, such as screen <b>330</b> shown in FIG. 25. Screen <b>330</b> displays list <b>331</b> of movie genres. The happy faces next to some movie genres indicate that the user has indicated these genres as his favorites (e.g., from a genre Information screen such as screen <b>340</b>). The user may press UP or DOWN arrows on the remote control to select a genre in list <b>331</b>.

P-0161[0161] When the user has selected a specific item from list <b>331</b> in FIG. 25, the guide may display an Information screen related to the item. For example, if the user selects comedy from list <b>331</b>, the program guide may display genre Information screen <b>340</b> as shown in FIG. 26, or the guide may simply return to the screen of FIG. 24 with the selected item added to the list. In FIG. 26, the guide presents additional information about the selected item in region <b>344</b>. Screen <b>340</b> also presents the option to change the user rating by selecting option <b>342</b>. Screen <b>340</b> also presents the user with an option to list a group of programs matching the selected item by selecting option <b>343</b>. The user may return to screen <b>330</b> by selecting Back option <b>341</b>.

P-0162[0162] From screen <b>320</b> of FIG. 24, the user may select any specific item in list <b>321</b> and press a key on the remote control or select an on screen option (not shown) to change its rating. Selecting an item may alternatively display a screen such as FIG. 26, allowing the user to change the rating on that screen by selecting option <b>342</b>. Removing the user rating from any item (i.e., setting the rating to “no (un)happy face”) may cause that item to be removed from the screen the next time it is displayed, as the user has indicated no preference with respect to that item. The guide may support automatic reminders and/or automatic recordings of programs based on user preferences. Information relating to the user's favorites and programming preferences may be stored in memory <b>25</b> or at a server at a television distribution facility or elsewhere.

P-0163[0163] The Movies screen <b>130</b> may also have a Watch Movies button (not shown). Upon selecting this option, the guide may allow the user to watch television, but with quick access to movies. A Menu or Guide key on the remote control, which normally displays the Main Menu screen <b>100</b>, may instead display the Movies screen <b>130</b> or the Movies On Now screen <b>140</b> (FIG. 6). While changing channels, the guide may limit the user to only channels currently airing movies, possibly limited to movies matching the criteria selected under Movies Favorites screen <b>320</b> in FIG. 24 with happy faces. Other guide functions, such as for example Browse, may also be similarly limited. While in this mode, the Movies screen <b>130</b> may change the Watch Movies option to a Watch Normal Television option; selecting this option would return the user to regular television watching and guide features.

P-0164[0164] The guide may support many other niche hubs. Each hub includes options that are appropriate for a user interested in that particular theme. Some options may be similar to those shown for the movies hub. Other options may be specific to another theme, such as a sports fan hub (option <b>112</b>B), a music hub (option <b>112</b>D), a soap opera hub (option <b>112</b>G), a kids/family hub (option <b>112</b>C), science fiction hub (option <b>112</b>H), a news and information hub (option <b>112</b>E), a local information hub (option <b>112</b>K), a cultural hub (option <b>112</b>F), a television lover's hub (option <b>112</b>I), and an adult hub (option <b>112</b>J). A user may enter these hubs by selecting, for example, the corresponding option in Themes screen <b>110</b> (FIG. 3).

P-0165[0165] Another illustrative television program guide main menu screen of a niche hub in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 27. Screen <b>350</b> is the main menu screen of a sports fan hub. Screen <b>350</b> provides the user with the option of using a variety of program guide features related to sports programming by selecting one of options <b>351</b>-<b>359</b>. A user may view sports television program listings, as shown and discussed, for example, with respect to FIG. 31, by selecting option <b>352</b>. The user may view sports scores and news, as shown for example in FIGS. <b>32</b>-<b>34</b>, by selecting option <b>353</b>.

P-0166[0166] The user may view a controllable sports ticker, as shown for example in FIG. 35, by selecting option <b>354</b>. The user may participate in sports wagering and voting as well, as shown for example in FIGS. <b>36</b>-<b>38</b>, by selecting option <b>355</b>. The user may participate in fantasy sports leagues, as shown for example in FIGS. <b>39</b>-<b>40</b>, by selecting option <b>356</b>. The user may also view a listing of pay-per-view sports by selecting option <b>357</b>, or a listings of sports programs on now by selection option <b>358</b>. The user may purchase sports-related merchandise through an interactive shopping application by selecting option <b>359</b>. Sports hub screen <b>350</b> may also display options for accessing sports web sites, sports discussion groups, sports chat groups, and other program guide features (e.g., any features shown and used with other hubs) with sports-related content.

P-0167[0167] The program guide may also allow the user to enter favorites within the sports niche hub such as favorite sports, teams, leagues, etc. as part of a user profile. The profiles may indicate, for example, that the user likes certain sports and teams but not others. The program guide may customize the features within the niche hub based upon the user's favorites.

P-0168[0168] The niche hubs of the present invention may contain individual areas within the hub for sub-categories within the niche hub category. For example, a sports fan hub may have individual areas within the hub for specific sports. Screen <b>350</b> provides option <b>351</b> for selecting an individual area within the sports hub that relate to a specific sport (e.g., football). If the user selects option <b>351</b>, the program guide may display screen <b>360</b> as shown in FIG. 28. Screen <b>360</b> provides list <b>361</b> of individual sports that relate to an individual area of the sports niche hub. The user may select a sport from list <b>361</b> to enter the individual area of the hub corresponding to that sport. If desired, the program guide may provide the user with the option of selecting a specific team, league, etc. within that sport when the user selects a sport in list <b>361</b>.

P-0169[0169] Each individual area within the hub that is tailored to a sub-category such as a specific sport, team, league, etc. contains niche hub features that relate to that sub-category. For example, if the user enters the football area of the niche hub, the program guide displays options such as television program listings, news groups, news stories, sports scores, fantasy sports leagues, etc. that relate (or only relate) to football in screen <b>350</b> and in other display screens of the sports fan hub. These options can be the same as screen <b>350</b> with filtered content related to the selected sub-category, a subset of the options displayed on screen <b>350</b>, or options that are specific to the selected sub-category.

P-0170[0170] The program guide can customize the program guide features to match the user's selected sub-category so that options relating to that sub-category are displayed in the sports hub. This functionality may be performed by a processor in the user television equipment, at the television distribution facility, or elsewhere. If desired, the hub may be customized by a server (e.g., connected to user television equipment as shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C) in a client-server arrangement.

P-0171[0171] An illustrative process for using niche hubs of the present invention is shown in FIG. 29. At step <b>370</b>, the interactive program guide provides the user with an opportunity to enter a niche hub, for example, by displaying Themes screen <b>110</b> in FIG. 3. The user may then select a niche hub based on the options provided by the interactive program guide or based upon the current selection in the program guide. In another example of step <b>370</b>, the user may highlight a movie in a general-purpose program guide television listing and then select a “niche hub” button on a remote control to enter the movie niche hub. If the user indicates a desire to enter a niche hub, the program guide may then display features of the niche hub at step <b>371</b>, for example, by displaying niche hub movie display screen <b>130</b> or other niche hub menu screens discussed further below. The niche hub features are related to specific types of television programming, or user interests. The niche hub features may also be selected by the user as discussed below with respect to FIGS. <b>65</b>-<b>67</b>.

P-0172[0172] At step <b>372</b>, the program guide may provide the user with an opportunity to select a niche hub feature, for example, by providing interactive options <b>132</b>A-<b>132</b>O in screen <b>130</b>. The user may select a niche hub feature by selecting the region on the niche hub menu display screen and press an “ENTER” key on the remote control. If the user selects a niche hub feature, the program guide may display options and information relating to the selected feature in step <b>373</b>, as shown for example, by FIG. 9. The options and information displayed may be related to the selected feature. For example, screen <b>170</b> when selected from the movie niche hub displays video on demand movies.

P-0173[0173] Another illustrative process for using niche hubs of the present invention is shown in FIG. 30. At step <b>375</b>, the interactive program guide provides the user with an opportunity to enter a niche hub, for example, by displaying Themes screen <b>110</b> in FIG. 3. The user may then select a niche hub based on the options provided by the interactive program guide or based upon the current selection in the program guide. If the user indicates a desire to enter a niche hub, the program guide may then display features of the selected niche hub at step <b>376</b>, for example, by displaying niche hub menu display screen <b>130</b> for sports or other niche hub menu screens discussed in this application.

P-0174[0174] At step <b>377</b> the program guide provides the user with an opportunity to enter an individual area of the niche hub that relates to a sub-category of the hub. For example, screen <b>360</b> of the sports hub provides list <b>361</b> of individual areas within the sports hub that relate sub-categories such as specific sports. If the user then selects an individual area of the hub, the program guide then displays options and information relating to the selected individual area of the hub (e.g., as discussed with respect to FIG. 28) at step <b>378</b>. The program guide application may obtain information regarding available individual areas of each niche hub and features available within each individual area from database <b>14</b>, a server, or a television distribution facility. A processor in the user television equipment, the television distribution facility, or elsewhere may provide program guide features and information to the user at the user television equipment based upon the individual area of the niche hub that the user selected. For example, if the user selects football in list <b>361</b>, the processor may provide football scores, news, and wagering options to the user in the sports niche hub.

P-0175[0175] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to view highlighted television program listings within the hub. Only programs relating to the user interest category of the niche hub are highlighted in the program listings. For example, the program guide may display listings screen <b>380</b> as shown in FIG. 31 when the user selects option <b>352</b> in menu screen <b>350</b> of the sports fan niche hub. Screen <b>380</b> displays listings grid <b>386</b> which is organized by time and television channel. Grid <b>386</b> displays all programs on the channels in the grid, but highlights sports programs since the user entered screen <b>380</b> from the sports hub. If a channel has no programs related to the category of the hub (e.g., sports), the program guide may omit that channel from the television programs listings entirely. Alternatively, the program guide may display a screen similar to Movies On Now shown in FIG. 6 (but directed toward sports programming on now) when the user selects option <b>352</b>.

P-0176[0176] If the user has selected a sport from list <b>361</b> in screen <b>360</b> (such as football), only programs relating to that sport are highlighted in grid <b>386</b>. The program guide listings may be obtained from database <b>14</b>. The program guide application on the set-top box or computing equipment at the television distribution facility or other location may highlight the sports programs as shown in FIG. 31.

P-0177[0177] The interactive program guide application may also display context sensitive pop-up hints. These hints appear either when the user explicitly asks for help or when the system detects that the user needs assistance through the user's inaction or when the user presses an improper key on the remote control (i.e., a key that does not correspond to a valid command at the current program guide operating point). The pop-up hints may be text messages, instructional video images, and/or audio programs or messages. The pop-up hints may be context sensitive, displaying information based on the user's current location within the program guide and, possibly, taking into account the prior user control commands by which the user reached the current location.

P-0178[0178] For example, if the user selects a program such as program <b>388</b> and either remains inactive for a period of time, requests help (e.g., presses a “HELP” key on the remote control), or presses an improper key, the program guide automatically displays a pop-up hint such as pop-up hint <b>390</b>. Pop-up hint <b>390</b> provides a suggestion to the user on how to select another program by pressing the UP or DOWN arrow keys on the remote control. If the user continues to remain inactive, request help, or press improper keys, the program guide may cycle through other pop-up hints (e.g., “to watch this program press OK”). Further features of an illustrative electronic television program guide schedule system and method with pop-up hints is described in Davis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,123, issued Oct. 13, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0179[0179] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to view sports scores and news within a niche hub. The news stories displayed within the niche hub relate to the user interest category of the hub. For example, the program guide may display screen <b>400</b> as shown in FIG. 32 when the user selects option <b>353</b> in screen <b>350</b>. Screen <b>400</b> may display list <b>401</b> of sports leagues for which the user may view scores in the program guide. If the user has entered an individual area of the sports hub relating to a specific sport, then screen <b>400</b> can display only sports scores and news relating to that specific sport.

P-0180[0180] The user may select a sport from list <b>401</b> to view scores from that sport. For example, if the user selects “NBA scores” the program guide may display screen <b>405</b> as shown in FIG. 33. Screen <b>405</b> displays listing <b>406</b> of recent NBA scores. The user may select an option in listing <b>406</b> to view an information screen that provides for information about the game. The information screen may be a Program Information screen for a program that is currently on television. The scores in listing <b>406</b> may be obtained from real-time sports data source <b>15</b> (FIG. 1A) and updated periodically or continuously as scores from current games change. The user may select Last option <b>407</b> to return to the previous display screen. The user may press a DOWN arrow key on the remote control to view scores from previous days.

P-0181[0181] If desired, the program guide may provide a listing of current and future television games that correspond to the sport selected in list <b>401</b>. The user can select a game in this list to view a Program Information screen for that game. The Program Information screen may provide scores for current games.

P-0182[0182] Screen <b>400</b> in FIG. 32 also displays list <b>402</b> of top news stories relating to sports. The user may select a story in list <b>402</b> to read the story. The program guide may then display the selected news story such as shown in screen <b>410</b> of FIG. 34. The text or video of the story selected by the user is displayed in region <b>413</b>. The user may view the text or video of the next story in list <b>402</b> by selecting Next Story option <b>412</b> in screen <b>410</b>. If desired, news video may be displayed in window <b>105</b>, instead of region <b>413</b>. If desired, screen <b>410</b> may be formatted as an information screen with options (on-screen or remote control based) that such as play, fast forward, rewind, pause, and stop that allow the user to control the news story segment (e.g., video or scrolling text) as it is played on screen <b>410</b>. Screen <b>410</b> may also provide a mail option to send this story to a friend. The user may return to screen <b>400</b> by selecting Last option <b>411</b>.

P-0183[0183] News stories may be obtained from real-time news data source <b>19</b> (FIG. 1A), from program guide database <b>14</b>, from a television distribution facility, or from a web server connected to user television equipment via communications network <b>38</b> (e.g., the Internet) and paths shown in FIG. 1B. If an individual program has sports scores or news stories associated with it, the scores or news may be available directly from a listing or information screen by, for example, providing on-screen options for scores or news stories related to the program. These options act as hyperlinks which allow users to access related information or features within the hub.

P-0184[0184] News and scores may also be displayed on screen <b>350</b> based upon user preferences, or the most popular teams, sports, etc. Selecting the option on screen <b>350</b> may cause program guide to bring up more details relating to the news story or sports score such as an information screen that provides options related to the news or scores. For example, scores for a past game may be displayed on screen <b>350</b>. The user may then select the score option on screen <b>350</b> to display an information screen for the game. The information screen may have highlights of the game, an option to display video highlights, statics, related stories, etc.

P-0185[0185] Screen <b>400</b> may also provide other options such as the option to buy tickets for local sports events by selecting option <b>403</b>. When the user selects option <b>403</b>, the program guide may provide a schedule of sporting events. The user may select a sporting event to purchase a ticket for that event. Sporting schedules may be obtained from a real-time data source, server, or other database.

P-0186[0186] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to view real-time (live) data relating to the user interest category of the niche hub. For example, the program guide may display screen <b>420</b> as shown in FIG. 35 when the user selects option <b>354</b> in screen <b>350</b>. The user may also be able to bring up a sports ticker without going into the hub (e.g., by pressing a key on the remote control while watching television). FIG. 35 displays live data of sports scores on controllable sports ticker <b>424</b> in overlay <b>422</b> on top of a television program displayed on screen <b>420</b> (e.g., program shown on channel 4). Controllable ticker <b>424</b> may contain a selectable sports category <b>421</b> such as national football league (NFL), major league baseball, national hockey league, etc.

P-0187[0187] The user may select from different sports categories that are available using RIGHT and LEFT cursor keys on the remote control as indicated by arrows <b>426</b>. Each sports category <b>421</b> has a number of associated items of status information. For example, in ticker <b>424</b>, the program guide displays status information which contains real time data such as the game title, current score, current quarter, time, and channel of the current game (e.g., Greenbay v. Detroit). A user may select from among the various status information items associated with a given category by using UP and DOWN remote control cursor keys as indicated by arrows <b>428</b>. For example, if the user presses the DOWN cursor key, the program guide may display the status information from another football game. The program guide may also automatically scroll through the scores of current and recent games from sports category <b>421</b> without user intervention. The user may press OK on the remote control while viewing a score for a game to tune to that game if it is currently available on television.

P-0188[0188] Real-time data such as sports scores may be transmitted from real-time data sources <b>11</b> (e.g., real-time sports data source <b>15</b>) via television distribution facility <b>16</b> and real-time data collection facility <b>13</b> or main facility <b>12</b> along the communications paths shown in FIG. 1A to user television equipment <b>20</b>. If desired, real-time data may be transmitted to user television equipment from real-time data sources <b>11</b> directly to server <b>22</b> or server <b>50</b> (FIG. 1C) or from the Internet (e.g., communications network <b>38</b> in FIG. 1B). Further features of a program guide system with real-time data sources is described in Knudson et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/229,047, filed Jan. 12, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Further features of an illustrative electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access are described in Knee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,892, issued Dec. 31, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0189[0189] A program guide niche hub of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to view and participate in program-related wagering and voting relating the programming category of the hub (e.g., sports all-star voting and sports game wagering). For example, the program guide may display screen <b>440</b> as shown in FIG. 36 when the user selects option <b>355</b> in screen <b>350</b>. Screen <b>440</b> provides the user with an opportunity to select a voting option from list <b>441</b>. When the user selects a voting option (such as voting for the best baseball team of the season or voting for players for an All-Star team), the program guide may display, for example, screen <b>450</b> as shown in FIG. 37. The user may vote for a team of the season by selecting a team from list <b>452</b> of baseball teams. The program guide may then transmit the user's vote to a television distribution facility or message processing facility <b>71</b> along communications paths such as the ones shown in FIG. 1D for counting and processing users' votes. The user may return to the previous screen by selecting option <b>451</b>.

P-0190[0190] Screen <b>440</b> also provides the user with the opportunity to participate in sports wagering. For example, screen <b>440</b> provides the user with an opportunity to select a type of sports wagering from list <b>442</b>. When the user selects a sports wagering option from list <b>442</b> (e.g., NFL game wagering), the program guide may provide a wagering screen such as screen <b>460</b> in FIG. 38. The program guide then provides the user with upcoming games for the selected sport and the point spread for that game. For example, if the user has chosen NFL wagering (football), the program guide provides an upcoming football game, and the point spread for this game. The user may bet on a team by selecting the team from list <b>462</b>. For example, if the user selects Detroit in list <b>462</b>, this means that the user is betting that Detroit will beat Minnesota by 5 points or more. The user may enter the amount of money he wishes to wager in region <b>463</b> by pressing numbers on the remote control. The user's bet information may be transmitted to a television distribution facility or message processing facility <b>71</b> along communications paths such as the ones shown in FIG. 1D for processing the user's bet. The user may bet on other games by pressing the DOWN arrow on the remote control. The program guide will them display teams and point spreads for other upcoming NFL games.

P-0191[0191] The wagering may be real or pretend. In real wagering, the program guide provides user setup accounts, personal identification number (PIN) to access the account, and other user security features. Also, once the user has set up an account and placed a bet, the program guide provides an option to access the user's account to view the status of pending bet, the results of previous bets, the user's account value, betting dollar limits, betting statistics, and other useful information. Wagering and voting options may be available from a Program Information screen, if applicable to a specific program. Further features of illustrative interactive wagering systems and processes are described in Brenner et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,068, issued Nov. 3, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0192[0192] A program guide sports niche hub (or other related hub) of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to participate in a fantasy sports league. Fantasy sports leagues allow users to form a squad of real-life sports teams that are evaluated on the basis of their real-life performance. Users compete against each other for the highest fantasy sports score. The program guide may provide display screen <b>480</b> as shown in FIG. 39 when the user selects option <b>356</b> in screen <b>350</b>. Screen <b>480</b> provides the user with an opportunity to enter an interactive fantasy sports league display screen by selecting a fantasy sport from list <b>482</b>. For example, if the user selects fantasy basketball, the program guide may subsequently provide display screen <b>490</b> as shown in FIG. 40.

P-0193[0193] Display screen <b>490</b> is an example of an interactive fantasy sports league display screen for fantasy basketball. Screen <b>490</b> allows the user to select a fantasy basketball squad by choosing real-life basketball teams by selecting option <b>492</b>. The user may view the rules of fantasy basketball by selecting option <b>491</b>. The user may view scores for recent basketball games by selecting option <b>495</b>. The user may view the top scores of all the participants in the fantast sports league by selecting option <b>493</b>. The user's current score in the fantasy league is displayed in region <b>494</b>. The user may select option <b>496</b> to add more squads for other users in the household that want to participate in the same fantasy sports league. The user may select option <b>497</b> to view details of the teams of the currently selected squad. The user may select option <b>498</b> to view the details of his standings with respect to the performance of the teams in his squad relative to other players in the league (such as a ranking).

P-0194[0194] The program guide may obtain fantasy sports league data such as available fantasy sports leagues, lists of real-life sports teams, recent real-life game scores, and fantasy sports rules from program guide database <b>14</b>, a television distribution facility, or a server (e.g., a web server connected via the Internet). Fantasy sports league data may be transmitted to user television equipment along communications paths such as the ones shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C. A user's current score in a fantasy sports league (in region <b>494</b>) may be calculated by the program guide operating on the set-top (e.g., if the set-top box has a processor).

P-0195[0195] If desired, the program guide operating on the set-top box may transmit the teams on the user's fantasy sports squad to a server (e.g., at the television distribution facility or elsewhere as shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C). The user's current score in region <b>494</b> may be then be calculated by the server, transmitted back to the set-top box, and stored in memory <b>25</b>. Fantasy sports leagues scores of other users may be stored in a server such as a web server, and the top scores may be transmitted from the server to user television equipment upon request by the interactive program guide on the user television equipment when the user selects option <b>493</b> (e.g., through communications network <b>38</b> along paths shown in FIG. 1B).

P-0196[0196] Another illustrative television program guide main menu screen of a niche hub in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 41. Screen <b>510</b> is the main menu screen of a family hub. Screen <b>510</b> provides the user with the option of using a variety of program guide features related to family programming by selecting one of options <b>512</b>A-<b>512</b>F. A user may program parental control setup features in the family hub, as shown for example in FIG. 42, by selecting option <b>512</b>A. A user may program personal profiles in the family hub, as shown for example in FIGS. <b>43</b>-<b>44</b>, by selecting option <b>512</b>B. A user may send messages to other users, as shown for example in FIGS. 45, 46A, and <b>46</b>B, by selecting option <b>512</b>C. A user may select parents' television and kids' television options, as shown for example in FIGS. <b>47</b>-<b>49</b>, by selecting option <b>512</b>D. A user may also view and send messages in chat groups by selecting option <b>512</b>E, as shown, for example, in FIGS. <b>50</b>-<b>51</b>. A user may also view family-oriented television program listings by selection option <b>512</b>F. The television program listings may be arranged similarly to listings displayed from other hubs with programs appropriate for family viewing and/or particular age groups. There also may be multiple programming categories for families such as program listings for young children, education programming, programming for teenagers, etc.

P-0197[0197] The main family hub screen may also include options similar to other hubs (such as the movie hub and the sports hub) that are tailored to family or kids programming. For example, the family hub screen may provide options for video on-demand or pay-per-view family movies, kids programs on now, video clips of interest to families, web pages of interest to children, shopping features for toys, etc. The family hub may also include the ability to control which features of the hub or general purpose program guide are accessible by children (e.g., making a shopping feature password protected).

P-0198[0198] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to use parental control features. For example, display screen <b>530</b> in FIG. 42 may be displayed within the family hub when the user selects option <b>512</b>A in screen <b>510</b>. Screen <b>530</b> provides the user with list <b>532</b> of typical television programming features that a user can lock or unlock. By the locking (or blocking) the selected feature, the user prevents other users (e.g., children) from viewing that feature without entering a password or code.

P-0199[0199] For example, the user can lock a program, rating, or channel from a Program Information screen by selecting a lock option for that program, rating, or channel. The user can unlock a program such as “Jerry Springer” by selecting option <b>531</b> and then pressing “OK” on the remote control to unlock that program. A user may lock or unlock a specific television program rating (e.g., TV-MA) by selecting option <b>532</b>, and then pressing “OK” on the remote control to lock or unlock that rating. A user may lock or unlock a specific movie rating (e.g., R) by selecting option <b>533</b>, and then pressing “OK” on the remote control to lock or unlock that rating. A user may lock or unlock a specific television channel (e.g., 14-HBO) by selecting option <b>534</b>, and then pressing “OK” on the remote control to lock or unlock that channel. The user can scroll to other locked programs, ratings or channels in regions <b>531</b>-<b>534</b> by pressing RIGHT and LEFT arrow keys on the remote control. A lock icon in any of regions <b>531</b>-<b>534</b> indicates that the selected option is currently locked. A user may hide adult programs by selecting option <b>535</b>, then using a LEFT arrow key on the remote control to scroll from the “SHOW” to the “HIDE” option to hide adult programs and their titles in the program guide listings. Parental control features may also be available, for example, from a Program Information screen.

P-0200[0200] The lock features in screen <b>530</b> may be stored in memory <b>25</b> of set-top box <b>26</b> or provided to the set-top box from a server along communications paths such as shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C. The set-top box may contain a processor for performing the locking functions including evaluating which programs, music, and channels are to be locked when a given locking feature has been chosen in screen <b>530</b>. The set-top box and program guide may also be configured to block web sites based on specific URLs or certain words as entered by the user. Programming provided from the television distribution facility may contain labels (e.g., data provided in band with the television program channel or in its vertical blanking interval) that identify the program, music, or channel as having an adult theme, containing foul language, nudity, violence, etc. If desired, data may provided as part of the program guide data from main facility <b>12</b> that identifies program ratings and content. The program guide application on the set-top box may then compare each program, music, and channel label with the locked features to determine whether to permit the user view the program, music, or channel or whether to require a password or access code before viewing is permitted. The program guide may also provide locking of other content such as web sites, chat rooms, applications, etc.

P-0201[0201] A family niche hub or other hub of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to enter personal profiles with different levels of rating restrictions for various viewers (e.g., family members) and other personal preferences. For example, display screen <b>540</b> in FIG. 43 may be provided when the user selects option <b>512</b>B in screen <b>510</b>. Screen <b>540</b> displays list <b>541</b> of profiles for household users that have previously been entered into the program guide system, and provides an option to add a new profile. The user may select a user profile by choosing an option in list <b>541</b>. Each user profile may contain a particular rating restriction, and may contain information regarding the user's favorite programs and interests. The program guide may require that an access code or password be entered by the user before he or she can select a particular user profile.

P-0202[0202] The user may edit a user profile by selecting a profile in list <b>541</b> and then pressing an “OK” key on the remote control. The program guide may then display a screen such as television display screen <b>550</b> as shown in FIG. 44. The user may enter a password in region <b>551</b> to enter that user profile. The user may set a rating restriction in region <b>552</b> for the selected name by pressing LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys on the remote control to scroll through a list of rating restrictions. The users favorite program or programs are displayed in region <b>553</b>. The personal profile screen may also provide the user with the opportunity to enter other user preference information such as favorite channels, actors, directors, genres of programming, etc. The program guide may use the user preference information to set targeted advertising, automatic reminders, automatic recording of favorite programs, etc.

P-0203[0203] Profiles may be defined by example from a Program Information screen. For example, a Program Information screen may provide a favorites option. When the user selects that option, the program guide adds that program to the user's profile and displays that program in region <b>553</b>. The user may scroll between her favorite programs in region <b>553</b> by pressing RIGHT and LEFT arrow keys on the remote control. The program guide may use the user's profile in a number of ways. For example, the program guide may provide program listings that match the user's favorite programs, genres, actors, etc. The program guide may also customize other features of the guide based upon the user's preferences. For example, the guide may provide web sites or merchandise in a shopping application that match the user's preferences.

P-0204[0204] A program guide niche hub of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to read, compose, and send messages to other users in pen pal e-mail clubs that are related to the programming category or user interest of the hub. For example, the program guide may provide display screen <b>560</b> in FIG. 45 when the user selects option <b>512</b>C in screen <b>510</b>. If desired, pen pal clubs related to a program may be selected from a Program Information screen for that program. Screen <b>560</b> provides the user with the opportunity to view listing <b>561</b> of topics related to programming, certain localities, sports, etc. or any topic. The user may select an option in list <b>561</b> to display a list of persons who have indicated an interest in that topic or who wish to receive messages from a pen pal on any topic.

P-0205[0205] The program guide may then, for example, display television display screen <b>570</b> as shown in FIG. 46A. Screen <b>570</b> displays list <b>571</b> of persons that have indicated a desire to receive messages from a pen pal on the selected topic or any topic. The user may select a person in list <b>571</b> to send a message to that person. Each option is list <b>571</b> may provide the person's name as well as further information about the person such as where they live. When the user selects a person in list <b>571</b>, the program guide may, for example, display television display screen <b>575</b> as shown in FIG. 46B. The user may compose the text of a message (e.g., using a wireless keyboard) in region <b>576</b>. The user may press an “OK” key on the remote control to send the message in region <b>576</b> to the intended recipient.

P-0206[0206] The program guide application operating on set-top box <b>26</b> may receive and transmit e-mail messages for pen pal e-mail clubs via communications network <b>38</b> (e.g., the Internet) and a television distribution facility as shown in FIG. 1B. The message may be maintained on a message server (e.g., server <b>36</b>). If desired, e-mail messages for pen pal e-mail clubs may be sent and received via a direct Internet connection to set-top box <b>26</b> (e.g., a separate phone line to the set-top box) that is not routed through a television distribution facility. The messages in the e-mail pen pal clubs may also be messages that are transmitted between user television equipment via a television distribution facility and maintained at a server at the television distribution facility or elsewhere (e.g., FIG. 1C).

P-0207[0207] Messages between user television equipment may be transmitted along communications paths as shown, for example, in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C. The messages may also be maintained at message processing facility <b>71</b> as shown, for example, in FIG. 1D. Message processing facility <b>71</b> may be associated with a television channel that maintains pen pal e-mail clubs relating to its programming. Further features of an illustrative television message system is described in McKissick et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,245, filed Jul., 16, 1999.

P-0208[0208] The program guide with niche hubs of the present invention may provide the user with an opportunity to control programming options between multiple user television equipment devices or multiple television sets within a home. FIG. 47 shows an illustrative arrangement for interconnecting various user television equipment within a home. Primary user television equipment <b>581</b> may be connected to secondary user television equipment <b>582</b>, secondary user television equipment <b>583</b>, and secondary user television equipment <b>584</b> via communications paths <b>586</b>. Communications paths <b>586</b> may be any suitable communications paths for an in home network, such as twisted pair lines, Ethernet links, fiber optics, power lines, radio frequency links, infrared and other wireless links, Firewire (IEEE 1394) paths, dedicated cables, etc. As shown in FIG. 47, one or more pieces of secondary user television equipment may be connected to primary user television equipment <b>581</b> in a star configuration.

P-0209[0209] User television equipment devices are typically located in different rooms within home <b>580</b>. For example, primary user television equipment <b>581</b> may be placed in the parents' bedroom, secondary user television equipment <b>582</b> may be placed in the children's room, secondary user television equipment <b>583</b> may be placed in a living room, and secondary user television equipment <b>584</b> may be placed in a guest room. With such an arrangement, the parents' bedroom may be used as a master location to adjust user settings for the program guides on the user television equipment in the children's room and other rooms.

P-0210[0210] Each of user television equipment <b>581</b>-<b>584</b> may be connected to television distribution facility <b>588</b> and server <b>588</b>A independently along communications paths <b>587</b>A-<b>587</b>D as shown, for example, in FIG. 47. If desired, only primary user television equipment <b>581</b> may be connected to television distribution facility <b>588</b> and server <b>588</b>A along path <b>587</b>A while secondary user television equipment devices <b>582</b>-<b>584</b> communicate with television distribution facility <b>588</b>, server <b>588</b>A, and each other (e.g., for sending messages between user television equipment <b>581</b>-<b>584</b>) via primary user television equipment <b>581</b> through an in-home network such as an Ethernet link using paths <b>586</b> or other suitable connections. If all of user television equipment <b>581</b>-<b>584</b> are connected to server <b>588</b>A, then there is no need for having an in-home network as well.

P-0211[0211] A user at primary user television equipment <b>581</b> may control and monitor the programs that may be viewed from each secondary user television equipment device in the home. For example, a parent may wish to block certain channels on a television set in the children's room, or monitor the programs that are being watched on television sets through the home. The interactive program guide may provide screen <b>590</b> in FIG. 48 when the user selects option <b>512</b>D in screen <b>510</b>. Screen <b>590</b> provides the user with the opportunity to control and monitor viewing on various user television equipment devices in the home. The user may select a television set in the home such as the Kid's TV by selecting option <b>591</b> and pressing RIGHT and LEFT arrow keys on the remote control. The user may then select blocking features for the television set selected in region <b>591</b> by manipulating options <b>592</b>-<b>595</b> on screen <b>590</b>.

P-0212[0212] For example, the user can lock a program, rating, or channel for the kid's television set from an information screen (e.g., Program Information screen) by selecting a lock option for that program, rating, or channel. The user can unlock a program such as “Jerry Springer” for the kid's television set by selecting option <b>592</b> and then pressing “OK” on the remote control to unlock that program. A user may lock or unlock a specific television program rating (e.g., TV-MA) for the kid's television set by selecting option <b>593</b>, and then pressing “OK” on the remote control to lock or unlock that rating. A user may lock or unlock a specific television channel (e.g., 14-HBO) for the kid's television set by selecting option <b>595</b>, and then pressing “OK” on the remote control to lock or unlock that channel. The user can scroll to other locked programs, ratings or channels in regions <b>592</b>, <b>593</b>, and <b>595</b> by pressing RIGHT and LEFT arrow keys on the remote control. A lock icon in any of regions <b>592</b>, <b>593</b>, and <b>595</b> indicates that the selected option is currently locked. A user may hide adult programs for the kid's television set by selecting option <b>594</b>, then using a LEFT arrow key on the remote control to scroll from the “SHOW” to the “HIDE” option to hide adult programs and their titles in the program guide listings. Parental control features may also be available, for example, from a Program Information screen.

P-0213[0213] The user may select option <b>596</b> in screen <b>590</b> to monitor the channels that are being viewed on user television equipment throughout the home. The program guide at primary user television equipment <b>581</b> may poll the program guides at secondary user television equipment in the home to determine whether anyone is currently viewing television and which channels they are tuned to. When the user selects option <b>596</b>, the program guide may provide, for example, screen <b>600</b> as shown in FIG. 49. Screen <b>600</b> provides a grid in region <b>601</b> which shows the channel and program that is being currently viewed on user television equipment in the home. Grid <b>601</b> also provides the ratings for the programs currently being viewed on each user television equipment that is being monitored (e.g., R for 17 and up, G for general audiences). Video window <b>105</b> on screen <b>590</b> or screen <b>600</b> may be video from the other television being monitored. The set-top box at the primary user television equipment may tune to the same channel that the monitored television is tuned to. If the monitored television is displaying video from another source such as a local video recorder, then the video shown in window <b>105</b> on the primary user television equipment may be reduced quality if it needs to be transferred from one location in the house to another.

P-0214[0214] The program guide may also provide the user at primary user television equipment <b>581</b> with the option of changing the television channel at one or more of secondary user television equipment <b>582</b>-<b>584</b> by selecting a location user television equipment and pressing UP or DOWN arrow keys on the remote control. The program guide on primary user television equipment <b>581</b> then directs the selected secondary user television equipment to tune to the selected channel. The program guide may also provide the user with the opportunity to turn off viewing by pressing an OFF key on the remote control or to control the volume in one of the secondary user television equipment by manipulating volume control buttons on the remote control. The program guide may only provide option <b>512</b>D, and screens <b>590</b> and <b>600</b> on primary user television equipment <b>581</b> and may require an access code to enter screen <b>590</b>. Further features of an illustrative interactive television program guide system having multiple devices within a household are described in Ellis et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,161, filed Jul., 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0215[0215] Screen <b>610</b> in FIG. 50 is an example of a display screen that provides the user with an opportunity to participate in a chat group. The program guide may display screen <b>610</b> when the user selects, for example, option <b>512</b>E from screen <b>510</b>. A chat group comprises a group of users who send real-time messages to each other. The users may be Internet users and users of user television equipment devices. The real-time messages in the chat group may be maintained on a chat server at, e.g., a television distribution facility or elsewhere as shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C, such as such as servers <b>33</b>, <b>35</b>, <b>36</b>, and <b>50</b>. The user may participate in a chat group by selecting from list <b>611</b> in screen <b>610</b>. List <b>611</b> may contain chat groups that are related to family oriented programming. The user may view additional chat groups by pressing the DOWN arrow key on the remote control. The program guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to enter chat groups related to a program from a Program Information screen for that program.

P-0216[0216] When the user selects a chat group in list <b>611</b>, the program guide may communicate with a television distribution facility to connect to the chat server that maintains that chat group. When the program guide connects to the selected chat group, the program guide may display a screen such as screen <b>620</b> in FIG. 51. Messages from the chat group are displayed in region <b>621</b>. The user may compose a message in region <b>622</b> to be added to the chat group using, e.g., a wireless keyboard. The user may send the message to other users in the chat group by, e.g., pressing an “ENTER” key on the remote control. The message in region <b>622</b> then appears in region <b>621</b> and is sent to the other users in the chat group. Messages between users (of user television equipment and user communications equipment) in chat groups may be sent along communications paths such as the ones shown in FIGS. <b>1</b>A-<b>1</b>C. The user may also enter a chat group for a program by selecting a chat option from a Program Information for that program. Further features of an illustrative television chat system is described in DeWeese et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/356,270, filed Jul., 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0217[0217] Another illustrative television program guide main menu screen of a niche hub in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 52. Menu screen <b>630</b> in FIG. 52 is the main menu screen of a music niche hub. Screen <b>630</b> provides the user with the option of using a variety of program guide features related to music and music related programming. The music hub may have many of the same options as the other hubs such as program listings, shopping, web sites, chat groups, video on-demand or pay-per-view concerts, etc.

P-0218[0218] The music hub may also have an option to see music-related programs, in addition to actual music programming within each feature of the hub. This might include programs with guest appearances by music celebrities or music groups, or any other programs that may be of interest to a music fan. The music hub may have an option to provide feedback for rating individual songs and the ability to see other people's ratings. The music hub may also provide parental control for music such as the ability to block songs with sexual or foul language. Also, songs and song categories may come with parental warning labels. The music hub may also have features for fan clubs such as chat groups, the ability to buy merchandise relating to an artist, concert schedules, etc. The music may also have recording features that are used to record music.

P-0219[0219] Screen <b>630</b> provides the user with the opportunity to view a listing of music channels (e.g., cable music channels) by selecting option <b>631</b>A as discussed in further detail with respect to FIG. 53A. The user may view a listing of music video channels by selecting option <b>631</b>B as discussed in further detail with respect to FIG. 53B. The user may view a listing of available music-on-demand song tracks by selecting option <b>631</b>C as discussed in further detail with respect to FIGS. <b>54</b>A-<b>54</b>E. The user may select background music for the program guide by selecting option <b>631</b>D as discussed in further detail with respect to FIG. 55. The user may select music favorites by selecting option <b>631</b>E as discussed in further detail with respect to FIG. 56. The user may manipulate music setup options by selecting option <b>631</b>F as discussed in further detail with respect to FIG. 57.

P-0220[0220] If the user selects option <b>631</b>A in screen <b>630</b>, the program guide may, for example, display screen <b>634</b> as shown in FIG. 53A. Screen <b>634</b> displays listing <b>636</b> of available music channels. When the user selects a channel option from listing <b>636</b> using UP and DOWN arrow keys on the remote control, the program guide switches the current audio to the selected music channel. When the user selects or highlights an option in listing <b>636</b>, the program guide may display the album cover for that song in window <b>105</b>.

P-0221[0221] Each option in listing <b>636</b> includes the title of the music channel, and the title and the artist for the current song on that channel. When the user selects an option in listing <b>636</b>, the program guide tunes to the selected music channel and displays the song title, artist, and album cover of the song that is currently playing on the selected music channel. Song title, artist, and album cover graphics for current songs may be provided to the set-top box from a television distribution facility in-band with the music channels. The set-top box may decode the in-band track, artist, and title information from the selected music channel signal using the tuner tuned to that channel.

P-0222[0222] The program guide may also display track and artist information for songs that are currently playing on available music channels other than the music channel currently selected in listing <b>636</b>. The set-top box may contain two tuners. The set-top box may have a second tuner for decoding the in-band track and artist information for the song currently playing on a music channel other than the one that the first tuner is tuned to. The second tuner may sequentially tune to each available analog and digital music channel so that the program guide application may obtain in-band music information such as track and artist information for current songs on each channel.

P-0223[0223] The song title, artist, and album cover information for the current songs on the available music channels may be stored in memory <b>25</b> of set-top box <b>26</b> and displayed in listing <b>636</b>. The song title, artist, and album cover information for the current songs on the available music channels may also be obtained from an Internet web server via a television distribution facility (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1B) and transmitted to the set-top box along an out-of-band channel along communication paths connected to the television distribution facility. Further features of an illustrative music information system using second tuner to collect in-band data is described in Ellis, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,860, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0224[0224] If the user selects option <b>631</b>B in screen <b>630</b>, the program guide may, for example, display screen <b>640</b> as shown in FIG. 53B. Screen <b>640</b> displays listing <b>641</b> of available music video channels. When the user selects a channel option from listing <b>641</b> using UP and DOWN arrow keys on the remote control, the program guide switches the current video in window <b>105</b> to the selected music video channel to play the current video and accompany music. The program guide displays song title and artist information for each video music channel in listing <b>641</b>. The program guide may obtain the song title and artist information for the current video from by decoding in-band data using two tuners as discussed above with respect to FIG. 53A, from the program guide database <b>14</b> at main facility <b>12</b>, or from a server.

P-0225[0225] Screen <b>645</b> in FIG. 53C is an example of a music flip screen that may be displayed for a few seconds when the program guide tunes to a music channel or music video channel. The guide may tune to a music or music video channel when, for example, the user presses the OK key while a channel is highlighted on screen <b>634</b> or screen <b>640</b>, presses channel UP or channel DOWN while on another channel, or enters the channel number of the music or music video channel. The album cover, music video, or other still image for the current song on the music or music video channel may be displayed on screen <b>645</b>. If desired, screen <b>645</b> may be blank. Screen <b>645</b> displays the music genre, artist, and title for the current song on the music or music video channel, as well as selectable advertisement <b>647</b>, and channel information, in overlay <b>646</b>.

P-0226[0226] If the user presses the UP or DOWN arrow on the remote control while the set-top box is currently tuned to a music or music video channel, the program guide may display music browse region <b>651</b> as shown in screen <b>650</b> of FIG. 53D. Region <b>651</b> displays the music genre, title, and artist of the song playing on each available music and music video channel without having to change channels. This information may be obtained by the set-top box as discussed with respect to FIG. 53A. The user may press the UP and DOWN arrows to view additional music channels. If desired, the program guide may automatically scroll through the available music or music video channels in region <b>651</b>. Region <b>651</b> also displays advertisement <b>652</b> which may be selectable. The user may press OK on the remote control to tune to (and display the music flip screen for) the channel currently displayed in region <b>651</b>.

P-0227[0227] The user may press an INFO key on the remote control to display a Song Information screen for the current song playing on the currently selected channel (e.g., from screen <b>634</b>, <b>640</b>, <b>645</b>, or <b>650</b>). An example of a Song Information screen in shown in FIG. 53E. Screen <b>655</b> in FIG. 53E displays the title and artist for a song the user is listening to or a song that is listed on any program guide menu screen. Region <b>657</b> also includes further details about the song, for example, the title of the compact disc for that song, and the name of the publisher.

P-0228[0228] Screen <b>655</b> also has options related to the song, as appropriate. For example, screen <b>655</b> has option <b>656</b>A to return to the previous display screen, option <b>656</b>B to display the Song Information screen for the previous song heard, and option <b>656</b>C to buy the compact disc indicated in region <b>657</b>. Screen <b>655</b> also displays option <b>656</b>D to display a concert schedule for the artist indicated in screen <b>655</b> if one is available. When the user selects option <b>656</b>D, the program guide may display national or local concert schedules and concert reviews, and provide the user with an opportunity to purchase tickets to a concert. The concert option is another example of a hyperlink feature that links the user to options that are related to information the user is currently viewing.

P-0229[0229] A Song Information screen such as screen <b>655</b> may provide further options. The user may press RIGHT or LEFT arrow keys on the remote control to display these options on screen <b>655</b>. For example, screen <b>655</b> may provide further options relating to the song and artist shown in screen <b>655</b> such as an option to view information about the artist (e.g., biographical information or music reviews), and an option to view a discography for the artist (i.e., a listings of the artist's albums or songs). These features may include an option to select an individual song and to view further information about that particular song and an option to buy a featured compact disc.

P-0230[0230] Screen <b>655</b> may also include an option to enter a karaoke mode for video music channels, in which the program guide plays the song and music video without vocals. The program guide may provide the vocals for video music channels separately from the instrumental music. In karaoke mode, the program guide only provides the instrumental portion of the music for the selected video music channel without the vocal portion of the music, and provides the words of the song as text on the television screen. Screen <b>655</b> may also include an option to add the song to the music on-demand play-list (e.g., maintained at a music on-demand server at a television distribution facility). Screen <b>655</b> may also include an option to request the song from a music or music video channel that takes requests. The program guide may indicate to the user the price of the song and may debit the user's account when the user confirms the transaction. Screen <b>655</b> may also include an option to add the song to the user's profile of likes and dislikes (discussed further with respect to FIG. 56). A Song Information screen may be displayed automatically every time the song on the current channel changes.

P-0231[0231] When the user selects music on-demand option <b>631</b>C, the program guide may, for example, provide a screen such as screen <b>660</b> in FIG. 54A. Screen <b>660</b> provides list <b>661</b> of genres of music for which music song are available on-demand. Screen <b>660</b> also provides the user with the opportunity to add songs to a user selected play list that may be played on-demand for a fee. The user may view his play list may selecting “My Play List” in list <b>661</b>. When the user selects a music genre in list <b>661</b>, the program guide provides a screen such as screen <b>665</b> in FIG. 54B that contains list <b>666</b> of artists within the selected genre. When the user selects an artist in list <b>666</b>, the program guide provides a screen such as screen <b>670</b> in FIG. 54C that contains list <b>671</b> of songs and albums for the selected artist. When the user selects an album in list <b>671</b>, the program guide provides a screen such as screen <b>675</b> in FIG. 54D that displays the songs for the selected album in list <b>676</b>. When the user selects a song in list <b>671</b> or <b>676</b>, the program guide provides a screen such as screen <b>680</b> in FIG. 54E. Screen <b>680</b> displays the price and title of the song, and provides the user with the opportunity to add the selected song to the user's play list by selecting option <b>681</b> or not by selecting option <b>682</b>. The user may play the song now by selecting option <b>683</b>. The program guide may provide the user with an option on screen <b>630</b> to view his play list. When the user selects this option, the program guide displays the play list as well as the price to play the list, the time duration of the entire list, and an option to start playing the play list now.

P-0232[0232] When the user selects option <b>631</b>D in screen <b>630</b>, the program guide may provide a screen such as screen <b>685</b> in FIG. 55. Screen <b>685</b> provides the user with the opportunity to select background music for the program guide. Background music is a music category that plays whenever an interactive program guide screen is displayed, unless it is overridden by audio from a channel or other source. The user may select a background music category in list <b>686</b>. The music may be obtained from a server that maintains prerecorded tracks at the television distribution facility or elsewhere, a radio station, or other real-time data source. Further features of an illustrative interactive television program guide system with audio are described in Allison U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/436,976, filed Nov. 9, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

P-0233[0233] When the user selects option <b>631</b>E in screen <b>630</b>, the program guide may provide a screen such as screen <b>800</b> in FIG. 56. Screen <b>800</b> displays listings of the user's favorite songs, categories of songs (list <b>801</b>), artists (list <b>802</b>), albums, etc. The user may press the DOWN arrow key to view additional favorites on screen <b>800</b>. The number of happy faces and unhappy faces indicate whether the user likes that song category, artist, etc., and to what degree. The user may add more categories of songs to his profile by selecting the more option in list <b>801</b>. The program guide may provide the user with the opportunity to add a song, category, artist, album, etc. to his favorites by selecting an “add to favorites” option in an information screen (e.g., Song Information screen). The program guide may utilize user profile information by customizing features of the hub to match the user's favorites.

P-0234[0234] When the user selects option <b>631</b>F in screen <b>630</b>, the program guide may provide a screen such as screen <b>810</b> in FIG. 57. Screen <b>810</b> provides the user with the opportunity to manipulate various setup features of the guide that relate to audio settings for music programming. The user may select an audio format such as digital Dolby in region <b>811</b> by pressing RIGHT or LEFT arrows on the remote control when the format option is highlighted. The user may select an audio compression format such as light in region <b>812</b> by pressing RIGHT or LEFT arrows on the remote control when the compression option is highlighted. The user may select an audio effect such as concert hall in region <b>813</b> by pressing RIGHT or LEFT arrows on the remote control when the effect option is highlighted.

P-0235[0235] Another illustrative television program guide main menu screen of a niche hub in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 58. Menu screen <b>690</b> in FIG. 58 is the main menu screen of a news and information hub. Screen <b>690</b> provides the user with the option of using a variety of program guide features related to news and information. The user may view a stock report by selecting option <b>691</b>A as discussed with respect to FIG. 59. The user may view a stock ticker by selecting option <b>691</b>B as discussed with respect to FIG. 60. The user may view local reports by selecting option <b>691</b>C as discussed with respect to FIG. 61. The user may view live news by selecting option <b>691</b>D as discussed with respect to FIG. 62. The user may view weather reports by selecting option <b>691</b>E as discussed with respect to FIG. 63. The news and information hub may also include options similar to the options in the other hubs.

P-0236[0236] Referring to FIG. 59, screen <b>700</b> is an example of a stock report display screen that the program guide can provide when the user selects option <b>691</b>A in screen <b>690</b>. Screen <b>700</b> provides the user with a personalized stock report in list <b>701</b>. List <b>701</b> provides the latest stock quote for a list of publicly traded companies, indexes, and funds as well as the change in the current price relative to the previous day's closing price. The user may add stocks to the list <b>701</b> by selecting option <b>702</b> in screen <b>700</b>. The program guide may then provide the user with a list of stocks to choose from that may be added to list <b>701</b>. The user may scroll down the list by entering letters from a keypad. If desired, the program guide may provide the user with the opportunity to enter stock symbols to add stocks to screen <b>700</b>.

P-0237[0237] The program guide may also provide a scrolling stock ticker as shown, for example, in FIG. 60 when the user selects option <b>691</b>B in screen <b>690</b>. The program guide may then display the video and audio for the current television channel concurrently with a stock ticker in overlay <b>711</b>. Overlay <b>711</b> contains stock ticker <b>712</b> which continuously scrolls recent stock quotes for a variety of publicly traded companies, indexes, and funds. If desired, ticker <b>712</b> may scroll only a subset of stocks that are selected by the user (e.g., that are picked on screen <b>700</b>). The program guide may obtain real-time stock information for scrolling ticker <b>712</b> and list <b>701</b> in screen <b>700</b> from real-time stock market data source <b>17</b> along a digital or analog channel in communications paths as shown, for example, in FIG. 1A.

P-0238[0238] The program guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to view local information as part of the news and information hub when the user selects option <b>691</b>C in screen <b>690</b> as shown, for example, in FIG. 61. Screen <b>720</b> in FIG. 61 displays local reports including local traffic conditions in region <b>721</b>, and local ski reports in region <b>722</b>. The program guide may provide local information in screen <b>720</b> in the form of text, graphics, or video-on-demand from, e.g., real-time news data source <b>19</b> along paths shown in FIG. 1A.

P-0239[0239] Local information may be obtained from a television distribution facility and local real-time data sources such as local news services, stations, or web pages (e.g., from a server <b>36</b>) along communications paths shown, for example, in FIG. 1A (with respect to real-time data sources <b>11</b> or communications network <b>31</b>), or FIG. 1B (with respect to communications network <b>36</b>). Local information may also be obtained a central facility such as main facility <b>12</b>, with addressing to specific localities, or obtained from the Internet. The television distribution facility provides local information related to the locality that the user resides in. If the television distribution facility is connected to user television equipment in only one given locality, it may provide local information to users only relevant to that specific locality. If a television distribution facility is connected to users in multiple localities, the television distribution facility may divide users in groups of localities and provide local information to the users based upon their location in a given locality.

P-0240[0240] The program guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to read live news updates in the news and information hub by selecting option <b>691</b>D in screen <b>690</b>. Screen <b>730</b> in FIG. 62 is an example of a display screen that the program guide may display when the user selects option <b>691</b>D. Screen <b>730</b> displays live news updates on breaking news events in region <b>731</b>. Live news updates may be provided in the form of scrolling real-time textual messages to the user television equipment that are displayed in region <b>731</b> as shown in FIG. 62. The live news updates in screen <b>730</b> may also be in the form of audio or video news (e.g., video from the story may be displayed in window <b>105</b>). The program guide may obtain live news updates, for example, from real-time news data source <b>19</b> along paths shown in FIG. 1A. The program guide may also provide the user with an opportunity to search for other live news updates or other news stories related to the news update in region <b>731</b> or background news stories by selecting option <b>732</b>.

P-0241[0241] Screen <b>740</b> in FIG. 63 is an example of a display screen that may be provided by the program guide when the user selects option <b>691</b>E in screen <b>690</b>. Screen <b>740</b> provides a local weather forecast in region <b>741</b> for the user's locality. The television distribution facility may divide users into localities and provide weather reports specific to each locality if users connected to that television distribution facility are in different localities. The user may search for weather reports for other localities by selecting option <b>742</b>. The program guide may then provide the user with a list of other localities. When the user selects a locality on the list, the program guide may then provide the user with the weather forecast or report for that locality on a display screen such as screen <b>740</b>.

P-0242[0242] The program guide may obtain the contents of the weather reports for the news and information hub from real-time news data source <b>19</b> along a digital or analog channel in communications paths as shown, for example, in FIG. 1A. The program guide may also obtain news stories, weather reports, and stock quotes from a web server (e.g., server <b>36</b>) connected to user television equipment via communications network <b>38</b> (FIG. 1B). Real-time news data source <b>19</b> may contain a searchable weather database of national and international weather reports that the user can access from the user television equipment along two-way communications paths as shown, for example, in FIG. 1A.

P-0243[0243] Screen <b>750</b> in FIG. 64 is an example of a help display screen that may be provided by the program guide when the user selects option <b>106</b>T in screen <b>100</b>. Screen <b>750</b> provides the user with listing <b>751</b> of help topics that may be selected by the user. The user may press UP and DOWN arrows on the remote control to select a help topic in list <b>751</b>. When the user selects a help topic in list <b>751</b>, the program guide displays detailed information on a display screen that relates to using the selected program guide feature. The detailed help information may be in the form of text, audio, or video. The program guide help information may be stored in memory <b>25</b> of set-top box <b>26</b>, or at a remote server (e.g., at the television distribution facility) and transmitted to the set-top box upon request.

P-0244[0244] Another illustrative television program guide niche hub in accordance with the present invention is a local hub. A local hub may provide the user with the option of using a variety of program guide features related to local events, programming, and information. The program guide may, for example, obtain data for the local hub features from a television distribution facility. The television distribution facility (or server or computing equipment located elsewhere) filters local information to the user television equipment connected to that television distribution facility based upon where the users reside. The local information is received by the user television equipment and displayed in conjunction with the local hub.

P-0245[0245] The local hub may provide local information such as upcoming community events, local theater productions, classified ads, local television program listings, (which may be include local channels and local programming on any channels), local news, local debates, local government information, movies playing at local theaters, local personal ads, local restaurants, local attractions, local concert schedules, local high school sports, local interest groups (e.g., a local historical society), yellow pages with local listings, school lunches for local schools, and surveys relevant to local issues. Local features such as local news, local ski reports, sports, traffic reports, etc. may be present in both the news hub and the local hub. The local hub may obtain local information, for example, from local real-time data sources <b>11</b> (e.g., a local radio station, community service center, local government offices, etc.) along communications paths shown, for example, in FIG. 1A. If desired, the program guide local hub may obtain local information for local features from a server that stores information on local events and features. The server may be located at a television distribution facility, or may be a remote server connected to a television distribution facility through a communications network as shown, for example, in FIG. 1B, or a remote server connected through neighborhood nodes to the user television equipment as shown, for example, in FIG. 1C. If desired, the local information may be retrieved from at a web site maintained by a web server (e.g., server <b>36</b> connected to television distribution facilities via paths shown in FIG. 1B).

P-0246[0246] The local hub may also provide a user with an opportunity to participate in a lottery. The user may enter a lottery number pick using the remote control into the set-top box memory to participate in the lottery. The program guide may transmit the user's lottery pick to a lottery processing facility such as message processing facility <b>71</b> (FIG. 1D) along communications paths as shown, for example, in FIG. 1D. The lottery processing facility may determine the lottery winners and then send messages back to the winners to inform them of their prizes. The messages to the winners may be sent as, for example, e-mail messages, snail mail messages, or messages to the user television equipment along two-way communications paths as shown, e.g., in FIG. 1D. If desired, the lottery winners may be announced on a television channel received by the user television equipment. The communications paths (e.g., paths <b>24</b> in FIG. 1A) between the user television equipment and the television distribution facility must be two-way paths to support lottery features.

P-0247[0247] Another illustrative program guide niche hub is a soap opera fanatic hub. A soap opera hub may contain television program guide listings of soaps and summaries of recent episodes. The soap hub may include actor biographies, interviews, and behind the scenes segments (e.g., recorded video, images, or textual segments), as well as targeted advertisements, scheduled soap chats, news groups, and fan clubs that communicate through e-mail messages. The soap hub may also contain links to soap opera web sites, the ability to purchase soap opera related merchandise, video-on-demand of missed soap episodes, and soap trivia questions.

P-0248[0248] Another illustrative program guide niche hub is a science fiction hub. A science fiction hub may contain listings of science fiction television programs and movies, targeted ads, summaries of recent episodes of science fiction programs and sitcoms, Star Trek convention schedules, links to web sites, trivia, video-on-demand, as well as science fiction chat groups, news groups, and e-mail fan clubs. The science fiction hub may include actor biographies, interviews, and behind the scenes segments (e.g., recorded video, images, or textual segments). The science fiction hub may also have access to a searchable database of Star Trek episodes and other science fiction programs and related information and news.

P-0249[0249] Another illustrative program guide niche hub is a television lover's hub. A television lover's hub may include highly searchable television program guide listings. The highly searchable listings allow a user to search for television programs by entering search criteria such as the names of actors in the programs, words in description of the program, the subject of the program, the year the program was filmed, a specific episode in a sitcom or program series, etc. The program guide may transmit the search criteria to program database <b>14</b> or a database at the television distribution facility which searches for programs that match the user's selected criteria. When a match has been found, the program information may be transmitted back to the originating set-top box and displayed on the television set.

P-0250[0250] The television lover's hub may also include targeted ads, recommended programs with an emphasis on programs that are popular, server-based recording, video-on-demand, pay-per-view programs, packages of pay channels and programs, reviews, interviews, shopping for program-related merchandise, trivia, user favorites and personal preferences, suggested programs given the user's likes and dislikes, chat groups, news groups, and web site links related to popular shows.

P-0251[0251] Another illustrative television program guide niche hub is an adult hub. The adult hub may contain any of the options available for the Movies hub, with adult-oriented content, adult-oriented advertising, support for adult-oriented programming on-demand, on pay-per-view, and on cable channels, as well as the ability to control access of this hub to specific family members.

P-0252[0252] Another illustrative television program guide niche hub is a cultural hub. The cultural hub may contain any of the options available for the Movies hub, with cultural content; culture-related advertising; support for public television; nature shows, art shows, history shows, philosophy shows and listings therefor; support for distance learning; feedback to network executives; and highlighting shows with critical appeal in television listings.

P-0253[0253] In addition to predefined hubs, the guide may allow the household to define one or more custom hubs, for example by choosing “Add Guide” option <b>112</b>N from Themes screen <b>110</b> of FIG. 3. Screen <b>760</b> shown in FIG. 65 is an example of a screen that may be displayed when the user creates a new guide (i.e., niche hub). The user may be given the opportunity to name the guide, and to create a PIN that must be entered to access the guide. The user may access the custom hub by selecting, for example, options <b>106</b>E/<b>112</b>L (Suzy's custom hub) or <b>106</b>F/<b>112</b>M (Tom's custom hub) in screens <b>100</b> or <b>110</b> of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. Screen <b>760</b> may have option <b>761</b>A to edit the current options on the custom guide being defined.

P-0254[0254] Selecting custom option <b>761</b>A may display an overlay, such as screen <b>770</b> of FIG. 66, allowing the user to further customize this hub, perhaps adding or deleting options, changing the hub name, or adding or changing the access PIN. Once in screen <b>770</b>, the user may enter a name for the custom hub (e.g., Suzy) in region <b>771</b>, and may enter a PIN number required to enter this custom niche hub in region <b>772</b>. A user is required to enter the PIN number to access the custom hub from the main menu <b>100</b> (e.g., when the user selects Suzy option <b>106</b>E).

P-0255[0255] Screen <b>770</b> displays options (such as options <b>773</b>-<b>775</b>) that are available in screen <b>760</b>. The user may press the DOWN arrow on the remote control to view more options that are available on screen <b>760</b>. The user may select an option such as TV listings option <b>773</b>, VOD option <b>774</b>, or Coming Soon option <b>775</b> and press “OK” on the remote control to remove that option from screen <b>760</b>. The user may add any option from the guide's Main Menu screen <b>100</b>, or from any of the sub-screens within the guide, including any of the predefined niche hub guides by selecting option <b>776</b>.

P-0256[0256] When the user selects option <b>776</b> to add an option, the program guide displays screen <b>765</b> in FIG. 67. Screen <b>770</b> includes an exemplary list <b>766</b> of program guide options that the user can add to the custom hub of FIG. 65. With respect to options in list <b>766</b> such as option <b>767</b>, the user presses the LEFT arrow key to select an option higher in the menu hierarchy, the RIGHT arrow to select an option lower in the menu hierarchy, and the UP or DOWN arrow key to select a different option at the same menu level. The user may press OK once the correct option has been selected in screen <b>765</b> to add that option to screen <b>760</b>.

P-0257[0257] In the example shown in FIG. 67, the user had selected the On Now selection <b>767</b> from the Movies screen to be displayed on the custom guide screen <b>760</b>. By pressing the LEFT arrow key, Movies option <b>106</b>C from the Main Menu screen <b>100</b> (FIG. 2) is selected in list <b>766</b>, because this option is higher in the menu hierarchy than Movies on Now option <b>132</b>A (FIG. 5) and above the On Now option in list <b>766</b>. By pressing the DOWN arrow key, the option will be changed to the Hot option <b>132</b>B of the Movies screen <b>130</b> (FIG. 5), because this option is the second option in screen <b>130</b> and below the On Now option in list <b>766</b>. And by pressing the RIGHT arrow key, the option may be changed to the first option on the Movies On Now screen <b>140</b> (FIG. 6), because this option is lower in the menu hierarchy than Movies On Now option <b>132</b>A.

P-0258[0258] Screen <b>760</b> in FIG. 65 is an example of a custom guide defined by a user. Option <b>761</b>B for video on demand and option <b>761</b>C for Television Listings, were selected from the Main Menu screen. Movies Coming Soon option <b>761</b>D and Movies On Now option <b>761</b>E, were selected from the Movies hub. Note that these two option buttons were enlarged to make room for additional text, possibly reducing the total number of options that can be shown on the custom screen. In the second column is Cultural option <b>761</b>F, a direct link to a predefined cultural hub; Local HS Sports option <b>761</b>G, a link to a feature on another hub; AMC option <b>761</b>H, a link to a channel selected from within a feature of another hub; and Discussion Mel Gibson option <b>761</b>I, a link to a specific discussion group found within another hub. Screen <b>760</b> also includes Search option <b>761</b>K from screen <b>130</b>, and My Schedule <b>761</b>L and Recorded <b>761</b>M options chosen from the Main Menu <b>100</b>. Note that when My Schedule <b>761</b>L or Recorded option <b>761</b>M is chosen from within the personalized niche hub, the program guide may list only programs selected by the user while this personalized hub is active.

P-0259[0259] Screen <b>760</b> also has Mail option <b>761</b>J which may be present on all custom hubs. Each custom hub may provide access to a different mail account, and selecting option <b>761</b>J may allow the user to change the options and read/send mail for that account. Favorites option <b>761</b>O may also be present within each custom hub, and may provide the user with the option to define favorite program attributes that are active while the hub is active. Screen <b>760</b> also has targeted advertising <b>762</b>A and <b>762</b>B that may be targeted to the user's favorite programming.

P-0260[0260] The custom hub may also have an option to Watch Favorites <b>761</b>N. Selecting this option would function similar to the Watch Movies option described above, changing the mode of television watching so that easy access is provided to programs matching the Favorite criteria of the custom hub. The guide may also allow the user to define a PIN required to enter this mode, to prevent children, for example, from entering this mode without adult supervision. When the user indicates a desire to a enter a custom hub, the program guide may require the user to enter the PIN number. The guide may also provide for a PIN that is required to exit from this mode, allowing a highly controlled television-watching mode to be created for any child in the household.

P-0261[0261] 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 and spirit of the invention.