Video-on-demand service with an interactive interface for facilitating viewer selection of video programs

A video-on-demand service comprising:

• a telecasting facility operative to provide video programs, previews of said video programs, and at least one list of at least some of said video programs and operative to receive selections of said previews and of said video programs, said facility comprising:
• a multiple processor computer that allows said list and said previews to be transmitted to subscribers and non-subscribers of said service and that allows said video programs to be transmitted to only said subscribers,
• a mass storage system coupled to said computer, said mass storage system storing said list and said previews, and
• a transmitting station coupled to said computer, said transmitting station operative to transmit said video programs, said previews, and said list and operative to receive said selections;
• and
• a communication medium coupled to said transmitting station over which said video programs, said previews, and said list are transmitted from said telecasting facility and over which said selections are transmitted to said telecasting facility.

A method of operating a video-on-demand service, said service interactively coupled to a viewing station comprising a video display, said service accessible to non-subscribers of said service, said service providing video programs, segments of said video programs, and a list of at least some of said video programs, said method comprising:

• displaying on said display said list to one of said non-subscribers;
• displaying on said display one of said segments selected by one of said non-subscribers;
• preventing display on said display of one of said video programs selected by one of said non-subscribers;
• displaying on said display an offer for one of said non-subscribers to become a subscriber substantially immediately after said non-subscriber selects one of said video programs for display;
• receiving interactively from said non-subscriber via said viewing station an acceptance of said offer to become a subscriber;
• establishing said non-subscriber as a subscriber substantially immediately after said receiving;
• and
• allowing said video programs selected by said non-subscriber to be displayed on said display substantially immediately after said establishing.

A video-on-demand service comprising:

• a telecasting facility operative to transmit video programs, previews of said video programs, and lists of said video programs, said facility comprising a first computer programmed to allow said lists and said previews to be transmitted to subscribers and non-subscribers of said service and to allow said video programs to be transmitted to only said subscribers;
• a viewing station comprising a video display and a second computer, said viewing station operative to receive said video programs, said previews, and said lists and operative to transmit selections of said video programs and said previews, said second computer programmed to display on said video display said programs, said previews, and said lists;
• and
• a communication medium coupled to said facility and to said viewing station over which said programs, said previews, and said lists are transmitted from said facility to said viewing station and over which said selections are transmitted from said viewing station to said facility.

A method of operating a video-on-demand service, said service interactively coupled to a viewing station comprising a video display, said service accessible to subscribers and non-subscribers of said service, said service providing video programs, segments of said video programs, and lists of said video programs, and said method comprising:

• receiving video program classification information associated with a viewer identifier;
• storing said classification information;
• displaying on said display any of said segments selected from said lists by one of said non-subscribers;
• preventing display on said display of any of said video programs selected from said lists by one of said non-subscribers;
• receiving said viewer identifier from said viewing station;
• generating one of said lists in accordance with said stored classification information;
• and
• displaying on said display said generated list, only those segments and video programs on said generated list being selectable for display on said display.

A method of operating a video-on-demand service, said service interactively coupled to a viewing station, said service accessible to subscribers and non-subscribers of said service, said service operative to provide video programs, segments of said video programs, and a list of at least some of said video programs and operative to receive selections of said segments and said video programs, said method comprising:

• receiving an identifier from said viewing station;
• comparing said identifier with a list of identifiers corresponding to said subscribers;
• receiving one of said selections;
• transmitting one of said video programs to said viewing station when said comparing indicates that said identifier is on said list of identifiers and said selection corresponds to said one video program;
• preventing transmission of one of said video programs to said viewing station when said comparing indicates that said identifier is not on said list of identifiers and said selection corresponds to said one video program;
• and
• transmitting one of said segments to said viewing station when said comparing indicates that said identifier is not on said list of identifiers and said selection corresponds to said one segment.

A video-on-demand service comprising:

• a telecasting facility operative to transmit video programs, previews of said video programs, and lists of said video programs, said facility also operative to receive selections of said previews and said video programs, said facility comprising:
• a first computer programmed to allow said lists and said previews to be transmitted to subscribers and non-subscribers of said service and programmed to allow video programs to be transmitted to only said subscribers, and
• a transmitting station coupled to said first computer and operative to transmit said video programs, said previews, and said lists and operative to receive said selections;
• and
• a viewing station for use by said subscribers and non-subscribers, said viewing station operative to receive said programs, said previews, and said lists and operative to transmit said selections, said viewing station comprising:
• a video display;
• and
• a second computer coupled to said display and programmed to provide said display with an interactive interface to facilitate selection of said video programs.

A method of operating a video-on-demand service, said service interactively coupled to a viewing station comprising a video display, said service accessible to subscribers and non-subscribers of said service, said service operative to transmit video programs, segments of said video programs, and a list of at least some of said video programs, said method comprising:

• displaying said list on said display, said list available to said subscribers and said non-subscribers;
• displaying one of said segments on said display, said segment available to said subscribers and said non-subscribers;
• and
• displaying one of said video programs on said display, said video program available only to subscribers.