Interactive entertainment network system and method for customizing operation thereof according to viewer preferences

An interactive entertainment network system comprising:

• multiple user interface units in individual homes;
• a headend to provide video content programs to the multiple user interface units;
• a distribution network interconnecting the headend and the multiple user interface units;
• a storage medium at the headend containing a list of video content programs and a rental period associated with the video content programs, the rental period being longer in duration than a runtime length of an associated video content program;
• each user interface unit being operable in a video-on-demand mode to enable a viewer to order at least one of the video content programs;
• and
• whereupon ordering one of the video content programs, the headend transmits the ordered video content program one or more times during the rental period and refuses to transmit the ordered content program upon expiration of the rental period.

A user interface unit for use in an individual home, the user interface unit being connected to an interactive entertainment network system having a headend, the headend providing video content programs to the user interface unit, the user interface unit comprising:

• a processor;
• a user interface which executes on the processor to display at least one list of entries pertaining to the video content programs;
• the processor causing the list to visually scroll at a selected rate while being displayed whereby one entry is removed as another entry is added;
• and
• the processor being programmable to adjust the selected rate at which the list is scrolled.

A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the following additional steps:

• ordering a preferred video content program from the customized list;
• imposing a rental period upon said ordering;
• transmitting the ordered video content program one or more times during the rental period;
• and
• refusing to transmit the ordered content program upon expiration of the rental period.

A method for operating an interactive entertainment network system having a headend which is connected to provide video content programs to a plurality of user interface units in individual homes, the method comprising the following steps:

• storing a list of video content programs at the headend;
• assigning a rental period to the video content programs;
• sending an order request from a requesting user interface unit to the headend to rent one of the video content programs;
• transmitting the ordered video content program from the headend to the requesting user interface unit as often as the user interface unit requests to view the ordered video content program so long as the rental period for the ordered video content has not elapsed;
• and
• refusing to transmit the ordered video content program to the requesting user interface unit after the rental period for the ordered video content has expired.

A method for operating a user interface used in interactive entertainment network system, the interactive entertainment network system having a headend which is connected to provide video content programs to a plurality of user interface units in individual homes, the user interface being executed on a processor provided at each user interface unit, the method comprising the following steps:

• generating a list of entries pertaining to the video content programs;
• displaying a number of entries on the list;
• scrolling through the list by continually updating the displayed entries, whereby one entry on the list is removed as another entry on the list is added;
• and
• adjusting a rate at which entries are removed and added to thereby modify a rate at which the list visually appears to be scrolling.