Viewer selection of programs to be subsequently delivered
AssigneeUnion Beach, L.P.
InventorDavid Tannenbaum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Television users may record abstracts of programs that they desire and program providers may access the recorded program abstracts from time to time so as to provide the program content that matches the requested program. In one embodiment, the user may select a TV program (or movie) that is not currently available and then at a time subsequent thereto that program is made available to the user, either privately, or over the public network. In another embodiment, users of the system may record program requests. Program providers may then access these requests from time to time and provide the requested program, even if the program had not been available at the time the request was initially posted.
Claims20
A method for allowing a user to receive programs desired by said user, said method comprising the steps of:
- accepting from said user information pertaining to a program desired to be viewed by said user;
- matching by other than said user, said accepted information against a list of known programs currently scheduled to be delivered;
- and
- informing said user as to when said programs will be delivered.
A system for delivering entertainment programs to a user, said system comprising:
- means for allowing said user to input and store desired programs;
- means independent from said user's control for determining which, if any, of said stored desired programs are currently available to said user;
- and
- means controlled in part by said determining means for informing said user that one or more of said stored desired programs are currently available and for subsequently informing said viewer that desired programs which were determined not to have been currently available to said user have become available.
A method for allowing a user to receive entertainment programs desired by said user, said method comprising:
- recording, under control of said user, requests pertaining to a program desired to be viewed by said user;
- said desired programs not necessarily currently scheduled, either as stand-alone programs, programs which are part of a series, or even programs which have not yet been created for availability to said user;
- accessing recorded ones of said requests by other than said user;
- determining, at least in part independent of control by said user, whether or not a program corresponding to an accessed request is currently scheduled so as to be available for delivery to said user;
- and
- informing said user as to the availability of an accessed request.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.