Systems and methods for providing approximated information in an interactive television program guide
OwnerThomas E. Westberg, Glen Dudekinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interactive television program guide application on an interactive television system that determines approximated information using historical content is provided. The interactive television program guide application may retain and store interactive television program guide information. Using the available information, the interactive television program guide application may determine approximated information when information is not available or has not been received.
Claims21
A method for providing a user with access to interactive television program guide application features when information is not available, the method comprising:
- receiving an indication from the user to select an interactive television program guide feature;
- determining whether information associated with the selected feature is available in response to receiving the indication;
- in response to determining that the information associated with the selected feature is not available, determining approximated information based on historical content of the information associated with the selected feature;
- and
- providing the user with the selected feature having the approximated information.
An interactive television system for providing a user with access to interactive television program guide application features when information is not available, said interactive television system comprising:
- an interactive television program guide application implemented at least partially on said interactive television system, said interactive television program guide application configured to:
- receive an indication from the user to select a feature;
- determine whether the information associated with the selected feature is available in response to receiving the indication;
- in response to determining that the information associated with the selected feature is not available, determining approximated information based on historical content of the information associated with the selected feature;
- and
- provide the user with the selected feature having the approximated information.
Machine-readable media for use in an interactive television system for providing a user with access to interactive television program guide application features when information is not available, wherein the media is encoded with machine-readable instructions for:
- receiving an indication from the user to select a feature;
- determining whether information associated with the selected feature is available in response to receiving the indication;
- in response to determining that the information associated with the selected feature is not available, determining approximated information based on historical content of the information associated with the selected feature;
- and
- providing the user with the selected feature having the approximated information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.