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US 2015/0189392 A1Published application
Premium channel promotion system and method
AssigneeRovi Guides, Inc.
InventorsDouglas B. MacRae, Thomas E. Ward, Kenneth S. Hancock, Jonathan B. Orlick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a television schedule guide which includes a detector for determining whether a previously scrambled program is unscrambled. If a previously scrambled program is momentarily unscrambled due to promotional efforts by the program provider, the system will visually distinguish the program on the guide, and a viewer may tune to or record the program from the guide. The view may also subscribe to the program provider through the guide during the promotional period.
Claims19
1-12. (canceled)
A method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of program listings for a plurality of channels, including a program listing for a first channel of the plurality of channels, wherein the first channel is a restricted-access channel;
- determining that access to the first channel is no longer restricted during a promotional time period;
- determining whether a user is a non-subscriber to the first channel;
- and
- displaying a promotion that provides access to the first channel in response to determining that the user is a non-subscriber, wherein when the promotional time period ends, the promotion is no longer displayed.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- control circuitry configured to:
- receive a plurality of program listings for a plurality of channels, including a program listing for a first channel of the plurality of channels, wherein the first channel is a restricted-access channel;
- determine that access to the first channel is no longer restricted during a promotional time period;
- determine whether a user is a non-subscriber to the first channel;
- and
- display a promotion that provides access to the first channel in response to determining that the user is a non-subscriber, wherein when the promotional time period ends, the promotion is no longer displayed.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.