Dynamic program guide information

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a server, program information from a plurality of set-top boxes,
• the program information including information identifying programs to which the plurality of set-top boxes are tuned;
• determining, by the server and based on the program information, a quantity value for a particular program of the programs,
• the quantity value representing a first quantity of set-top boxes, of the plurality of set-top boxes, tuned to the particular program at a first point in time;
• providing, by the server and to a particular set-top box, information identifying the particular program and first information relating to the quantity value,
• the information identifying the particular program and the first information relating to the quantity value being used by the particular set-top box in providing a program guide that represents the particular program as a first shape and a different program, of the programs, as a second shape, and
• a first size of the first shape being larger than a second size of the second shape based on more of the plurality of set-top boxes being tuned to the particular program than are tuned to the different program at the first point in time;
• updating, by the server, the quantity value to obtain an updated quantity value for the particular program;
• and
• providing, by the server and to the particular set-top box, second information relating to the updated quantity value after the particular set-top box provides the program guide,
• the updated quantity value representing a second quantity of set-top boxes, of the plurality of set-top boxes, tuned to the particular program at a second point in time that is later than the first point in time.

A system comprising:

• a server to:
• receive, from a plurality of set-top boxes, program information,
• the program information indicating a plurality of programs to which the plurality of set-top boxes are tuned,
• determine, for the plurality of programs, quantity indicators,
• a particular quantity indicator, of the quantity indicators, representing, for a particular program, of the plurality of programs, a first quantity of set-top boxes, of the plurality of set-top boxes, that are tuned to the particular program at a first point in time, and
• provide, to a particular set-top box of the plurality of set-top boxes, first program guide information based on the quantity indicators,
• the first program guide information being used by the particular set-top box to provide a program guide that represents the particular program as a first shape and a different program, of the plurality of programs, as a second shape, and
• a first size of the first shape being larger than a second size of the second shape based on more of the plurality of set-top boxes being tuned to the particular program than are tuned to the different program at the first point in time,
• update the quantity indicators to obtain updated quantity indicators,
• a particular updated quantity indicator, of the updated quantity indicators, representing, for the particular program, a second quantity of set-top boxes, of the plurality of set-top boxes, that are tuned to the particular program at a second point in time that is later than the first point in time, and
• provide, to the particular set-top box and after the particular set-top box provides the program guide, second program guide information based on the updated quantity indicators.

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a set-top box, first program guide information from a server,
• the first program guide information identifying a group of programs,
• the group of programs including a first program and a second program, and
• the first program guide information indicating that, at a first point in time, more set-top boxes are tuned to the first program than are tuned to the second program;
• providing, from the set-top box to a display and based on the first program guide information, a program guide,
• the program guide representing the first program as a first shape and the second program as a second shape,
• a first size of the first shape being larger than a second size of the second shape based on more of the set-top boxes being tuned to the first program than are tuned to the second program at the first point in time;
• receiving, after providing the program guide, second program guide information from the server,
• the second program guide information indicating that, at a second point in time that is later than the first point in time, more of the set-top boxes are tuned to the second program than are tuned to the first program;
• and
• dynamically increasing the second size of the second shape based on more of the set-top boxes being tuned to the second program than are tuned to the first program at the second point in time.